Image Gallery 2010

29 June 2010
Multi-national rumble in the jungle

The gift of sight is one of the most important senses we have, and soldiers from the East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL) have recently shown how effective it can be.

During MAREX 10, also known as Exercise Crocodile in East Timor, soldiers from B Coy 8/9RAR, New Zealand, East Timor and US Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15MEU), undertook five days of jungle training just outside of Vemasse.

Lt Brent Daire from the directing staff said the F-FDTL soldiers gave an example of just how good their observational skills were in jungle terrain.

“This is where they excel,” he said.

“They pick things up and anything that is not meant to be there they pick up like lightning. They are very quick at it.”

He said if anything was unnatural in a jungle setting they would see it immediately.

“This is their natural environment and they have been working in it a long time,” he said.

“They would make great scouts.”

OC B Coy 8/9RAR, Maj Dave Guthrie, said one of the biggest challenges in jungle warfare was visualising a target. That is a skill the F-FDTL soldiers could pass on to others who worked with them.

B Coy found many of its previously held assumptions challenged in the tangled undergrowth at Vemasse.

“The F-FDTL brought the ‘ground truth’ to how it has been done in the past,” Maj Guthrie said.

“They have given us a little bit of enjoyment and opportunity to see how it can be done.”

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Captain Paul Sanderson with the Defence Co-operation Program (DCP) checks the navigation on a map with an East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL) section from the Ready Company Group.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Private Michael Paulger, 18, from Nambour (Sunshine Coast), adjusts his pack before moving off for a patrol in East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Sergeant Cameron Wagstaff, 36, of Brisbane, checks his pack before moving off on a patrol in East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Major David Guthrie trades an Australian patch with United States Marine Captain Dan Loughry for a Marine Captain's rank.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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A New Zealand soldier prepares to lay down covering fire for his section during the jungle training assault area.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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New Zealand soldier Private David Burrell passes on orders to his section as they prepare to move and assault on the jungle training area.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Lance Corporal Sid Panui yells out orders to his section before conducting a jungle assault.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Corporal Ubaldo Da Costa Priedade of the East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL) charges through the jungle training area.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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First Sergeant Mateus DeJesus DaCunha leads his section of East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL) soldiers as they assault the jungle training lane.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Sergeant Ben Daly informs the East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL) Section of what to expect when moving through the jungle training lane as a section.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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United States Marine Corporal James Porter, 24 with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15 MEU) awaits his turn to assault the jungle training lane.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Private Vauhan Egnn, and Lance Corporal Nat Taylor work on a mud model as United States Marine 1st Lieutenant James O'Neill discuss assault plans with Corporal John Morison.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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United States Marine 1st Lieutenant Brian Collins rehearses his orders to Australian soldiers and US Marines.

(Date taken: 23 June 2010)
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Pictured are members from 6 platoon, B Company, 8/9RAR during jungle training near Vemasse, East Timor.
(Left to right) Private Vaughan Egan, Private Jesse Gray and Lance Corporal James Bell.

(Date taken: 24 June 2010)
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Pictured are members from 6 platoon, B Company, 8/9RAR during jungle training near Vemasse, East Timor.
(Left to right) Private Michael Manuoefetla and Private Craig Robson.

(Date taken: 24 June 2010)
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Pictured are members from 6 platoon, B Company, 8/9RAR during jungle training near Vemasse, East Timor.
Private Joel Nicallef is seen looking at the camera while resting.

(Date taken: 24 June 2010)
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Pictured are members from 6 platoon, B Company, 8/9RAR during jungle training near Vemasse, East Timor.
Private Joel Nicallef is seen moving to a new location after a rest period.

(Date taken: 24 June 2010)
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