Going solo: Seen through the smashed window of a fertiliser factory, a lone soldier practises his patrolling and assault skills during Exercise Borneo. Photos by WO2 Wayne Ryan
Friendly invasion: Resembling Darth Vader clones, soldiers from Perth, Albany, Bunbura and Katanning take part in 11/28RWAR’s urban operations training in Albany
SOLDIERS from 11/28RWAR have hit the streets of Albany, on the south coast of WA, as part of an urban operations training weekend.
Exercise Borneo, involving a company of 110 troops from Albany, Bunbury, Katanning and Perth, was a chance for participants to perfect their patrolling and assault skills in an urban setting.
Soldiers used the city’s race course as a staging area, carrying out orders and rehearsals before undertaking mounted and foot patrols in the city centre, with much interest from Saturday morning shoppers. The soldiers then moved towards their main target – the a fertiliser factory, where an initial attack was carried out at midday, with a night attack at 1 o’clock on Sunday morning.
Stairwell clearances featured prominently in the 10-storey high facility, with a successful urban assault the end result despite the enemy’s use of smoke grenades, deception and cunning battle plans.
It was the first time some of the soldiers have had the opportunity to use the latest in Army night-fighting technology in a complex multi-level environment in support of local authorities.
CO 11/28RWAR Lt-Col David Thompson said the weekend was very successful in achieving all objectives.
“This activity is very important for members of all ranks to go through the complete cycle of detailed planning orders and carrying out a difficult operation of this type,” Lt-Col Thompson said.
“The benefits of this type of training are demonstrated in the bringing together of all the individuals skills to work as part of a team in a much larger operation.”
