Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

By Leut Adam Grover

A UNIMOG is offloaded onto Red Beach, Shoalwater Bay training area by HMAS Betano.

HMAS Manoora conducts stern door marraige with LCH HMAS Betano during the insertion phase of Ex Sea Eagle in Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

A soldier in afternoon light in main hanger of HMAS Manoora. Photos by AB Kel Hockey

EMPLOYING 500 soldiers, their vehicles and equipment on HMA Ships Manoora and Tobruk is one thing, making sure that soldiers adjust to life at sea is something else.

The irrepressible enthusiasm and eagerness of the soldiers on Ex Sea Eagle was easy to see. All over Manoora and Tobruk at any hour of the day or night you were likely to encounter soldiers doing PT, using the gym, receiving briefings, preparing equipment and generally adjusting to life at sea.

Pte Joel Foster, 2RAR, said the battalion had done a lot of lead up training for the excersise.

“Last week we did the underwater helicopter safety course, which was pretty exciting and certainly developed a healthy respect for the aircrew who fly over water to transport us,” he said.

“I love my work and coming to sea adds a new aspect to it. I really wouldn’t want to do anything else.

“We spend a lot of time in the bush, and this time at sea prepares us well for any contingency.”

Ensuring that life at sea for the troops is as comfortable as possible is the responsibility of the Ships Army Department (SAD).

In the case of HMAS Manoora, Sgt Anthony Towne is the lynchpin, better known as ‘Tank’, he is responsible for everything from making sure that the troops know how to put on life jackets to allocating bunks and making sure that everyone gets three meals a day.

He said his job offered huge variety and huge satisfaction.

“We have to make sure that soldiers can move safely around the ship, know where to go for leaving ship stations and know who to talk to if they need help.”

Making sure that soldiers find their sea legs quickly is important so as to ensure their readiness for amphibious operations.

Maj Paul Adams, OC B Coy, 2RAR made this point clear.

“While many have been to sea before we need to develop the capability of the battalion as a whole in a maritime environment.”

The range of activities that Soldiers undertook as part of Sea Eagle included the amphibious assault phase, attacks by day and night, ambush, water crossing and simulated CASEVAC.