Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

Two members of A Coy, 5/7RAR, say g’day to the local kids in East Timor.

On guard – a member of A Coy, 5/7RAR, takes his turn at picket.
Photos by Capt Ian Toohill, HQ 4 Bde

Reserve comes of age

Army reservist Capt Ian Toohill visits A Coy, 5/7RAR, as its tour of duty in East Timor – as the first reserve combat sub-unit to serve on operational duty since WW2 – comes to an end.

IT WAS April 1968, I was 18, the Vietnam War was at its height and as a university student, I wanted to do something extra for myself and my country, so I joined the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) and did National Service.

Thirty-five years later as the PR officer for 4 Bde, I was travelling from Dili to visit A Coy, 5/7 RAR, at its Batugade Forward Operating Base (FOB) in East Timor. As the first reserve combat sub-unit to serve overseas on operation since WW2, the company was nearing the end of its six month tour of duty.

During the two and a half hour drive, winding along the coast road towards Junction Point Alpha and the border with Indonesian West Timor, I had time to reflect on today’s enhanced role of the Army Reserve.

During the 70s and 80s we trained and trained. While we did some worthwhile things and developed respectable military skills sets, there was no end state – no operational imperative.

In 2000, the Federal Government passed legislation that significantly extended the role of the Reserve. It widened the range of circumstances for which reservists could be called out and provided protection measures for members returning from periods of military service. In 2001 the ADF also introduced measures to financially support employers of reservists.

2 Div’s responsibilities have grown from maintaining an expansion base for the conduct of operations against military attacks on Australian territory to the preparation of forces for reinforcement, roundout and rotation, as an integral part of Army’s total combat force capability for operations world wide.

While some 800 individual reservists have already served in East Timor, the infantry company made up of 71 soldiers from 4 Bde with about 20 from 8 Bde, as a formed unit, has vindicated the faith in the Reserves exhibited by the Government and senior military planners.

CO 5/7RAR, Lt-Col Michael Lean talked about the seamless transition of the soldiers of A Coy from their civilian environment to full-time soldering when I spoke to him recently.

“They have performed every task I have required of them to the same standard as my regular companies,” he says.

“I would have no hesitation taking a reserve company on peacekeeping operations again if the circumstances arose.”

Lt-Col Lean, who took over as CO 5/7RAR in February, moved A Cocy from a more benign area of operations down onto the border area.

With an FOB at Batugade they have conducted boarder control tasks at Junction Point Alpha and trained the newly-formed East Timorese Border Protection Unit, who took over boarder control at the beginning of May.

The company has also been very active in conducting ‘green hat’ patrols. These have involved patrolling in difficult terrain for up to eight days at a time. All three platoons have conducted these on a rotational basis. They have also conducted many ‘blue hat’, visible UN patrols, visiting outlying, often remote villages, to show a presence and win the hearts and minds of the locals. All the soldiers I spoke to found this activity particularly rewarding.

“The lead up training was pretty tough, we had to cover a lot in a short time but they did it and did it well,” he says.

“They have continued to perform well throughout the deployment and I would be happy to deploy again with all those who intend to serve on.”

Many found the experience of being on operations overseas on Anzac Day 2003 particularly significant. They have been away from family and friends for 11 months now, due to their acclimatisation and pre-deployment training in the Northern Territory.

The dawn service was a simple but poignant one with a bugler and piper from 5/7RAR Pipes and Drums providing the background to the OC’s speech. Naturally the traditional game of Two Up followed a hearty cooked breakfast, while some members preferred to take the opportunity of a swim in the ocean 20 metres in front of the FOB.

Some soldiers found Anzac Day more emotional than others. That was especially true for Pte Alfonso Lai, originally from 5/6RVR. Born in Dili in 1975 he escaped to Australia with his family when he was six months old. 27 years later he returned to East Timor with 5/7RAR.

“I have enjoyed the six months here immensely and I live in the hope that East Timor thrives as a free country,” he says.

“It would be especially satisfying for me to look back and say I helped in my small way. The highlight has definitely been the patrolling, being in the bush with mates, the sights and the welcome you get in small villages. It was reassuring to see that after 25 years of occupation the East Timorese still have their zest for life.”

All those I spoke to feel they are better people and better soldiers, having had the experience of operational duty in a third world country where they have not only honed their military skills but made a difference in the lives of the East Timorese, who have suffered so much since the dark days of 1942.

They have certainly lived up to the creed of the original Anzacs and played their part in maintaining the role of the ADF as a force for good in the modern world.

For most members of A Coy this deployment will probably be a stand out event in their military careers. The vast majority intend to return to service in the Reserves, where their operational experience will be a benefit to all. Half a dozen members plan to stay on in the Regular Army.

Pte Graham Wilson, whose Reserve unit is 2/17RNSWR, will return to his civilian job as a policeman and reserve service with renewed enthusiasm.

“The experience has made me appreciate living in Australia with our great lifestyle,” he says.

“As for the military side, it was great to have access to so many resources such as choppers, APC’s, dogs and other support.

The experience has increased my enthusiasm and commitment to the Army Reserve. It has shown that our training is realistic and is utilised.”