Green phoenix rising

Now we talk: Members of a field human intelligence detachment conduct a liaison visit with a village chief asking about the whereabouts of a militia suspect during Exercise Green Phoenix. Photo by 1 Int Bn

Converging on Canungra from all over Australia members of 1 Int Bn took to the field to hone their basic skills then began an exercise in earnest, Capt Pinghan Chua reports.

A TEST of the skills of 1 Int Bn, the recent Ex Green Phoenix 05, involved a deployed Intelligence Operations Element (IOE) as part of a notional Combined Joint Task Force conducting peace support operations in a fictitious nation.

The IOE had to conduct security and specialist intelligence operations as part of the stabilisation of the country. The exercise, conducted at the Canungra training area, deployed a broad range of intelligence specialisations including field human intelligence, psychological operations, protective security and regional human intelligence.

Formed of 1 Int Bn members from across the country, the IOE was organised into an HQ element and two platoons of three detachments each.

The detachments were tested by rotating through vehicle counter-ambush drills, break-contact drills, search of a village and arrest of a suspect, responding to a vehicle accident, evacuation of Australian and approved foreign nationals, manning an access control point, establishment of an observation post, liaison and field human intelligence tasks.

“Intelligence operators are required to work in small teams, independently, and in isolated areas,” said CO 1 Int Bn Lt-Col Gavan Reynolds.

“They need to constantly draw on their training while also using their initiative and resourcefulness.

“Field exercises like Green Phoenix are crucial in ensuring that members of 1 Int Bn maintain their basic soldier skills as well as their specialist intelligence skills.”