Now
hear this: Cpl Mick Dalton, School of Infantry, conducts
a debrief during a live fire phase. In the background (near
to far) are Cpl Matthew Schwarz, 3RAR, Sgt Glen White, 6RAR,
Sgt Rohan Free, HQ 1 Bde. The AIST team worked primarily
with the 3 Bde (Rakkasans), assisting in their pre-deployment
training for Op Iraqi Freedom. Photo by AIST
TEN
RAInf personnel have returned after three months of assisting
deliver pre-deployment training to the 101 Airborne Division (Air
Assault) in the US.
Deployed to Fort Campbell in Kentucky from February to April this
year, the Australian Instructor Support Team (AIST) mission was
to provide medium and heavy machine gun training predominantly
to 3 Bde (Rakkasans) in preparation for their deployment on Op
Iraqi Freedom.
Leaving an Australian summer to work in sub zero temperatures
and frequent snowfall, the team conducted theoretical and practical
instruction on the M240B MMG and Browning 50 cal HMG.
While in Kentucky the AIST team developed and instituted workable
brigade-level machine gun SOPs and devised an advanced machine
gun course for squad and platoon leaders of the brigade.
AIST contingent commander Lt Dan O’Neil said the deployment “was
a valuable opportunity to gain an insight into interoperability
and served to foster good relations between the Australian and
US armies”.
“It also provided sound opportunities to enhance the personal
and professional development of those involved,” he said.
