Safari so good for 9 Bde

500 SA soldiers defend San Rhino on exercise

By Maj Jonathan Ball and SSgt Bob Dikkenberg
ELEMENTS of 9 Bde recently put their training to the test when Exercise Rhino Charge 02 was conducted in the Woomera Prohibited Area in the South Australian desert.

For two weeks soldiers primarily from 12/40 RTR and 10/27 RSAR formed a Force Protection Company Group (FPCG) and took part in an intensive training program where specific capability areas were evaluated as part of the exercise.

During the two-week period the soldiers developed a defensive position, completed mounted and dismounted manoeuvre training and performed Rear Area Security operations in a company setting.

Deployed to San Rhino, a fictitious island nation to Australia’s north as part of a UN peacekeeping Force, the 160 members of the FPCG were evaluated to determine their suitability to be sent on Exercise Croc 03.

Brigade soldiers not directly involved with the FPCG were employed in individual and collective training in a brigade environment.

The involvement of the fake UN as part of the exercise scenario exposed the Reserve soldiers to a variety of situations, some of which they had not previously experienced.

Throughout the exercise members of the FPCG were exposed to protestors demanding Australia’s withdrawal from San Rhino, live-fire section and platoon attacks, with artillery and DFSW in support.

Infantry platoons were given the opportunity to carry out extended, independent patrols over a four-day period in order to allow them to fine tune their patrolling skills.

The two main objectives of the exercise were to identify the present level of training within the brigade and to conduct military operations appropriate to their units for an extended period.

Staff from the Defence Support Centre, Woomera, were very supportive of the brigade and their enthusiasm and assistance was invaluable.

Staff provided access to buildings in several key locations across the range, reconnected water and power as required and allocated a number of specific areas that were utilised in the artillery live-fire practice.

As part of a mutual benefit arrangement, brigade units were able to assist with specific repairs and improvements within the designated area of the exercise, which also provided real-time training opportunities.

 

Visitors taste life in the field

By Capt Sandra Turner
THE Army’s role in community liaison was highlighted recently on Exercise Rhino Charge 02 when a visitors day was arranged for invited guests to observe a live-fire platoon attack with Sustained Fire Machine Gun and artillery in support.

Observers to the platoon attack included local landholders and Defence Support Centre Woomera staff (DSCW).
Both landholders and DSCW staff were extremely supportive of 9 Bde before and during the exercise and were keen to see some of the soldiers in action on the day.

Visitors included Honorary Colonels of the brigade’s two infantry battalions – the Governor of South Australia, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson and the Governor of Tasmania, Sir Guy Green.

Both Honorary Colonels spent time talking with soldiers and learning more about life in the field.

 

Eclipse of the Bight

By Capt Sandra Turner
IT IS not every day that more than 500 soldiers have the best seats in the house to experience one of the most fascinating natural phenomenons in the world, but late last year soldiers from 9 Bde did exactly that.

Koolymilka, just north of Woomera, was one of the best viewing places in the world to experience the recent total solar eclipse – the AO for the exercise (Woomera Prohibited Area) falling within this area.

9 Bde soldiers travelled from as far away as Tasmania, Broken Hill, metro and country South Australia to participate in Exercise Rhino Charge 02, many experiencing the phenomena – which lasted 26 seconds – for the first time. (It has been 28 years since the last solar eclipse in Australia.)

Those who witnessed the phenomena said it was an experience of a lifetime and certainly not to be missed.