Explosive Reserve training

Volume 11, No. 56, November 16, 2006
By Michael Brooke

Straight shooter: A shell leaves behind clouds of smoke and flames as it streaks from the barrel of an 84mm Carl Gustav in this dramatic photograph taken during a live-fire exercise that 4/3RNSWR conducted at Holsworthy Range. LCpl Steve Campbell is firing the weapon, while his loader, LCpl Craig Wild, and safety supervisor Sgt Jayson Jensen keep a close watch on proceedings. Photo by Sgt Stephen Morrow.

4/3RNSWR reservists recently discovered the big bang theory when firing the Carl Gustav 84mm platoon support weapon during Exercise Messines at Singleton Range.

The big bang wasn’t the coming together of the universe, but the coming together of important soldier skills as symbolised by the roar of firing the Carl Gustav.

More than 100 soldiers participated in Ex Messines, the battalion’s annual field exercise for 2006, which built on fundamental infantry skills by developing skills up to platoon-level teams.

CO 4/3RNSWR Lt-Col Glenn Weir said the exercise practised up to platoon-level groups in IMT, MOUT, section weapons and platoon weapons.

“Ex Messines provided the battalion with training to further develop the soldiers within the battalion, particularly with regard to the new Inf 2012 structure,” he said.

Lt-Col Weir said 4/3RNSWR was heavily focused on capability development in order to meet the challenges of HNA-R, which requires rserve formations to provide greater support to the Army during the high operational tempo.

Earlier, 4/3RNSWR, which is part of the Holsworthy-based 5 Bde, conducted an infantry military skills competition and Exercise Executive Stretch to introduce the employers of reservists to Service life and conditions.

4/3RNSWR conducted Executive Stretch on behalf of the Defence Reserves Support Council from October 13-15, which succeeded in strengthening ties between the employer, their reservists, and the Army Reserve.

Lt-Col Weir said as 5 Bde sought to raise and train High Readiness Reserves, it was important that employers of reservists were prepared to release them for duty.

He said this was best achieved by increasing their understanding of the important role of the reservists who sign up for the HRR.

4/3RNSWR has also recently conducted its military skills competition at Holsworthy, which Lt-Col Weir said would help 5 Bde defend its title at the 2 Div bi-annual military skills competition.