10 July 2025
In the lead up to Exercise Talisman Sabre, convoys of trucks hauling vehicles and equipment become a common sight up and down the Bruce Highway.
But what happens when those cargo-laden vehicles reach their destination?
That’s where Corporal Jared Basso and his team of cargo specialists jump into action.
Stationed at the entrance to Camp Growl in Shoalwater Bay, Corporal Basso and a team of six cargo specialists use cranes and forklifts to get multinational forces unpacked and ready to fight.
“As a cargo specialist, I’m here to facilitate the movement and storage of cargo in and out of this transit area for both Australian and foreign forces,” he said.
“We’re here to provide manual handling equipment support with the heavy forklifts and cranes. We’re here to help.”
The team from 10th Force Support Battalion use equipment suitable to the tasks at hand; a 2.5-tonne all-terrain forklift for lighter pallets and equipment, and a 15-tonne forklift for shipping containers.
They also have a 60-tonne crane for lifting vehicles and equipment that forklifts cannot handle.
Since they arrived, they have helped transfer equipment for United States, Japanese, South Korean and Singaporean forces.
Lifting international vehicles and cargo can present some challenges, which require different methods of movement.
“We find that other nations’ cargo and vehicles are built quite differently to ours, so we have to be aware of that,” Corporal Basso said.
“For example, their containers are built to different standards than ours so the way we lift those has to be changed.”
'We find that other nations’ cargo and vehicles are built quite differently to ours, so we have to be aware of that.'
As well as contending with international cargo, operating in a tactical environment with such large equipment makes good use of Corporal Basso’s infantry background.
“In barracks we get the opportunity to move cargo for different units, or loan our equipment and operators out for field or shakeouts,” he said.
“The tactical side can be a bit tricky, especially when you have a 60-tonne crane sticking up. We can't just set up anywhere, but sometimes you have to make the most of where you are tactically.”
Corporal Basso said the diverse roles that cargo specialists could take on had given him a broader experience in Army.
Whether it was loading tanks and containers on to a Navy ship, or moving a pallet of rations across the field, cargo specialists always had a job to do, he said.
“As cargo specialists, we often get confused as movers, but the difference is that we specialise in the movement of all cargo,” Corporal Basso said.
“It’s a bit of a niche job, but we're quite a specialised group and our services are required and appreciated by most other units. It keeps us busy so we're happy to help.”
Australia will host Talisman Sabre from July 13 to August 4, with more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations set to participate.
