ADF’s training objectives met in combined ex

Leaving: 1 Bde tanks on the beach at Lee Point wait to board the a hovercraft for transport to USS Boxer. Photo by LAC Allan Cooper

COORDINATING 17,000 Australian and US forces in an exercise scenario that encompassed areas from Amberley to the Coral Sea wouldn’t be the easiest task.

Despite everything that could have gone wrong, ADFWC Director of Exercises Col Greg Molyneux said that Exercise Talisman Sabre 05 ran almost exactly to plan.

“There were no major hiccups with the conduct of the exercise,” he said.

Col Molyneux said there were no major safety incidents, no major real world security issues, nor, importantly, any major environmental issues.

“From the CTF and components’ perspectives, all CPX and FTX objectives were achieved.”

He said that the basic exercise scenario painted a picture of coalition forces up against Kamarian forces on Baykara and Legais, and that this scenario remained in place throughout the exercise.

“The first part of the exercise, the CPX, was a simulated activity where coalition forces neutralised Kamarian forces on Baykara.

“The second part, the FTX, was a real activity where coalition forces neutralised Kamarian forces on Legais (SWBTA).”

He said that there were hundreds of lessons learned throughout the exercise, but one lesson was paramount – the requirement for comprehensive planning.

“CTF planners and senior leaders need to be involved early in the planning process. For TS07, there’s a clear intent to ensure sufficient time for CTF planning is built into the exercise planning process.”

He said the same approach to planning for TS07 would be applied but several areas of planning would be refined.

“One of the major challenges for TS07 will be for Australian planners to assume the lead role in the planning process.”