edition 1211, april 30, 2009

Edition 1211 April 30, 2009

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TAKING FIGHT TO TALIBAN

BOOTS RECALLED P2 BLANKS NOW BLACK P3 ARMY’S DIGITAL REVOLUTION P6-7

Insurgents in parts of Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province have been routed in a series of recent operations involving

Australian, coalition and Afghan forces. Here LCpl James Bezemer scans the

surrounding area with the optical sight of his Steyr as soldiers from Combat

Team Tusk patrol through the complex green zone terrain in the troubled

Karakak region of Oruzgan. Full report Page 2

2 NEWS Army April 30, 2009

The Soldiers’ Newspaper

DirectorRod Horan: (02) 6265 4650

EditorialEditorDavid Edlington: (02) 6266 7609Deputy EditorsSharon Palmer: (02) 6266 7612Lt Kris Gardiner: (02) 6265 2151Senior Reporter:WO2 Graham McBean: (02) 6266 7608Reporters:Sgt Brian Hartigan: (02) 6266 7614Cpl Corinne Boer: (02) 6265 2427Sports EditorBarry Rollings: (02) 6265 1304

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DisclaimerArmy is published fortnightly by Defence Newspapers. It is printed under contract by Capital Fine Print. The material published is selected for its interest. The views expressed in published articles are not necessarily those of Defence or Army. Every advertisement is subject to the Directorate of Defence Newspapers approval and the Directorate of Defence Newspapers may, at its discretion, refuse to accept an advertisement for publication. The Directorate of Defence Newspapers accepts no responsibility or liability in relation to any loss due to the failure of an advertisement to appear or if it appears in a form which is not in accordance with the instructions received by the Directorate of Defence Newspapers. The fact that an advertisement is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service has the endorsement of the Department of Defence or Army.

Ready: Pte Adam Warland provides security for engineers searching for weapons in southern Afghanistan. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

Face of Army

THE Army Graded Other Ranks Pay Structure implementation team has been watching closely the Navy GORPS roll-out.

For Army, GORPS will be implemented in early June for regular and CFTS members, and August for reservists. All payments will be back-dated to September 4, 2008, but the phased approach will allow the service implementation teams to learn from each other and ensure a smooth transition when it is Army’s turn.

DGPers-A Brig Gerard Fogarty said the implementation team “has now placed all members into the new 10-grade pay structure and will be going through the manual testing of these placements in the very near future”.

A CA directive to be released in early May will detail the role and responsibilities for key stake-holders in the roll-out, as well as clearly identifying the resolution paths for GORPS-related issues.

“Unit pay representatives and chief clerks, as well as DSG cus-tomer service staff, will play a very important role in assisting members with GORPS-related queries in the lead up to and fol-

April 30 – Robertson Barracks; May 5 – 6 Avn Regt; May 6 – 5 Avn Regt; May 7 – Lavarack Barracks; May 8 – Cabarlah; May 11 – Enogerra; May 12 – Oakey; May 13 – Canungra; May 18 – Watsonia; May 19 – Puckapunyal; May 20 – ALTC; May 21 – ARTC; May 22 – Vic Barracks, Melbourne; May 26 – Karrakatta; May 27 – Swanbourne.More information on the times and loca-tions of the briefing tours is available on the dedicated GORPS website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/DPPA/comweb.asp?page=159268&Title=WRA%20-%20GORPS

TALIBAN strongholds in southern Afghanistan have been successfully targeted by Australian, coalition and Afghan National Security Forces in a recent series of operations.

SOTG and MRTF 1 have been involved in major combat operations against Taliban insurgents since March.

SOTG operations held in support of coalition force operations in Helmand province have taken the Taliban insur-gents by surprise and left their activities in north Kajaki in disarray.

Maj-Gen Mark Kelly, Commander Australian forces in the Middle East, said Operation Aabi Toorah involved coalition forces from the UK, US, Netherlands and Australia in support of Afghan troops in a major strike against Taliban operations in Helmand province.

“The key objective of the operation was to disrupt the insurgents in northern Helmand province in order to support Afghan National Security Forces and coalition framework security operations,” Maj-Gen Kelly said. “The SOTG were in the field, deep inside a Taliban strong-hold for 26 days. They were involved in 11 major contacts with Taliban insur-gents that resulted in significant disrup-tions to Taliban activities.”

He said SOTG elements faced the daily threat of small arms and rocket attack as well as IEDs. In one day alone

14 IEDs were identified. On one occa-sion insurgents spotted laying a device were directly targeted using close air support.

“On April 1, Australian troops entered an area that was considered an insurgent stronghold and came under heavy and sustained contact with the Taliban,” he said. “It was a day-long series of attacks through 12 compounds. Australian forc-es responded aggressively against the attackers and while the Taliban were determined in their actions, they were seriously routed.”

The operation was not without its downside, with the tragic death of Sgt Brett Till on March 19 and the wounding of four other soldiers, one seriously.

“Success is not without its risks and the Special Forces soldiers continued to prosecute their objectives,” Maj-Gen Kelly said. “The success of this opera-tion is evidenced by the fact that the Taliban have been denied their freedom of movement while Afghan locals, the Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces are now able to operate more freely in the region. The Taliban insurgent network has been seriously disrupted while its resources have been significantly degraded.”

The MRTF has also has put pres-sure on Taliban insurgents in central Oruzgan province. During a recent oper-

ation near Karakak, about 12km north of Tarin Kowt, the MRTF encountered a large number of Taliban while conduct-ing security support for an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team patrol.

The Taliban attacked using small-arms fire and RPGs during the intense contact. Dutch helicopters and US air-craft were called to provide close air support against almost 40 insurgents.

CO MRTF 1 Lt-Col Shane Gabriel said the MRTF responded immediate-ly and took the fight to insurgents and regained the initiative.

“This was a very significant action. It resulted in numerous insurgent casual-ties and it has pushed them back from an area where they enjoyed relative freedom of action,” Lt-Col Gabriel said. “It has put a very big hole in their plans.”

Operating nearby, the attack drew support from SOTG elements which blocked the withdrawing Taliban. The SOTG came into contact with about 10 insurgents. During the extended contact a number of Taliban were killed and a large weapons and IED cache was found.

Lt-Col Gabriel said the Australian and Afghan forces were doing a tough job under difficult circumstances against a dangerous enemy. He also paid tribute to Cpl Mathew Hopkins who was killed in March during an OMLT patrol.

� Afghanistan images – Pages 16-17

SOLE separation problems with patent leather shoes or boots should be a thing of the past following action by Army and DMO to cease issue of footwear manufactured between 2003 and 2007.

The action was taken after Army members raised 758 RODUMs highlighting problems with shoes manufactured over this period, of which 92 per cent relat-ed to sole separation.

A DMO-issued recall of unsold patent leather shoes and boots held in clothing stores has been completed, but shoes and boots manufactured during the identified period remained in cir-culation until Easter this year.

While many of these shoes and boots are not affected, Lt Col Duncan Sherman, SO1 Sustainment, AHQ, said members who experienced issues could return defective items to their local clothing store and have them replaced without the need to raise a RODUM.

“They will have to fill out an L&D form but, once approved, the defective footwear will be replaced,” Lt Col Sherman said.

He sa id the number of RODUMs received represent-ed less than 0.5 per cent of the 188,722 patent leather footwear items issued and sold since 2003.

“This demonstrates how effec-tive the RODUM system can be in helping Army to provide the best-quality clothing and equipment to every soldier.”

Corrective actions on the main source of the fault were instigat-ed by the manufacturer in 2007 and the new stock is being pro-duced using improved techniques. However, clothing stores will have reduced stock levels of pat-ent leather footwear until July

More information is available through Army clothing’s internal website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/ACCE/comweb.asp?page=41778#ACCE.

� Clothing update column – Page 8

Steps taken on sole separation

Close watch on GORPS roll-out

On the attack

lowing the implementation,” Brig Fogarty said .

Conferences for all unit pay representatives and chief clerks will be held in May and this will allow the GORPS implementa-tion team to address the processes that need to be followed by key unit personnel so that members’ queries can be fixed in a timely manner.

Members are advised to ensure they are familiar with where they are placed using the resources on the GORPS website and if there are any issues the chain of com-mand should be notified.

BRIEFING TOUR

Taliban routed in combat operations

Pushing ahead: LCpl Robert Rowley scans for threats as soldiers from Combat Team Tusk negotiate a swollen aqueduct along their patrol route during an operation in Oruzgan province. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

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NEWS 3 Army April 30, 2009

By WO2 Graham McBean

NEW 5.56mm blank ammuni-tion for the F88 Austeyr will be introduced into service to help prevent the contamination between ball and blank ammo.

The ammunition is coloured black and designed to provide a “clear visual distinction” between ball and blank rounds and even-tually will be produced for all 5.56mm weapons.

The new blanks come in blister packs of five rounds and should be available to units short-ly. An anticipated 20 million of the new rounds are on order.

Chief Ammunition Technical Officer Maj Ross Hall said the only real difference was in the colour of the round.

“There has already been an improvement in the rate of ball-

and-blank contamination because people are so much more aware of the issue. The introduction of the coloured blank round pro-vides another check in the proc-ess.” Maj Hall said.

“At the end of the day it comes down to the soldier putting rounds in a magazine but the new blanks have been tested and we expect to see further improve-ments in the handling of ammu-nition.”

About eight million of the existing brass blanks will be withdrawn from service and linked for use with the Minimi. New linked ammunition with the black rounds will go into produc-tion once the existing stocks have been used.

In addition, a bullet-trap blank-firing attachment is sched-uled for testing in May 2009.

Blanks in the black

By Sgt Brian Hartigan

SOLDIERS from Townsville-based 3CER continue to supply fresh water to the Gulf town of Karumba with their mission now extended into May.

The eight-man 3CER team, supple-mented by 3CSSB preventative medicine and RAEME fitter electrical support, is working around the clock to meet the town’s water-supply needs. To date 22.8 million litres of clean water has been produced for the area, struck by floodwa-ters on January 17.

LCpl Matthew Kennedy, 25 Spt Sqn, 3CER, said most people reckoned the water quality was better than it had ever been. “Especially when we meet peo-ple visiting from out of town, they say

they can really tell the difference,” LCpl Kennedy said.

That theory was well tested recently when a fishing competition in Karumba doubled the town’s normal population to 1200.

“When the fishing comp was on, we were still able to keep ahead of the demand for water in the system. And anyone we talked to said they really like the water we’re producing. It feels really good to be able to help Aussies in need.”

SSM 25 Spt Sqn WO2 Glen Donaldson said it certainly wasn’t unu-sual for Army’s engineers to be working in the civil community. “This mission has allowed us to shake out the unit and conduct some extra training but it means more than that to us,” he said.

Water to keep flowing

Clean and clear: Preventative medicine technician Pte Victoria Love, 3 CCSB, monitors water purity for the town of Karumba. Photo by Cfn Christian Gilbert

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DEPLOYMENT o f t he Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program’s (AACAP) 16th contingent began when the advance party arrived in Mapoon Aboriginal community, 85km north of Weipa, on April 11.

More than 150 personnel will deploy on May 17 for four months to provide health support, training and construc-tion outcomes under the management of Holsworthy-based 17 Const Sqn.

It has been a busy 12 months for the squadron, which deployed on RTF 4 in 2008, and shares the AACAP rotations with 21 Const Sqn.

OC 17 Const Sqn Maj Paul Wright said the program was a valuable train-ing opportunity for Defence personnel and provided significant outcomes for remote Aboriginal communities.

“It tests our ability to force project a construction or engineering capability to remote localities, which is very valu-able,” Maj Wright said.

“In the provision of training and health effects with the construction, it basically practises us in exactly what we are doing in Afghanistan in terms of the MRTF.”

Like most AACAP projects, the deployment is made possible by a tris-ervice effort. Minimal impact

on environment

Under construction: Three houses will be built during this year’s deployment at Mapoon.

The advance party deployed on HMAS Tobruk, with further deploy-ment of specialist engineer equipment by HMAS Manoora in early May.

The arrival of the main body by RAAF C-130 is expected on May 17 with construction scheduled to com-mence shortly after.

Maj Wright said the main construc-tion tasks included building of three houses and construction of 6km of road-work.

Additional tasks include health train-ing and dental checks by 1HSB and delivery of trade training to community members with the assistance of 21 Const Regt and 51FNQR.

The 17 Const Sqn rotation is expect-ed to be complete in mid September.

AACAP on track for deployment

A NEW contract for the manage-ment of Defence child-care centres has been signed by B4Kids Pty Ltd.

Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon said B4Kids would provide families with stable, high-quality child care. “Our 21 owned and leased centres will be under the management of an experi-enced and skilled organisation with a focus on meeting the needs of our Defence families,” Mr Snowdon said.

B4Kids will take over the manage-ment of the centres on May 18. New operators also have been found for the five centres where Defence children had priority access, Mr Snowdon said.

He said the new contracts bring to an end a difficult period for the users of centres in the Defence Child Care Program.

For details about information sessions for fami-lies, visit the Defence Community Organisation’s website at http://www.defence.gov.au/dco

THE State of the Environment Report for Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) has highlighted the commendable environmental condition of the training area.

While the report – which Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support Dr Mike Kelly issued on April 8 – suggested areas for further work to “inform understanding of the environmental values, condition or management of the area”, it stated there was a strong commitment by Defence to “maintain and manage the area in a sustainable way”.

“The Shoalwater Bay Training area in central Queensland is an important asset for Defence, effec-tively integrating blue-water naval forces with comparable air and land

� SWBTA encompasses 454,500 hec-tares (4545 km²).

� The ADF formally took control of the land on July 1, 1965.

� SWBTA’s mangroves represent 43 per cent of all species in Australia.

� It contains one of the few large undisturbed estuarine areas on the east coast of Australia.

assets in military training,” Dr Kelly said. “Defence takes its responsi-bilities to the environment very seri-ously and strives to minimise the environmental impacts of day-to-day activities and operations.”

The largest coastal area with high wilderness values on the east

coast of Australia, SWBTA has been the subject of protests from environ-mentalists.

However, the report – the result of years of research and monitor-ing – shows the ADF’s environmen-tal policy is working with habitats remaining intact and unspoilt.

The report said that as a military site, limited access to the area had made it an important wildlife sanc-tuary, reducing the threat of envi-ronmental damage by the public.

The study team that produced the report believe that SWBTA will eventually become an important wildlife reserve as habitats outside the area are reduced.

The State of the Environment Report for Shoalwater Bay Training Area 2008 is avail-able at www.defence.gov.au/environment.

SHOALWATER FACTS

Childcare contract signed

Laying it on the table: Lt-Col Jason Miezio presents plans to South Australian Premier Mike Rann, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Brig William Grice at RAAF Base Edinburgh as development starts on the new base for 7RAR. Photo by LAC Vasilis Solomou

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NEWS 5Army April 30, 2009

By Paul Lineham

EMERGENCY procedures at Army Aviation’s Oakey base worked like a well-oiled machine when a civil-ian Piper Chieftain with a landing gear malfunction executed a text book wheels-up landing.

The 74-minute emergency began when Air Traffic Control at Oakey received the mayday from the aircraft and the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) was activated at 4.36pm.

Within four minutes of the emergen-cy declaration all essential personnel in the ECC were advised and a recall of Emergency Response Complex mem-bers, part of the Incident Response Regiment, began.

The aircraft had six people on board and a decision was made for it to circle the base to burn off fuel before a wheels-up landing was attempted at 5.45pm, just before last light.

Compounding the problem was advice that a storm was likely to strike Oakey at 5.40pm, about the time a foam blanket was to be laid on the runway.

Ian Jesser, Base Support Manager on the Darling Downs, said the airfield emergency plan had been finetuned over the years for both fixed and rotary-wing

emergencies. “It’s been a team effort to plan for every conceivable emergency and everybody knew exactly what they had to do in this situation,” Mr Jesser said.

“We had done everything we could possibly do and the pilot did the rest, bringing the aircraft and her five passen-gers in professionally and safely.”

Civilian emergency services respond-ed to the call from the ECC and two ambulances and two Queensland Fire and Rescue Service vehicles arrived on base – as did the local media.

The sky was rapidly darkening with storm clouds on the horizon and the onset of dusk as the foam blanket was completed and the aircraft, with wheels retracted, approached the runway.

Many caught their breath as the wings tilted just before landing but the young female pilot, with six years of experi-ence, straightened up and greased the Chieftain safely down.

Just 45 minutes later, the beaming passengers were nursing cups of coffee, the runway was cleared of foam, civilian emergency vehicles and the Careflight rescue helicopter headed for home bases, and air traffic control swung back into business as usual.


DEFENCE continues to enjoy widespread community support from the Australian people, accord-ing to a wide-ranging report com-missioned to provide input into the impending Defence White Paper.

The Community Consultation Report was conducted between June and October 2008 and shows a deft understanding of domestic and regional Defence issues within the Australian community.

Released on April 15, key find-ings reveal most believe the threat to Australia is relatively benign, there is continuing support for the US alliance and China is not viewed as an immediate threat, but people are aware of its rise in the region.

Contributors saw climate change as Australia’s greatest emerging threat as diminishing supplies of food and water convert into regional tensions.

The good news for Defence per-sonnel is that support for the ADF within the Australian community is a recurring theme.

Former Labor senator Stephen Loosley chaired the consultation and said the five-person panel was struck by the strength of the community’s regard for the ADF and its personnel.

“Many people spoke of their pride in the ADF’s role in humani-tarian and disaster-relief operations, particularly Sumatra Assist,” Mr Loosley said. “And [the community]

Strong support

acknowledged the courage and pro-fessionalism of ADF personnel in conducting stabilisation and recon-struction operations and in active-service deployments.”

Consultation attracted more than 450 submissions from a broad range of groups and individuals.

The community expressed a desire for a credible and self-reliant Defence Force with a capability edge

– but want that ADF capability also focused on humanitarian issues.

Community sentiment also saw an increased role for the reserve in stabilisation, humanitarian and dis-aster-relief operations and the com-munity generally believes the reserve could be better used.

The report can be downloaded from http://www.defence.gov.au/whitepaper/consulta-tion.htm

On duty: Lt Meg Wilson, 1HSB, positions a local patient for an x-ray at the Anzac Hospital in Banda Aceh during Operation Sumatra Assist. Photo by LS Phillip Cullinan

Safe landing: The Piper Chieftan on the foam-covered runway at Army Aviation’s Oakey base.

Air tragedy at Oakey averted

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Blue sky’s

WEB 2.0 technology will arrive in the Army via the Army Knowledge Management System (AKMS). Five knowledge-management streams will divide work areas into different roles. The hierarchical chain of command remains cru-cial to the culture, accountability and operation of the Army. But the right application of modern technology can give soldiers a voice while exploit-ing the benefits of instant communications.As CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie constantly reminds us all, “it gives us the ability to exploit the total IQ of the Army, not just the IQ of its leadership team”.Army is working hard on four streams of Web 2.0 development. � WORKFORCE COMMUNICATIONSThis is the interactive capability that allows people to chat online and provides collaborative sharing through blogs and social-networking applica-tions. One of the landmark tools of the Web 2.0 technology is Wikipedia. The online encyclopaedia can be added to by anyone and passes through moderators to verify accuracy or give balance to what a person is saying. This is a major concept of the Adaptive Army; to quickly pass new infor-mation and lessons into a database accessible by all soldiers. It will sit behind the DRN but there is

scope to transfer some functions to the internet. A “collaborative/wiki” trial is underway at the School of Armour.� LEADERSHIP This will incorporate the tools in Stream 1 but at a senior leadership level. New off-the-shelf technol-ogy for video conferencing has been bought and is being trialled. CA has recently implemented a Star Rank engagement blog site, as well as establishing a “contact the CA” link on the Army’s DRN site.� ARMY DIARY MANAGEMENT The aim is to provide a transparent and unified database on major projects, key milestones and reforms. The aim is to keep it simple and intuitive in technology terms while making it a common tool across the Army. � INFORMATION MANAGEMENT This is the business end of the knowledge sys-tem and typically the sort of role that signallers will maintain and chief clerks will use to update information at unit levels. The Chief Information Officer, Greg Farr, who is a solid supporter of Army’s intentions, aims to have all networks and systems fully integrated and on one platform.

WO2 Graham McBean outlines CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie’s `Blue Sky’ vision for a digital revolution.US ARMY public affairs chief Maj-Gen Kevin Bergner has chal-lenged the Australian Army to embrace new digital technology to augment the chain of command in running a modern army.

Maj-Gen Bergner said two-way technologies such as MySpace, YouTube and blogs (known collec-tively as Web 2.0) were used by the US military to speak directly and instantly with soldiers, their families and the US public.

The US officer gave the keynote presentation via video link at the day-long Army two-star Blue Sky Day seminar on March 31 at the invitation of CA, Lt-Gen Gillespie.

Lt-Gen Gillespie is adamant the Australian Army must exploit the opportunities that Web 2.0 technolo-gies provide, and position itself to exploit emerging Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 technologies.

Maj-Gen Bergner, while serving in Iraq, was directed by Gen David Petraeus to implement the tech-nology on the World Wide Web to quickly counter misinformation and enemy use of Web 2.0 technology

with “the truth well told”, and to do this inside a dramatically improved response cycle.

He said Web 2.0 was critical to even the basic objectives of sus-taining an all-volunteer army and cultivating the trust and confidence necessary within the US public to maintain operations. “If there is no speed in the communication then any approach is irrelevant, if not useless,” Maj-Gen Bergner said.

He said the technology was not without its risks and demanded transparency and accountability for the individual and the organisation. Importantly, the Web 2.0 program had the backing and active support of US Secretary of Defence and sen-ior military leadership.

The payoff was talking directly to growing numbers of Gen Y sol-diers in their comfort zone to deliver factual information, while avoid-ing episodic dependence on the media’s reporting cycles, priorities and angles.

Maj-Gen Bergner said speed of action underpinned the context of the message and a change in cul-

ture from “reticent” to “information engagement” was critical.

“When I asked Gen Petraeus what level we should go down to he said ‘go to the lowest level you are comfortable with and go one further’.”

One result was the Task Force Mountain website established prior to, and maintained during, its tour of duty in Iraq. The site gives instant visibility to Commander 10 Mountain Div Maj-Gen Mike Oates on operations, lessons learned and family issues his soldiers might be having back home.

The website includes a live chat and a blog space called Mountain Sound Off where Maj-Gen Oates or soldiers can interact.

In one post Maj-Gen Oates asked “what is the stupidest rule or poli-cy you have seen in the Army?” It received 64 responses.

While the presentation highlight-ed the calculated gamble the US Army was prepared to take it also underlined the US urgency to match the strategic and tactical threats of instant and global communications.

IMAGINE starting a new job only to find you’re not allowed to use a mobile phone, send emails or even use a computer.

Sounds ridiculous, but that’s what increasing numbers of Gen Y soldiers find when they join the Army (and other large organisa-tions) and can’t use the technology they have grown up with.

Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook and other interactive tools like Wikipedia, blogs, and smart phones are part of the cultural landscape and put instant, global technology into the hands of adolescents.

And if CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie has his way, the Army Knowledge Management System (AKMS) will put those tools in the hands of at least a pioneering few in Army as soon as July 1 this year.

As far as revolutions go, it will be more of a simmer than an explo-sion, but Lt-Gen Gillespie is ada-mant it will happen. “If by year’s end we are not doing some of these

things then I will consider that I have failed,” Lt-Gen Gillespie said.

“I believe we have one of the best workforces in Australia with one of the highest IQs in the world – but we don’t talk to it.”

CDF ACM Angus Houston has strongly endorsed the CA’s approach.

“The better we can connect our workforce with each other the better we can exploit the great ideas and initiatives of all our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women and civil-ians,” ACM Houston said.

But the AKMS is not just about communicating quickly up and down the chain of command.

The five streams of the AKMS will underpin the feasibility and success of the Adaptive Army model when the new structure arrives on July 1.

Interact ive Wikipedia-type knowledge databases will be essen-tial in getting lessons learned on the ground in Afghanistan immediately into the short learning loop to the

next rotation training in Australia.If a trooper wants to know the

convoy speeds and distances in Tarin Kowt he will simply download the information from the database.

It’s in the realms of possibility that soldiers could use MSN-type technology to swap lessons and advice in real time on technology available already.

Lt-Gen Gillespie said public forums on the World Wide Web accessed by Defence families and the Australian public would be updated constantly to skirt inaccu-rate or misinterpreted information.

The immediacy of two-way traffic with soldiers and the public does mean, as US Maj-Gen Kevin Bergner says, that people and the organisation are transparent and accountable.

CA stressed Maj-Gen Bergner’s view that getting the “truth well told” and accurately to soldiers and the public was a critical balance to the same technology and tools in the hands of those who wished them ill.

Revolution needed

DEVELOPMENT OF WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGY

New kit: Harnessing new technology to maintain an operational edge. Photo by Cpl Hamish Paterson

Who’s this?: One day soon you might be blogging with the CA. Illustration by Lt Kris Gardiner

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DFWA has a small trust fund able to make one-off grants to serving and former ADF members and their families who are “in urgent and necessitous circumstances involving real hardship”.

This does not mean you if you are just a bit short until pay day! It more probably relates to your mate who was invalided out and is now suffering immediate hardship, or to an elderly Defence widow now without family support who needs a washing machine in her rental accommodation.

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the limit If Web 2.0 is a foreign term for you, check out the whole Web 2.0 experience at these sites. Take a look at what the US is doing in particular. � TASK FORCE MOUNTAINThe site created by former commander 10 Mountain Div Maj-Gen Mike Oates is one of the most-often mentioned military sites using Web 2.0 technology. Go to the Mountain Sound Off Blog link on the right-hand column and check out the interaction between Maj-Gen Oates and soldiers.

http://www.taskforcemountain.com/� US ARMY PACIFIC When the US Army does something, you’ve got to love the way it does it big. This site, again on the World Wide Web, includes its own links to YouTube and MySpace. http://www.armypacific.com/� TROOPTUBE BETATroopTube is the new online video site designed to help US military families connect and keep in touch. It’s easy to

use and videos can be uploaded. The tool is part of US Army Pacific site but it is worth a look on its own. http://www.trooptube.tv/� RAAFEven the Australian Air Force is flying the flag online. Air Force is a profession-ally put together site, featuring aircraft, history and base information. And while you’re there, they have recruiting infor-mation just in case you want a career change.http://airforce.gov.au/

DEFENCE Chief Information Officer Greg Farr has forecast a radical overhaul of the military’s computing architecture to guaran-tee long-term sustainment.

Mr Farr said the system was too unwieldy and in many cases the ageing architecture would become increasingly unstable.

Speaking at the CA’s Blue Sky Day seminar on March 31, Mr Farr said only 8 per cent of the $1.1 bil-lion Defence IT budget was spent on technology investment.

“A lot of money is spent just keeping the lights on,” Mr Farr said. “We need to get that to a figure more like industry, which is generally about 70 per cent sustainment and 30 per cent investment.”

He said restoring what Defence Secretary Nick Warner had called “Defence’s broken backbone” would require discipline and a radical rethinking of the Defence approach to IT.

“It is always going to be a prob-lem to keep up to date but we can’t allow ourselves to get to a point where our infrastructure has degrad-ed to the extent it has,” Mr Farr said.

“We need to run the ICT like any other fleet of specialist military equipment – we need to say ‘servers last this long then need to be changed because any number of analysts say they degrade very quickly once you get over that’.”

About $200 million will be needed to install or upgrade cabling throughout the Defence network if we are to fully connect ADF person-nel at all levels.

Mr Farr said too many suppliers and about 480 contracts had made the system too unwieldy and he intended to reduce that to about four contractors who would maintain the entire system.

He also forecast all networks and systems would eventually evolve to one integrated platform that would

service the entire ADF IT require-ment.

Mr Farr said standardising the system and consolidating wherever possible would avoid the need for reinventing new solutions and reduce the cost of sustaining the system.

“If we do that then we are going to have a pretty sizable pool of money that is actually available for investment,” he said. “If we target that wisely it is going to give us a much better result than we have at the moment.”

Mr Farr said once the system was stable and standardised then value-adding to the system would bring even more benefits.

“But unless you have a basic, robust and stable platform then you can’t start – you can’t put the good stuff on top unless you put some effort into the basics. We are going to have to be flexible and it is going to take a change in mindset but I think we can get there,” he said.

WHAT’S OUT THERE

Radical rethink required

New horizons: Gen Y soldiers such as OCdt Ryan Muller will be at the leading edge of taking two-way global communications from vision to reality. Photo by WO2 Graham McBean

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Garrison jacketTHE Garrison jacket is a cold weather garment to be worn IAW ASODs Vol 2, Part 3, Ch 1. Stock is now availa-ble for purchase at clothing stores.

PuggareesPuggarees are available at clothing stores with the exception of size 55 – NSN: 660251603. Stock of size 55 will be available from mid-June.

InsigniaCorporal Polyester Rank is now available.

Defective itemsTo report a defect against a clothing item, a RODUM is to be submitted in addi-tion to any Unit promulgat-ed instructions. A web user guide can be accessed at http://vbmweb.sor.defence.gov.au/rodum/Documents/RODUM%20Web%20User%20Guide%20Ed16%20-%20Nov%2008.pdf

Direct clothing entitlement enquir-ies to Sgt Anthony Romkes on (03) 9282 6602 or email [email protected].

SASR recognition inquiryPARLIAMENTARY Secretary for Defence Support Dr Mike Kelly has launched an independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal inquiry into recognition for SASR counter-terrorist and special-recovery duties. The tribunal will also consider the service of other ADF elements seconded to the SASR in the past and those who fulfil specialist duties. Terms of reference and submission guide-lines can be found at www.defence-honours-tribu-nal.gov.au. Submissions close on May 18.

Graduates lead NZ forcesTWO graduates of the Australian Centre for Defence Strategic Studies have been appointed as New Zealand’s Chiefs of Army and Navy. Maj Gen Rhys Jones, CA, enlisted in the New Zealand Army in 1978 and attended RMC Duntroon from 1979 to 1982. In 2000 he attended the Centre for Defence Strategic Studies and stayed on as a staff member from 2001 to 2003. Cdre Tony Parr, CN, joined the RNZN in 1980 and attended the Centre for Defence Strategic Studies in 2005.

UK interactive memorialVETERANS’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin unveiled an interactive display in London that encapsulates Australian service in both world wars. A touch-screen display at the Australian War Memorial, Hyde Park, allows visitors to search for information on the battles involving Australians and how to find Australian town names appearing on the memorial. The names of 23,844 Australian towns that gave more than 900,000 of their sons and daughters are etched on the memorial. The display can be accessed at www.awmlondon.gov.au

New homesTHE concrete is being poured and the foundations of economic stimulus have been set as Defence Housing Australia’s (DHA) massive new homes project started in two of the nation’s capital cities. The first 41 of a proposed 802 homes built nation-wide started construction in the Brisbane suburb of Upper Kedron on April 7, while the contracts for the first six houses in Darwin were signed on April 15. As part of the nation-building economic stimulus plan, the Federal Government provided DHA with $251.6 million for the project which is expected to take two years to complete.

Missing aircraft foundA Defence team has found the air-craft flown by the last two Australian servicemen miss-ing in Vietnam. The wreckage of Flg-Off Michael Herbert and Plt-Off Robert Carver’s aircraft was found in a remote area of Quang Nam province near the Laos border. The Canberra bomber was lost without trace on November 3, 1970. Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon said the investigation team had spent a week in the iso-lated province and was confident they had located the aircraft. “These brave airmen gave their lives in the service of their nation and locating the crash site is an important step in accounting for them,” Mr Snowdon said. He praised DSTO’s use of “innovative modelling techniques” to refine the search area and the expertise of the Army History Unit in supporting the investigation.

IN BRIEF

CLOTHING UPDATE

A COMPREHENSIVE review of military compensation arrange-ments is under way.

The government’s review will examine the operation of mili-tary compensation schemes, with specific reference to the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin said the review aimed to ensure appropriate support was delivered to Australia’s veterans and ex-service personnel.

“This review is a significant step

towards addressing long-standing issues with military compensation, including disparities and perceived inequities between systems and dif-ficulties encountered by those tran-sitioning out of the services or mak-ing claims,” Mr Griffin said.

“We have already moved to address some of these issues, but this review is critical in identifying solutions for wider problems.”

Mr Griffin said the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 – intended to incorporate the best elements of the two earlier

systems – had not been examined since its creation.

The review will: consider leg-islative and policy issues identi-fied by stakeholders, including the level of benefits payable for death and serious injury; examine past performance and report on factors impacting performance; recom-mend legislative and policy changes to the MRCA and improvements to claims administration and serv-ice delivery; and examine the level of medical and financial care for peacetime injuries.

“The review will make recom-mendations around any legislative and administrative changes that may be needed,” Mr Griffin said. “We want to make sure that the arrangements we have for rehabili-tation, compensation and support are appropriate for the nature of modern service.”

Terms of reference are at www.dva.gov.au/pensions/milcompreview/ or by emailing [email protected]. Submissions should be lodged via email or mailed to Military Compensation Review, PO Box 895, Woden, ACT 2606 before June 30.

Discovery: Sqn-Ldr John Cotterell (front) and Maj Jack Thurgar at the crash site.

Compo under review

Meeting goes off with bangExplosive talks: A member of Regional Explosive Ordnance Services – SA explains the finer points of explosives and their effects before a marker marine MK AN25 mod 3 is detonated (inset).

THE Proof and Experimental Establishment Port Wakefield was the scene of some big bangs when commonwealth and state govern-ment support services specialists met on March 19.

Members o f the Regiona l Explosive Ordnance Services – South Australia (REOS-SA) put on a dem-onstration for representatives from external organisations including the Australian Federal Police, the SA Metropolitan Fire Service and the Australia Post Corporate Security Group. It was the first time specialists

from external organisations had been invited to attend.

CO Joint Logistics Unit – South (JLU-S) Wg-Cmdr Grant Pinder said the demonstration was a great oppor-tunity for the civilian agencies to find out about REOS-SA, what they do and what support they could provide. “REOS-SA are quiet achievers as they go about their job with no fan-fare,” Wg-Cmdr Pinder said.

The specialists saw a display of the different types of explosives used by the military, their effects and how they compare to commercial explo-

sives.While REOS-SA is primarily responsible for explosive ordnance disposal of all military explosive ordnance and ammunition, including historical and foreign items located within South Australia and east to Broken Hill, they can be called upon by the civil authorities when neces-sary.

“We’ve taken a very proactive approach here in South Australia to engage with the likes of the emergen-cy services and agencies to promote the role of the explosive ordnance services,” Wg-Cmdr Pinder said.

Salvos put out call for helpTHE Salvation Army has called on Defence to help with this year’s Red Shield Appeal from May 23-24. Funds from this year’s activity will go towards social services programs. Volunteers should contact Maj Craig or Christine Hawkins on (02) 6270 3107.

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Preventative medicine: CDF ACM Angus Houston receives his flu vaccination at Russell Health Centre. The CDF is encouraging all ADF personnel to visit their medical units and have the vaccine to help ward off the flu. Photo by LS Paul McCallum

It’s that time of year . . .


ARMY History Unit (AHU) is calling for units to submit their unique customs and traditions by July 1 for consideration in a comprehensive new book to be launched on the Army’s birthday next year.

The as-yet-untitled tome is a col-laborative effort by AHU and co-authors Maj Les Terrett and retired WO1 Steve Taubert to produce a definitive version of the Army’s cus-toms and traditions.

The authors are hoping to include all corps’ and units’ customs and tra-ditions but need input by July 1.

Mr Taubert said the aim was to collect and collate previously pub-lished content while adding new

information such as an audio CD of the complete record of the Army’s official music.

“It’s an opportunity for units to have some stake in what is covered,” Mr Taubert said.

“Most units have a unit history already created that can be easily forwarded to the Army History Unit and this is a great opportunity to be included.”

Both authors were working on separate projects when AHU sug-gested last year that they combine their efforts.

Mr Taubert has been working on his collection part-time for seven years while Maj Terrett began work in 2004.

Maj Terrett said he felt the infor-mation contained in the original

1970s version was too important to lose.

“I felt that if I didn’t start the project the information would be lost to history, so I first of all recre-ated the original document,” Maj Terrett said.

“My aim was to update the orig-inal and extend that by including information that hadn’t been touched on before.”

AHU publications coordina-tor Dr Andrew Richardson said the book was expected to be about 300 to 350 pages but would still like to hear from any unit or individual.

Submissions for the book can be emailed to Dr Richardson at [email protected] for forward-ing to the authors.


A NEW book sponsored by the Army History Unit brings the modern his-tory of the colour patch into a small but informative read.

Australian Army Unit Colour Patches 1987-2008 is the work of Lt Phillip Blackwell, MUR, who wanted to make the history of the colour patch accessible to soldiers and civilians.

The book subtitled A Guide to Usage in the Modern Australian Army, cites the history, wearing of patches and a complete pictorial set of modern colour patches in a neat, 98-page col-lection.

Lt Blackwell said the colour patch, which was reintroduced in 1987, was an often misunderstood item of military history and he hoped to restore it to its rightful place within military history.

He said the book was not intended to be a complete history.

“My intention is to equip the reader with a basic understanding of the cur-rent series of colour patches as worn by the Australian Army,” Lt Blackwell said.

The book includes a coded system to quickly find each unit’s colour patch, which also provides a useful reference for units disbanded or amalgamated since 1987.

CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie wrote the foreword to the book and said the colour patch was the “largely unsung” partner to other icons such as the slouch hat and rising sun.

He said the colour patch was a “ubiquitous signifier” of a digger’s mateship and loyalty to the unit.

“The colour patch began as the sym-bol of the digger’s military family – his unit – and today remains the visible identifier of that camaraderie born of military service,” Lt-Gen Gillespie said.

“In the modern army, the quality of mateship is no less vital than it was to

GIVEAWAYSoldiers can take home their own copy of Phillip Blackwell’s book by taking part in an Army History Unit-sponsored competition. To be in the running, email [email protected] with ‘Patches Competition’ in the subject line and correctly answer the following question: What year was the colour patch reintroduced into the Australian Army? The winner will be announced in the May 14 edition of Army.

Not a patch on colours

the diggers on the slopes of Gallipoli or in the jungles of Kokoda.”

The book achieves its aim as a ready reckoner for colour patches and brings that information to a broader audience.

The book is available for $45 (including postage) from The War Book Shop, email [email protected] or phone (02) 9542 6771, or through all good book stores.

Traditional look at customs



AN INSECT’S view of the world could help keep soldiers out of the enemy’s reach if DSTO research into new detection, tracking and guidance systems passes final dem-onstrations later this year.

The SA-based Weapons Systems Division has used research into how bees and other insects see moving targets and find food and reproduced that for an Australian-first weapon-detection, tracking and guidance sys-tem.

The “Bioseeker technology” was unveiled at the Avalon Air Show in Victoria and uses mathematical algo-rithms to replicate the natural talent bugs have of finding their marks.

Bioseeker Project Manager Philip Henschke said the aim was to make an inexpensive, small but effective tracking and guidance system that could be adapted to current and new weapon systems.

He said the intent was to make the system no bigger than a coffee cup and suitable for any weapon sys-tem from UAVs and mortars to anti-armour weapons.

“We would like to be able to take the warfighter away from the battle-field,” Mr Henschke said.

“Instead of being a few hundred metres from the battle, if we take that out to 1000m or more, then that provides a significant impact and that is what it’s all about.”

The concept of mapping the vis-ual acuity of insects has fascinated and plagued the imagination of sci-

The latest buzz

entists for years – particularly when insects such as bees have fixed optics, immobile eyes and poor spa-tial ability.

DSTO trials were based on gath-ered imagery from moving targets to create computer-based algorithms to “biomimetically” come up with a mechanical bug’s-eye view.

The system was produced under the Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program and includes off-the-shelf commercially manufactured components to cut costs.

Mr Henschke said the project team wanted to avoid producing an expensive system that would be placed on a weapon product such as a rocket that costs only a few thou-sand dollars.

The final phase of the CTD will see a demonstration held in Woomera in the second half of this year, which will involve guiding a UAV to strike a moving land target.

A successful demonstration will provide the basis for considering taking the technology further.

Making a beeline: Bioseeker technology based on how insects see moving targets was unveiled at the Avalon Air Show.

By Cpl Zenith King

A REMARKABLE collection of his-torical items commemorating 44 years of conflict is on display in the unit his-tory room of Townsville-based 3CSR.

Established in May 2008, the room is an all-corps collection of items relevant to the unit’s history.

The collection ranges from uniforms and equipment to photographs, flags, and maps dating back to 1966 when 103 Sig Sqn first deployed to South Vietnam. An AN/PRC 25 radio, once used by soldiers deployed to Vietnam, is one of the many items on display in the room.

Mr Derek Webster and Manager Unit History Room Mr ‘Lofty’ Evans, ex-103 Sig Sqn members, have worked tirelessly to get the project running.

Mr Evans believes the members are the history of the unit and the room will enable them to be remembered.

“Their participation and assistance

shall allow us to record the human side of the unit and ensure the success of the museum,” he said.

Current and former members of the regiment have donated items, many of which will remain in storage until a larger area becomes available.

Pte Kirsten Mueller, 3CSR Tpt Tp, believes the history room is a good way of remembering past and present members.

“It’s feels great marching into a unit with such a rich history. I hope my con-tribution in the coming years will be remembered,” Pte Mueller said.

The room was a concept devised by former OC Lt-Col Anthony Taylor and is open to military personnel and their guests on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is one of only 17 registered with the Army History Unit in Canberra.

For more information phone (07) 4771 9645 or email [email protected] or [email protected] or visit http://www.defence.gov.au/army/3csr/Museum.asp

Room remembers regimentHistory lesson: Pte Kirsten Mueller checks out one of the displays in the history room at 3CSR. Photo by Cpl Zenith King

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By Capt Alastair McPherson

WHAT do you get when you put seven RSL Girl in a Million entrants in DPCUs and put them through an obstacle course? Answer: a million laughs and a great chance for them to see life through a soldier’s eyes.

That’s what happened at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, when some of the RSL Girl in a Million entrants tackled the obstacle course under the watch-ful eyes of 2HSB PTIs.

They also got to have a go at LF3 on the WTSS – two actually passed without training – had a ride in a Bushmaster, paid a visit to 2HSB and had a bit of a play with the 2CER explosive detection dogs.

The past and current RSL Girl in a Million entrants wanted to experience a day in the life of an Australian soldier.

Most of the entrants said that even though the obstacle course was challenging, “it was great fun”.

Of course the PTIs didn’t push them as hard as a soldier would be pushed. They didn’t do the entire course either, but WO1 Ian Clark, the senior PTI, said the girls received a snapshot of soldier training.

“We put them through the obstacle course and sent them off for weapons training,” WO1 Clark said.

“These are particularly challenging activities soldiers are required to complete as part of regular training and Army Individual Readiness require-ments. All of these experiences gave them a better understanding of what soldiers do.”

The RSL Girl in a Million Quest began in 1960 and raises funds for the care and wellbeing of veter-ans. The Quest has raised more than $11 million.

Girls get taste of Army life

Making a splash: RSL Girl in a Million quest entrant Liselle Fayolle tackles the obstacle course at Gallipoli Barracks under the watchful eyes of 2HSB PTIs and her fellow quest contestants. Photo by WO2 Wayne Ryan

MAINTENANCE Enhancement Project (MEP) teams have com-pleted an Australia-wide mentoring and refresher roadshow tour of joint logistics units to ensure main-tenance system operators, schedul-ers, planners and other staff are up to speed on MEP objectives.

MEP rollout began in 2008 to improve maintenance management of land materiel and data integrity in MMM – the maintenance mod-ule of the Standard Defence Supply System.

Directorate of Technical Regulation – Army Maj Peter Stuart said the rollout of MEP improve-ments was completed late last year and the final sustainment phase of the project would end in June.

“Unit feedback has been very positive and it is encouraging to see many units beginning to benefit from improved maintenance management practices,” Maj Stuart said.

“As the MEP concludes in June, units should be aware it will be their responsibility to manage on-going improvements. “

In the interim, if units are experiencing difficulties schedul-ing maintenance, require further support or have any other queries, they should visit the ‘Sustainment’ tab on the DTR-A intranet site or contact the MEP via [email protected] for assistance.”

Roadshow refresher for MEP

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BAE Systems Australia has assumed responsibility for Defence logistics support following acquisition of Tenix Toll Defence Logistics in late 2008.

Operating through Joint Logistics Command’s (JLC) seven business units, BAE Systems commenced support through the Defence Integrated Distribution System (DIDS) contract on February 2.

Army’s warehousing, dis-tribution, land materiel main-tenance and the Australian end of specified logistic support to operations will now be the primary concern of BAE sys-tems.

Lt-Col Glenn Taylor, S u p p l y C h a i n R e f o r m Program, said JLC had been working on DIDS-contract improvements since late last year and expected the revised contract arrangements would help deliver improved services to the ADF.

“ S o l d i e r s f a m i l i a r with operations under the

DIDS contract can expect to see some positive changes spe-cifically affecting the delivery of logistics to Army over com-ing months,” he said.

“Land materiel mainte-nance improvements will be most evident to Army, through reduced repair times for equip-ment such as trucks and Land Rovers and increased equip-ment availability in loan- and repair-pool holdings.”

Another key improvement in DIDS maintenance arrange-ments will be modelled on the successful pilot initiative in Brisbane and will see a fur-ther roll-out of regional serv-ice stations in Townsville and Darwin in support of Army’s high-readiness formations.

These l and ma te r i e l improvements should direct-ly benefit Army by ensuring equipment is available to meet demands.

Further information on the full range of DIDS reform initiatives can be found on the JLC Supply Chain Reform DRN website, or by emailing [email protected]


A CHANCE find at a new posting has reunited an old gunner with a long-lost medal.

WO2 Sharon Jansen , Defence Force School of Signals (DFSS), found a National Service Medal in an otherwise empty drawer when she marched in to her new office in January.

WO2 Jansen said she was very surprised to find the medal, which was definitely an original, engraved with a

service number and a name – R Morse. Googling the name, WO2 Jansen found Morse had served with 1 Fd Regt in 1969 as a gunner in Vietnam.

“I tried to find him through any means I could think of but without any luck,” she said.

“Then I read an article about a major who gave his time to ensuring lost medals were returned to their rightful owners.”

She contacted the major, now Lt-Col Glyn Llanwarne, who immediately started a

search that proved to be bless-ed by luck – taking just four days.

Mr Morse, who now goes by his middle name Dudleigh and who doesn’t have a listed telephone number and had moved house several times, was astounded that his medal was returned – five years after it was lost.

“Mr Morse hones t ly thought he would never see the medal again and was so happy to have it returned,” WO2 Jansen said.

Return of an old friend: WO2 Sharon Jansen hands back Mr Dudleigh Morse his missing National Service Medal.

Vet reunited with medal

Logistics get new manager

Certificate awarded to armoured programARMY’s Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Systems Program Office has received a vote of confidence with recognition of its important role in delivering battlefield hardware.

Director Technical Regulation Army Col Jim Phasey presented an Accredited Engineering Organisation (AEO) certificate to program office director Col Steven Noble at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

Manager AEO compliance Ian Johnston said the certification sig-nified a high degree of confidence in the technical processes operat-ing within an organisation and confirmed its technical outputs were safe, environmentally com-pliant and met all user require-ments.

“The Chief of Army considers the award of accredited engineer-ing organisation to carry signifi-cant status, being a reflection of his confidence in the Armoured Fighting Vehicle Systems Program Office’s ability to deliver and sus-tain key elements of land capabil-ity,” Mr Johnston said.

AFV Systems Program Office is responsible for acquisition and through-life support of AFVs, including ASLAV, M1A1, M88 recovery vehicle, M113 and associ-ated equipment.

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WORLD NEWS 15Army April 30, 2009

By Capt Simone Heyer

DRILL commands echo across the HPOD drowned out by helicopters and trucks delivering water. Clouds heavy with rain hang over the mountains offering a scenic backdrop to the first ARA Junior Leaders’ Course run on operations in recent times.

The course was run as part of East Timor Battle Group 5’s (ETBG 5) Operation Ready Tiger, an activity OPSO Maj Paul Greive said was to make the most of training opportunities during an eight-month deployment in a relatively stable environment.

“Ready Tiger is a suite of training courses designed to enhance and main-tain the professional mastery skills of the soldiers deployed on Op Astute,” Maj Greive said.

“Conducting courses while deployed enhances the operational skills of soldiers and when they return to Australia they will have more time with their families, instead of going away on course.”

While the International Stabilisation Force’s HPOD base was quite different

to Training Command establishments in Australia, one thing was common – the instructors. Training Command has sent a flyaway team to run the Junior Leaders’ Course.

Maj Greive expected the course to be successful without the outside influences usually found on course in Australia.

“Here soldiers can dedicate them-selves 100 per cent to the course.”

As well as the Junior Leaders’ Course, soldiers are training in combat first aid, communications, supervisor infantry operations, basic reconnaissance and as APC and B-vehicle drivers.

East Timor’s countryside offered diverse training grounds, from the APC course’s river bed crossing and moun-tainous driving in Gleno, to weapons firing at Liquica. A trade testing officer from 5RAR was also sent over for the course.

Ma j Gre ive s a id more t han 200 ETBG 5 soldiers would go through the courses between February and May in time for the battle group’s return home in June.

Tigers sharpen skillsBattle group conducts courses in East Timor

Hard yakka: Members of the drivers’ course take off the tracks and wheels of an APC after a day of driver instruction at the forward operating base at Gleno. Photos by LS Paul Berry

Nailed it: Conducting a .50-cal machine-gun shoot from an APC at Liquica, East Timor.

16 CENTREPIECE Army April 30, 2009 17

Australian soldiers continue to work with and mentor their Afghan counterparts to improve security and the quality of life for the population of Oruzgan province. Aside from patrolling, the diggers are reaching out to the communities by providing specialist health care, undertaking construction and reconstruction works and guiding the Afghan National Army towards self-sufficiency.

Friendly tidings: In true Afghan way Pte Ahmad Ahmadi farewells an Afghan National Army soldier before heading out on patrol with MRTF 1. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

Official opening: MRTF 1’s Maj Robert Cox, left, and Cpl Mark Tennent cut the ribbon on an Afghan Health and Development Service (AHDS) building with the Director of AHDS in Tarin Kowt, Dr Ajab Noor. Photo by Sgt Brent Tero

STANDING TALLFirst aid: Dutch Lt1 Berge de Kort and Capt Kath Evans, Australian Surgical Team, check on a young Afghan patient treated at the military hospital in Camp Holland after the local hospital was unable to help with his injures. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

In charge: Cpl Andrew Booth (above) leads off as his dismounted patrol moves from an overwatch position, reinforced by ASLAVs, in the Baluchi Valley.

Business as usual: Locals go about their daily business (far right) as Cpl Kane Pene provides a security screen during a mission to the nearby Tarin Kowt Primary School to inspect ongoing redevelopment work.

Weapon search: Local villagers watch as Australian Engineers and MRTF 1 soldiers (right) conduct a search for insurgent weapons caches in the Baluchi Valley.

Photos by Cpl Ricky Fuller

On patrol: Pte Scott McNair makes his way through a poppy crop as a local farmer looks on during a patrol through the Baluchi Valley. The Australian patrols create a security footprint in the region which denies insurgents freedom of movement. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

Joint watch: Sgt Scott Krum leads a contingent of Afghan National Army soldiers during an Australian/ANA patrol in the northern Baluchi Valley. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

Training continues: An MRTF 1 soldier practises on the shooting range at Tarin Kowt. Photo by Capt Lachlan Simond

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LETTERS 19Army April 30, 2009

WITH regard to the recent DHA increases and the typical “better off than civilian” responses, the NT Police offers its members $18,000 per annum for those with mortgages and free housing for those without. That includes members in the Darwin metro area.

I realise that the NT Police have a smaller number of mem-bers but the NT Government cer-tainly has a far smaller budget than Defence.

I’m sure that the lure of free housing or greatly increased financial assistance will encourage more people to enlist or stay in Defence. We may be getting more people enlisting at the moment due to current financial circum-stances but just imagine the power that the offer of a free house for your family could do to sway a person’s undecided mind.Tpr Colin FluellenHQ 1 BdeRobertson Barracks

Robert McKellar, Director Housing and Removals Policy, responds:WHILE comparisons with civil-

ian bodies such the NT Police are interesting, it has to be remembered that the NT Police is a very different organisation from the ADF, with different functions and different condi-tions of service.

For example, while it is true that the NT Police offers free accommodation to its personnel, this is generally at a lower stand-ard than the housing that Defence provides for ADF members.

ADF members, as is the case for most Australian citizens, are primarily responsible for housing themselves and their dependants.

Defence provides members with housing assistance in rec-ognition that the nature of ADF service creates difficulties and expenses for members in meet-ing this responsibility. Because of this shared responsibility between members and Defence, there is a long-standing policy that the cost of subsidised housing is shared equally between Defence and ADF members on a national basis.

ADF housing assistance – liv-ing-in accommodation, service

residences and rent allowance – is provided tax-free to the member.

Housing assistance for mem-bers with dependants is on aver-age equivalent in value to an addi-tional $22,000 salary per annum.

Defence also provides a range of home ownership assist-ance to ADF members, includ-ing the $16,235 (income tax-able) Home Purchase Assistance Scheme grant, reimbursement of sale or purchase costs on post-ing under the Home Purchase or Sale Expense Allowance, and a home mortgage subsidy under the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme.

Defence housing assistance is already very generous and expensive for the Commonwealth, costing $504 million in 2007-08 excluding fringe benefits tax.

There is considerable doubt that a change from heavily sub-sidised housing to free hous-ing would have a major effect on recruitment and retention rates, and the additional funding required could not be justified over other pressing priorities for limited Defence resources.

I WAS pleased to read that the Army Suggestion Scheme will offer up to $5000 for ideas that improve quality, safety, pro-ductivity or efficiency (Army, April 16). I suggest cutting the reward to $4000, which will result in a considerable sav-ing to Defence. Can I have my money now?Maj Adam DunbarHQTC-A Victoria Barracks, Sydney

RE THE letter by Maj Zac Zaharias seeking a review of BFA standards for those serv-ing Army personnel over the age of 55 (Army, March 19): as a Catholic Army chaplain in that category, I fully support his views. Push-ups in particular create great stress on elbow and shoulder joints. Sit-ups and the 5km walk should not be difficult

for those in good health and rea-sonable fitness.

I do agree with the comment that those who have been invited to continue after the compul-sory retirement age maintain an appropriate level of fitness com-mensurate with Army standards.Chap Bernard HennessyARTCKapooka

I REFER to your recent article entitled “Brave new world for soldiers” that reports the facilitation of a working group to deal with Army’s next genera-tion of information technologies (Army, March 19) .

While I acknowledge that the term “brave new world” is relatively common-place in the modern vernacular, I none-theless cringe when it is used within the context of: a) something innovative and exciting; b) as a journalistic descriptor; or c) a combination of both.

I have strong suspicions that while today’s generations are increasingly literate in the area of information technology, they are perhaps correspondingly less literate in relation to the canon of English literature.

Thus when the phrase “brave new world” is utilised, there would appear lit-tle chance these days that the reader would associate the quote with either Miranda’s speech from Shakespeare’s The Tempest or indeed recognise Huxley’s work of the same name.

If this was so, particularly in the context of information technology working groups, then Miranda’s dialogue in Act V, Scene I does not make a great deal of sense:

“O wonder!“How many goodly creatures are there

here!“How beauteous mankind is!“O brave new world!“That has such people in’t!” Secondly, and a tad more sinister, is that

any reference to Huxley’s tome would, in effect, be a warning against such an activ-ity taking place. Brave New World acts as a caution against the establishment of a perceived utopian state that is in reality a totalitarian regime, which controls the pop-ulation through eugenics, social condition-ing and forced addiction to narcotics.

Additionally, I would also refer to page 62 of the CA’s reading list, which states: “Depicting an ideal society full of happy and fulfilled citizens, where sex and drugs and music are hedonistic tools to pacify the population, [Brave New World] illustrates the dangers of rampant technology and the elegant beauty of human frailties. Military personnel, defending a nation and its inter-ests, must develop a sense of what they serve and why, and this book will prompt many such examinations.”Lt-Col Rick MaherHQ AAvnTCOakey

I AM compelled to write in response to a totally unsatisfac-tory reply to Sgt Ferguson’s let-ter (Army, March 19) “Separated but still a provider”.

A quick check of ABS figures shows that the ADF has a higher rate of marriage breakdown than the general populace. This is not surprising, given the exigencies of military service. The problems this creates for Defence are exac-erbated by the fact that marriage breakdown becomes more likely the longer one serves. So those most likely to be affected are sen-ior soldiers and NCOs – the peo-ple that we most need to retain in the system.

Unfortunately, the way that we deal with these members at the moment leaves much to be desired, especially given that we know that it is more likely to occur for our people than to Joe Average on the street. I am per-sonally aware, as I am sure most SNCOs are, of numerous mem-bers who have separated from the service for these very reasons.

When our servicemen and women are displaying dedication to the ADF to the point where it destroys their marriage and estranges them from their chil-dren, it is unconscionable that we repay that dedication by telling them, “sorry, Pacman says you get nothing”.

Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that the vast majority of our conditions of service are very good.

But we must be honest enough to admit that while ADF service does not cause marriage break-down, it does contribute to it. We must also face the fact that it mostly affects those whom we can least afford to lose from the system.

With the large sums of money being spent on retention initiatives and the like, it is hard to under-stand why we cannot address this issue in a much better, more pro-fessional manner.

Until we start returning the loyalty to members that they are giving to us, we will continue to lose good soldiers needlessly.Sgt Raoul Darcy9RQRGallipoli Barracks

Call for free housing Service places strain on marriages

From bard to worseShow me the money

Push-ups don’t get blessing

Reward: Suggestion to cut scheme’s prizemoney.

Housing support: Defence housing assistance was worth $504 million last financial year.

20 TRAINING Army April 30, 2009

By Cpl Corinne Boer

MEMBERS of the 1RAR Battle Group reached their physical and mental peak during a demand-ing combined-arms exercise at High Range Training Area from March 30-April 5.

The activity was part of the battle group’s lead-up training in preparation for deployment.

During stifling heat the battle group conducted section live-fire attacks and platoon attacks that culminated in a combat-team attack. A crescendo of mortars and artillery hailed down on a rocky feature while ASLAVs and Bushmasters fired in direct sup-port.

RSM 1RAR WO1 Darren Murch said the activity was a good experience for soldiers and their commanders.

“The combat-team attack allowed soldiers and commanders to experience all the different arms in one setting,” WO1 Murch said.

“The soldiers exercised their tactics, techniques and procedures and as the activity grew in scale each commander had the opportu-nity to manoeuvre their call sign.”

Lt Nathan Cooper, deputy director of practice during the live-fire exercise, said the most chal-lenging part of the activity was the integration of the all assets.

“We weren’t used to working with the cavalry and indirect fire or with engineers, but it was excellent training that focused on some of

Happy trails: 1RAR Battle Group soldiers embark on a 40km pack march. Photo by Cpl Mick Davis

Cautious: Cpl Dean Lee, 1RAR Battle Group, leads the engineers sweeping a road in search of IEDs.

Quick thinking: Soldiers practise the evacuation of a casualty from the field.

Hazy daze: Smoke grenades are thrown to confuse the enemy during the exercise. Photos by Megan Brayley, Townsville Bulletin.

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1RAR Battle Group engineers constructed a patrol base from March 24-27 that replicated the Afghan National Security Force bases in Oruzgan province.

Spt Tp Commander Lt Josh Porter said it was an excellent opportunity for Spt Tp to do what they do best.

“Spt Tp is a composite team with boys with different trade skills, and this task really brought us together as a team that is ready for deployment,” Lt Porter said.

When the area was secured by the combat team the plant operators and tradesmen had to make up for the lost time taken up

the key threats that we may face.” Lt Cooper said.

Tactical scenarios were incor-porated into the activity and included an armoured vehicle encountering an IED. As engineers investigated the IED, they were fired on and the troops conducted a fighting withdrawal.

The scenario was a highlight for Pte Luke Reading, 1RAR.

“We gained a lot out of the sce-nario. It was a good way to dem-onstrate our drills that we have been building on for the last six months,” Pte Reading said.

The battle group redeployed on April 6 and embarked on an ardu-ous 40km pack march.

Soldiers carried about 30kg of gear and trudged around Ross River Dam and into Mt Stuart

Training Area. Four 150-man groups started in the evening and trekked throughout the night to finish in the early hours of the morning.

WO1 Murch said the pack march was designed to promote resilience. “A lot of the younger guys do 15km or 20km CFAs, but the 40km march was pushing a barrier for the majority of sol-diers,” WO1 Murch said.

While the pack march was designed to push the soldiers to their limits, LCpl Aaron Kime, 1RAR, said the lead-up training had prepared them well. “It was a good test of physical and men-tal endurance, but we trained hard during the lead-up to the pack march so the guys didn’t have any trouble with it,” LCpl Kime said.

BASE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS

by the advance to the building site, a tactical reality that may be faced on deployment. Construction sec-tion commander LCpl Scott Perry said they were behind by one day.

“Two 18-hour days were on the cards for the remainder of the task. Expedient construction is what the tradies love and we really put in,” LCpl Perry said.

Battle group reaches peak

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TRAINING 21Army April 30, 2009

By Lt Aaron Oldaker

THE Combat Training Centre (CTC) provided the Townsville community with a rare peek behind the scenes during Secdet 15’s mission rehearsal exercise (MRE) as the detachment prepared for deployment to Australia’s dip-lomatic mission in Iraq.

More than 150 staff were attached to CTC in a range of roles from technical support and scenario management to role-players.

To maintain the realism and integrity of the exercise, guests invited to observe proceedings also took part in the role playing.

The visitors included Townsville Deputy Mayor David Crisafulli, Queensland Police representatives, a local reporter and Commander 3 Bde Brig Stuart Smith.

Commander CTC Col Ash Gunder said their involvement maintained the realism and integrity of the exercise.

“We want you to be part of the training effect, not just visitors,” Col Gunder told the notional VIP party, which visited the notional Secdet headquarters.

The visit was an opportunity to showcase the depth and realism of a CTC MRE while promoting an understanding of what takes place during exercises to better inform key

stakeholders in the community. As part of the MRE, parts of Lavarack Barracks became Baghdad’s so-called green zone, while the town of Townsville itself became the unse-cured red zone.

Throughout the training areas, CTC provided role players ranging from enemy insurgents and mili-tary personnel from other nations, to contractors and members of the local Baghdad community.

“The MRE is the final phase of their force preparation before they step off into Baghdad,” Col Gunder said.

“We try and replicate as best we can the environment they will oper-ate in Baghdad.”

Secdet primed for operations

By Cpl Robert Godfrey

IT WAS a case of white knuckles and white water when members 5 Avn Regt took to rapids in North Queensland for Exercise Warhorse Challenge 09.

Conducted in the Tully Gorge National Park from March 23 to April 8, the white-water kayaking provided an opportunity for the soldiers to push their own limits and develop trust between each other.

“The white water kayaking was a lot of fun and challenged every individu-al both mentally and physically,” Capt Gareth Pihl said.

Capt Pihl, B Sqn, found the exercise a great opportunity to learn how his soldiers reacted in a highly stressful situation.

“I was able to learn and observe quali-ties and behaviours about my soldiers that I may not have otherwise seen in the workplace and no doubt the soldiers probably made a few observations about me,” he said.

Members were required to do pre-activity training consisting of defensive rapid swimming, demonstrating that they could help themselves and be rescued when required – a skill set vitally impor-tant when white-water kayaking because of the risk of capsizing when negotiating the rapids.

On the second day participants were introduced to their white-water kay-aks. They underwent further training to manoeuvre the kayaks and developed an

individual quality of trust as they prac-tised bow rescuing each other.

After many hours honing their pad-dling skills, the participants were split into groups consisting of mixed ranks from all different working sections within the squadron, before paddling along unfa-miliar water courses that involved both fear and consequence.

Rapids such as Pipeline, Lava and Cardstone Waves were scouted for safe routes and allowed the groups to get to know each other’s strengths and weak-nesses.

Many members mentioned that white-water kayaking involved a high level of skill, but with the focus on the process of carrying out the skill, members more than often forgot their fear and achieved a favourable outcome.

Cfn Ben Phillips said the participants were informed the aim of the adventurous training was to develop the individual and group qualities required in battle.

“This statement was important to me as the individual qualities of moral cour-age, trust and determination were impor-tant in negotiating many obstacles over the period,” Cfn Phillips said.

Capt Pihl believes all of the partici-pants came away from the exercise better prepared and more focused. “I think that everyone can draw numerous relation-ships between the training and the work-place and have developed themselves as a result of the activities,” he said.

Rapid descent

Peak hour: Tpr Levi Grima, 2 Cav Regt, keeps a close eye on traffic as his ASLAV makes its way through Townsville. Photos by Cpl Mick Davis

Maintenance: Tprs Ben Baxter and Joel Mezzone, 2 Cav Regt, clean an F89 machine gun (above).

Road safety: An ASLAV crew navigates their vehicle through a busy intersection in Townsville (left).

Duck to water: A member of 5 Avn Regt battles strong rapids during an exercise held in North Queensland.

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22 TRAINING Army April 30, 2009

By Sgt Daniel Schmidt

TWO years ago aircrewman train-ees, prior to their first practical instructional flight, would prepare themselves in a Toyota Tarago going through the motions of flying an aircraft around the Army Aviation Training Centre (AAvnTC) car park at Oakey.

In March 2007, the Aircrewman Virtual Reality Simulator (AVRS) was introduced and the benefits – not so long ago visionary pipedreams – imme-diately became reality.

The software package was upgraded in 2008 with enhanced graphics to cre-ate an even better simulation experi-ence.

AAvnTC instructors can simulate training for the Bell 412, Black Hawk, Chinook and MRH.

All courses and roles are catered to from basic aircrewman skills and door gunnery safety supervisors to air-crewman instructors (AI) and remedial training.

The simulator can be reconfigured in seconds for different aircraft, a dif-ferent training area and from day to night-vision scenarios.

Benefits are becoming apparent. Transfer of some Black Hawk flight sequences to the AVRS has reduced aircraft hours on the Aircrewman Instructor Course. To date, the training

Well-grounded flight training

By Michael Brooke

SOLDIERS from 5 Bde have honed their skills in an exercise to prepare them for participa-tion in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2009 (TS09) later this year.

Exercise Ready Blade, a comprehensive Command Post Exercise (CPX), used a conven-tional conflict scenario.

The soldiers “deployed” to the mythical country of Myopia, where despite numerous challenges and threats they successfully supported a Coalition military operation.

Commander 5 Bde Brig Paul Brereton said the exercise chal-lenged the battle group headquar-ters staff as well as the headquar-ters of the HRR and RRF compa-nies to plan and execute rear area security operations .

He said the exercise served to facilitate battle preparation includ-ing distribution of orders and the preparation of stores and equip-

standard for AIs has been maintained. Meanwhile, a key trend in aircrewman IET training is an improved gradua-tion rate, particularly through basic training phases.

When trainees do need remedial training they can jump in the AVRS for

a whole day to rectify learning prob-lems and re-fly the sortie in an aircraft to confirm teaching points have been learnt. Previously, trainees only got a ground tutorial and then allowed up to two actual aircraft remedial sorties before a retest.

The AVRS is a moulded plastic shell with two sets of goggles worn by trainees. A workstation outside the AVRS has monitors that allow AIs to fly the aircraft and look at a visual representation of what trainees actu-ally see in the virtual world.

ment. The CPX allowed the reservists to validate tactics, tech-niques and procedures, as well as essential standard operating

procedures. The soldiers were challenged not only by the tempo of the exercise but an inquisitive female media role-player who

tested their understanding of media awareness as well as their patience and composure.

The soldiers said they enjoyed the challenge of the CPX, which has better prepared them for the rear areas security operations task-ing at TS09.

Lt Nathaniel Parry, 5CER, who recently returned from Afghanistan, said the exercise pro-vided reserve officers and soldiers with essential training that has given them the skills and confi-dence to tackle TS09 and Rifle Company Butterworth later this year.

Sig Brendan Holland, 155 Sqn, said the experience he gained as a radio operator in the RRF com-mand post marked a big step in his professional development.

“I’ve only been in the Reserve for 10 months,” Sig Holland said

“This exercise is the most valu-able experience I’ve gained.”

Planners: Headquarters staff discuss the threat posed by criminal elements during the exercise. Photo by Michael Brooke

Aircraft movements, such as drift-ing toward trees, are induced to see if trainees identify them. Typical tasks such as a run-in to pick up external loads also are simulated. Everything can be recorded, which AIs use to show trainees exactly what they were looking at – or should have been look-ing at.

There are three AVRS modules at AAvnTC, two at 171 Avn Sqn in Holsworthy and two at 5 Avn Regt in Townsville. Each module will soon be fitted with a hoist to facilitate hoisting training as well as large screens out-side the modules for a more improved door-gun training platform.

It is also anticipated that simula-tors will be networked by year’s end. Aircrewmen in Oakey, Sydney and Townsville will fly in the same forma-tion (with Black Hawk, Chinook and MRH aircraft) to simulate an airmo-bile operation somewhere in the virtual world.

Overall, the introduction of the AVRS to Aircrewman training has proved highly advantageous from trainee to instructor level. It provides Australian Army Aviation the ability to train more effectively and efficiently while reducing the resources required.

It’s an exciting time. The only limi-tation of the AVRS is the imagination of the operators creating simulated sce-narios.

Virtual worlds: A staff member is absorbed in a scenario played out in the upgraded AVRS system (left).

Role playing: Trainees are immersed in the virtual world of flight training (above).

Blades are at the ready

DO YOU HAVE TRAINING STORIES?■ Email training-related articles and images to [email protected] or call (02) 6265 2427

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24 PEOPLE Army April 30, 2009

DIKKO By Bob Dikkenberg

Bon voyage: Capt John Pearse says farewell to his family before leaving for Solomon Islands with rotation 18 of Operation Anode. Photo by Maj Ian ToohillDown with the Pies: Cpls Raymond Bartlett and Robert Carlisle might

disagree over their respective AFL teams, but both were united in their support for the Bombers in the Anzac Day game against Collingwood.

Photo by Capt Lachlan Simond

Candyman: Bdr Pete Smith hands out lollies to eager children during a bicycle patrol through Dili. Photo by LS Paul Berry

All channels open: Sig Paul Pesa raises FCU 1’s unit flag in the MEAO. Photo by Sgt Brent Tero

Doctor at large: General surgeon Capt Keith Towsey adds his skills to the Australian Surgical Team working at the Dutch-led Role 2 Hospital in Camp Holland, Afghanistan. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

Squeezing it in: Loadmaster Cpl Nik Nekeare calculates the weight of supplies in his Black Hawk in Dili. Photo by Cpl Chris Moore

26 FEATURES Army April 30, 2009

IMAGINE rolling up to work in a 12½-tonne, 4WD armoured vehi-cle that can withstand mine blasts and IED attacks and can cruise at

100km/h to a distance of 600km in air-conditioned comfort.

Well, a majority of Army person-nel who have worked, and still work in Iraq and Afghanistan, ride in a Bushmaster daily.

Is there a safer way of going to work in a hostile environment? I doubt it. It certainly beats the scooter I travel to the office on.

To find out more on the history of Bushmaster and how it’s built, I vis-ited the home of the Bushmaster – the Thales factory in Bendigo.

ADI (the Bendigo site before Thales took over the company) pur-chased the rights to the vehicle design from an Adelaide company, Johns Perry, and one concept vehicle arrived at the Bendigo factory in 1995.

Thales Business Development Manager Geoff Miller says the only similarity between the original concept vehicle and the vehicle made today is the air in the tyres.

“Bushmaster number one was built as a concept demonstrator to show the company could actually build a con-cept vehicle,” Mr Miller says.

“We then built another three vehi-cles, which were used as part of the initial head-to-head trial prior to the awarding of the contract, where test-ing included full destruction, measure-ments and reliability testing.”

Its ability to be easily repaired, maintained and driven are important factors built into the vehicle design and development, Mr Miller says.

“In terms of the engine power pack, it can be removed in 42 minutes, in terms of the Army concept contract requirements it had to be removed, replaced and driven away in less than three hours. We exceeded the allowed time limit in trials in 2005.”

This has been performed on numer-ous occasions on operational deploy-ments, more recently when a replace-ment power pack was flown to RTF 4 soldiers working in the field in Zabul province, Afghanistan. Their power pack had blown up and couldn’t be repaired. An Australian CH-47 crew flew a replacement to them and the engine was changed over.

Mr Miller says that when the com-pany finished the development process against the specification document it went back to the Army “and they ana-lysed it and came back to us with 150 soldier suggested changes, which took into consideration mission and deploy-ment experience”.

“When we take the vehicle to trials overseas, soldiers get into the vehicle and see it has really been designed with input from real soldiers,” he says.

The Bendigo Thales factory is divided into various workshops, each

I HAD a chance to drive a Bushmaster dur-ing the visit and from my past experience as a truckie; it’s easier to drive than a Unimog. The six-speed automatic transmission makes life incredibly easy, allowing the driver to con-centrate on manoeuvring the 12.5-tonne beast around, up, over and down ridiculously steep gradients, without spilling your hot brew or upsetting your nine armed passengers. It’s highly agile for a vehicle of this size, with engine performance allowing you to access the insane amount of torque; 1166Nm, (which is 84Nm short of what a $2.9 million Bugatti Veyron supercar has!) from almost anywhere in the rev range. It’s safe, comfortable and no doubt you could easily clear a path of travel if you were stuck in a traffic jam. Rating:

A master production Cpl Andrew Hetherington visits the home of the Bushmaster to see how the vehicle is made and to take one for a drive.

FACTS AND FIGURES� Bushmaster consists of 2500 indi-vidual components including the engine.� The vehicle can be flat towed or tow started without removing the propeller shafts.� Engine removal can be achieved in less than 42 minutes.� The primary vehicle fuel tank is made of plastic and is located externally for crew safety with a secondary protected fuel tank provided in the engine bay.� The vehicle is fitted with run flat inserts. Tyre pressures are controlled by a central tyre-inflation system.� There are six variants of Bushmaster; patrol vehicle, command vehicle, assault pioneer vehicle, ambulance, direct fire support weapons vehicle and a mortar variant.� The Dutch Army also uses the Bushmaster.� A total of 736 vehicles have been ordered by the ADF, while the Dutch have ordered 58.

performing a variety of tasks construct-ing the vehicle.

There are two main workshops at Bendigo called shop seven and eight. Shop eight is where all the fabrica-tion occurs, where pieces of steel are brought in various shapes and sizes.

“In some cases they are cut by lasers. The main production line begins in here where the vehicle hulls are fab-ricated,” Mr Miller says.

The hulls move out of shop eight to another workshop where they are cleaned and sand blasted, then go to another workshop to be painted. This is done within five hours of the hull being built to reduce the chance of sur-face corrosion occurring.

The hull then goes into shop seven, an assembly line where the suspen-sion, engine, wheels, lockers, seating, electrical and electronic components are installed and mounted.

“Every workstation has a work-to list and job instruction where the guys are trained to follow work processes,” Mr Miller says.

“All our welders are certified and we monitor the welding process.”

In the assembly area there are a number of tests carried out, in particu-lar on the engine module.

“Prior to being placed into the vehi-cle it’s started and checked for leaks and faults,” Mr Miller says.

“Early tests are also carried out on the central tyre-inflation system and the seals of the axles are tested and bedded in on a purpose-built device.”

After the vehicle leaves shop seven it undergoes braking and steering tests and is road tested for around 150km.

The Bendigo facility is produc-ing almost 100 vehicles a year, or two vehicles a week.

Assembly line: Bushmasters awaiting engine fitting (above) on the production line at the Thales factory in Bendigo.

Finetuning: Brian Oughtred, left, and Mick Neylon, right, both mechanics at Thales Bendigo, assemble a Bushmaster engine (right) and transmission.

Photos by CplAndrew Hetherington

Behind the wheel of the beast

★★★★★Test drive: A Bushmaster goes through the motions. Photo by LAC Aaron Curran

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LIFESTYLE 27Army April 30, 2009

� Say again, over

If you can think of a clever, witty caption for this picture, email [email protected] with “caption competition April 30” in the subject line. Keep entries under 25 words. Entries MUST include sender’s name, rank and unit.

The winner of the April 16 caption competition is ...

We also liked ...

“Thanks to the new rounds of budget cuts, this is all we can afford of the new Rovers.”Pte Aaron Fyfe1 MP Bn

“This contract for vehicles from Ikea is great.”A.J. KrikkeEx-11 Fld Amb

“The QM wants the nontech’s finished on these by lunch.” Cpl Mark BrittonCareers Counsellor, Newcastle

“Despite some sore backs, the troops seemed to enjoy training on the new Bushmaster simulator.”Lt-Col Steve VokesDirector of Operations, ADFIS

“Are you going to fill out the L&D for the rest of the Land Rover or should I?”Maj D. M. MillerS37, HQ 16 Avn Bde

By Barry Rollings

CONVENTIONAL wisdom might say that “all’s fair in love and war” but, in truth, the factual does not always quite equate to the proverbial.

Nothing underlines the human condition in starker contrast than wartime and so it is for love in war.

Countless are the stories of romance and reunion, sacrifice and separation, patience and perseverance, loss and loneliness, grief or hopes fulfilled and dashed.

And that’s why the Australian War Memorial is seeking contemporary love stories that will assist it in staging its new exhibition, Of Love and War.

“The exhibition, which aims to give an insight into aspects of love during wartime, will open at the Memorial on December 3 and run to the following May,” exhibition curator Ms Rebecca Britt said.

From November 2010 it will travel to the state libraries of NSW, Queensland and Victoria, with the expectation that it will also visit several major Australian provincial cities after that.

“The coming exhibition will cover Australia’s early involvements from the Boer War through to today’s conflicts. Love in war is a universal theme but we would like to learn how it affects our serving personnel today. We are seeking stories on this theme,” Ms Britt said.

“We are really interested in how current or recently serving people in Iraq and Afghanistan dealt with, or are dealing with, separation in their relationships.

“That could include examples of how they keep in contact and maintain relationships. Service people who wish to submit their stories for our use might like to tell us about the role of emails in their relationships, the frequency of return visits home or multiple tours of duty.”

Assistant exhibition curator Nicholas Schmidt said the memorial was “mindful that this is personal mate-rial but it keeps the issue in the public mind”.

There will be a selection process and although not all contributions might be used in the exhibition, those gathered could be added to the national collection.

“We want to hear about the romantic relationships in general during wartime and how war affected those relationships. We are also keen to see any objects which might illustrate those stories,” Ms Britt said.

“In many cases in the past, it brought people togeth-er; it created many opportunities for different to people to meet. They might not normally have had those opportunities but with mobilisation and movement of troops different people – such as American war brides – got together. It will look at the really big movements women made in the post-war years.

“War tore couples apart as well and not just through death in particular; it was the sheer separation.

“We want to look at the ways in which those sepa-rations affected relationships. Wartime weddings are always a popular topic. For many, the effects of war continue long after the cessation of hostilities so we are keen to look at the way hostilities affected relations in the post-war period.”

Serving personnel who wish to make submissions to be consid-ered for the exhibition, should email [email protected] or phone (02) 6243 4211.

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28 LIFESTYLE Army April 30, 2009

HEALTH

IN AN era where instant coffee is too slow, the fitness industry is inundated with supplements, pills, potions and powders as

quick-fix solutions to build muscle and get fit.

Many of these supplements contra-vene the concept of health and fitness.

With muscle-building powders and pills being some of the biggest industry sellers, this article will review some of the thoughts from experts in regard to muscle-growth supplements.

An important point to consider in regard to the claims made by wonder supplements in advertisements is the level of evidence. Next time a wonder pill or powder is advertised on televi-sion, listen for the key clause “in con-junction with a calorie-controlled diet and exercise”.

Often people decide they want to get into shape and buy all the pills or muscle-building powders, start train-ing and attribute their benefits to the potions rather than to their hard work and simple diet modifications.

Finally, there is a placebo effect where you believe that taking the pow-der or pill makes you stronger, fitter or has helped you lose weight.

Many specialists have scientifically researched the effects of supplements and the following is a summation of findings from four subject-matter experts from articles published in sci-entific journals.

Applegate (1988)Elizabeth A. Applegate is a senior

lecturer at the University of California. She has concluded that “many sup-

plements are derived from poor quality protein and must be mixed with milk or eaten with other high-quality pro-tein sources to make them nutritionally sound”.

Her research also stipulated that “supplements are marketed without supportive scientific research to indi-cate the potential benefits or possible harmful side-effects”.

Williams (1993)Dr M. Williams was the Director of

the Human Performance Laboratory, Old Dominion University.

His research determined that “long-term supplementation with multi-vitamin/mineral compounds does not enhance sport performance”.

“I t has been suggested and acknowledged by many sources that to

maintain or possibly increase muscle mass, a protein recommended dietary allowance of 1.5-2g/kg is needed,” Dr Williams said. “What many neglect to state is that this additional energy and protein may be obtained from a bal-anced healthy diet”.

Prentice (1999)Dr B. Prentice is from the

Department of Exercise Science, University of North Carolina.

Dr Prentice stated that every two or three years “the newest and most fashionable wonder supplement cre-ates anticipatory excitement that it will produce quick and gratifying results”.

“However, science eventually shows that, like others before it, the supplement just does not live up to the claims and hype,” he said. He conclud-ed there is no substitute for an optimal-resistance training program and sound overall diet.

Eichner (1999) Dr R. Eichner was from the

Health Sciences Centre, University of Oklahoma. Dr Eichner stated “for ath-letes who eat optimal diets, there is no solid evidence that protein powders or amino acids build muscle mass”.

Here it is – the greatest sport sup-plement discovered by sports scien-tists. This stuff is incredible, better than any slimming tablet, protein pow-der or other anabolic agent. Many have seen it or heard about it yet dismiss it because it is so common. It not only promises but delivers fat loss, muscle growth, speed, power, strength, endurance, improved heart and lung function.

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The dosage per week or day depends on your fitness level and training regime.

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SPORT 29Army April 30, 2009

By Michael Brooke

THE Army Rugby Union development team inflicted a humiliating 36-0 defeat on their Navy counterparts in a fiercely contested match at the Sydney Football Stadium on April 18.

The match was the curtain-raiser for the Waratahs clash with the Western Force, which drew a crowd of 25,000 people.

The Army’s Colts’ crushing victory over Navy provided the players with the opportunity to gel as a team after only two training sessions and prepare for a tour of New Zealand.

The six-try win provided the Colts with the perfect confidence booster before the team travelled to NZ to tackle the NZ Army Academy in Wellington.

Army played with great grit and deter-mination to sap the strength of the bigger Navy players before posting the first try in the 32nd minute through a slick back-line movement.

The Army lead 10-0 at half-time and posted four more tries in the second half to record a comprehensive win against Navy who simply ran out of gas.

Commander TC-A Maj-Gen Michael Hindmarsh applauded the Army Colts for their courage and commitment.

“I was very pleased with the score-line but almost shocked to learn that this was your first game together as a team and that you’ve only had two training sessions,” he told the players during the dressing-room celebration.

Army Rugby Coaching Director Maj Bob Brooks (retd) said the win marked the dawn of a new era in Army Rugby, with several of the players likely to be selected in the Army Rugby team to contest the triservice championship in Canberra in May.

“This match allowed the players to demonstrate the skill and determination required to challenge the all-conquer-ing NZ Army Academy team, who have a reputation for being really hard and tough,” he said.

Man of the match 110kg Pte Heath Toon, said scoring the last try of the game was “the icing on the cake”, which had him pumped for the clash with the Kiwis.

The match marked Pte Toon’s first run as prop with the team after only two appearances in the Kapooka 10s.

“I’m loving playing Army Rugby and like the rest of the team am keenly awaiting the rugged showdown with the Kiwis,” said the RAAF Richmond-based air dispatcher.

On a roll: Electrifying winger Pte Tom Boole, 1CSSB, runs the ball up against the Navy Colts. He scored two tries for Army in its 36-0 thrashing of the hapless sailors. Photo by Don Deakin-Bell

Colts bolt for big win against Navy

DEFENCE women will contest the Australian Services Rugby Union Championship in Canberra on May 23. All three services will be represented at Viking Park in Wanniassa at 1.30pm, when a com-bined Navy-Air Force team will attempt to wrest the Mick Dunne Trophy from the defending champions, Army. The women will compete for selection in the ASRU representative team to play in the Australian Rugby Union National Women’s Championship in Tallebudgera, Queensland from June 29 to July 3.

Women ready to play

WhitewashedBy Michael Weaver

DREAMS of an Army “three-peat” in the men’s Australian Services Australian Football Association championships (ASAFA) were crushed by a ruth-less Navy in Melbourne from April 15-19.

Army had won back the Jimmy Smail Cup from Navy (the 2005 and 2006 champions), on percentages only in 2007 and retained the trophy last year – with all of those vital encounters in Canberra.

The move of the ASAFA titles to Melbourne this year proved a real tonic for Navy, which humbled Air Force 21.8 (134) to 10.8 (68) before rolling over Army 19.14 (128) to 11.5 (71).

The warning signs were there for the Army men against Air Force when it just squeaked home 11.9 (75) to 10.5 (65) after Air Force had begun well and built a handy half-time lead.

Army men’s captain Sgt Tim Smith was disappointed with the result but not with his players.

“We started slowly in the first game against the RAAF and it got away from us in the first half, but we were able to regroup for what was a pretty good win,” he said.

“In the final against Navy, we just got smashed through the midfield. They won a lot of centre clearances and put pressure on our backline because the ball was com-ing in so quickly.

“I think we just weren’t able to get those centre clearances we need-ed and they used the ball a lot better. When we did get the ball, we turned it over on a few occasions and the turnovers really hurt at this level of competition.

“They were just too good for us on the day and there’s no excuse really. We’ll be back next year.”

BEST PLAYERS: Overall – AB Simon Horner; Army – Cpl Rhys Johannessen, 1RAR; Navy – AB Simon Horner; RAAF – Cpl Sean McGrath.

Numbers game as Army goes downBy Michael Weaver

ARMY failed to win a game as the Navy women dominated this year’s Australian Services Australian Football Association national car-nival in Melbourne with convinc-ing wins against its two service rivals to claim the 2009 Geoff Ledger Cup.

Navy’s victory was a numbers game, with its sheer strength of more skilful players paving the way for the championship win.

Army suffered slightly by being unable to form its best side but it was the emergence of Air Force as the service most likely to challenge

Navy’s mantle. Air Force, with 12 players for the carnival’s opening match at Port Melbourne Oval, came up against a 17-player Army team and surprised many by scoring a rare 13-point win.

In the second game, Navy’s backline repelled some early Army attacks while the forwards set up a handy 37-point lead at half-time.

Army was unable to capitalise on chances in the third term and a much stronger Navy team held Army to just one behind in the final term to run out convincing 70-point winners.

BEST PLAYERS: Overall – LS Trish Muller; Army – Pte Allison Smith, 4CSSB; Navy – LS Trish Muller; RAAF – Cpl Debbie Grylls.

Crunch-time: Pte Sophie Crawford, 176 AD Sqn, tries to clear the ball as Cpl Debbie Grylls applies a tackle. Photo by LS Paul McCallum

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30 SPORT Army April 30, 2009

By Barry Rollings

AT WORK or play, musician Cpl Stephanie Knight is finetuned for success.

Cpl Knight was the outright female winner of the Herald Hill to Harbour Challenge in Newcastle on March 29 in 39min and 52sec and annexed the Defence 10km championship in the process.

Cpl Knight, who is based at Sydney’s Victoria Barracks and plays the French horn with the Australian Army Band – Sydney, is on the comeback trail after the birth of her daughter, Bridie Dumigan about eight months ago.

What made her success even more remarkable was the fact she was the first Defence competitor across the line, fin-ishing 18th overall out of a field of more than 850, and had to substitute swimming for her running pursuits for about four months after she became pregnant.

Cpl Knight took up running in 1990 as a vehicle for keeping fit when she first enlisted.

“Music is my first love but having joined the Army I began running as part of the keep-fit requirement and it was then that I realised I really enjoyed it,” Cpl Knight said.

A member of the Australian Defence Running and Athletics Association, she has been running competitively for about 10 years.

Taking on the challenge of the hills and many tight turns, Cpl Knight said she was happy with her time, consider-ing she was “really just getting back into running”.

Middle distance is her forte so the 10km was not unfamiliar to her. She has contested a few 10km races around Sydney – in fun runs – and the ADF 10km cross-country championships.

“I run with a view to recording a

good time and I didn’t expect to do that well so soon. I had never run that race before, so I wasn’t sure what the compe-tition or course would be like.

“I thought the course was great, in particular the hills and scenery,” she said.

Sitting in about fourth or fifth of the women competitors in the early stages, she finished strongly.

“The race was quite hilly at the start but it went well. It was a beautiful day with nice scenery – when I had a chance to have a look.

“I was very pleased with the effort after having quite a break off.”

The 36-year-old prefers road and cross-country events and has pencilled in the ADF half marathon next month as her next goal. She prefers road racing and cross-country running and says the Master Games could also be on the hori-zon for her soon.

Runners at the start of the event were greeted with the spectre of a looming 1km climb up the hill from Newcastle’s Empire Park to the top of Memorial Drive that rivalled the infamous Heartbreak Hill in Sydney’s City to Surf Fun Run.

While this is a daunting prospect at any point in a race, a climb of this mag-nitude so early on had to be respected.

The course is arguably one of the most scenic 10km runs in Australia and lived up to its picturesque description.

Winner of the men’s race was master runner and a regular on the Defence run-ning scene, LAC Steven Attwell from RAAF Base Williamtown, who finished in 41min and 29sec.

Also making a comeback of sorts was the association’s president, Navy’s Capt Frank Kresse, who recently underwent two knee operations.

“My aim had been to make up the numbers, which allowed me the luxury of spending more time enjoying the run,” he said. “I am just glad to be running.”

Winning form hits right note

Finetuned: Cpl Stephanie Knight on her way to winning the Herald Hill to Harbour Challenge in Newcastle. Photo by Andrew Burnell Photography

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SPORT 31Army April 30, 2009

True test of surfing: Sgt Nathan Grumley, 39PSB, contemplates the less-than-ideal conditions.

By Stuart Brook

DESPITE some solid individual and team performances, pickings were lean for Army when the NSW Army Surfriders’ Association (ASRA) staged the 2009 interservice Surfing Championships from March 31-April 2.

RAAF Base Williamtown served as headquarters for the event at Birubi Point and Fingal Bay.

With the individual finals out of the way, it was time for the teams challenge and the first of the heats hit the water with a close result recorded. From the outset, it was obvious it was going to be hard-fought and closely contested.

Air Force won the first heat with Army a close second and Navy third, but the lead changed between Air Force and Navy as the heats continued.

Some great efforts in the short and longboard divisions were not good enough to replicate Army’s crushing 2005 defeat of Navy.

Army (108 points) was soundly beat-en by Navy (172) and Air Force (140).

For the first time since women entered the competition in 2005, Army was not represented. Two-time women’s cham-pion Cpl Rebecca Piper was unavailable.

Teams were met with less than ideal conditions on a deserted Birubi Point Beach in the Greater Port Stephens area on opening day, A strong 30-knot south-easterly blew onshore, with rain squalls and heavy cloud.

Initially surfing looked unlikely but the 2-3m swell rolled into the beach to whet competitors’ enthusiasm.

Heats pitted two surfers from each service – drawn from a hat – against each

other. By mid-morning the deteriorating weather, with the wind hitting the beach at 40-50 knots and churning the surf, forced organisers to move to the pro-tected Fingal Bay inside point break with its ideal offshore conditions and a clean 1.5m swell.

Some exceptional day one surfing resulted in Army’s Sgt Grant Pringle, 6 Avn Regt, Cpl John O’Connor, 8CSSB, Pte Beau Pridue, 8CSSB, Sgt Nathan Grumley, 39PSB, and LCpl Gavin Castro, 3RAR, advancing to round two.

Day two was greeted with worsening weather as the south-easterly continued to howl and 40mm of rain fell in the early morning. Again competition focus shifted from Birubi Point to Fingal Bay only to be postponed in the interests of safety.

When the revised schedule resumed, spectators were treated to some excellent surfing in the semi-finals.

Some valiant efforts by Sgt Pringle and LCpl Castro in the short board were insufficient to have Army represented in the final.

It was a different story in the men’s longboard with Sgt Grumley advanc-ing to the final, where Air Force’s Sgt Murray Stabler came away with a con-vincing win.

“The finals were a true test of surfing experience,” Sgt Grumley said.

“A combination of wave size and shifting banks made for a complicated piece of water to read.

“Some real talent was seen in all serv-ices, particularly for those who braved the steep section over the sandbar.”

The women’s final was won by Navy’s Leut Amy Butler. The men’s shortboard final was won by Navy’s AB Jordan Dank,

Wipe-out as Army wavers

RESULTSINDIVIDUAL EVENTS:SHORTBOARD: 1st: LS J. Dank, 723 Sqn.2nd: AB C. Poland, HMAS Melbourne. 3rd: LS N. Adamson, HMAS Darwin. 4th: LS D. McLean, NAS Nowra.5th: CPO T. Hayes, HMAS Penguin. 6th: PO J. Weber, 723 Sqn.

LONGBOARD: 1st: Sgt M. Stabler, RAAF Williamtown.2nd: CPO T. Hayes, HMAS Penguin. 3rd: FSgt M. Johns, RAAF Williamtown. 4th: LS B. Dawson, HMAS Waterhen. 5th: Cpl R. Huxley, RAAF Williamtown. 6th: Sgt Nathan Grummley, 39PSB.

April 30, 2009

HOPES SUNK

Army loses AFL title

High flyers: LCpl Lachlan Frankland, 1RAR, contests the mark with AC Chris Anderson while Pte Rhys Johannessen, 1RAR, waits for the spoils.Photo by LS Paul McCallum

FINETUNED FOR SUCCESS

Cpl Stephanie Knight wins 10km

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