By Capt Ian Toohill
AN EXTRA level of domestic protection was added to the Australian community recently, with the official launch of the Reserve Response Force (RRF) at Maygar Barracks in Melbourne.

The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Danna Vale, and CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy officiated at the ceremony, which was well attended by the media.

All in attendance witnessed a display of some of the skills acquired by the first 26 members of the 4 Bde Reserve Response Company who had just graduated from the first of a series of short and intensive courses to be conducted in each reserve brigade

It is intended that each brigade within 2 Div will have a fully operational response company of up to 156 soldiers, at a high state of readiness, by December 1.

Mrs Vale said Australia had seen the valuable contribution reservists make through their outstanding service as part of recent operations in the Middle East, Timor and Bougainville.

“The raising of the RRF adds yet another dimension to the roles reservists can play in our national security and defending our national interests,” she said.

Competition for inclusion in the RRF has been fierce with some 500 soldiers applying for selection from 4 Bde alone. The initial groups have been trained by specialist instructors from units around Australia, including military police, legal, intelligence, public affairs and engineers.

The subjects have included traffic control, casualty evacuation, low risk searches, handling the media, defensive tactics, conducting vehicle check points and vital asset protection.

A number of these tasks are not new to the soldiers of 2 Div – many members were involved in Operational Search Battalion as part of Operation Gold in support of the Sydney Olympics.

One reservist said it was enjoyable, a change from normal infantry work.

“The engineer’s search and explosives awareness lessons were great. I am looking forward to the continuation training,” he said.

“It was great to do some new training relevant to today’s climate and good to know we are being well trained for things we may need to respond to.”

.