Defending the ground
Volume 11, No. 57, November 30, 2006

Here to help: 16 AD Regt members in Dili are enjoying the regiment’s most significant deployment in 16 years as they form G Coy of Anzac Battle Group. Photo by Cpl Rachel Ingram

MORE than 100 members of 16 AD Regt have settled into a steady work routine in the regiment’s most significant operational deployment in 16 years, after arriving in Dili on October 30 to form G Coy of the Anzac Battle Group.

OC G Coy Maj Tim Lopsik said the members of the company had been selected from throughout the regiment.

“The force consists of approximately 45 members each from 110 Bty and 111 Bty, with the remainder coming from Spt Bty,” he said.

“Our primary role in Timor-Leste is to provide 24-hour static security to vital assets across Dili, including FOBs, the APOD and VIP residences and workplaces.”

Before deploying, the soldiers received extensive training to prepare them to undertake the change in role from Ground-Based Air Defenders.

Maj Lopsik said that the two weeks’ preparation and training in Woodside formed the basis for additional role-specific training that continued in Townsville.

“Initial training at Woodside focused on getting the guys qualified to LF 6, day and night. As well as country briefings, completion of administration required for deployment into TL and a farewell barbecue for soldiers and their families,” he said.

In Townsville the soldiers followed a rigorous training program designed and delivered by members of A Coy, 1RAR.

“We completed a week of in-barracks training with A Coy, which included vehicle embus/debus procedures, use of PPE, cultural, language and intelligence briefs, and ROE,” Maj Lopsik said.

“We then went to the MOUT village at the High Range Training Area and conducted extensive force preparation training involving cordon and searches, urban, rural, mounted and dismounted patrolling, critical incident response and a five-day Mission Rehearsal Exercise.

“The soldiers found the training interesting and challenging, and have greatly increased their professional competencies as a result of the experience.”

He said his soldiers had focused on learning as much as possible throughout Force Preparation and believed that this attitude and the quality of training received had gone a long way towards preparing the members of G Coy for their new role in Timor-Leste.

“The soldiers have made huge inroads within their sections and have rapidly gained a number of new skill-sets, outside the normal scope of ground-based air defence operations,” he said.

“They were very open to the training they received and demonstrated an amazing ability to assimilate new lessons and experiences.

“They are performing to an exceptional standard on the ground here in Dili and are relishing the new opportunities that are being presented to them.”

Maj Lopsik also praised the professionalism and work ethic of the 1RAR members who prepared and conducted the training for the 16 AD Regt soldiers.

“A Coy put a lot of effort into creating a realistic portrayal of daily life in Timor-Leste, and in particular, Dili,” he said.

“They used existing Dili place names as a part of the training and included scenarios from their Operations Log to inform the MRE, so when we hit the ground we already had a sense of familiarity with the environment.”

This is the first major and largest operational deployment for 16 AD Regt since air defence detachments were sent to the Persian Gulf aboard Navy ships.