Battle ready: Gnr Jason O’Leary, 20 STA Regt, takes up a defensive position.
Tank hunter: Pte Chris Collins, 2RAR, scans Freshwater Beach while shouldering his 84mm Carl Gustav weapon after landing in a US Marine Corps’ Armoured Amphibious Vehicle during Exercise Talisman Saber. Photo by Cpl Chris Moore
3RAR soldiers leap into action during Exercise Talisman Saber 07. Photos by Cpl Michael Davis and WO2 Mark Dowling

ARMY hit the ground running on Exercise Talisman Saber 07 (TS07), with between 3500-4000 personnel from a number of units, along with Navy and Air Force elements, participating in the joint US-Australian event.

1 Div Commander Maj-Gen Ash Power, who is JTF661 Commander during TS07, said Army’s commitment to the exercise required a focused effort considering the other tasks it was undertaking.
“1 Div has about 2000 people deployed on operations overseas,” Maj-Gen Power said.

“Given that the US and Australian military are experiencing a high operational tempo, getting significant forces in the field has been a real challenge.

“The scenario and what forces were available was determined some 18 months ago at the first of many planning conferences. A lot has happened since then.”

Units from around the country have travelled to Rockhampton, Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and Townsville in Queensland and Bradshaw Field Training Area in the NT to take part in the three-week land, air and sea exercise.

Maj-Gen Power said HQ 3 Bde and a battle group based around 2RAR supported by 2 Cav Regt and 2/14LHR (QMI) began the exercise embarked on RAN and USN ships. They were taken ashore by amphibious landing craft and helicopter to SWBTA, with elements of 3RAR conducting a parachute insertion.

“Other 1 Div units such as 16 AD Regt, 7 Sig Regt, 20 STA Regt and 1 Int Bn supported 3 Bde, with combat service support being provided by a number of units coordinated by 17 CSS Bde,” Maj-Gen Power said.

“They have performed a large number of administrative, logistic and heavy lifting tasks based out of Rockhampton, and have performed them very well.”

He said TS07 would culminate with Army and US forces closing on the enemy force’s main defensive position, at the recently constructed urban operations training facility – its first use.

“It will be a real challenge for the assaulting force to clear the objective,” he said.

“It is a significant village. It is situated on a slight rise with open fields of view and fire and, of course, will be populated by both civilians and the enemy, adding to the complexity of the task.

“Towards the end of the exercise we will also be conducting a live firing activity, involving a combination of close air and naval gunfire support, as well as organic fire support assets from Army, coordinated as part of a tactical scenario.”

Maj-Gen Power said JTF661 HQ had already begun planning for when the blue force handed back the fictitious country to its people.

“Having expelled the red force, a number of conditions must be set to enable the transition and the formation of some sort of legitimate, acceptable government,” he said.

“We have a very detailed transition plan including input from non-government and government organisations and agencies. This is not a purely military solution, and we have adopted a whole-of-government approach to a very complex problem.”

Maj-Gen Power said Army personnel had performed as he expected – exceptionally.

“Nowadays we put our forces through a very rigorous set of exercises before they are sent on operations and they are really well prepared,” he said. “I would hope that by the end of this exercise soldiers will come away having met the challenges faced, thinking they have achieved something significant and are better at their job.”

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