On border patrol
Volume 11, No. 53, October 05, 2006
By Maj Mark Tanzer

Lookout: Pte Thomas Squires in the top-cover position of a Bushmaster while on patrol. Photos by Cpl Rob Nyffenegger

SOLDIERS in Overwatch Battle Group-West (OBG-W) are gaining valuable experience in a new and challenging part of their 51,000 square kilometre area of responsibility.

As part of operational overwatch, the battle group now has responsibility for liaising with units from Iraq’s Department of Border Enforcement (DBE). This takes them down to Al Muthanna’s southern border region, and to the real desert of extreme temperatures and blinding sandstorms.

The patrols are carried out by Combat Team Alpha – comprising 2/14LHR (QMI) crews and their ASLAVs – and Combat Team Bravo – based around A Coy 2RAR, with soldiers from 6RAR crewing Bushmasters to give the combat team its mobility.

Maj Shane Wakley, OC Combat Team Alpha, said the long patrols to Al Muthanna’s southern desert had been an eye-opener.

“We’re learning some new skills and adapting to a remote environment that is fairly demanding,” Maj Wakley said.

“Over the period of a task we can travel up to 800km and stay out for a good while. The terrain is very diverse, ranging from rocky moonscape to sand dunes out of Lawrence of Arabia. It’s quite stunning and never the same.

“In parts, there are reminders of previous conflicts. It’s like driving through a museum, with tanks still in bunkers and old gun emplacements.”

He said soldiers had learned to keep cool in extremely hot temperatures, without the respite of returning to air-conditioning at the end of a day.

The unique desert wildlife always introduced itself to the soldiers after they set up the night hide.

“At night, a few snakes, scorpions and spiders join us for a bit of company. You always take a stretcher to get off the ground, and a mozzie net. The sandflies are fierce as well. The blokes are used to it now, and it’s not hard to adapt if you’ve done bush time back home in places like the Northern Territory,” Maj Wakley said.

He said the long patrols required careful preparation and sound logistics.

“You have to be precise and thorough before you head out – there’s no coming back to pick something up. It’s the old tyranny of distance, and again it’s like working in the south of the Northern Territory – you have to have everything squared away, whether tyres, fuel, water, rations or medical support,” he said.

But meeting Bedouins and the people of desert villages always remained the highlight for the combat teams. Australians received a warm welcome and hospitality that was humbling to all soldiers.

“They like having us with them in the desert – not just for security, but to pass on their customs and traditions, and to hear about Australia,” Maj Wakley said.

“The Bedouin welcome us like we’re family. We attend traditional feasts and gain a greater understanding of their culture. They’re really great people, and I’m always sorry to have to leave and push on.”

Close ties with the Iraqi Army’s 2/10 Bde – a relationship forged by AMTG 1, 2 and 3 – are strengthened on the overwatch patrols.

Both combat teams, with liaison officers from Headquarters Coy, spend time with local units and commanders to maintain the link.

Maj Andrew Stevens, OC Combat Team Bravo, sees careful planning and preparation as vital for any long patrol or task where an FOB is established.

“There’s a range of tasks that we might have to complete in a number of different environments – it could be urban, semi-urban, rural or desert,” Maj Stevens said.

“You have to be flexible with that, plus self-sufficient in terms of logistics.”

The Bushmaster is a highly effective vehicle and soldiers are learning how to improve its strengths. This feedback and lessons learned from the motorised role that the combat team had performed in a high-threat environment were proving valuable.

“With the Bushmasters, our range has increased and our response time has decreased,” Maj Stevens said.

“It’s proving that infantry motorisation works and is a very effective capability in this theatre. We believe that the first long patrol back into Al Muthanna as part of overwatch was also the first motorised infantry patrol in an operational theatre since the Bushmaster was introduced.”

He said flexibility remained the key to success with overwatch operations.

“It’s the soldiers’ ability to change from role to role. One moment they’re mounted in the Bushmaster, the next they’re dismounted and supported by the Bushies, who might be in a different location,” Maj Stevens said.

“Soldiers in the combat team are working hard in arduous conditions, including extreme temperatures, handling the requirements and challenges of dealing with multiple tasks – they’re doing a great job.”

Capabilities taken into the AO are not restricted to the combat teams. OBG-W HQ and Admin Coys provide joint offensive support teams, liaison teams to work with the Iraqi Security Forces, medical, signals and A2 echelon elements such as refuelling, transport and resupply of water and rations.

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