Reserves finish three-month deployment

By Capt Michael Magyar

THE first contingent of reserves to deploy on Op Relex II has been welcomed home by 2 Div after finishing three-month deployment.

Transit Security Element TSE) 35 deployed aboard HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Ballarat from November to January to support the Navy’s patrols of Australia’s northern waters.

OC TSE 35 Capt Simon Mouatt said TSE 35 comprised soldiers from 4, 5, 8, 9 and 13 Bdes.

“The deployment provided the soldiers with the opportunity to gain skills and experiences they would not normally have gained elsewhere,” Capt Mouatt said.

As part of their deployment, the soldiers of TSE 35 underwent five weeks of pre-deployment training.

5 Bde conducted the first two-and-half weeks of training, which covered personal protection and control, weapons training, rules of engagement and PT.

The 2 Div soldiers then did two weeks training with the Navy in Darwin on firefighting, maritime survival skills, controlled use of force and cultural sensitivity briefs. The lessons culminated in a two-day exercise with the Sea Training Group onboard HMAS Parramatta, where they obtained their deployment capability sign-off.

Gnr Joseph Chaseberry, 7 Fd Regt, said the training was excellent. “We learned new skills and got to do things we wouldn’t normally get to do back in our home units,” he said.

Chap David Prior visited the soldiers of HMAS Ballarat for two weeks over January to celebrate the first holy communion service onboard the ship.

Comd 2 Div Maj-Gen Paul Irving said TSE 35 had demonstrated 2 Division’s ongoing commitment to providing operational capability to the Army.

“This has also been demonstrated in recent contributions such as the 4 Bde lead deployment to Rifle Coy Butterworth, A Coy 5/7RAR to East Timor and most recently with elements to Op Sumatra Assist,” he said.