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Key
players discuss airborne capability
By
Pte John Wellfare.
KEY PLAYERS in the airborne fraternities of both Army and Air Force
met recently to discuss the important issues and requirements in
re-building one of the ADF’s fundamental capabilities.
3RAR’s hectic operational schedule in recent times, two tours
of East Timor in three years, has seen the battalion’s role
as a crucial frontline element of the Army’s airborne capability
take a backseat.
CO 3RAR Lt-Col Quentin Flowers said the seminar, involving representatives
from units across two services, was an essential step in rebuilding
and enhancing the parachute capability.
“The Airborne Seminar used to be an annual event up until
1999,” he said.
“In recent years, operational tempo in East Timor and elsewhere
meant that the parachute battalion group is one of many joint capabilities
that really started to wither.
“The aim this year is to get the very low capability that
exists after 3RAR’s two tours of East Timor, the introduction
of the J-Model [Hercules] and various other demands placed on the
capability, from its level at the start of the year up to a point
where, in Ex Crocodile 2003 we plan to parachute the battalion group
into the exercise and validate that we’ve achieved a high
degree of remediation.
“The seminar’s aim was to get all the key stake holders
in one place at one time and address the key issues to make that
happen.”
The airborne seminar ran for two days and involved Army representatives
from 3RAR, 9FSB, 176 AD Sqn, 39AD air maintenance platoon and HQ
3 Bde.
RAAF staff from 36 Sqn, which houses the H-model Hercules’
most commonly employed for airborne operations, 37 Sqn, whose J-model
Hercules aircraft are currently undergoing parachute testing, 1GL
group and other key appointments also took part.
“We had about 50 core participants, but the number changed
depending on how many people from 3RAR were available.”
“The people at the seminar will be either involved in Ex Crocodile,
and most will be, but also involved in all the training and development
and work that has to go on between now and Ex Crocodile to make
it happen.”
Lt-Col Flowers said the battalion is working hard to achieve it’s
goals, but Ex Crocodile would be the test.
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