Sgt Gavin Mallard uses a Swarovski scope to keep an eye on on the Pilbara coastline.

Pte Gregg Coffee, based in Carnarvon, takes his turn at the observation post.

The Pilbara Regt RSM WO1 Gary Howard checks in with squadron head quarters on the satellite phone.

A Regional Forces Surveillance Vehicle follows the vermin-proof fence to get to the patrol observation post.

Cpl Warren Ellem and Capt Glen Kuschert spend much of their time in their RFSV driving the dusty tracks of the Pilbara.

For Patrol Commander LCpl Rowan Bird the hot dry weather is just part of the job. Photos by Cristy Symington

Soldiers load up the Zodiac before moving to the next patrol observation post. Photo by Cpl Darren Hilder 1JPAU(P)

Red dust sneaks in everywhere it can – in your eyes, up your nose and into the depths of your ears. It quickly builds up during the long hours spent driving on sandy four-wheel drive tracks snaking their way through the Pilbara.

So untouched, so beautiful, yet sometimes so inaccessible. North Western Australia is home to some of Australia’s richest export resources and a vast coastline high on our national security agenda.

The Pilbara Regt is the eyes and ears of the area, guarding our sunburnt country.

Ops Support Sqn

One of the oft-forgotten but essential teams is the Operation Support Squadron (OSS), the team which usually stays at squadron head quarters.

The OSS provides transport, mechanics, Q Store staff, delivers supplies and repairs vehicles for all sorts of patrols.

During the recent week of patrolling out of Carnarvon, the OSS has maintained a six-strong team, ready to offer support where needed.

Surveillance and reconnaissance, watching and listening

The Pilbara, 500km north of Perth covers some of Australia’s harshest landscapes and demands a high level of commitment from anyone attempting to work there.

Soldiers in RFSU The Pilbara Regt, think nothing of spending a full day bouncing in a 4WD across endless sand dune tracks at 20km/h just to talk to a homestead owner to develop infrastructure information.

It can be a long time between fuel stops and miles and miles of nothing more than a dusty red road and a few scrubby shrubs. But spend a little more time in the area and discover the harshness commands forward thinking and requires a high level of independence.

The regiment’s operations area covers more than 1.3 million square kilometres, from the Kimberley boundary in the north, south to Shark Bay and west to the Northern Territory-South Australia-Western Australia border junction.

A major role for the unit is protecting some of our country’s treasure chest of natural resources.

The three biggest export earners are petroleum, iron ore and salt, which together bring in about $25 million a day.

The regiment’s responsibility includes the oil and gas projects of the North-West Shelf and other islands including the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island.

Surveillance and reconnaissance to protect these assets and provide a security screen is organised under Op Cranberry.

The operation, which started in 1997, is commanded by Norcom, using assets from all three services.

Regimental Headquarters is in Karratha, home to C Troop and Operational Support Sqn, while other sub-units are located at Port Hedland (HQ1 Sqn, D Trp), Newman (A Trp), Tom Price (B Trp), Exmouth (HQ2 Sqn, G Trp), Pannawonica (F Trp), Carnarvon (E Trp) and Perth (3 Sqn).

Apart from the remote location, what makes this regiment stand out from other Australian Army units is that it rarely spends any time training – it’s all real-time work.

CO Lt-Col Craig Johnston said the high operation output was just part of the job.

“Regional Force Surveillance Units are unique – this is a war-time job in a war-time location right now,” he said.

“While this is not like Timor, the unit contributes to our National Surveillance Plan.

“Kicking dirt in training doesn’t exist here.”

There are almost 300 members of the Pilbara Regiment, including about 40 ARA soldiers. Strong support from the local community is a major contributor in the reserve section.

It is a fully integrated regiment which relies on local knowledge in understanding the area of observation to establish patterns in surveillance.

The Pilbara Regt RSM, WO1 Gary Howard, said full-timers and reserves worked well in the regiment.

“I think it’s due to the commitment and enthusiasm and that these reserves can provide the required output,” he said

“It means we’ve got better resources with a real job and given the tools to do it.

“For most reserve units, it’s all training and no light at the end of the tunnel.”

Two weeks ago, seven patrols of six reserves members were out on the third and largest annual patrol time.

Land or water patrols are deployed depending on the location of the observation post.

Their aim is to report on suspicious activity, establish normalcy patterns and confirm infrastructure.

Adj Capt Glen Kuschert said the ARA’s role in the regiment included supporting the patrols and liasing with the community.

Since members live and work in the area of observation, they were continuously gathering information.

“Driving around and noticing what is happening can be as valuable as information we would get during a patrol,” he said.

“The beauty is that when not in service, many of our members are in the environment of the AO, fishing for example.”
Lt-Col Johnston agreed.

“The regiment is part of the community – they all live and work in the environment,” he said.

“This is surveillance in their own back yards so establishing a rapport with the community is crucial.”

Aside from organising its own patrols, the Regiment also works closely with the local civilian authorities and is a well accepted part of the community.

Lt-Col Johnston said the regiment spent much of its time liasing with state and federal agencies to maintain a good rapport.

“Through face to face discussions, the regiment works hard to maintain relationships with people like State and Federal Police, Customs, Conservation and Land Management, shire and regional Councils.”

A further role of the regiment is offering support following cyclones and floods, under Defence Aid to Civilian Community.

Rapid Deployment

The regiment organises three patrols each year, and has the Rapid Deployment Patrol (RDP) for a swift response outside the organised patrols.

Capt Glen Kuschert heads up the patrol of six specialists. The highly-trained group includes a driver, medic, signaller and mechanic – they are in the regiment doing these things all the time so their skills are ready to go at short notice.

“We work closely with civil agencies supporting their requests to gather information they are not able to get,” Capt Kuschert said.

“We’re very independent on patrol, self-sufficient for seven days and able to be resupplied either by air or road so patrols can stay in the field for as long as needed.

“It’s a demanding job in this environment, sometimes with heat up to 50 degrees on location with little relief at night.”

Capt Kuschert said the team was in constant readiness to deploy up to seven days. Like routine patrols, the RDP conducts surveillance using the same equipment.

The main thing that sets RDP apart from other patrols is the team’s reaction time and ability to deal with more complex tasks.

“This is the most experienced patrol in the regiment.”

On patrol

The patrol commander heads up the group of six, including his 2IC, signaller, medic, a driver and a driver/patrolman.

Tasks on patrol include reporting suspicious activity, confirming infrastructure (liasing with owners and collecting data on the location of bores, wells and the state they are in), observing patterns such as boats from a jetty to create an picture of what is normal activity.

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