Australian and New Zealand security forces personnel stood shoulder to shoulder at Exercise Pitch Black, strengthening a long-standing partnership while securing one of the world's largest multinational air combat exercises. 

The nations exchanged knowledge, tactics and best practices to enhance interoperability and build a deeper understanding of each other's capabilities.

Security forces specialist Leading Aircraftman Jese Somerville from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said security forces play a critical role in supporting Pitch Black. 

“While this is an exercise for pilots, we are out here providing real-time security, protecting more than 100 aircraft from 20 different nations,” Leading Aircraftman Somerville said. 

To support the focus of Pitch Black, the flying component, security forces personnel play a critical role in enabling operations to continue safely and securely. 

'While this is an exercise for pilots, we are out here providing real-time security, protecting more than 100 aircraft from 20 different nations.'

While aircraft take to the skies, security forces work around the clock on the ground to enable a secure environment for the exercise to operate safely and effectively. 

Supporting security forces are military working dogs, whose specialised capabilities enhance force protection through patrols, deterrence and detection tasks across the air base. 

For Leading Aircraftman Somerville, one of the greatest benefits of Pitch Black has been the opportunity to work alongside Australian counterparts on a daily basis. 

By conducting joint patrols, security operations and flightline activities together, personnel from both nations have built trust, improved interoperability and gained valuable insight into each other's ways of operating.

“Working alongside the RAAF has been really valuable, getting to see how each other operates,” he said.

“Knowing that if we were to deploy together in the future, we already have an understanding of each other's procedures and can work effectively as one team.”