Ready to be ready
T
HE 1RAR Battle Group was arrayed neatly on the parade
ground as it prepared to deploy to the TFTA at High Range on exercise.
The 800 soldiers and offi cers, canines, weaponry of all
description, artillery pieces, vehicles, armoured personnel
carriers (APC) and tanks made an impressive sight.
“Very few armies can deliver such a high-end Warfi ghting exercise
like our Army does,” CO 1RAR LTCOL Ben McLennan said.
“It is awe-inspiring to be a part of it.”
The Battle Group spent the second half of last month
being tested in the CTC-sponsored Warfi ghter exercise
at High Range and in Lavarack Barracks.
It tested the deployment at all levels, and across all Corps and functions,
in its ability to fi ght a determined, professional, free-play, peer enemy.
“It was a top-shelf training experience that allowed us to
plan and execute tactical actions at the Micro Combat
Team, Combat Team and Battle Group levels, by
day and night,” LTCOL McLennan said.
“It really tested our training, the employment of
our state-of-the-art equipment and our ability to
work as teams brought together at short notice.”
During the exercise, the Battle Group
conducted multiple micro-combat
team, combat team and battle group
off ensive actions in urban and rural
terrain, principally at night.
The soldiers also practiced their
ability to manoeuvre a combined
arms battlegroup via APC, PMV
and rotary wing platforms.
Soldiers and offi cers were able to
test new equipment, such as the
EF88 and its leading ancillaries,
and the Mk47 Light Weight
Automatic Grenade Launcher.
Finally, aspects of the new
Combat Service Support
construct at Brigade level
were tested in a demanding,
opposed environment.
APRIL 2017 | 19