1RAR members deploy from 5 Avn Regt Black Hawks to secure Rockhampton Airport. Photo by WO2 Gary Ramage, 1JPAU(P)

Reinforcements from 4RAR(Cdo) arrive for an attack on an enemy position near Gladstone as part of Exercise Swift Eagle. Photo by Cpl Jason Weeding, 1JPAU(P)

After parachuting in the Coral Sea, 4RAR commandos conduct an attack as part of Exercise Swift Eagle. Photo by Cpl Jason Weeding, 1JPAU(P)

1RAR Vietnam veteran Alan “Jack” Parr awaits processing as an evacuee at Yeppoon as part of Exercise Swift Eagle. Photo by WO2 Gary Ramage, 1JPAU(P)

Evacuees prepare to board a Chinook. Photo by LCpl Scott Mitchell, 1JPAU(P)

Pte Mellissa Trewins, 1JSU, places dirty spuds into the “Rumbler” to be cleaned while Pte Simon Button, 1JSU, peels. Photo by Sgt David Pang, 1JPAU(P)

From Capt Phil Pyke
in Capricornia
As 3 Bde carried out the final operations of Exercise Swift Eagle , Exercise Commander Maj-Gen Mark Evans hailed the week-long exercise in late September a success.

The exercise, which ran between September 19 and 26, is the evacuation trial usually conducted every second year by the ADF’s Ready Deployment Force (RDF).

This year the scenario saw the RDF evacuating Australian nationals from the fictitious island of Capricornia, set in central Queensland.

Maj-Gen Evans said it was important for the ADF to maintain its capability to protect and evacuate Australian nationals in foreign countries if required.

“We need to train for this – we need to be good at it,” he said.

“The central Queensland community has been really good in cooperating with us to enable us to achieve a high level of training.”

He was pleased with the outcomes of the exercise, including the assistance of the local communities.

“The feedback from civilian participants has been very positive

“The support they have shown by giving of their valuable time is fantastic and we couldn’t have done it without them.”

Nearly 1000 civilian role-players from central Queensland communities were evacuated from their homes in helicopters, aircraft, and landing craft during Swift Eagle.

ADF personnel joined with NZDF counterparts in evacuating the role-players from six central Queensland communities.

Four RAN ships – HMAS Kanimbla, Brunei, Wewak and Betano – were deployed in Gladstone Harbour to provide amphibious support to the exercise.

Five Hercules and four Caribou from the RAAF and RNZAF combined with 11 Black Hawk helicopters and four Chinooks from 5 Avn Rgt to ensure fast and effective evacuation.

Aerial support for DJFHQ, who coordinated Swift Eagle, came from 1 Avn Rgt with Iroquois and King Air.

The supporting ground force saw units from HQ 3 Bde, 1RAR, 4RAR(Cdo), 2 Cav Rgt, 3CER, 4 Fd Regt, 3CSSB, 10FSB, 386 ECSS and 2AFDS deployed through central Queensland.

This is a fictitious country used for the purposes of military exercises and planning.

Memories relived for 1RAR veteran

FOR Rockhampton resident and Vietnam veteran, Alan ‘Jack’ Parr, Swift Eagle was an opportunity to relive experiences from more than 30 years ago.

He was one of almost 1000 volunteer role players from central Queensland communities involved in the exercise during September.

The residents answered the call to be Australian nationals in Capricornia being evacuated from their home towns by Hercules, Black hawk, Chinook and landing craft.

The last time Mr Parr rode in a helicopter was as a national service soldier with 1RAR in Vietnam – he was keen to get back on board once again.

A signaller with the 1RAR mortar platoon, he was posted to Fire Support Base Coral, north-east of Saigon.
1RAR and 3RAR with 102 Fd and 161Fd (NZ) Btys undertook pitched battles against Communist forces at Coral during May-June 1968.

“One of my memories of Fire Support Base Coral was flying out in a Chinook in 1968,” Jack said.

1RAR soldiers processed him and his family as evacuees at Yeppoon, along with 120 other locals, before flying them out in Chinooks and Black hawks from 5 Avn Regt.

“The main reason we all came along today was because our youngest son is in Army Cadets,” he said.

“We took the opportunity to let the boys see some of the things I used to do 30 years ago.”
– Capt Phil Pyke

Unrest and strife in Capricornia

The island of Capricornia looks remarkably like a large piece of central Queensland moved into the Coral Sea.

All the towns are there; Rockhampton, Gladstone, Yeppoon, Biloela and even Shoalwater Bay.

The major difference is the inland towns of Emerald, Theodore, Kingaroy and Gympie now have ports and there is a border across the middle of the island.

Split into two countries, North Capricornia and Eromanga, a crisis has arisen with civil unrest in the north.
Law and order has broken down, and militant groups sponsored by another state acting with increased violence and disruption. Australian and foreign nationals in North Capricornia are in real danger.

In the scenario of Swift Eagle 02, the Australian and New Zealand Governments decide a combined military option is the best way to evacuate their citizens with the cooperation of the North Capricornian Government.

With nearly 1000 local residents, including local authorities, playing the evacuees, a militia enemy and 2000 operational ADF and RNZDF personnel, the scene was set for a challenging exercise.
– Capt Phil Pyke

Keeping phones and food coming

By Pte Tezza McQuillan
An exercise the dimension of Exercise Swift Eagle requires an enormous level of support.
DJFHQ and other command elements needed power, phones, computers, transport, a medical post and, all importantly, meals – all which were supplied by 1JSU.

Preparing 20,000 meals over the fortnight, the mess brought in 800kg of meat, 375 dozen eggs and almost 3000 loaves of bread.

Pte Debbie Robinson said the mess had eight cooks and two stewards who worked nonstop.

“We start at 4.30am and we finish at about 7 or 7.30pm each night,” she said.

“I do look forward to coming out to these sorts of activities, because I get to do the bulk cooking rather than 10 serves of this and five serves of that.”

Communications were also crucial.

1JSU deployed 143 white phones, 22 Parakeet phones, 64 units on the cordless access telephone system as well as 60 DSN and 92 DRN computers throughout the exercise.

To make this happen, more than 6km of phone line and 2.5km of fibre cable was laid.

Many of the members of 101 Sig Sqn, 1JSU, were tasked to provide communications 24 hours a day.

Sig Lex Reynolds, who was part of the seven member Ready Communication Element, said they work long hours, until they get the comms up.

“It is often pretty trying but when an exercise is over or something goes well you feel pretty happy – a sense of achievement,” he said.

XO 1JSU and Camp Commandant for HQ Swift Eagle Maj Phillip Hills said 1JSU’s role was to provide DJFHQ and its commander the support required whenever it deployed.

He said that from 1JSU’s perspective the activity was a success.

“Everything’s run pretty smoothly, and everybody’s worked very well, as we’re about keeping the customer happy,” he said.

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