Talisman a charm

The ADF’s biggest combined joint exercise has finished for another year, Lt Simone Heyer had the chance to get among the action.

Feeding frenzy

Top tucker: Pte Luke Lecek, 15 Tpt Sqn, and CS2 Manuel Urbaina prepare dinner at Camp Rocky’s mess. Photo by Lt Simone Heyer

Lt Simone Heyer

IT DEFINITELY wasn’t a case of turning a loaf of bread and a handful of fish into a bounty for thousands for the joint combined catering crew on Exercise Talisman Sabre 05.

Culinary Specialist Chief US Navy Chief Petty Officer Paul Modzelewski, Navy Cargo Handling Bn 8, said the kitchen’s team of 30 catering staff fed about 700 people three meals a day. And as the war wound down numbers increased to 1400 as people moved into Camp Rocky from SWBTA.

PO Modzelweski said the key to having happy patrons was keeping meals simple – with plenty of variety.

“We have a lot of steak, pasta, barramundi and chicken dishes – with pizza,” he said.

“We’ve have five choices of main meals, they’re all very nice.”

He was confident the quality of mess food took business from the Frontline Eagle Boys pizza van on base.

He said with a mixed crew of half ADF and American personnel, the meals were a combination of Australian and American influence.

“We’ve had cheese steaks, and creamed beef with biscuits – which didn’t go down too well with the Aussies.”

WO2 Scott Falls, 9FSB, head caterer for the exercise, said the Americans didn’t quite warm to tinned spagetti and baked beans for breakfast.

He said that most food from the mess was well received.

“Catering has been topping the survey poll for quantity and quality on the exercise,” he said.

“The sandwich bar has been a big hit – we like to give a bit of variety to keep morale up, and not everyone likes eating a hot meal for lunch.”

Despite the high numbers being catered for, WO2 Falls said there were less people eating than originally planned.

He said the catering motto was “we sustain” and the catering crew certainly did that.

WO2 Falls said over a two-day period, personnel at Camp Rocky consumed 500 loaves of bread, 300kg potatoes, 700kg of meat and 2000 litres of milk.

With all that food there should be no complaints – but if there were, the catering crew directed personnel to a Combat Ration Pack.

WO2 Falls said friendship and skills had been exchanged between the Australian and US troops and they had an enjoyable time working together.

Showcase of skills

Packed: A soldier from 3RAR leaves Kapyong DZ. Photo by Cpl Bernard Pearson

Lt Simone Heyer

MEMBERS of the Airborne Battle Group (ABG) demonstrated the potency of the ADF’s airborne capability in north Queensland as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.

CO 3RAR Lt-Col Adam Findlay said the Australian ABG parachute assaulted into Kapyong Drop Zone in Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Hours earlier, the US Army 1/501st Parachute Infantry Regiment had jumped in, having deployed directly from Alaska in C-17s.

“The pathfinding was provided by SASR free-fall patrols alongside 3RAR and A Bty Recon elements who inserted by air-mobile from USS Boxer,” Lt-Col Findlay said.

“The ABG is a high-readines organisation based around the 3RAR light infantry battalion and incorporates specialist support from A Bty 4 Fd Regt, 1HSB Parachute Surgical Team, RAAF mobile air control element, signalmen from 3CSR and 7 Sig Regt, a 3CER engineer troop and HQ 3 Bde command elements.”

He said the ABG provided ADF combat commanders the capability to project at very short notice and force-generate a light infantry battle group anywhere within the flying radius of a C130.

“The unique feature of the airborne parachute assault is that it is not dependant on having to airland at a secured airfield,” he said.

“The jump was completed through closely-integrated joint planning from six RAAF C-130s and included more than 300 paratroopers along with vehicles, rations and supplies to enable the battle group to rapidly transition to light infantry operations to complete its mission.”

Lt-Col Findlay said that once on the ground, the ABG seized and opened the Williamson Airfield, allowing other force elements to be flown into theatre or build up from the amphibious lodgement.

He said throughout the exercise, the ABG demonstrated tits core capabilities as a combined arms light infantry battle group by conducting airmobile, vehicle- mounted and foot operations throughout the AO. The tactical manoeuvre was supported by Leopard Tanks from 1 Bde’s Deployable Battle Group and 1/501PIR.

The ABG’s airborne entry is designed to complement the Amphibious Battle Group entering from RAN ships. Having two battle groups projecting simultaneously allows the ADF rapidly build up a brigade in a well practised entry from the air and sea operation.

“Talisman Sabre was an excellent opportunity to showcase the wide range of the ABG’s capabilities and to fully integrate with allied airborne forces as part of a larger entry organisation,” Lt-Col Findlay said.

Add air for joint health

Lt Simone Heyer

WHEN someone says inflatable hospital, images of a jumping castle filled with doctors spring to mind.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth for visitors and patients to RAAF Base Richmond’s 3 Air Transportable Hospital that deployed on Exercise Talisman Sabre.

3ATH’s medical and support team has been waiting keenly for a chance to deploy the hospital, which previously has only participated in shakeouts.

CO 3ATH Wing Commander Steve Davis said the Expeditionary Health Facility Level 3 (EHFL3) had deployed to the exercise to provide in the field what a small hospital would.

“We have the capability here to do initial wound and life-saving surgery, then transport patients to other care,” he said.

The hospital has two rotary wing aircraft at its disposal.

“Kinds of injuries we see are normal for the environment. Military operations are inherently dangerous. From parachute jumps we see lower limb or head trauma injuries, as well as road accident casualties, snake bite and flu outbreaks, Wg-Cmdr Davis said.

He said the hospital had only seen minor injuries and sickness.

“There have been very few casualties,” he said.

While the US had a floating level 3 health facility, its land forces could use the ADF’s hospital.

“We’re prepared to give ADF and US personnel the best care possible in the event of a casualty,” Wg-Cmdr Davis said.

He said the EHFL3 could provide emergency medical support within four hours of touching the ground in an emergency.

For exercise Talisman Sabre, hospital staff were given the benefit of time to set up completely before the FTX started.

It took 48 hours to set up the 18 tents of the hospital, which is rolled out, then supports are inflated to give the tents a solid structure.

Inside the inflatable tents’ sandcoloured walls lies a rabbit’s warren of rooms connected by completely covered walkways, creating a totally sealed environment.

Everything looks and smells clean, medical personnel sit at computer terminals or check equipment. It’s quiet and relaxed, but at a moment’s notice, the area would turn into a highly-efficient care-giving facility.

48 health care members were on staff at the hospital, a mixture of full-time Air Force and specialist reserves. Wg- Cmdr Davis said the two combined well to provide a full suite of care.

A 50-person combat support element attended the hospital.

Wg-Cmdr Davis said a validation team assessed the hospital’s conduct during the exercise to make it part of Orbat.

Decking down

Lashed: A Black Hawk from 5 Avn Regt is secured by a chok and chain crew after landing on the USS Boxer’s flight deck during Exercise Talisman Sabre. 5 Avn Regt completed the amphibious landings as the exercise drew to a close.

The exercise provided the first opportunity to operate 5 Avn Regt’s Blawk Hawks on board a US Navy ship. Over a 10-day period the Black Hawks completed more than 1200 take-offs and landings, exceeding 160 hours of flight time. Capt Andre Smith, 5 Avn Regt, said landing on the Boxer was very different as the pilots were used to landing on small ships. He said it was great to work in a coalition environment, learning how the US did business.

Photo by Cpl Rachel Ingram