A battle becomes black and white when you're on a mission and your platoon needed that 84mm 30 seconds ago. Photos by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper Members of C Coy, Bluefor fire an 84mm rocket at an Opfor APC during the final assult toward Starlight. Pte Mathew Pirrion, C Coy 5/7RAR Bluefor, calls a target indication on an Opfor APC. The heavy mechanised combat team approaches the Opfor dummy position moments before mortars showered down. Earlier Pte Luke Wiffen and Pte Brent Thompson, 5/7RAR, B Coy, 6 Pl, prepared the Opfor dummy position. Some members of 5/7RAR were used to boost the cabability of the Opfor Pl for the duration of Excercise Heavy Weight Spar. Pte Kevin Bloffwitch, 5/7RAR at the After Action Review.

Hit me with your best shot
5/7RAR has got sparring in the box

Army's Queensland reporter, Cpl Belinda Mepham checked out how C Coy handled the CTC rotation with the Combined Arms Battle Wing.

The best way to learn lessons fast is to do a CTC rotation, according to Bluefor, who recently battled against 14 Mech Bn Musorian Armed Forces (Opfor), as part of Combined Arms Battle Wing's (CABW) realistic training scenarios.

Bluefor, C Coy 5/7RAR (Mech), and Tank Tp 1 Armd, the infantry heavy combat team, has a mission to clear the MSR on Harvey Island in order to facilitate the defeat of Opfor.

The challenge for this training exercise is that the enemy play is not scripted and they certainly don't turn up in an anticipated grid square and die a dramatic death like typical enemy, therefore introducing a realistic and unpredictable threat to the Bluefor mission.

OC C Coy, 5/7RAR, Bluefor, Capt Sean Kearns says fighting a thinking enemy is an extremely effective way to learn operational lessons at all levels.

"This isn't a scripted activity, the enemy has as much free play as we do, it has brought a very realistic element of combat to the exercise," he says.

"The unpredictable realism gives us the best chance to assess our Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP), outside of being on operations."

This is not a scripted activity, the enemy has as much free play as we do.

Through the use of Tactical Effects Simulation System equipment (TESS) the results of engagements are absolute.

Each moving part such as APCs, tanks, soldiers and weapons are fitted with the appropriate components of TESS.

TESS allows mobility kills, KIA and varying degrees of personal injury from most Army weapon systems, including those of the Musorian Armed Forces.

"This type of training has highlighted the initiative and core skills at section level.

"Members are suddenly thrown into unfamiliar roles when the section commander, or signaller or crew commander is killed or wounded."

After Action Reviews (AAR) are conducted at the end of the battle, an SOP for CABW activities.

The AAR provides an open platform at section through to company level for members to voice their lessons learnt, opinions, troubles and triumphs.

Ideas and concepts, in particular chain of command issues, are workshopped at the AAR and then put into action for the next mission.

Simple communication issues through to vehicle support, medical supply shortages or strategic progress are discussed and resolution sought.

Bravo Sect, 9 Pl, C Coy and Bluefor discussed the effectiveness of the realistic design of Exercise Heavyweight Spar.

In a group discussion, members say they are adapting to the challenges of the real time scenarios and events.

Points which all members contribute to include:

• The realism is more effective that any other method of exercise they have experienced.
• The benefit of having a free playing enemy kept the section at a higher level of readiness compared to a typical staged exercise.
• Most members had toured East Timor and say they are able to link experiences and lessons learnt from UNTAET.
• They are given good constructive feedback through the AARs that create certain flexibility to take risks and to continually evolve SOPs that work or not.
• Commanders at all levels have to learn on the spot and were more accountable for their actions.
• A real-time enemy that isn't scripted definitely raised the bar on typical battle exercises.

Section commander LCpl Justin Kertkz says that in comparison to Exercise Crocodile, which they had just completed, the CABW method has alternate but more effective results.

"The reality of this exercise creates a better balance for training outcomes," he says.

"The most challenging thing is we are not an invincible force here.

"I am impressed to see the section have a passion to win this, not the expectation that we will."

Pte Adam Marsh says the section and platoon vulnerability are being challenged in a constructive way.

I personally liken this to real time operations such as our time in East Timor.

"We can lose anyone or any capability at any time, this has made us very aware of the situation," he says.

"I personally liken this to real time operations such as our time in East Timor, of course we will end-ex here with no actual loses, however, during any given moment until then, every member is accountable for the outcome."

The section also agrees that the only thing that could be better improved would be that more support elements such as snipers and mortars could be utilised to enhance the formation.

B Sect 9 Pl says the take-home results package provided for unit commanders by CABW should improve other yearly training priorities.

"Some of us have been at 5/7RAR for years and constantly churn out the same training," LCpl Kertz says.

"It's important and necessary, however, the take-home package will confirm what we know very well and what needs further improvement giving the unit clear training outcomes for the year."

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