13 May 2025
Members of 54th Siege Battery, located at RAAF Base Edinburgh, will be the first to introduce the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) capability into service.
Battery Commander, Major Ben Hutchinson, said the introduction of the battery was a great opportunity to shape the culture of the unit.
“It also provides the chance to shape the actual application of the capability moving forward,” Major Hutchinson said.
“It's a unique opportunity that very few people get in their Army career to be somewhere day one and actually be driving a capability forward. The guys have really picked up on that and are running with it. It's a good place to be.”
For Bombardier Nicholas O’Connor, the prospect of working with new capabilities led him to 10th Brigade.
“Once hearing about the HIMARS and then doing my own research into them as well, it fascinated me and I wanted to be a part of bringing them into service,” Bombardier O’Connor said.
“It's not every day we get new pieces of equipment and that's why I put my hand up because I wanted to be part of the excitement.”
Commanding a HIMARS crew gave him the opportunity to travel overseas and gain first-hand training and experience.
'It's not every day we get new pieces of equipment and that's why I put my hand up because I wanted to be part of the excitement.'
“Last year I was fortunate enough with my battery sergeant major and a couple of other gents to go to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington for HIMARS driver training,” Bombardier O'Connor said.
“It was great working with the Americans and having them show us the equipment before it has even arrived in Australia. We were looked after very well and they were very informative and happy to answer any and all of our questions.
“Everyone here really wants to create a positive work environment and as we are all volunteers who have put our hand up to come here, everyone is actually more motivated.
“It has been really rewarding so far this year. The culture amongst everyone here working together is great and we are finding a balance of positivity, a professional work environment and individual motivation as well as everyone's willingness to learn.”
Major Hutchinson said the battery and wider brigade were not just made up of artillery roles.
“We need people from a wide variety of backgrounds to contribute so we can get the best outcome,” he said.
“Our people are going to get plenty of opportunities to go overseas and do international engagement. That's one of the good things about where we're going with HIMARS as the capability itself is plug and play with regional and other partners.
“Our guys are going to be doing things that nobody else in Army is going to get to do in terms of the type of live-fire activities we want to do with bespoke munitions. The way we're going to shape a capability from day one is a very unique situation to be in.”
