Cpl Nathan Kerkez, section commander and tracker, D Coy 5/7Bn Gp. Photo by LS Ollie Garside 1JPAU(P)

Keeping track

By Cpl Jonathan Garland

FOR one soldier of the 5/7RAR Bn Gp, deployment to East Timor has proven to be an opportunity to immediately put into practice new skills.

Cpl Nathan Kerkez, a section commander with Delta Coy, completed a tracker’s course in the lead-up to deployment.

The soldier said the situation and terrain was ideally suited to the visual tracking abilities the Army had taught him.

“The wet conditions and thick foliage make for excellent sign and the ability to interpret that sign can make a patrol much more effective,” he said.

“If you find a track you can assess how old the sign is, how many people there were, if they’re wearing boots or not and which direction they were travelling.”

His skills were put to dramatic use in March when there was an incident of possible militia activity, which later proved to be criminal activity.

“I and an MP with tracking dog moved into the area and conducted a handover with the Fijian soldiers at the scene, then looked for signs of which way the group had gone.

“We found no sign leading uphill away from the site, so we assessed they’d gone back down their track to the river.”

Cpl Kerkez then spent three hours examining the site itself to determine the number of people in the group, what they’d been eating, their level of training and any other intelligence obtainable.

All this data, which later proved to be highly accurate, was reported to his commanders, who interpreted it and made decisions accordingly.

AO Matilda, where the Australians are operating, has recently increased in size, with a corresponding increase in territory for those patrolling.

Delta Coy has moved to the Gleno district and is working with the locals to establish the excellent relationship for which the Australians are famous.

Cpl Kerkez said the terrain in the district provided distinct challenges as a soldier and a commander.

“The terrain is obviously quite steep and mountainous with thick underbrush, so when moving through it you have to be a little cautious.

“As a commander, you’ve also got to keep an eye on your men because they’re carrying heavy loads in adverse conditions and there’s always the threat of heat illness.”

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