Unknown areas test soldiers on exercise

Personnel from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), tested themselves across scenarios and locations in Queensland as part of Exercise Black Cutlass.

Enemy parties established positions and were tasked with concealing and protecting high-value targets at Cowley Beach Training Area, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Cape Cleveland and Townsville Field Training Area.

Elements of 2RAR inserted into the area as the joint pre-landing force via small boats off HMAS Choules at Cape Cleveland and Cowley Beach, and observed enemy positions for several days before launching raids to secure the high-value targets.

Operations officer Major Thomas Grawich said challenges included interoperability with the Royal Australian Navy and countering drone threats.

“Company commanders had to react to what the other company commander was doing,” he said.

“Lift considerations had to be carefully planned to enable flexibility.

“Both commanders had to consider the threat of drones while achieving their missions.”

Some soldiers were challenged by new terrain and having to navigate a blend of beach, dense bushland and steep features.

Officer in Command of Admin Company Major Luke Hanna said it was a great opportunity for the soldiers to experience something new, in an area they were not accustomed to.

“Training around Cape Cleveland and AIMS does a few things. It’s a new training environment, which is unfamiliar for our soldiers and junior leaders,” he said.

“They’re working in unfamiliar terrain that they don’t know like the back of their hand like they may at Townsville Field Training Area.

“It’s a good experience working around some non-Defence training areas that are urbanised and have civilians, which adds a level of realism we might not always get in a Defence training area.”