The brains of the outfit

By Private John Wellfare

INTELLIGENCE staff deployed to RAAF Scherger proved vital in the establishment of a controversial strike aircraft launch platform in a simulated tense political environment during Exercises Northern Awakening and Kakadu.

As part of the exercise scenario, intelligence personnel from No. 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron had to understand and anticipate the actions of an escalating protest movement, disgruntled locals and a shadowy special forces unit trying to prevent No. 1 Squadron F-111s from getting airborne.

Heading the base intelligence cell, Security Police Corporal Shane Ryan said the exercise control element had created a realistic threat environment to challenge all base personnel.

“You cannot replace this sort of training opportunity with a desktop or something like that,” he said.

“There is an element working behind the enemy, planning operations and trying to meet objectives.

“The last thing you want to do [as an intelligence operator] is stand up in front of the commander and say ‘I think they’re going to do this’, and they do something completely different, or even worse, not telling him you think something’s going to happen and it does and we lose assets.

“A lot of research and analysis goes into it; it’s not something you sit down and look at lightly.”

The section relied on information provided by a range of sources, from Airfield Defence Guard patrols in the area and local media reports up to Australian Government intelligence organisations, in developing a clear understanding of the current and potential threats posed to RAAF Scherger.

 

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