7 May 2024
Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) has completed almost 150 rotations across several decades, but for the soldiers of 13th Brigade, this deployment still offers an array of new experiences.
Western Australia’s 13th Brigade served as the mounting unit for the recently completed Rotation 142, where Perth-based soldiers were joined by their part- and full-time colleagues from more than 30 Army units across the country.
For many, including Private Rowan Allen of A Company, 11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment, this rotation offered opportunities unlike anything he had previously experienced.
“This was my first overseas trip in my career and going into it I was fairly nervous about being a junior soldier among other more experienced people on the deployment,” Private Allen said.
The big training highlights of the deployment according to Private Allen included conducting a company attack and undertaking urban training with the Malaysian Army in the Butterworth and Zhukov training areas.
“My highlight of the trip was carrying and firing smoke from the 84mm on the ambush day and I also got to set up a live claymore for the first time,” he said.
“As far as personal development goes, I feel I am a much more competent soldier now than before, and I have a much better idea of what it means to work as part of a company-sized element.
“Overall I would say Rifle Company Butterworth is a great trip to go on, especially if you’re a junior digger and want to increase your individual soldier skills.”
'My highlight of the trip was carrying and firing smoke from the 84mm on the ambush day and I also got to set up a live claymore for the first time.'
For Lieutenant Tenieka Bosveld, of the 10th Light Horse Regiment, taking command of a platoon during her first overseas trip with Army presented some unique challenges.
“Taking care of soldiers overseas for an extended period of time ... came with some complexities. However, we had a great command team, who clearly articulated our mission and training outcomes, and this made it a really successful rotation,” she said.
“The jungle is an amazing environment that we don’t normally get to experience here in Western Australia, and the urban training facilities in Malaysia and Singapore were phenomenal.
“Being able to train in the jungle and in complex urban environments really contributed to raising the levels of preparedness of our soldiers.”
Officer Commanding RCB-142 Major Marco De Freitas said even after 53 years of commitment to the region, Rifle Company Butterworth continues to offer Australian soldiers of all ranks a range of training opportunities, from individual to company level.
“RCB deployments offer a well-resourced, unique and challenging experience in jungle and urban environments, including the opportunity to conduct live-fire activities,” Major De Freitas said.
“All soldiers genuinely contribute to international engagement through their training and social interactions with their Malaysian and Singaporean counterparts.”
The ADF has deployed soldiers to Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia since 1971.
