By
CPL Cameron Jamieson
DURING
Exercise Swift Eagle, the ADGs of No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron
and dog handlers from No. 321 Combat Support Squadron found themselves
securing an Air Point of Disembarkation.
This was to allow the safe evacuation of Australian and other
nominated nationals from the mythical land of Capronesia to Australia.
Flight Lieutenant Harvey Reynolds, from 2AFDS, was on hand when
a crowd of “protesters” arrived at the front gate to demand a
solution to their predicament. “We had a ‘protest’ at our main
access control point, over the use of the airfield,” FLTLT Reynolds
said.
“There’d been a dispute over employment rights and compensation
which hadn’t been resolved by their government.”
The
“protesters’” angry shouts turned to deeds as they vented their
anger on the perimeter wire and other obstacles.
The situation called for the ADGs to keep a cool head as they
quietly stood their ground and ignored the taunts of the “protesters”.
An opportunity arose for an identified person of interest to
be apprehended, so a team ventured forth with the assistance of
the Army military police to grab the suspected dissident.
The situation quickly escalated as the “protesters” fought to
stop the joint-force team, so the task was halted in the name
of safety, but not before a “ringleader” had been apprehended.
The loss of a “leader” took the wind out of the sails of the “protesters”,
and they gradually dispersed, leaving the ADGs with the wreckage
of the perimeter fence to repair before the next assault.
The incident was one of a number of scenarios handed to the ADGs
during the exercise.
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