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Black attack
By Maj Jason Beck
Edition 1172, August 9, 2007 |
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All clear at the cafe: 5/6RVR soldiers keep an eye out for the enemy at Blackwood shops during Exercise South Pacific III.
Photo by Maj Jason Beck |
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THE idyllic Victorian country town of Blackwood has been cleared of insurgents and peace reigns again.
The upsurge of violence in the usually quite village was all part of 5/6RVR’s July training weekend when more than 150 members of the battalion conducted a security operation to practise their urban peacekeeping skills, with a “live” enemy and real civilians, during Exercise South Pacific III.
Lt-Col Neil Grimes, CO 5/6RVR, said Blackwood, with a population of 300 and adjoining Wombat State Forest off the Western Highway near Trentham, was perfectly suited to the task.
“Basically, Blackwood is a small town surrounded by forest. It’s exactly the kind of environment 5/6RVR soldiers have operated in overseas,” Lt-Col Grimes said.
“The only issue we didn’t face was a language problem.”
The 5/6RVR soldiers’ task was to separate the insurgents from the townsfolk, and protect the town and its infrastructure.
They did this through urban and rural patrolling, vehicle checkpoints and doorknocking. The enemy initially appeared in civilian dress, and later in distinctive uniforms.
Another focus of the exercise was operating in the interface between urban and rural areas. An extensive community liaison program was a major focus.
“We contacted local police, the Moorabool Shire and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) along with business and community leaders,’’ Lt-Col Grimes said.
“Without exception, their responses were hugely positive and supportive.
“There were even some residents out of town for the weekend disappointed they missed the exercise.”
The unit also put up posters around town advising of the exercise.
The activity also had some economic benefits for the town, with the unit renting the community hall for use as a headquarters.
Soldiers also found that Blackwood’s general store and cafes were able to add some variety to their ration packs.
Company HQ operated out of the local country fire station, with tremendous support from the town’s CFA crew.
Lt-Col Grimes said the months of planning that went into the exercise paid off handsomely, and he particularly thanked locals for their support.
Exercise South Pacific III was the culmination of a series of urban peacekeeping exercises the unit has held this year, beginning at RAAF Base Laverton.
The balmy exercise name belied southern winter conditions in Blackwood, which had snow in the week leading up to the exercise. Temperatures overnight reached -5C – a new experience for many participants.
Lt-Col Grimes said 5/6RVR had just provided a platoon to the 4 Bde deployment to the Solomon Islands, which gave the weekend exercise additional relevance.
“Future deployments are very much the focus of our training,” he said. “We expect to send more platoons and hopefully a company to operations in the next few years.” |
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