The sharp sound of simulated gunfire and mortars echoed through the jungle as coloured smoke billowed across the canopy. 

The culminating land activity of Exercise Bersama Lima, a multilateral company assault, had found its target – an enemy camp.

Australian soldiers from Darwin’s 1st Brigade played a central role in the high-intensity operation, working alongside troops from Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

Lieutenant Alistair Wuth, a troop commander from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment re-rolled as infantry platoon commander of 3 Platoon for the exercise, said it had been a privilege to learn alongside other nations.

From classroom briefings to ambushes and assaults, soldiers adapted to each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), with the penultimate activity being a complex company-sized ambush along a key main supply route.

“We learn from each other's TTPs, we practise each other's TTPs, and most importantly, we end up moulding those realities together to create successful actions in the jungle,” Lieutenant Wuth said.

Among the Australian contingent was Sapper Daniel Bernard-Smith, who participated in an attack alongside British Gurkhas, Singaporean and Malaysian troops, with Singaporean soldiers mixed in with Australian sections.

“We had one of their machine gunners and two of their grenadiers to assist us with our assault,” Sapper Bernard-Smith said.

“Working with the Singaporeans has been a bit of an eye-opener. Just learning how they work with their [standard operating procedures] SOPs and TTPs; it’s been good to adjust our own to integrate with them.”

'It was amazing to work with the other three nations. We integrated really well and conducted various lessons and attacks.'

British forces brought their own jungle expertise to the table, particularly through the Royal Gurkha Rifles, whose experience proved invaluable.

Platoon commander of the Gurkhas 2nd Lieutenant Kit Greenacre said some of his troops had infantry jungle experience beforehand. 

“We really utilised their knowledge – from survival basics like putting your shoes upside down to avoid snakes and spiders, to tactical navigation and movement in dense terrain,” he said.

2nd Lieutenant Greenacre praised the integration.

“It was amazing to work with the other three nations. We integrated really well and conducted various lessons and attacks. It was really, really good fun,” he said. 

Gurkha Rifleman Deepen Gurung said it had been great working with the other nations.

“We get to know the skills and tactics they use and we get to action ours as well. It’s been a great experience,” he said.

Soldiers also shared meals, stories and traditions.

“Whether it’s enjoying a meal with them after a long day of work or just sitting down and sharing experiences from their armies and lives, that’s probably been the most valuable takeaway for all of us,” Lieutenant Wuth said.