By FLTLT John Hacking
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FLGOFF
Christie Hatchman was all smiles during the Caribou ride.
Photo by FLTLT John Hacking
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LAC
Tony Weiler and military working dog Ruger were a very effective
early warning asset during 23SQN’s participation in
Exercise Dauntless.
Photo by CPL Sam Luque
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FLTLT
Heather King has a go at the fire fighting drill while CPL
Stuart Cummings looks on.
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DAILY
air operations were combined with core-competency ground defence
training when No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron members deployed
from RAAF Base Amberley to the Wide Bay training area for Exercise
Dauntless.
Personnel were taken to and from the training area by Caribou
aircraft supplied by No. 38 Squadron.
During the exercise in late July, 38SQN aircraft operated out
of the Wide Bay training area supported by 23SQN maintenance,
fire and operations personnel.
Squadron Leader Geoff Jackson, Commanding Officer of 23SQN, said:
“This is the second year we have run a deployed ground defence
training activity. Last year the focus was ground defence and
general service knowledge training. This year we injected more
realism by adding the requirement to support Caribou flying operations
while defending a key point.”
More than 80 members of the squadron of all ranks, musterings
and specialisations participated in the five-day exercise.
“What we are trying to build at 23SQN is a balanced expeditionary
capability that can support the Permanent Air Force both within
Australia and overseas,” SQNLDR Jackson said.
“In addition to ground defence skills, this exercise tested
our logistics, transport, medical, administrative and catering
capabilities.
“Many of 23SQN members have overseas operational experience
including Vietnam, East Timor, Bouganville and the Middle East.
“By deploying into the field, this knowledge and experience
can be passed on to other squadron members in a realistic training
environment.”
One of the younger members of the squadron, 20-year-old Flying
Officer Christie Hatchman, said: “I’ve done ground combat
courses before, but nothing like this. During this exercise I
was a section commander for ground defence and an operations officer
for air operations.
It was a unique experience leading a section after three hours
of broken sleep and then swinging roles into daily routine supporting
the flying operations.”
