Keeping comms up in the west
Volume 11, No. 47, July 13, 2006
By WO2 Eric Bateman

Powering ahead: Sig Andrew Cameron connects a power cable to a generator during Exercise Empire Bull at the Northam Training Area.

SIGNALLERS from 109 Sig Sqn have hit the bush to brush up on their field and tactical deployment skills.

The squadron from 13 Bde conducted tactical deployment Exercise Empire Bull at the Northam Training Area 100km east of Perth in June.
The exercise provided the opportunity to put grass-roots training into a field environment where the squadron could carry out corps trade tasks as well as practice soldiers in the routines of field craft and the long hours required in a fully-operational setting.

The exercise started at 1900h with a final check of systems before driving to the Northam area. Once on the range, the convoy went into full tactical mode after orders were issued and deployed at 0030h on a cold Saturday morning.

This did not faze the enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by the mainly reserve officers and soldiers of the squadron who were eager to show the skills they had learnt on many training nights and during courses at the School of Signals.

The components of 109 Sig Sqn on the weekend exercise included three radio troop detachments, led by Lt Jessica Sweeney, a circuit switch assembly detachment from Bearer Troop, led by Lt Ashleigh Flanagan, and the Sqn HQ led by WO2 Lisa Flynn.

CO 8 Sig Regt Lt-Col James Rutups and RSM WO1 Craig Rogers were visiting to provide specialist and supplementary communications and information systems support for the conduct of training for 2 Div units.
Lt-Col Rutups said he was very impressed with the equipment deployed and with the professionalism of the 109 Sig Sqn members.

“109 is going about its training in a very professional way. It is very pleasing to see the unit undertaking quintessential deployment exercises such as Empire Bull,” he said.
Lt-Col Rutups was accompanied by the OC 109 Sig Sqn Maj Ian McDonagh and SSM WO2 Shane Campbell.

Maj McDonagh was very pleased by the squadron’s capability in applying their basic signals training and delighted at the serviceability and availability of equipment and vehicles used.

“The opportunity for grass-roots training to be applied in a field environment is what our reserves thrive on. The workability of vehicles and equipment was morale boosting to the members of my unit,” he said.

There was also an opportunity taken up during the exercise to demonstrate the mobile assets and equipment of the unit to a very enthusiastic group of 180 Army cadets from rural WA and Perth metropolitan units, who were also at Northam for a training camp.

Training opportunities in the field are invaluable to the men and women of Army reserve units, and Empire Bull demonstrated the importance of brushing up on those skills in the role 109 Sig Sqn plays in support of 13 Bde’s area of operations.