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TheRoyal Australian Artillery

Spring Edition 2013

LIAISON LETTER

The Official Journal of the Royal Regiment of Australian ArtilleryIncorporating the Australian Gunner Magazine

First Published in 1948

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2013

Publication Information

Front Cover: Exercise Talisman Sabre 13

Front Cover Concept by: Major D.T. (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer to Head of Regiment

Compiled and Edited by: Major D.T. (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer to Head of Regiment

Published by: Lieutenant Colonel Dave Edwards, Deputy Head of Regiment

Desktop Publishing: Michelle Ray, Combined Arms Doctrine and Development Section, Puckapunyal, Victoria 3662

Front Cover & Graphic Design: Felicity Smith, Combined Arms Doctrine and Development Section, Puckapunyal, Victoria 3662

Printed by: Defence Publishing Service – Victoria

Distribution: For issues relating to content or distribution contact the Editor on email: [email protected]

or [email protected]

Contributors are urged to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in their articles. The Royal Australian Artillery, Deputy

Head of Regiment and the RAA Liaison Letter editor accept no responsibility for errors of fact.

The views expressed in the Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter are the contributors and not necessarily those of the Royal

Australian Artillery, Australian Army or Department of Defence. The Commonwealth of Australia will not be legally responsible in

contract, tort or otherwise for any statement made in this publication.

RAA

LIAISON

LETTER

Spring Edition

2013

NEXT EDITION CONTRIBUTION DEADLINE

Contributions for the Liaison Letter 2014 – Autumn

Edition should be forwarded to the Editor by no later

than Friday 14th February 2014.

LIAISON LETTER ON-LINE

The Liaison Letter is on the Regimental DRN web-site –

http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/RRAA/.

Content managers are requested to add this to their

links.

CONTENTS

Editor’s Comment 1

Letters to the Editor 2

Regimental 7

Operations 19

Capability 21

Professional Papers 23

Around the Regiment 33

Personnel & Training 43

Associations & Organisations 47

Incorporating the

Australian Gunner Magazine

RAA Liaison Letter 2013 - Spring Edition


Liaison Letter Contributor

'Big Sky Publishing'Incentive Prize

Big Sky Publishing provide an incentive prize to encourage individuals to contribute to

the Liaison Letter. The winner is judged by the Editor.

I am pleased to announce that the prize for this edition goes to Colonel Sean Ryan,

Commandant Combined Arms Training Centre for his contribution outlining his

experiences as a Forward Observer in Bosnia. His article can be found in the

Professional Papers section.

Colonel Sean Ryan will receive a copy of Lonesome Pine by Simon Cameron …

published by Big Sky Publishing.

Congratulations to Colonel Ryan – I look forward to receiving more quality contributions

from individuals across the Regiment for the Liaison Letter 2014 – Autumn Edition.

Editor's Comment

Welcome to the Liaison

Letter 2013 – Spring

Edition. As always I trust

you find it an informative

and enjoyable read. I had

contemplated making

this edition my last as

editor, however it was

not to be and assisted by

the persuasive 'lobbying'

from Colonel Ian Ahearn, Colonel Commandant

Eastern Region and Deputy Chair of the RAA Historical

Company, I am pleased to soldier on for a while yet.

I had contemplated making this

edition my last as editor …

The death of any member of the Royal Regiment

whether serving or retired is always a sad occasion.

At times this can be especially so when they are a

colleague you have worked closely with and have

known throughout most of your career. One such

person from my personal perspective was Major

Tony Thwaites. I was not simply very saddened – I

was shocked – to hear of his untimely death. I only

spoke with him late last year and he was a man that

regardless of the time lapse between meetings

made it always feel like it was only yesterday that

you were last talking. He was a man full of life who

could light up a room with his deep distinctive voice

in conversation and with laughter, whilst his large

physical stature towered over everyone in a non

threatening jovial and friendly manner.

In the Vale Section there is one of a number of

eulogies delivered at Tony Thwaites funeral. This

one was written and delivered by Major Gus Pallot

who graduated in the same class, served with him

and became a life long friend. As I read through the

eulogy I was moved from laughter to tears and back

as Gus described the person who we all knew as

'Thwaitesy'.

It may just be my age or the stage of life that I have

reached combined with the shock of Tony Thwaites

death but it started me thinking about friendships

and more importantly taking the time to listen

when talking to friends and colleagues. Those of us

who are of the male species have a reputation for

avoiding the doctor / dentist and most importantly

not discussing issues and concerns that may be

troubling us and nor are we good listeners. I know

for one that I have to plead guilty.

One such person from my

personal perspective was Major

Tony Thwaites. I was not simply

very saddened – I was shocked –

to hear of his untimely death.

Whilst serving we are a little protected from

physical neglect through the need to do annual

medical and dental checks as well as attend physical

training and pass a range of physical and strength

tests. The one thing I felt during my time in the

full-time Army was that collectively we had no

trouble understanding and dealing with physical

injuries and being supportive of those individuals

during their treatment and recovery.

I do not believe the same can be said for emotional

well being, especially mental illness – I believe up

until recently it has been the silent injury that

slipped along under the radar. Whist the

recognition, understanding and treatment of

mental issues has been steadily improving within

Defence I firmly believe there is still a stigma

attached to those who admit problems and seek

treatment. I believe the book 'Exit Wounds' by

recently retired Major General John Cantwell has

assisted in highlighting that mental illness respects

no boundaries. A review of this book is in the

Professional Papers Section.

As I read through the eulogy I was

moved from laughter to tears and

back as Gus described the person

who we all knew as 'Thwaitesy'.

Although we have improved our support I believe

we as an organisation still have a way to go to

understand and respect those who seek assistance

and most importantly appreciate that the

individuals can recover and generally like any other

injury depending on its severity re-enter

mainstream employment within Army.

A highlight of this edition is the 'Five Minutes With ....

section' which contains excellent contributions from

Major General Paul Symon, Director of the Defence

Intelligence Organisation, and Warrant Officer Class

One David Lehr, RSM Ceremonial - Army. I believe

everyone will find their responses to my questions

frank and insightful and in some instances

educational.

1


In the Professional Papers section Colonel Sean

Ryan, Commandant Combined Arms Centre, who is

a major supporter and regular contributor to the

Liaison Letter has provided a paper on his

experiences as Captain serving as a forward

observer with the British Army in Bosnia. I

encourage everyone to take the time to read the

paper.

I believe the book 'Exit Wounds' by

recently retired Major General

John Cantwell has assisted in

highlighting that mental illness

respects not boundaries.

In the Around the Regiment section there are a

range of articles from units on topics such as

Exercise Talisman Sabre 13, whilst in the Capability

Section there is an article on the development of

the Amphibious Ready Element. 16th Air Land

Regiment has provided an article on the final C-RAM

rotation in the Operations section.

As always I would like to thank everyone for their

support of the Liaison Letter, particularly

noteworthy are those individuals who have found

the time in their busy lives to make a contribution. I

encourage everyone to consider taking up your pen

or keyboard, especially if you have not previously

done so, and express your opinion; or comment on

issues be they contemporary or heritage; or record

your operational experiences for others learn from

as well as to preserve Gunner history.

Finally take a moment from you busy life, seek out a

friend and ask them how they are going? Most

importantly listen to what they have to say – you

never know it may make all the difference!!!!

D.T. (Terry) BRENNAN

Major

Editor

Tel: 07 4651 0939 (h) Mobile: 0419 179 974

Email: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Postal: ‘Stratford’ BLACKALL QLD 4472

http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/RRAA/

2


EDITOR’S NOTE:

To add your name to the Liaison Letter mailing list or to

remove it, contact the editor.

Letters to the

Editor

Royal New Zealand Artillery Update

Congratulations to all involved on the content,editorial standards and publication quality of yourfine Gunner liaison letter. It is an interesting andtopical publication which generates a good deal ofinterest and discussion on this side of the Tasman.

We have been following the equipment andorganisational changes that have been underway inthe last year or so in the RAA. It is an interesting andchallenging time for you. You have the benefit ofsome years of operational Artillery experiencewhich we have been lacking recently in the RNZA.Like us, you have had to cut your cloth to suit thebudget, at least to some extent, in a period ofconsiderable financial constraint.

In all likelihood New Zealand is now moving out ofthe period of substantial cuts as our economycontinues to improve, so it is unlikely that there willbe significant reduction changes in the RNZA in theforeseeable future.

By 2020 the intent is that the

Defence Force will be capable of

conducting amphibious military

operations and responding to

emergencies in our region.

To provide some information and material fordiscussion I thought it might be useful tosummarise where the RNZA is at.

Firstly the setting from the current White Paper. NZDefence focus until 2015 is re-orienting existingunits and assets into a joint amphibious task force,capable of responding to threats and tasks in NewZealand and its region; to security challenges in theSouth Pacific; and, challenges to New Zealand's andAustralia's common security interests.

By 2020 the intent is that the Defence Force will becapable of conducting amphibious militaryoperations and responding to emergencies in ourregion. This would be either on our own or as partof a wider coalition. We would still maintainselected forces capable of participating inoperations elsewhere in the world.

The army has been reconfigured around the abilityto quickly form a combined arms task group. Thisincludes retaining existing light gun and mortarcapability to meet the requirements of the taskgroup.

3


16th Field Regiment is therefore organised intothree fire support batteries: two regular force, andone territorial force; and, a headquarters battery.The establishments of the fire support batteries areidentical, each with six 105 millimetre L119 lightguns and twelve 81 mm mortars. As well as thenormal quota of observation parties, the Regimentalso mounts two Joint Fires Teams in LightArmoured Vehicles.

The territorial force battery trains to individualskills levels and provides manpower for the tworegular force batteries as required, as well asundertaking sub unit level training as a gun battery.

The light guns have just gone through a completerebuild taking their life out to 2030. The firesupport batteries have re-equipped with astate-of-the-art fire prediction system. Targetacquisition and meteorological equipments are alsobeing upgraded.

In addition to new equipments the RNZA has beenmade responsible for the conduct of non lethalinfluence operations (CIMIC and InformationOperations). These new competencies are addingto the RNZA's utility. Gunners have alreadydeployed to a variety of theatres as CIMIC and IOstaff.

The RNZA is developing an operating conceptwhere the battery is capable of deploying a varietyof lethal and non lethal capabilities to support a NZBattle Group within the Pacific. Key to the successof this concept is the agility with which the Batterycan transition between capabilities and forceposture as the intensity of conflict varies.

In a more severe threat setting, the concept is thatthe gun battery would initially deploy over a beachwith mortars to provide support for the deployedinfantry. As logistics, the threat environment andbeachhead permitted, the L119s would deployeither in place of or as well as the mortars.

Currently both regular force fire support batteriesfrequently deploy on live firing exercises with theirsupported infantry or mounted rifles, using bothmortars and guns for live firing. Command andtactical elements have started training andexercises for amphibious operations, and this willcontinue as the joint force capacity develops.

The indications are that New Zealand will retain alight gun capacity through until at least 2030, andbe capable of deploying mortars and/or guns as partof RNZA operational requirements for theforeseeable future, into the South Pacific region.

Ubique

Barry DreyerColonel Commandant

Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery

Editor: Thank you for your positive feedback and advice

that the Liaison Letter is generating discussion in your

country. On behalf of the Liaison Letter readers I would

like to thank you for taking the time to provide this

comprehensive update on the Royal New Zealand

Artillery.

Leadership

In reading Field Marshal Sir William Slim's address(RAA Liaison Letter - Autumn Edition 2013), where heexplained that in Army one talks of 'leadership', not'management', I was reminded of a particular day in1998 (when I was still in the Army); I was over at theArmy Headquarters' Orderly Room, speaking to itsChief Clerk. To my surprise and horror, he informedme that it was not an Orderly Room, but a'Shopfront', and that he was not the Chief Clerk butthe Office Manager. I was later advised that theArmy now had, in some units, 'fleet managers'instead of commanding officers.

I was later advised that the Army

now had, in some units, 'fleet

managers' instead of

commanding officers.

As a result of this I spoke to a number of seniorofficers about my concerns as to where the Armywas heading with regard to this matter and I thenhad a letter published in the Army Newspaperaddressing these 'changes' (for which I received agreat deal of support from a number of warrant andcommissioned officers). It seemed to me that, withthis type of civilian mentality, the Army appeared tobe losing the 'plot' and its direction. I now see,reading the latest edition of the RAA Liaison Letter,that the Army currently has a number of WO1sserving as 'managers', with some six Gunner WO1sposted as: Manager Operations Offensive Support,and I'm informed that the former Warrant OfficerGunnery Course has been 'civilianized' to theManager Operations Offensive Support Course!

I agree that members of the Defence Force are apart of society in general; it is, however, a fact of lifethat the Australian Defence Force (not theDepartment of Defence) is a different organizationto anything else out there in the civilian world; ithas a different psyche, lifestyle and purpose.

Speaking now, as a civilian (and yes, I know I'vebeen out of the Army for some 15 years), it seemsthat the Army has gone even further 'down-hill';where is this going to end?

Yours sincerely

Christopher Jobson

4


Editor: Sadly in these days of corporatisation, civilian

accreditation, justifying pay cases and increasing

civilianisation within the Department of Defence and

the involvement of outside agencies, in order to

demystify 'military service' there are occasions when the

'jargon and terminology' that you and I take for granted

have to be replaced with more urbane terms to assist

non military people gain an improved understanding of

the 'Profession of Arms' for our mutual benefit.

History and Heritage Matters

Thank you for publishing my letter of 4th February2013 in the Autumn Edition of the Liaison Letterand for your detailed comment. I must say howeverthat I cannot agree with the whole content of thecomment. I am one who believes that Napoleonstruck the right note when he said, or is reputed tohave said, 'God is on the side of the big battalions'.

Referring now to your interest, history andheritage, can you or your readers provide answersto the following two questions?

Question One. Following the reorganization ofReserve artillery what has been the fate of 113 FieldBattery, a sub unit of 7 Field Regiment? This batterywas originally a coast battery and as such was theonly coast battery in the whole of our history toengage a hostile war vessel. I am not talking about'bring to' rounds fired across the bows of merchantships.

Question Two. In the days of the RAA NationalMuseum the late Arthur Kennedy during one of our'learned' lunch time discussions asked 'Where is theRoyal Warrant that authorized the formation of theRoyal Australian Artillery Regiment'? Of course no oneknew but the question still remains, where is thewarrant today.

Yours sincerely

Laurie Hindmarsh

Editor: In answer to your first question I am sorry to say

but in the reorganisation of the Army Reserve

component of the Royal Regiment 113th Field Battery

was been removed from the order of battle. With regard

to your second question my knowledge of our history

and heritage does not extend to being able to provide

you an answer. I would like to very quickly side step the

query and invite any readers who may have knowledge

to write in with the answer which I will gladly publish in

the next edition.

Poem - The Guns of the Regiment

Firstly, thanks for all the work you have done on theLiaison Letter. It's great to see what's happening inthe Regiment and more importantly, who's stillaround that I know! It's even better to see that you

hold no punches when it comes to those curious /bizarre / nugatory changes that seem to crop upwith monotonous regularity!

I therefore decided to try my hand

at penning a poem that summed

up the whole Australian 'Gunner

Experience' …

On another matter, poetry! I decided to surf the netfor some good Gunner poems and, whilst therewere some excellent Commonwealth offeringsfrom different eras, there was a dearth of anythingfrom Australian Gunners with even our brethrenacross the ditch having produced quite an array.

I therefore decided to try my hand at penning apoem that summed up the whole Australian 'GunnerExperience' as I saw it from my readings of ourGunners at war and peace and my rather limitedexperience on the gun line. I will leave the poem inyour capable hands to determine whether it hasmerit, would be relevant in this modern, digital,Gen Y world and would warrant publishing. Theonly thing I ask is that, if published, it be listed asANON.

The Guns of the Regiment

She's a cold, hard bitch who's been served

by many men in her life

yet none hold regret for their time with

this gun of The Regiment.

He's cursed her when she exacted

her due in sweat, tears and blood

yet lavished her with loving attention

his gun of The Regiment.

He called her 'Dog' with affection

served her through peace and through war

his mistress, his colours, his life,


He fed her with high explosive

fighting for breath in a gunpowder haze

in deserts, jungles and snow,


And when the medals were issued

when the pats on the back arrived

he knew it had been a team effort

of the whole of The Royal Regiment.

April and sporting a suit now

medals and red on blue tie

5


he forms up with mates of old

the Gunners of The Regiment.

Every year the ranks grow thinner

but those who march really know

that the fallen still march alongside them

the Ghosts of The Regiment.

In his twilight years he shuffles

through a park where the children play

a tear in his eye, a proud nod,

past a gun of The Regiment.

And when St Barbara calls him

to Take Post for one last time,

he'll be borne to his well-earned rest

on a gun of The Regiment.

Editor: Many thanks for your very generous feedback. I

congratulate you for taking the time and most

importantly making the effort to 'craft' your poem. I

publish it with pleasure in the Liaison Letter and

welcome any others that you may wish to contribute in

the future. I am happy to meet your request for

anonymity.

Feedback Snippets

Credit to you for all your excellent work as editor ofthe RAA Liaison Letter. Receiving it over the yearshas always provided me with an insight into RAAmatters.

Best WishesBrigadier Peter Kilpatrick (Retd)

Congratulations on the further improvements inquality and content of the Liaison Letter: a reallyoutstanding medium for Gunner news and views.

SincerelyWalter Reed

Thanks for the latest issue of the RAA Liaison Letter,insightful and a good read as always.

RegardsColonel Shane Amor (Retd)

DATE CLAIMER

LIAISON LETTER

Next Edition Contribution Deadline

Friday 14th February 2014

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY

HONOURSMEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

IN THE MILITARY DIVISION

Warrant Officer Class One Christopher

Walton MAYFIELD

For meritorious service as Master Gunner Proof

and Experimental Establishment Graytown and

as the Regimental Sergeant Major 8th/12th

Regiment, the Royal Regiment of Australian

Artillery.

Warrant Officer Mayfield's leadership,professionalism and work ethic have beenexceptional. He has excelled in themaintenance of the highest technicalstandards and demonstrated foresight andinitiative in managing the seamlessintroduction of new Field Artillery trades.

These achievements have enhanced thecapability of the Royal Australian Artillery.Warrant Officer Mayfield's ability to motivateand inspire others is commendable, and he iswidely respected among those with whom hehas served.

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS

Liaison Letter Contributor

Incentive

Big Sky Publishing is pleased to support an

initiative to encourage all members to contribute

to the Liaison Letter.

Big Sky Publishing will provide contemporary

publications from their military title range to

reward selected contributor(s) as chosen by the

Editor.

6


Representative

Colonel

CommandantBrigadier A. G. (Gerry) Warner, AM, LVO (Retd)

Dear Fellow Gunners

As you read this edition of the

Liaison Letter, the long

Australian Defence Force

commitment In Afghanistan

draws to a close. Although

Australian guns were not

deployed, Gunners served

with courage, distinction and

initiative in a wide range of

roles and delivered a number of critical capabilities.

Amongst other tasks RAA members served on the

guns of our allies, controlled fire support from

mortars, close air and artillery, provided early

warning and force protection with the Counter

Rocket and Mortar (CRAM) system, and operated

the Shadow 200 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System.

In previous editions the Liaison Letter Editor and

his contributors have provided excellent coverage

of the RAA operations.

Clearly the RAA will identify many

lessons from the Afghanistan

experience and work will be

required to optimise and further

develop equipment, processes

and tactics.

Clearly the RAA will identify many lessons from the

Afghanistan experience and work will be required

to optimise and further develop equipment,

processes and tactics. I congratulate and thank all

those who have served and continue to serve in this

difficult and costly campaign, and express our

Regiment's appreciation for their contribution to

the rich history of the RAA.

In early August at the invitation of its Board, I

attended an information seminar conducted by the

Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company. The

seminar was designed to inform and engage with

pivotal and interested parties within Army, the

Gunner community and other Canberra

stakeholders. The event was well attended and I am

confident it gave the RAAHC some serious issues

for consideration and development.

The RAAHC is working hard to progress the

planning and development of a combined Armour /

Artillery Museum at Puckapunyal. In the meantime

the Army History Unit has advised that an interim

artillery display will be established in buildings

adjacent to the existing RAAC Tank Museum at

Puckapunyal. The display is expected to be

operational by the end of March 2014. The AHU will

seek to manage the interim display with Army

Reserve staff and anticipates employment of a

volunteer support group in future.

Sadly this year I have needed to write a number of

sympathy letters following the deaths of members

of the RAA family. In doing so I have been exposed

to sometimes interesting or unique aspects of the

service of a fellow Gunner. Mindful of the

importance of such information and the risk of it

being lost, I refer to the announcement by the

RAAHC in the last Cannonball on the creation of the

'Australian Gunner Obituaries' resource. This is a great

initiative with significant potential value and utility.

Please give it your support and contribute if and

when appropriate.

Head of Regiment and I recently discussed RAA

Standing Orders, particularly their currency,

accuracy and relevance. We agreed that some

revision was necessary before a new publication

and distribution, and that revision will commence

shortly. In a related matter, an article and

correspondence on the accuracy of aspects of the

Regiment's history, in recent RAA LL, has raised

issues deserving further consideration. I will

explore a way ahead with the members of the

Regimental Committee and the History

Sub-Committee.

Good Shooting

7


Regimental

Head of RegimentBrigadier Peter Gates, CSM

Fellow Gunners

This Spring Liaison Letter

provides the opportunity

to reflect on achievements

of the Regiment this year

and turn our mind to some

of the opportunities and

challenges that lie ahead.

I continue to be impressed

by the professionalism and

positive attitude displayed by Gunners involved in

the introduction or development of new capability.

Coupled with our ongoing training and operational

roles, 2013 has been another busy and productive

year.

This year had 4th Regiment (4 Regt) with

attachments from 20th Surveillance and Target

Acquisition Regiment (20 STA Regt) and 16 Air Land

Regiment (16 ALR) deploy on Exercise Talisman

Sabre / Hamel 13 at Shoalwater Bay. They were

pitted against an enemy Battle group that included

a battery from 1st Regiment (1 Regt). It was the first

time the RAA has had all of its new capabilities

exercising together. In particular we saw the Giraffe

– Angle Multi-Beam (G-AMB) radar, Light-weight

Counter Mortar Radar (LCMR) and the Shadow 200

UAS deployed and integrated into the Joint Fires

and surveillance plan along with the M777A2,

RBS-70 and AFATDS C2 system. The School also

supported the exercise with the provision of

observer-trainers and umpires.

More enhanced capabilities are being delivered to

units now and in the near future. The Digital

Terminal Control System (DTCS) has commenced

initial training at the School, AFATDS continues to

develop our battle management, Land 136 will be

examining new mortar fire control systems, JP129

and the Shadow UAS capability continues to

impress and challenge us as combat aviators, Land

19 moves ever forward and the remainder of the

M777A2 fleet arrive in Australia very soon.

Although our commitments to the Afghan Artillery

School and the Mobile Training Team have been

completed, a number of the Gunner community

remain heavily committed to operations in the

Middle East. 20 STA Regt continue to fly the Shadow

200 UAS in support of our forces, 16 ALR continue

to support Air Land integration and force

protection at Tarin Kowt and we have a number of

personnel from all ranks serving in staff and

mentoring roles in Tarin Kowt, Kandahar and Kabul.

We also have members in other operational areas

around the world in a variety of roles.

The thoughts and support of all Gunners are with

those of the Regiment that are deployed or are

about to deploy and with their families.

I would also like to acknowledge the members of

the Reserve for their ongoing work to convert to

Mortar Batteries. There are significant practical

challenges in doing so, coupled with more nuanced

issues of culture, heritage and maintaining the

collective sense of what it is to be a Gunner in new

command structures. What I have been particularly

impressed with is the dedication and

professionalization of those involved in this work

to realise capabilities required by Army under Plan

Beersheba.

I was struck by the confidence

and maturity of our young

Gunners.

I had the opportunity to join the young officers of

the Regiment at the ROBC Dining In Night in April

which was a great success and notable for the

significant numbers in attendance. Whilst chatting

with members of the Gun and GBAD IET courses at

the School I was struck by the confidence and

maturity of our young Gunners. 53rd Battery was as

busy yet assured as usual. All of these together

purport well for the health and strength of the

Regiment's future.

On behalf of the Regiment I would like to

congratulate the recently announced Commanding

Officers and Regimental Sergeant Majors for 2014.

On behalf of the Regiment I wish them every

success in their new appointments.

The Regiment has a bright future

built on the commitment and

professionalism of current and

former Gunners. I look forward to

seeing as many of you as possible

over the coming months.

I join with all members of the Regiment to welcome

the new mid year RMC graduates. I was unable to

attend the presentation of awards ceremony;

consequently I would like thank Brigadier Graeme

Finney for deputising for me. On behalf of the Royal

Regiment he presented the Royal Australian

8


Artillery Prize to SCDT Gerard Hinchcliffe. The

following graduates entered the Regiment from

RMC; Cameron Smith (20 STA Regt), Gerard

Hinchcliffe (8/12 Regt), Harrison Williams (1 Regt),

Matthew Armstrong (16 ALR). With them are two

officers from AustInt who are completing their

Regimental experience with the RAA; Thomas

Muarry (16 ALR) and Robert Pike (8/12 Regt). On

behalf of the Gunners I wish you the best at the

outset of what I trust will be a rewarding career.

I would also like to acknowledge Warrant Officer

Class One Chris Mayfield who was recognised for

his service in the Queens Birthday Honours List.

Such recognition is a reflection of the important

contribution he has made to Defence.

Lastly, I can report that real progress is being made

in preserving and displaying our Artillery Heritage. I

would like to acknowledge the work of the Royal

Australian Artillery Historical Company, the Army

History Unit and School of Artillery to progress

these initiatives. I hope by the next Liaison Letter to

report the opening of an interim location near the

School of Artillery at Puckapunyal.

The Regiment has a bright future built on the

commitment and professionalism of current and

former Gunners. I look forward to seeing as many of

you as possible over the coming months.

Ubique

Deputy Head of

RegimentLieutenant Colonel Dave Edwards

It has been another busy

year at the School and

across the Regiment in

general. There has been a

great deal of work done by

many people to reach a

workable interim solution

for the RAA Museum to be

established in Puckapunyal

alongside the RAAC

Museum. This will allow for

a number of the pieces to be displayed and taken care of

as well as allowing the School access to an important

training resource for equipment principles and learning

about our heritage. The RAAC Museum has a good

number of visitors through its gates and external other

students from Defence seeking to learn about the

evolution of military technology. I hope that the RAA can

contribute to this body of learning as well. I would

encourage any of our Associations planning a trip, or any

Gunner who is travelling nearby to come in to visit the

interim Museum. It is just around the corner from the

School and you would be more than welcome at the

'Home of the Gunner'.

It would be remiss of me not to recognise the work of

the 2nd Divisional RAA Light Batterys as they continue

to roll out a quality mortar capability. I have been very

fortunate to have had the support of 2nd/10th Light

Battery (5th/6th Royal Victorian Rifles) for Exercise

Chong Ju and very shortly they will be supporting

RMC Duntroon for combined arms live fire activities at

9


Lieutenant Gerard Hinchliffe was presented theArtillery Prize by Brigadier Graeme Finney, OAM onbehalf of Head of Regiment. Lieutenant Hinchliffe

was also presented the Queen's Medal for Highestaggregate marks in First and Second Class by

Lieutenant General David Morrison, AO Chief ofArmy and the Raytheon Prize for being first in

Defence and Strategic Studies Essays by Mr PaulStraghair. All graduates were presented theircommissions by the Chief of Army Lieutenant

General David Morrison, AO.

Puckapunyal. The performance of the Light Battery

gunners has been great and I hope they get

something out of the activities as well.

While I remain in support of

change and modernisation I

would like to highlight the need to

retain and reinforce our basic

technical and tactical principles

and skills.

The School has had a strong focus on supporting

the introduction into service of so many of the new

capabilities. Communications and Support Wing

has now adopted the full suite of digital

communications equipment for Basic and Specialist

Combat Communicator Courses, Joint Fires Wing

has continued the M777A2 and AFATDS training,

GBAD Wing (soon to be renamed Air-Land Wing)

has been incorporating many of the new systems

and into existing training in order to support 16th

Air Land Regiment. STA Wing has just completed

the first Operator UAS course to be held in Australia

and the second is already underway. These two

courses have only been able to be conducted due to

the heavy cooperation, patience and understanding

of 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition

Regiment (20 STA). My thanks to 20 STA Regt for

allowing the School to deliver quality individual

training for UAS pilots / operators. The New

Equipment Training Team has continued its

development and testing of AFATDS in the

Requirements Centre and we are introducing the

new suite of observers' equipment associated with

DTCS. This includes new laser range finders, laser

designators, thermal imagery systems as well as the

digital communication suite itself. This equipment

should be in all Regiments by April 2014.

Change appears to be the new norm with more on

the way. The School will hand over the Bushmaster

PMV training at Motorised Combat Wing to the

Army School of Transport at the end of 2014. I am

very proud of the MCW Team and the Bushmaster.

They have provided some outstanding courses to

the ADF over the years and I hope this continues

under the RACT stewardship. There is also some

work underway to examine where the UAS

capability best sits in Army. I, for one, have seen

great work by the RAA in this area and I think it may

be best served where it is now.

While I remain in support of change and

modernisation I would like to highlight the need to

retain and reinforce our basic technical and tactical

principles and skills. It is easy to focus on the new

and advanced equipment, but we must continue to

understand how and why things happen to guns,

launchers, radars, rounds, missiles, lasers and

aircraft. Digital systems do not mean the end of

disciplined radio procedures and fire discipline.

Take time to train and review your individual skills

and technical knowledge. It has proven to be a

source of great strength of the RAA for some time

and is the foundation for timely, accurate and safe

Joint Fires, Surveillance and Air Land operations in

the future.

Regimental

Master GunnerWarrant Officer Class One Bob Thompson, OAM

'Gunners will always fight together, drink together,

laugh together, and morn together.'

Greetings Fellow Gunners

As I write this contribution

I have just been informed

of the passing of another

member of our Gunner

family who has left us to

rest permanently at the

Gun Park in heaven. Sadly

2013 has seen the passing

of Colonel Mike Kingsford,

Major Tony Thwaites, and Warrant Officer Class One

Phil Robertson. On behalf of all ranks of the Royal

Regiment of Australian Artillery I extend condolences

to their families and friends.

It has been a very busy year so far for the Regiment

embedding new structures and equipment as we

move forward to establishing Multi-Role Combat

Brigades (MCB) or like brigades within the framework

of Plan Beersheba.

I recently participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre 13

and had the unique opportunity to observe and report

on the RAA capabilities attached to the Armoured

Cavalry Regiment (ACR) Battle Group (BG) which was

also being trialled and evaluated prior to its formal

initial establishment in January 2014 within the 1st

Brigade.

It was encouraging to see within the ACR although

very much in its infancy the coordinated collective

effort at all levels of command working together to

understand what each capability brings to the

organisation and how to make best use of these

10


assets. Seeing the ACR on the ground for the first time

as opposed to on an establishment slide reminded me

of the formation battle groupings of the 80s and 90s

however with far greater mobility plus surveillance

and target acquisition capability delivering far

superior coordinated and accurate fire power.

I spent the duration of the exercise within the BG HQ

within the BG Joint Fires and Effect Coordination

Centre (JFECC) provided by 109th Battery, 4th

Regiment observing its offensive support

coordination function and the interoperability of the

BG force enablers through mission planning,

rehearsals and execution. At the same time I was able

to observe and engage soldiers and non

commissioned officers from 4th Regiment, 16th Air

Land Regiment, and 20th Surveillance Target

Acquisition Regiment providing support to the BG.

I believe that in the manner in

which the soldiers, non

commissioned officers, and

officers of the Royal Australian

Artillery applied their trade skills,

knowledge, and attributes to

foundation war fighting the future

of the Regiment is in good hands.

While I was impressed with the ACR, BG JFECC and

supporting enablers and what they had achieved in six

months and will continue to improve as it matures

what really stood out for me was the way the non

commissioned officers and soldiers presented

themselves and the capability that they provided.

When engaging the BG operational planning staff the

JFECC staff, RBS-70 and Lightweight Counter Mortar

Radar (LCMR) detachment commanders confidently

provided sound advice regarding the deployment of

their respective assets. Their advice was well received,

convincing, and very informative for the BG planning

staff.

Although I did observe some minor all corps soldier

field craft deficiencies which can be easily addressed

through fault correction and practice I believe that in

the manner in which the soldiers, non commissioned

officers, and officers of the Royal Australian Artillery

applied their trade skills, knowledge, and attributes

to foundation war fighting the future of the Regiment

is in good hands.

'The Colours of the Royal Regiment of Australian

Artillery are the Guns'

Recently the retired guns of the Regiment located

within the School of Artillery were vandalized by

members from the Royal Australian Regiment who

were attending a mortar course at the School. Apart

from not demonstrating respect towards another

unit's property and the customs and traditions

associated with this property they also lacked the

courage to initially come forward and be held

accountable and take responsibilities for their actions.

Unfortunately this incident has not been the first

occurrence at the School and similar incidents have

occurred throughout unit locations around Australia.

Remember these retired guns are not merely garden

guns. I believe they should be viewed as laid up

colours are and should at all times be treated with

dignity and respect.

During the early years of the Royal Artillery, the

equivalent of today's Queen's Colour was carried on

one of the guns in the artillery train. Normally the

Colour was carried on the largest gun of the train,

which became known as the Colour Gun or Flag Gun.

The practice of carrying the Colour on the gun ceased

towards the end of the eighteenth century, when the

guns themselves came to be known as the Colours.

The general procedure for paying compliments to the

colours is as follows:

• When no less than a battery with its guns is

parading on a ceremonial occasion, the leading gun

represents the Colours of the Royal Australian

Artillery. Compliments and respect due to Colours

are to be paid when this gun passes the immediate

front. The exception to this is the Reviewing Officer

during mounted parades who in taking the salute

of each detachment commander salutes all guns.

• A pennant should be flown from the lead missile

launcher vehicle.

• On other occasions, it is impractical to pay

compliments to 'guns', but they should always be

treated with dignity and respect. Such practices as

smoking or lounging on or near guns, decorating

them on social occasions and leaving them

unprotected are unacceptable.

• Units and sub-units whose principle equipment is

not a 'gun' do not have colours. The Banner of

Queen Elizabeth II is to be used in lieu on

ceremonial occasions.

The 'guns' take precedence over the Banner of Queen

Elizabeth II when they are paraded together.

On a brighter note, congratulations to Warrant Officer

Class One Chris Mayfield whose service was formally

recognised in the 2013 Queen's Birthday honours.

Chris was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia

(OAM) for meritorious service as Master Gunner Proof

11


and Experimental Establishment Graytown and as the

Regimental Sergeant Major 8th/12th Regiment, the

Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery.

With the end of 2013 approaching units around

Australia will be conducting promotion and

appointment parades on or around St Barbara's Day. I

would like to congratulate all Gunners who will be

promoted and or take up new appointments in 2014.

Thankyou for efforts this year, stay safe over the

Christmas leave period, keep your powder dry and

enjoy your well earned break.

UbiqueSt Barbara of the Artillery Corps,

Be at the bursting of the doors of doom,

And in the dark deliver us,

Amen.

Irish field Artillery poem

Joint Fires Cell

Headquarters 2nd

DivisionLieutenant Colonel Warwick Young &

Warrant Officer Class One Shaun Graham

The 2nd Division Joint Fires Cell and all six of the

Divisions Light Batteries (Lt Btys) have been busy

with the ongoing tasks of completing their

conversion to mortars and in the Lt Btys' case,

integrating into their new battalions.

All six Lt Btys have conducted live fire activities this

year either as part of a battalion activity or

independently. While the focus of most activities is

to trade qualify personnel, the Lt Btys have taken

advantage of the extra ammunition provided for

mortar conversion and are putting it to good use.

The Lt Btys are beginning to develop SOPs, and

tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) as well as

being able to provide some very realistic training

for their JFTs.

The combined effect of qualifying personnel and

developing our TTPs is also preparing the 2nd

Division Gunners to be embedded with an ARA

Multi Combat Brigade as part of an Army Reserve

Multi Role Battlegroup which will take part in

Exercise Hamel 2014. The embedded Lt Bty will be

formed primarily from elements of 11th and 13th

Brigades but with keys functions being drawn from

both 5th and 8th Brigades.

2nd Division Joint Fires Cell has also been busy with

Major Stu Seabrook racking up some serious

frequent flyer points supporting activities all over

the country. The cell will also be conducting a

number of courses during September 2013,

including the Light Artillery Command Post,

Observation of Fire Mod 1 and a combined

Regimental Officer Gunnery Course Mod 5 / SPRV

Mod 3.

Warrant Officer Class Two Dave Carter has

commenced the huge assignment of reviewing all of

the Lt Arty Training Management Packages (TMPs)

in order to provide suggestions and advice to

Headquarters Combined Arms Training Centre on

future Lt Arty course content. By combining the

outcomes of the review with work already

completed on the RAA Army Reserve Trade Model,

the RAA within the 2nd Division will receive

12


6th-13th Light Battery Stoney Head

3rd Light Battery

challenging and most importantly, relevant training

which will form the basis Joint Fires capability

within the Division.

The Division will farewell several Australian Regular

Army Staff in December. Captain James Tarpley is

posted from 3 Lt Bty to 16th Air Land Regiment (16

ALR); Captain Adam White is posted from 6/13 Lt

Bty to 16 ALR; Captain Aaron Cook is posted from

6/13 Lt Bty to Headquarters 5th Brigade; Captain

Brett Sprague is posted from 7 Lt Bty to

Headquarters 2nd Division; Captain David

Schweinsberg is posted from 23 Lt Bty to long term

schooling; SMIG 5/11 Lt Bty, Warrant Officer Class

Two Shaun Jolley is posted to the School of Artillery;

SMIG 6/13 Lt Bty, Warrant Officer Class Two Toby

Organ is also posted to the School of Artillery; OPS

SGT 6 /13 Lt Bty, Sergeant Craig Cousins is posted to

the Royal Military College and finally SMIG 23 Lt Bty,

Warrant Officer Class Two Mark Green is posted to

1st Regiment. SO1 Joint Fires, Lieutenant Colonel

Warwick Young and the staff of the Joint Fires Cell

wish all those members being posted the best of

luck with their new appointments and thanks them

for their hard work, vigilance and commitment

during their current posting.

Five Minutes with

Major General

Paul Symon, AOMajor General Paul

Symon was born in

Melbourne in 1960, he

graduated from the

Royal Military College,

Duntroon, in 1982 as

recipient of the Sword

of Honour and its

senior cadet. He was

allotted to the Royal

Regiment of Australian

Artillery and has seen

service with the gunners in many postings,

culminating in command of the 1st Field Regiment

in 1998–1999.

Major General Symon has served on operations four

times. His most important joint command was in

late 2005 until mid 2006 when appointed

Commander Middle East. This appointment gave

him national command responsibility for all

soldiers, sailors and airmen/women in Iraq and

Afghanistan.

He advised the United Nations Special

Representative in East Timor in the four months

prior to the deployment of INTERFET. This entailed

close liaison with the Indonesian military, Falantil

and militia leaders prior to, during, and after the

vote for independence in 1999. For his leadership in

East Timor and in command, he was named a

Member of the Order of Australia in the 2000

Queen's Birthday honours list.

In 1997 he served with the United Nations in South

Lebanon and the Golan Heights in a period of great

tension between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence

Force. And in 2003, he was appointed as the senior

military adviser for the Regional Assistance Mission

to the Solomon Islands. It was in this period that a

significant number of militia leaders were jailed and

a very successful gun amnesty organised.

Major General Symon has taught at the Royal

Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the UK, has served

as Army's Director General of Personnel, its Director

General of Preparedness and Plans and as Director

General Pacific in International Policy Division. He

13


2nd-10th Light Battery Exercise Chong Jul 13

has also served as the Chief of Staff of Army's 1st

Division in Brisbane.

Major General Symon served as Deputy Chief of

Army for three years from December 2008 until

November 2011 before assuming his current

appointment as Director of the Defence

Intelligence Organisation.

Academically, Major General Symon holds two

Master's degrees: from Deakin University and from

the University of New South Wales. He is a graduate

of Army's staff college and of the Centre for Defence

and Strategic Studies in Canberra.

He was promoted to Officer of the Order of

Australia (AO) in the 2007 Australia Day honours list

in recognition of his operational service in the

Middle East.

Major General Symon is married to his wife of 25

years (Kate) and they have two teenage children. He

gains pleasure running half marathons and in the

company of his family and friends.

• Congratulations on your appointment as Director

of the Defence Intelligence Organisation. If my

memory is correct you are the first Gunner to

have held the position. Having now been the

incumbent for sometime from a senior

uniformed leadership perspective what are the

key differences you have encountered between

this appointment and those specifically within

Army including your last as Deputy Chief of

Army?

There are some things we take for granted in Army.

We assume our next posting will be subject to

considered thought by someone. We generally assume

that our career is secure. We assume that promotion

relies on solid foundational knowledge with increasing

dollops of strategic sense as time goes by. We assume

appraisal reporting will occur on an annual basis. We

assume it is understood and accepted that discipline

matters. I could go on.

DIO, in contrast, comprises a predominately civilian

workforce. I arrived in October 2011 and quickly

realised that none of the earlier assumptions

necessarily hold true. They would only become truths

when dictated as such and implemented with vigour.

But some analysts in DIO are subject matter experts

and simply don't want further promotion. Some see a

disciplined mind as a path to 'group think'. Some have

great strategic nous but no practical, foundational

knowledge. In other words, it's a broad church. It

requires different leadership skills to get the best out

of everyone. In some ways, the job is even more

demanding than the DCA job.

• As DCA you were involved in initiating and

implementing many of the Strategic Reform

Program changes some of which were strategic

whilst others were of a 'house keeping' nature.

Some of these 'house keeping' decisions were in

areas that whilst not related directly to

'warfighting' were very emotive and often

unpopular as they focused on heritage and

tradition eg uniforms and messes. From a Gunner

perspective one of these decisions was the

closure of Australian Army Artillery Museum at

North Head. On reflection since leaving that

appointment and with the benefit of hindsight is

there any particular decision that you would have

made differently?

Terry, a very loaded question. One we have discussed

before (and agreed to disagree on). There were two

elements to the Artillery Museum (North Head)

decision as I recall. One was the simply exorbitant rate

that was about to be levied on Army by simply

maintaining our presence there. Frankly, we were

being financially 'squeezed out' of the Sydney

foreshore by a very ungrateful group of people at a

time when Army's discretionary funding was at a low

ebb. Second, the Chief of Army had desired that

museums be co-located with schools – a very

defensible position at a time when we were hard

pressed to justify funding for museums. Remember,

Army was being required to find its share of $20.4

billion in savings. My job as DCA was to balance the

books. At the same time, we were on operations in

four different theatres. Uniforms and messes were

simply held to a priority commensurate with the many

other competing priorities; falling behind operational,

equipment and training priorities. As for popular

decisions, it is rarely the lot of a DCA to find himself in

such glorious company. And finally, are there any

decisions I would have made differently over a three

year period as DCA? Yes. But I'll need more than five

minutes to go through them!

• You have extensive operational service as a

senior officer in varied appointments. What do

you consider are the key influences from these

experiences that have enhanced your command

and leadership skills?

I have been exposed to a considerable number of

positive and negative experiences on operations. This

admixture of experience leaves me still pondering the

hardest question still to be resolved: should a

commander stand back and let subordinates blossom,

or should they forever probe into the detail? The

14


answer lies, on occasion, at both extremes, and

sometimes at neither extreme. Judgement improves

over time, but sometimes hubris can kick in as well.

So, I like your use of the term 'enhance' – that is all we

ever achieve, I think, as we attempt to lift our game.

To think otherwise is hubris of the highest order. By

nature, I tend to silently applaud those who are

hardest on themselves. They are normally the ones

who progressively 'enhance' their command and

leadership skills.

• As you have gained experience and seniority how

has your leadership style evolved and what are

the fundamental principles on which you base

your conduct and related decision making?

It is best for others to comment on my leadership style.

I'm not sure what to say. I do think that I deal with and

treat poor performance, poor discipline and wayward

ethics in the workplace much better now than I could

in the past. I struggled in this area in the past. But

generalship and years in service forces your hand. It's

like the BSM/RSM appointments. You are

fundamentally pivotal to Army's standards. That

means developing the good performers and

admonishing the lazy or poor performers. As for a

fundamental principle, 'respect' does it for me. It's my

philosophical start point to everyone (and every

organisation) that I encounter. People start off high in

my estimation – that's how I base my conduct and

decision making – so there's only two directions people

can go in as a result of their own words and deeds:

lower in my esteem, or even higher.

• What part do you believe that your Regimental

training, background and experiences played in

preparing you for higher appointments?

Attention to detail and knowing how to advise seniors

is the significant tactical advantage gunners have

over others. I have already touched on the nexus

between detail and letting people blossom. But

because gunners are required to take detail so

seriously right from the outset, that provides an

excellent foundation upon which to base subsequent

leadership judgement. As for advising seniors, I have

done so every day since being appointed to star rank.

On the gunnery front, I provided advice to manoeuvre

commanders from Captain rank onwards. And, of

course, Bombardiers do so too. So we gunners are well

practiced.

• Given your experience with the United Nations

and peace keeping what have you observed as

the organisations key strengths and challenges?

The moral authority of the UN is its greatest strength.

It provided some comfort to me in the four months

preceding the arrival of INTERFET in 1999 as things

started to fall apart. But it presented a great

challenge too, because the moral authority of the UN

had little meaning to some of the protagonists.

Indeed, quite the opposite – UN peacekeepers were a

soft target, relying on the ballistic qualities of a blue

beret, unarmed and easily taunted. I could write a

book on this question and yet we only have five

minutes.

• You are an avid runner, as a senior commander

with ever increasing demands on your time and

conflicting priorities how do you maintain the

appropriate work life balance that is regularly

referred to within Army? Further do you have any

particular advice to Gunners, especially those

still serving with regard this personal challenge?

I work hard to clear leave, or get it to as low a figure

as possible. I run every morning. I avoid bringing work

home (actually I can't in my current job!) I set myself a

simple goal: that of running one half marathon per

year from 40–55 years of age and keeping the result

to +/- 5 minutes. A simple but effective goal. I never

take myself too seriously. And I remind myself of how

many mistakes I made when I was younger (some of

the readers will be able to elaborate)! Finally, I care

deeply for my family. All of this keeps me reasonably

grounded – I think.

• If you had the opportunity and the resources to

make one major change in Army for the better

what would be that initiative?

I would advocate an increase in Army's size (regular

and reserve). This is not based on a hunch. This is

based on two facts. One, we still fall short of fully

implementing, sustaining and being balanced as an

Army of 'threes'. An Army of 'threes', including all the

enablers, will be important one day for operations in

our near region. Two, we have been forced to resource

the low-end options of capability reviews over the past

decade, when many of the very clever ideas reside

dormant in the growth options. We need to liberate

and resource these clever ideas.

• As the Army addresses the post Afghanistan era,

what level of training should Army and in

particular the RAA focus on in preparation for

future contingencies?

High-end joint and combined warfighting. The

gunners should lead the way in Army through the

ARTEPS process, just as we did in the 70s and 80s. We

need to train in urban, jungle and desert

environments. We need to ensure a high level of

currency in specialist skills. And we need to know how

15


to fight in a basic, 'dirty' environment (see next point

below).

• 'Digitisation' is on the lips of everyone including

the Chief of Army who consistently emphasises

that the Royal Australian Artillery and its new

capabilities are at the forefront of these changes

in Army. As a senior commander what do you

believe are the key 'force multiplier' benefits

digitisation brings to the battlefield and

'warfighting' including the artillery?

Speed and accuracy. But we must not lose sight of

operating in a 'contaminated' environment too.

Gunners must be able to provide lethal direct and

indirect fire support in a GPS-contaminated and

digitally-dirty environment. Our ARTEPS of the future

needs to have punishing joint and combined serials in

all of these demanding environments.

• What do you consider your three most

memorable career highlights not related to the

RAA?

Service in East Timor. Working in Southern Lebanon.

And instructing at Sandhurst. All for different reasons.

The first for the relief factor and sheer exhaustion of

worry and responsibility that was involved over a

protracted, dangerous period. The second in

observing deep-seated hatred first hand and realising

how lucky we are in Australia. And the third, for

appreciating that we live in an egalitarian society,

unencumbered by schooling and social standing. We

have good junior officers from all sorts of

backgrounds and we let them advance as far as they

can, untarnished by whether they have family wealth

or not.

• As a senior Army Commander do you subscribe

to the old adage 'Once a Gunner always Gunner'?

Why?

Yes, of course. I never wished that I joined a different

Corps. I made the right decision, for me, in 1982. It's

in my pedigree. It still feels family to me. I have met so

many inspiring individuals, officers and NCOs, in the

last 31 years – starting with RSM Arthur Bretherton

at RMC.

• What do you consider as the highlight or

pinnacle of your Regimental service?

Commanding the Premier Regiment in 1998/99. As an

integrated unit, 1st Field Regiment was shooting

extremely well. We had a batch of great officers and

NCOs. Graeme Lakey was an outstanding RSM. With

few resources we were a simply excellent unit (there's

perhaps a bit of bias in that comment but I'll leave it

for others to comment). Our demolition of the ovals in

the pouring rain for our anniversary parade, with

Frank Roberts as Brigade Commander, Peter Cosgrove

as Divisional Commander and Des Mueller as parade

guest, is etched forever in my mind.

• What single piece of advice would you offer

young officers and soldiers commencing their

career as a Gunner?

Respect yourself and those you lead. They will respect

you in turn (except the bad ones, and give them short

shrift).

• What guidance do you have for the RAA as it

embarks on a significant period of change

structurally and capability wise?

Our capability will be used one day in anger. And you

are the custodians of a tradition that is obliged by

design to employ the capability wisely and

competently on operations. You have to train the next

generation to do likewise. Enjoy the privilege!

Five Minutes with

Warrant Officer

Class One

David Lehr, OAM• As a senior RSM do you subscribe to the old

adage 'Once a Gunner always Gunner'?

I believe senior officers and soldiers should never

forget their past origins of service, and the key

individuals who influenced and shaped them for the

person they are today. Along with other senior RAA

RSMs, we are still engaged with the Regiment on a

range of matters and speak regularly with RAA units

and principle staff.

• In your current appointment as RSM Ceremonial

– Army what is the single most pressing issue /

proposed change that that you would like to see

implemented?

As the author of the Army Dress Manual, the most

consistent issue is dress policy. Dress in the Army is a

very emotive issue that attracts all types of

correspondence from various rank levels and

ex-military members.

I am regularly asked about the return of the beret.

However, a change that I would like to see in my

current appointment is the rank insignia for all mess

16


dress orders of dress return to the upper arm for

warrant officers, staff sergeants and sergeants.

The other key change is the new Army Ceremonial and

Protocol Manual, scheduled for release in 2014. This

publication has more detail in relation to ceremonial

procedures updated policy guidance.

• The Royal Regiment has only had one RSM Army

in Warrant Officer Peter Prewett. How do you

believe the Royal Regiment can improve the

competitiveness of its senior RSMs who are

aspiring for this sought after appointment?

I believe it is up to the individual and not the

Regiment. Gunner RSMs need to aspire and compete

for high profile / tempo Tier B appointments that will

enable them to be considered for progression to Tier C

RSM level. Like anyone else, there is no reason why

another Gunner RSM can not achieve RSM-A. The

Chief of Army selects such a person so those persons in

consideration for the position, need to be realistic

towards their goals and desires.

• In your current appointment you have been able

to observe the inner workings of the higher

levels of defence especially within Army. Has this

experience altered the views you developed as a

Regimental soldier about Army and in particular

soldiering?

One of the topical issues is the employment growth of

females in Army and its task to retain and increase

their capability over the next 18 months. This has

presented Army individuals with many mental and

physical challenges. One of those is that combat male

soldiers need to accept and learn to work with their

female counterparts in a battlefield environment.

• 'Digitisation' is on the lips of everyone including

the Chief of Army who consistently emphasises

that the Royal Australian Artillery and its related

new capabilities are at the forefront of these

changes within Army. From your perspective how

will these changes affect the 'traditional' gunline

including the qualities and skills required of the

'new' gunline members?

I was the 'traditional' gunline gunner. The forefront of

training in that era was always technical and tactical

gunnery excellence as a result of endless dry training

and command post exercises. The manual gunnery

prediction process using (technical firing table and

graphic firing tables) and an old computer that took

-up all of the allocated space in the back of a landrover

enabled us to understand the gunnery problem. Gun

regiments were able to allocate sufficient time to

balance gunnery training with tactical ground

fighting skills. The same approach can be applied in

the modern era.

• What will be the effect on career progression and

in particular non Gunner RSM appointments with

the demise of Artillery Army Reserve RSM

positions?

Although some RSM positions have been

disestablished, the RAA has not lost regimental WO1

positions with the demise of Army Reserve gun

regiments. The establishment of unit master gunner

positions has maintained an avenue of promotion for

first level regimental WO1 appointments. The only

difference is that there are less 'stick carrying'

appointments within the Regiment but not in the

wider Army.

• As you have progressed in your career as a senior

soldier how has your relationship and interaction

with your various commanders evolved?

I have been very lucky to have worked for four

excellent and approachable commanding officers. I

have learned from all of them and enjoyed the

partnership that is unique in the regimental command

team. Having completed Command and Staff College

it developed my skills that have made me more

effective when engaging at senior rank groups.

• What will be the impact on the Royal Regiment

and the Army more broadly of the post

Afghanistan era from a soldier's perspective?

Soldiers need to learn life in the Army after

Afghanistan. For example, they need to adapt by

deploying to the field for longer periods without the

expectation of going on operations overseas.

Commanders will need to learn the art of retaining

soldiers in a peace-time Army and make soldering fun

and interesting. Dry fire and movement and command

post exercises never hurt anybody. This discipline

made us 'traditional' gunners excellent at our trade

and skills. Competitive sport and inter-battery rivalry

needs re-energising, and places to develop it is on the

sporting field and conducting gun drill training near

another battery's gunline.

• What are the key implications of women in

combat for the Royal Regiment especially in the

provision of fire support?

As long as female combat soldiers can maintain the

same level of battle fitness, flexibility, adaptability

and technical competence, they are then suitable to

serve alongside their male counterparts.

• Since 1999 elements from across the Regiment

have been constantly on operations often 'out of

role'. Does this recent experience have

implications for the Regiment in retaining

technical gunnery skills into the future?

17


The technical and tactical expertise of the RAA has

significantly suffered since 1999. Overnight we

became riflemen to enhance the battalions and deploy

our soldiers. I like my peers were a part of this era that

witnessed its demise. Then along came Operation

Herrick, which reinvigorated the RAA and provided

the gunners with a means to achieve technical and

tactical gunnery excellence and deploy 'in role'.

Unfortunately, this was not enduring and the RAA was

tasked to standown with its support to Royal Artillery

regiments. In the long term, the RAA is recovering

from this period with the implementation of

digitisation. The introduction and employment of new

technology has enabled the RAA to shape and develop

tactical and technical procedures, and deliver a

standard of excellence in the application of offensive

fire support.

• What guidance do you have for the Royal

Regiment as it embarks on a significant period of

change structurally and capability wise?

The RAA has always adapted and delivered capability

in all environments. Commanders at all levels are

urged to maintain a view of flexibility and believe that

providing an offensive fire support capability to a

manoeuvre group on the battlefield is our core

business, if we need to restructure batteries to provide

this outcome, a change is most necessary.

• What are your fondest recollections of serving as

a young soldier in the Regiment?

Greens, the SLR and Bren Gun, and endless memories

of barracks and field life!!

The Army provided me with an opportunity and being

a young gunner posted to 4th Field Regiment as it was

titled then in 1983, set me up for the rest of my life.

The discipline and regimental approach of the Royal

Regiment was hard, mostly fair, sometimes

uncompromising but above all, it was rewarding and

fun.

Other memories include playing gunner Rugby and

going overseas for the first time as a young gunner.

Serving in the Royal Regiment is the most significant

part of my career as it has shaped me for the solider I

have become. Making a host of life-long mates as a

result of 30 years service is a stand-out.

• What do you consider the highlight or pinnacle of

your service in the Royal Regiment?

As previously mentioned, making life-long mates.

Being appointed as the Battery Sergeant Major of

107th Field Battery (my very first battery). Being

employed as a Regimental Sergeant Major in varying

levels of appointment.

• What single piece of advice would you offer

young officers commencing their career as a

Gunner?

Young officers have been privileged with a school

education and graduated from an exclusive military

training establishment. This does not immediately

translate into those officers knowing everything about

life or understanding the experiences that soldiers

have achieved; therefore, if you have trustworthy and

mature non commissioned officers, listen to their

voice. Learn from your Battery Commander and

Battery Sergeant Major. Demand respect but return it

generously. Take the hard right over the easy wrong.

Bad news travels fast and does not get better over

time.

Young gunners need to quickly learn about Army life

from their immediate supervisor. Look to your lance

bombardier or bombardier for guidance. There is no

need to hurry for promotion, enjoy your experiences as

a young soldier before learning about junior

command and leadership. Learn from your mistakes

and don't make them into big ones.

• Are the soldiers of today better prepared for their

first appointment than you were when you

completed your recruit and initial employment

training?

I believe soldiers are better informed but believe that

we had more commonsense and knew the

consequences of poor and unacceptable behaviour. I

think there are too many distractions for soldiers of

today. We were not in tune with policy nor did we have

easy access to doctrine. We learned by repetitive

practical application and 'by the numbers'. Today

soldiers have more information to prepare them for

training and have more options towards employment

that interests them.

When I was a recruit, I thought a mortar man was a

bloke that pours concrete and mortar to lay bricks!!

• Growing up did you always have a desire for a

career as a soldier or did you consider other

vocations?

I was a private educated school kid who loved playing

schoolboy Rugby. I joined the Army to escape

Wollongong because I didn't want to study at

university or work in the Port Kembla steel works. I

thought that I would serve for six years, elect

discharge from the Army and do something else, but I

was a sergeant at about the same time and figured

that I was onto a good thing.

18


CRAM-5

The Final Tour

In September 2012, 111th Battery was again

established as a line Battery within 16th Air Land

Regiment (16 ALR), having been employed purely as

a staging base for Counter Rocket, Artillery and

Mortars (CRAM) rotations conducting

pre-deployment prior to deploying in support of

Combined Team – Uruzgan (CT-U) on Operation

Slipper since December 2010. The Battery was

stood-up to begin the developmental work that

would set the conditions for it to assume the ADF's

Sense, Warn and Locate (SnWL) capability. For the

officers and soldiers selected to form the new

Battery, it was an exciting opportunity to begin

growing the new capability with new equipment. As

additional motivation, it was clear that the next

rotation of 16 ALR members to deploy on Operation

Slipper would be sourced from the Battery, and that

this would be the final CRAM rotation on Operation

Slipper.

The period was busy, but fuelled

by the knowledge that it would

lead to an opportunity to deploy

on warlike operations, in role.

The three months from October to December 2012

were spent completing the CRAM course, which

was run entirely by unit members who had

previously deployed on a CRAM rotation or by

personnel who had conducted a CRAM operator

course in Australia or overseas. The quality of

instruction was high and was tailored to ensure that

all 111th Battery members were ready to deploy, if

required, or to remain and progress the SnWL

capability within the unit.

In January 2013, CRAM-5 was formally raised, and

the men of B Troop, 111th Battery began preparing

to deploy. This period had a dual focus, with all

CRAM-5 members preparing for a rigorous

certification exercise while also completing the raft

of pre-deployment training required to deploy

safely to Afghanistan. The period was busy, but

fuelled by the knowledge that it would lead to an

opportunity to deploy on warlike operations, in

role.

… it became clear to CRAM-5 that

previous CRAM rotations had

established a very strong

reputation within the Area of

Operations.

The team was eclectic, ranging from 19 year-old

junior Gunners, to a 51 year-old ex infantryman /

para-rigger and a warrant officer class two of 27

years experience. Of the 22 personnel who finally

deployed, 19 were on their first deployment to

Afghanistan and many had never left the shores of

Australia. Just prior to the deployment, one of the

team members was diagnosed with cancer and was

not able to continue training; this had a profound

effect on the team, grounding them in the

realisation that life is fragile but also bringing them

closer together as a team.

On arrival at Multi-National Base – Tarin Kowt

(MNB-TK), it became clear to CRAM-5 that previous

CRAM rotations had established a very strong

reputation within the Area of Operations. Having

previously supported Australian call-signs at a

19


Operations

Frontage to the CRAM Compound in Tarin Kowt

number of patrol bases in the province of Uruzgan,

the CRAM responsibility had been reduced to

defend those at MNB-TK only. This was the first in a

number of significant changes that would shape the

CRAM commitment as CRAM-5 began the complex

withdrawal from TK.

The retrograde of capabilities out

of Afghanistan hit fever pitch

shortly after the arrival of

CRAM-5.

The retrograde of capabilities out of Afghanistan hit

fever pitch shortly after the arrival of CRAM-5.

Entire task units were sent home, in some cases

much earlier than planned, and all other units were

furiously working to reduce their footprints to a

bare minimum. The fact that CRAM was one of a

small number of capabilities slated to remain in TK

until December 2013 is testament to how effective

and important the capability had become.

Progressively, the established multi-sensor defence

was reduced to a single-sensor defence, with one

Giraffe Agile Multi-Beam (GAMB) radar remaining in

TK from mid-September. The majority of the

Light-weight Counter Mortar Radars (LCMRs) were

sent home, and the WAVES warning system and

Command and Control systems were reduced.

Similarly, most of the comfort and life support

capabilities were withdrawn, and conditions were

quickly becoming more austere.

The retrograde of capabilities out

of Afghanistan hit fever pitch

shortly after the arrival of

CRAM-5.

Throughout the tour, CRAM-5 has been able to

integrate the capability to increase the

effectiveness of other key functions within CT-U.

The local air picture, as represented on the Forward

Area Air Defence C2 (FAAD C2) system was provided

to both the Airspace Control Element (ACE) and the

Shadow UAV detachment. The provision of

accurate, real-time airspace information enabled

the ACE to exercise local control of the airspace

beneath the co-ordinating altitude, which meant

more responsive support to coalition force units in

the province. Similarly, the ability to monitor

activity within the local airspace enabled Shadow

operators to de-conflict their operations with other

air platforms, significantly reducing the risk of

collisions and fratricide. It was integration such as

this that displayed just how valuable the new

systems is and will continue to be for an evolving

Army, who increasingly needs to operate in close

concert with other capabilities and services to

achieve success on the battlefield.

The work done by successive CRAM rotations in

support of Operation Slipper, as well as the ongoing

work being done in Woodside, has ensured that the

capability which 111th Battery provide to Army is

regarded as essential and dependable.

20


Drawing of the Chapel at Tarin Kowt byGunner Weightman

Amphibious

Ready ElementCaptain J.J. Butler

4th Regiment RAA

108th Battery is the direct support battery to the 2

RAR Battle Group, who are leading the

implementation of the Amphibious Ready Element

(ARE) concept for Army. Whilst the concept is not

something new, HMAS Choules, HMAS Canberra

(due to come into service in mid 2014) as well as the

suite of supporting capabilities are new

developments.

The structure of the Battery is significantly different

from that of other 4th Regiment sub units, due to

the complexity of operating from multiple

platforms, across significant distances. The Battery

consists of a four man Battery Commander's Tactical

Party, an eight man JFECC (including BK, BSM, FSO

and ACSO BDR) and three, five man JFTs (one JFT

filling the role of Brigade JFT). The Battery does not

hold any M777s due to the manning constraints on

the ARE; therefore fire support is provided buy the 2

RAR mortar platoon, ARH and coalition fixed-wing

platforms.

The structure of the Battery is

significantly different from that of

other 4th Regiment sub units, due

to the complexity of operating

from multiple platforms, across

significant distances.

The ARE 'block training' series has been an effective

stepping stone in pulling all the elements across the

Australian Defence Force together to form a

cohesive functioning organisation. 108 Battery has

worked closely with the Amphibious Task Group

SACC staff, led by Lieutenant Colonel Nick Wilson

to co-ordinate the efforts of the white lanyards in

the ARE construct.

ARE development block one was the first step

which was a command post exercise conducted in

March 2013. The activity was designed to have all

elements located in the one place to test our

procedures, command post layouts and most

importantly, introduce ourselves and establish

working relationships in a static environment prior

to boarding the HMAS Choules.

If the ARE has demonstrated one

thing, it is that new capability

comes with a significant training

impost.

ARE development block one was quickly followed

up by Exercise Busu Landing, designed to integrate

the recon elements from all the different

organisations, including a JFT, 2 RAR RSS platoon,

Navy Clearance Divers and 2 RAR Pioneer Platoon

who crew the Zodiac boats. These small forces

comprise the Preliminary Landing Force (PLF), a

force tasked with identifying targets and landing

sites in equal measure.

ARE development block two was a three week

exercise run off of Cowley Beach Training Area. This

activity was significant, as it saw the land force

embarked on HMAS Choules. C/S 22 (attached to B

Coy 2 RAR) and Battery Commanders Tactical Party

were embarked on HMAS Choules to facilitate joint

fires and effects planning as well as oversee the

execution of multiple mission sets including CT

airmobile operations, PLF operations, TRAP and

Raid tasks. The remainder of the 2 RAR BG, were

'embarked' on the 'Land ship' an interesting construct,

designed to replicate the HMAS Canberra. This

development block saw some steep learning

curves, but overall the ARE construct was put

through its paces and found to be an adaptable and

promising model.

ARE Development Block two had a short turn

around before Exercise Talisman Sabre. The ARE

was tasked to secure Sabina Point the SPOD in order

to facilitate the road move of the remainder of the

3rd Brigade. The conduct Amphibious Operations

against a live enemy.

If the ARE has demonstrated one thing, it is that

new capability comes with a significant training

impost. As well as the ARE exercises, 108th Battery

has continued regular Gunnery training, up to and

including BG Danger Close battle runs on Exercise

CATA 2013. Various other training courses have

21


Capability

punctuated the spaces in between exercises in the

training program, these courses have included

Rappel/suspended extraction and the new BDCCC,

two courses that have greatly added to capability

that the Battery can provide.

The next big stage for the ARE is early next year

with HMAS Canberra trials and exercises to RIMPAC

later in the year. Amphibious Operations are an

exciting new direction for 108th Battery which we

look to meeting the challenges of now and in the

future.

22


Outlining strategy and mission, Mr Smith said long termsupport to Afghanistan was an important signal that theinternational community would not walk away at the end of2014.

'This long-term support was an important safeguard againstthe inevitable pressure the Taliban will seek to bear onAfghan institutions of state and the Afghan security forceswith transition to Afghan security responsibility,' he said.

'Similarly, a continued special forces contingent would beimportant to maintain an active deterrent against are-emergence of internal terrorists.'

Mr Smith said in the field of international collaboration,Australia had shared experiences with traditional partners,regional partners, NATO and had enhanced relationshipswith non-traditional partners.

'Australia and the US would emerge from our commitmentin Afghanistan with closer practical ties than ever before',he said. 'We had developed heightened intelligence sharing,and our special forces, having worked side by side with theUS Special Forces, were held in the highest regards.

'Australia's relationship with NATO had strengthened inrecognition of our common values, our experience ofworking together in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, andour share vision to promote stability and peace throughcooperation.'

Mr Smith said in developing Australia's framework for themanagement of detainees, Australia had two priorities.

'The first priority was the critical need to remove insurgentsfrom the battlefield, where they endanger Australian, ISAFand Afghan lives,' he said. 'The second priority was theneed to ensure humane treatment of detainees, consistentwith Australian values ad our domestic and internationallegal obligations.'

Force protection proved to be a challenge in Afghanistan.Mr Smith said the ADF now employed a suite of forceprotection measures to enhance the safety of deployedpersonnel.

'Our personnel have utilised constantly evolving tactics,techniques and procedures to enhance their protectionlevels,' he said. 'On the home front, the ever-evolving threatof IEDs had required scientific innovation, high-endengineering skills and indigenous capabilities from ourdefence industries to counter effectively.'

Care and support for wounded, injured and ill veterans wasa high priority for the Government. Mr Smith said amemorandum of understanding (MOU) signed betweenDefence and DVA in February ensured the Governmentwas ready to meet the needs of current veterans.

'The new MOU was aimed at better coordinating thedelivery of care and support services between Defence andVeterans' Affairs,' he said. 'Put simply, it is to stopwounded, injured and ill veterans from falling between thecracks in the system.'

Mental health and post traumatic stress disorder are alsobeing addressed. Mr Smith said significant improvementshad been made to the provision of mental health care as partof a more than $90 million investment into Defence andVeterans Affairs by Government.

'Awareness and education in relation to mental health issueswas a key factor in preventing future problems,' he said.

Mr Smith said although we had achieved much inAfghanistan we still had much to contribute.

Army Newspaper, 4 July, 2013

Many lessons from

decade in AfghanistanSgt Dave Morley

DEFENCE Minister Stephen Smith tabled his third reporton Afghanistan this year to Parliament on June 19. He saidAustralia's experience over the past 10 years inAfghanistan has highlighted a number of 'lessons learnt'.

'It has reinforced the well-known point that it is the easiestthing in the world to get involved in major commitments,but it is substantially more difficult to get out,' he said.

'That is why, when a government makes a decision about amilitary intervention, it must very, very carefully considerwhether that intervention is required in a country's nationalsecurity and national interests'. Mr Smith said internationalcommunity focus shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq in thelatter half of 2002.

'This allowed the Taliban to regroup in theAfghanistan/Pakistan border region and reassert andrebuild its influence in southern Afghanistan from 2003through to 2005,' he said. 'As a result, from 2006 onwards,ISAF forces faced fierce opposition from a resurgentTaliban in southern Afghanistan.'

Mr Smith said when focus shifted back to Afghanistan in2008, six valuable years were lost to the mission there. Hesaid as far as international decision making was concerned,Australia had been forthright from the earliest days indemanding a place at the international table when keydecisions were made regarding Afghanistan.

'Australia insisted that strategic level decisions onAfghanistan were taken by the International SecurityAssistance Force (ISAF), not just by NATO,' he said.

Forward

Observing during

Peace Keeping

Operations –

Bosnian

ExperienceColonel Sean Ryan

who served as a Forward Observer N Battery

3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

A thin blue line of peace keepers often stands as the

difference between a horrific war and a progression

to peace. The thin blue line is deployed to make a

situation better and relatively normal for the people

in the former warring nation. This was certainly the

case in Bosnia in 1999. After almost a decade of

ethnic fighting prior to and during the deployment

of United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR),

and discontent post the Dayton Agreement's

Implementation Force (IFOR) and the subsequent

NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR), it was still clear

the war was not over for many in the country.

Former warring factions of Serbs, Bosniaks

(Indigenous Muslims) and Croats were still

challenged with their new order. Into this mire of

uncertainty, a Czech mechanised infantry company

was placed to keep the peace and to protect the

return of refuges to villages in Northern Bosnia

around Prijedor, and to protect the civilian

companies rebuilding local villages. It was a place

where the Czech rifle company employed an

English speaking forward observer or joint fires

team to support this outcome. It was a mission that

demonstrated the importance of the forward

observer to a peace keeping force because of the

capabilities it brings to the force.

A thin blue line of peace keepers

often stands as the difference

between a horrific war and a

progression to peace.

In Bosnia the forward observer represented the

vital link between the ground troops and the reach

back elements available to the Divisional

commanders. The forward observer supported this

effort with day and night surveillance regardless of

season weather or terrain, the all important

communications to speak to fighter ground attack

aircraft and rearward headquarters to ensure the

response options were rapid and all important

battlefield liaison functions. This paper will

demonstrate the value of the forward observer

party, joint fires team, to peace keeping or

operations other than war. The end of the 20th

century and beginning of the 21st century have

been filled with military operations that centre on

23


ProfessionalPapers

Australian led RHA Forward Observer party –Callsign: Bravo Two Zero Golf

stabilising a nation post a conflict. These are

operations that are known as stabilisation

operations. By definition a stabilisation operation is

"an overarching term encompassing various military

missions, tasks, and activities conducted … to maintain

or re-establish a safe and secure environment, provide

essential governmental services, emergency

infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief".1

They are usually operations that occur at the point

between the end of hostilities and the return to

normalcy. Peace keeping operations are the main

type of stabilisation operation. In the case of Bosnia

the peace keeping mission was that awkward

transition from war between the former warring

factions and Bosnian defined normalcy. In 1999

underlying tensions between former warring

factions remained despite the combat between the

Serbs, Croats and Bosnians ending in 1995. These

circumstances were certainly present in the village

of Kozarac where former Bosnian residents were

returning after the war and in accordance with the

1995 Dayton Agreement. Violence in the village

remained with regular bombings and violence

between Serbs and Bosniaks a regular occurrence.

In most cases the violence stems back to grudges

created during the Serbian ethnic cleansing of the

Bosnians in the village.

This paper will demonstrate the

value of the forward observer

party, joint fires team, to peace

keeping or operations other than

war.

It was a tense environment which required constant

surveillance, a force being posturing to respond to

any deterioration in the environment and a force to

communicate the international narrative to the

locals, troop contributing nations and the

international community. A vital tool in making this

happen was the Australian led British forward

observer party attached to the Czech mechanised

infantry company assigned to keeping the peace in

the area.

One of the forward observer's core skills is to

conduct battlefield surveillance. It is a skill they

need to exercise by day and night, and increasingly

using remote sensors to support this function.

Normally the purpose of this surveillance function

is to find, fix and destroy targets. But in the

peacekeeping operation environment this

surveillance effort was focused on normalcy

patterns and supporting human targeting efforts to

support intelligence collection. In Kozarac in 1999

surveillance was undertaken through a mixture of

day and night observation post tasks in support of

ground patrols and independently to support

intelligence collections. Supporting the

surveillance effort was the NATO helicopter force,

which served as effective night and day surveillance

platform, especially the Royal Canadian Air Force

Bell CH-146 Griffin and the British Army Westland

Lynx AH.1.

Targeting was more than just

support to intelligence in peace

keeping operations. Targeting

work supported the posturing for

offensive operations should the

former warring factions chose to

go back to fighting against each

other or against the peace

keeping force.

Their overt night and day surveillance coordinated

with ground troops was a critical factor in the

conduct of key leader engagement and support

surveillance pull ground operations. The white

light, Infra-Red light, thermal and full motion video

generated by these helicopters all contributed to

the ground picture. The direct communications to

the ground troops in platoon houses or more often

the forward observer meant the surveillance

missions could support patrols and observation

posts in a coordinated manner. In a covert

surveillance role using their stand-off thermal

cameras and sights they could monitor movement

and report immediately to troops. All of these tasks

were coordinated through the forward observer

and supported the targeting effort.

24


Coalition forward observers conducting a targetinspection

Targeting was more than just support to

intelligence in peace keeping operations. Targeting

work supported the posturing for offensive

operations should the former warring factions

chose to go back to fighting against each other or

against the peace keeping force. The targeting

efforts in Bosnia were essential to the mission from

a deterrence perspective. In this respect the

campaign and tactical targeting efforts merged to

ensure the peace keeping force was prepared to

deter should conflict break out. The forward

observer had a key role in this mission. The forward

observers were responsible for inspecting each

target on a regular basis, normally monthly, for

location confirmation and collateral damage

assessment, and developing and confirming target

packs for the coalition targeting cycle. In the Czech

tactical area of operations this task was undertaken

on a monthly basis by the battalion forward

observers. In each case the forward observer

needed to conduct field survey of each target to

confirm location and target dimension, and then

'mensurate'2 the targets against other survey devices

such as GPS and aerial photography. This data was

processed, along with collateral damage

assessment, into a target report that was submitted

to the divisional headquarters and onto the NATO

air operations centre monthly. In one the case, the

target was a 'Republika of Srspka' (VRS) electronic

listening post. This target was nestled on a

mountain with a commanding view over the Czech

tactical area of operations. Not far away on a

connected knoll, was a friendly force radio relay

station. So the target assessment required not only

a precise location of the target but a very clear

explanation on friendly troop locations to ensure

coalition air would hit the right target. An

important fact when in March 1999, in a show of

force mission, NATO fighter aircraft overflew the

wrong target because they did not follow the target

pack or confirm the target location with ground

troops. This only served to confirm the importance

of the forward observer in the targeting chain, not

only in confirming the target before the air mission

but also as peace keeping force's independent

check mechanism for preventing fratricide.

The nature of a peace keeping mission invariably

means liaison skills are essential for success. Liaison

skills are needed to communicate with flanking and

reinforcing units. Liaison capabilities are essential

for communication with former warring factions

and locals. Finally the capabilities to liaise with

reach back fires, fire support, to reinforce company

and battalion operations as the situation changes.

All capabilities core to the forward observer. In

Bosnia and in the Czech battalion much of this

liaison function fell upon the forward observer and

the battery commander's party for three reasons.

This only served to confirm the

importance of the forward

observer in the targeting chain,

not only in confirming the target

before the air mission but also as

peace keeping force's

independent check mechanism

for preventing fratricide.

The first was the British Army battery under

operational control of the battalion provided an on

hand array of English speakers to speak to coalition

partners. Regularly the forward observers would be

called upon to brief NATO generals and coalition

partners on the situation in the tactical area of

operations and the key focal points. The eclectic

group of Australian officer and British soldiers were

constantly called upon by the Czech commanders

to brief on the Division's resettlement main effort of

Kozarac including NATO Commander in Bosnia and

the British Foreign Office under secretary. The

second was the forward observers provided an

impressive communications capability to the

battalion. The forward observer's communications,

both voice and BATES digital systems, provided a

powerful all informed network across the divisional

area of operations. He helped in passing up to the

minute information to the divisional headquarters

the evolving situation across the area of operations,

and aided in informing flanking battalions of

operations on their boundaries. In one case, when

the VRS Army called out its Army causing it to swell

by 300% overnight, the forward observers

communications network was core to keeping the

Divisional Commander up to date on an potentially

hostile situation. Thankfully nothing came of the

25


Warrior Observation Post Vehicle in Overwatch

situation but the provision timely information over

the 'Gunner' net was an important factor in a

balanced, whole of division response. The final

aspect was forward observers are trained in the

important skills of liaison. Liaison is more than

exchange of information it is a function that

demands very good social skills to feel for the

environment where the liaison was occurring. In

Bosnia forward observers could be briefing the

flanking commanders, like the Commanding Officer

of the Household Cavalry battle group, on one day

followed by an in depth liaison visit and discussion

with VRS brigade commander on disarmament the

next. All this was in a day's work for the forward

observers in Bosnia but only reinforced their

importance of their role in the peace keeping

mission.

In the end it's the ability to respond to a

deteriorating situation or providing a powerful

deterrence effect that remains the essential task for

the forward observer or joint fires team in a peace

keeping mission. A peace keeping situation doesn't

always progress to a peaceful solution. Former

warring factions can and sometime do go back to

fighting either locally or across the whole operation.

Being able to respond is a key risk mitigation factor

for the force and the forward observer represents

this insurance policy with its capability to call upon

reach back fires like artillery and close air support.

In Bosnia this function was carried out on several

occasions. The first was on the eve of the NATO

intervention into Kosovo in early April 1999. In this

case the VRS Army threatened to break out and

reinforce their Serbian brothers in Kosovo. NATO

response, and by association the forward

observers response, saw the full battle procedure

for the peace keeping force to move from peace

keeping into combat. The battle procedure efforts

included the detailed planning for the application of

artillery fire and close air support through the

selection of targets and production of Defensive

Fires lists, technical and tactical reconnaissance of

observation posts to confirm observation zones

and Named Areas of Interest, and fire support full

rehearsals to support a military response. This

tense environment promoted the best in forward

observer skills and training. Another approach was

to use artillery in a deterrence role through a

combined arms firepower demonstration of what

the NATO peace keeping division could generate.

The Glamoc range complex in central Bosnia was

used to demonstrate the firepower available to the

divisional commander to warring faction

commanders.

The centre piece of the demonstration was the

application of artillery fire and close air support

from fighters and attack helicopters. All this was

coordinated by the half a dozen forward observers

available to the division who targeted and

coordinated the fire from all these systems in a

unified and concentrated manner. All this left a clear

impression in the minds of the former warring

factions' commander's heads of don't mess with the

NATO peace keeping division. Again the forward

observers were a central force multiplier for the

peace keeping force.

Peace keeping is not a defensive activity. It is an

offensive mission to bring peace and normalcy to a

situation where a government or domestic security

forces cannot. In this environment, especially in

Bosnia, the forward observer and their party are an

integral part of the peace keeping force. Their day

and night surveillance capability, linked with their

broad joint communications capability to talk to

helicopters and fighter aircraft, meant they were an

essential element of the peace keeping mission's

success. The forward observer brought to the

company and in many cases the battalion, the vital

targeting skills to identify, locate and assess targets

for an appropriate and proportionate response

should the situation return to war. Linked to this

important offensive task, the forward observer

brought the critical liaison function to support the

company commander with flanking units and units

entering the company's tactical area of operations

to reinforce. Underlying all this effort was the

capacity to escalate quickly to counter any moves to

return to war in an environment where the peace

keeping troops were out numbered. The rapid

reach back to artillery and close air support aircraft

was essential. So when it is all said and done the

core capability of the command liaison observation

group, the forward observer party, joint fires team, is

26


Rotary Wing Close Air Support in Overwatch overKozarac

an essential element of any peace keeping force as

demonstrated in Bosnia. Keeping the forward

observer party core skills at the highest standard is

and will need to remain central to artillery training

to ensure this support is delivered.

Endnotes

1. http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/stability-operations-dod-

instruction-300005 dated 8 Mar 13

2. Definition, 'to measure' http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

Mensurate dated 31 Aug 13

Book Reviews

The Soldier from IndependenceBy Mr Dennis. M. Giangreco

Reviewed by Colonel Sean Ryan

Commandant Combined Arms Training Centre

ISBN 978-0-7603-3209-2; ZENITH PRESS

MINNEAPOLIS; PUBLISHED 2009: 286 PAGES;

ILLUSTRATIONS; MAPS; NOTES: INDEX

What kind of man can make

the decision to drop a

nuclear bomb? The answer

is a 'Gunner'. More

specifically it is President

Harry S. Truman, US

Commander-in-Chief at

one of the (if not the)

critical moments in

American – and global –

military history. This book

looks at Harry S. Truman

the artillery officer. It provides a valuable account of

Truman's early military career through to the end of

World War I.

What kind of man can make the

decision to drop a nuclear bomb?

The answer is a 'Gunner'.

The Soldier from Independence adds a whole new

dimension to the already fascinating character of

the thirty-third US President. This book specifically

looks at his life as an officer in the Missouri Field

Artillery on the Western front with Black Jack

Pershing's dough boy Army.

Giangreco looks at Truman's life as a National Guard

soldier in Kansas City, Missouri. It speaks about how

he enjoyed his weekly and monthly parades. The

deep relationships that formed during those

parades and the civilian life, as a haberdasher, that

was built around his militia life. It touches upon his

undying love to Bess during some long term

separations.

When World War I broke out, although over-age,

Truman joined the Army and was commissioned in

the artillery. This was a change from his infantry

National Guard days. Mobilisation saw him deploy

with his field artillery battalion, 2nd Battalion 129th

Field Artillery to Ft Sill, Oklahoma – Home of the US

27


Profile

Colonel Ryan is currently the Commandant of

the Combined Arms Training Centre in

Puckapunyal. He has broad set of Regimental

experiences with service in 1st Field Regiment,

8th/12th Medium Regiment, and

Headquarters Land Command Artillery.

He commanded the School of Artillery in 2007

and 2008. He served in Bosnia-Herzegovina

from January to July 1999 as a Forward

Observation Officer in N Battery 3rd Regiment

Royal Horse Artillery as part of the NATO

Stabilisation Force (SFOR). During that time he

was attached to the 7th Czech Mechanised

Battalion patrolling Northern Bosnia-Herzegovina

around Prijedor.

gunner. It was here in the boiling hot or freezing

cold prairie of the mid-West that Truman began to

shine as a military administrator. As the adjutant he

was commended for making the 2nd Battalion

129th Field Artillery the 'home of account efficiency'

and the best unit in personal and unit

administration in the whole of the 35th US infantry

Division, as well as turning a tidy profit for the

Regimental funds.

After months in Oklahoma, the 2nd Battalion 129th

Field Artillery and Truman deployed to France in

August 1917 where the battalion re-equipped with

the French quick firing 75 mm gun. Giangreco

speaks of Truman's promotion to command D

Battery. It was a command full of the meanest bunch

of New York Irishmen every assembled. The author

speaks in detail of how the 'four eyed' Truman tamed

these wild men and turned them into the most

battle ready battery in the Regiment. The way he

does this is a great read in battery leadership.

Author Dennis Giangreco shows how, as a battery

commander in World War I, Truman was already

making the hard decisions that he knew to be right,

regardless of personal consequences. Giangreco

describes how Truman saved a neighbouring

infantry regiment at the Battle of Muese Argonne

from a surprise German attack with deadly and well

directed artillery fire, only to be rebuked by his

regimental commander. In fact the battle is a great

cameo for modern day battery artillery fire in the

synergy between technical and tactical artillery.

Truman rose to the rank of Major by war's end and

drove an impressive de-mobilisation program that

was poorly supported by the US Army Office.

In telling this tale, Giangreco not only gives us a

look at one of the millions of ordinary Americans

who served in the Great War, giving us a soldier's

eye-view of the American Expeditionary Force and

life in the trenches, but also the Army's

mismanagement of the National Guard. The book

describes Truman's time in uniform as a formative

experience that shaped his business and political

life. A political life that leads to the most difficult

strategic decisions war has ever seen.

Truman is the last president to have served as

soldier, and equally significant he saw more ground

combat than any president since President

McKinley. This is a valuable look at the shaping of

one of the most notable US presidents.

Exit Wounds

One Australian's War On Terror

By Major General John Cantwell

with Greg Bearup

Reviewed by Major D.T. (Terry) Brennan

Editor RAA Liaison Letter

ISBN 9780522861785 (PBK); MELBOURNE

UNIVERSITY PRESS; PUBLISHED 2012; 374 PAGES;

COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

Everyone's experience

of war or for that matter

any operation, is unique

and seen from a very

personal perspective –

this is John Cantwell's

story. After reading a

range of interviews and

reviews in the media

following the release of

this book I purchased it

just as soon as I saw it. It

may have been these

reviews or perhaps it

was I had briefly served on course with John

Cantwell in 1993 at command and staff college, Fort

Queenscliff however it was almost a year later

before I decided to read the book and immediately

found it an enthralling raw and very honest account

of his experiences.

I had mixed feelings about the

story especially his leadership

style as a senior officer at war

particularly in Afghanistan …

For the non military reader it is well written and

tells a story in which you cannot help but become

engrossed, sympathetic and supportive towards the

author and his journey as a military officer as well as

his battle with PTSD. As a military reader I had

mixed feelings about the story especially his

leadership style as a senior officer at war

particularly in Afghanistan where he was the

Australian National Commander. This is not a

manoeuvre commander's appointment but rather

the Australian Government's senior military

representative on the ground to ensure our ADF

interests are addressed and assets are utilised as

agreed. I have to ask myself did John Cantwell see

himself as having a different and more expansive

role.

28


Whilst at staff college we were in the same

syndicate towards the end of the course for a short

period, however I never really got to know him on a

personal level. I found his demeanour although

distant, extremely professional, competent and

most importantly espoused the persona of an

extremely self-confident and self assured officer

who would simply breeze through the course

without a challenge or care in the world. My

assessment was confirmed by the fact that at the

end of the year he was awarded a grading as the top

student. I am not exactly sure why but I hesitated in

reading the book – perhaps it was that it had been

written by a member of my era and his apparent

success made me feel a little incompetent and / or it

reinforced in my mind a sense of failure personally

in terms of my career – here we were 19 years later

after staff college I was still a major serving now in

the Army Reserve and here was John Cantwell one

of the most senior officers in the Army writing a

book about his wide and challenging experiences in

a range of war zones. A number of my peers

described my operational opportunity in East Timor

as having been to the 'non shooting' war. Therefore

from my perspective my 'limited' operational

experience paled into the background compared to

that of this 'stellar' career officer.

I found his demeanour although

distant, extremely professional,

competent and most importantly

espoused the persona of an

extremely self-confident and self

assured officer who would simply

breeze through the course

without a challenge or care in the

world.

I was particularly perplexed by his constant desire

to go out on patrol with soldiers on the ground and

into areas of danger in Afghanistan. It reflects the

nature and scale of how our troops were being

employed that a major general could and would

participate in fighting patrols as a 'riflemen'. My

personal view is that this placed an unnecessary

burden of responsibility on the junior officers and

non-commissioned officers and not only would

have been a distraction for them but could have

also increased the danger to the patrol. This desire

to be with those out on patrol leads to an

interesting contribution to the book's style where

he describes in detail a range of contacts,

engagements and firefights to set the scene for the

reader to gain a better understanding of the

conditions on the ground and the dangers faced by

our troops. The encapsulation of the dangers and

subsequent bravery displayed by our troops is

riveting and delivered with clarity for the reader. I

found his description of a number of firefights to be

very absorbing reading including the contact that

resulted in John Cantwell recommending Corporal

Ben Roberts-Smth from the SASR for the Victoria

Cross for Australia. However I just wonder why John

Cantwell decided to go into such detail in his book

about the incident given that he was not anywhere

near the firefight.

It reflects the nature and scale of

how our troops were being

employed that a major general

could and would participate in

fighting patrols as a 'riflemen'.

On the surface it has most probably been put there

to enhance the story and more importantly

highlight the constant and significant war fighting

that our special forces were engaging in on a daily

basis. I just wonder what it really had to do with

John Cantwell and his personal story of war. In my

mind his description of a fighting patrol that

essentially at the first sign of trouble appeared to

avoid its task and immediately returned to its patrol

base gives rise to question the overarching scheme

of manoeuvre for our troops. From a force

protection perspective I understand the decision

however from an operational perspective I just feel

that the enemy were being telegraphed an insight

that we really did not have the will to fully

prosecute offensive operations against them. This

observation is easy for me to make sitting in the

comfort and safety of Australia however I feel it

must be said.

I also understand and empathise with John

Cantwell's observation as national commander of

having to field inane queries from Australia as I

witnessed my boss and at times even myself in

similar situations in East Timor.

Although there are examples of leadership at

various levels woven throughout the book in my

view this not is a book about leadership nor does it

attempt to deliver any real strategic insights into

the military execution of the conduct of the wars

that the author was involved. Many years ago Gary

McKay wrote a book entitled 'In Good Company'

about his experience as a platoon commander in

South Vietnam which became mandatory reading

for aspiring officers at the Royal Military College – I

am not sure if it remains on the reading list. I draw

29


this as a parallel to 'Exit Wounds' as I would be very

surprised if it was deemed mandatory reading at

any college.

One facet I particularly appreciated was his

explanation and descriptions of the challenges

faced when dealing with the political and military

leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan. I found his views

and thoughts refreshingly honest especially as they

were the views of a senior officer. I very much doubt

that there would many other modern day Australian

generals who would give such frank appraisals and

assessments of the situation when trying to deal

with these people.

I found his views and thoughts

refreshingly honest especially as

they were the views of a senior

officer.

I also appreciate that we have finally recognised the

benefits of applying lessons learned from our

deployments, an example I noted with interest was

Cantwell's explanation of the procedure whereby as

soon as there was an 'incident' where Australians

were killed in action there was a communication

blackout to prevent the news being leaked to the

Australian media before the next of kin could be

advised in Australia. I witnessed in East Timor a

situation where a soldier was wounded and before

this could be passed back to Australia – there were

media representatives outside of the soldier's

house – the power of mobile telephones and social

media! It is great that we have learnt from our

previous operational experience.

This sense of responsibility and

obligation to be chief mourner

was odd to say the least …

Another refreshing aspect of the book is the way he

explains that the nature of Australia's deployment

meant that people posted to a range of

headquarters appointments either at our national

headquarters or that of our allies, generally the US,

had not been trained for the specific role they were

required to carry out including himself to some

extent. I was pleased to hear that generally these

people performed to a high standard however I

note he does not shy away from the fact that some

people did not perform and were sent home. The

cynic in me says that they would have returned to

Australia and 'soldiered on' without any penalty and

in most cases probably were promoted not long

after returning.

On reflection an insight into the state of John

Cantwell's mind was his reaction to the death of

Australian soldiers whilst he was on leave at home.

Rather then having faith in his deputy commander

to deal with the situation on the ground in theatre

his immediate response was to end his leave and

return to Afghanistan to oversee the repatriation of

the bodies of those killed including personally

needing to oversee the positive identification. This

sense of responsibility and obligation to be chief

mourner was odd to say the least and one can draw

a parallel to the various prime ministers of Australia

who since 1999 have attended every funeral of

servicemen killed on operations. This very public

and heart felt and symbolic gesture is unsustainable

in any conflict where the casualties continue as an

escalating rate. In my view John Cantwell's actions

almost certainly would have undermined the role

and authority of his deputy commander.

… he does not shy away from the

fact that some people did not

perform and were sent home.

A key thread of the book that deserves special

mention is the role and influence that his wife Jane

had on him personally and professionally. There is a

slightly outdated, but still well used phrase 'Behind

every successful man there is a women' or words to that

effect. John Cantwell is unlimited in expressing and

describing the love he has for his wife and the part

she has played in shaping all aspects of his life and

especially the 'rock' she has been throughout the

years he has struggled with PTSD.

I must admit I have not drawn any particular lessons

from the story – it is exactly as the sub title of the

book states 'One Australian's War on Terror'. I feel he

captures the feelings of all modern soldiers with

regard the need to experience some form of

deployment as part of putting to bed personal

doubts about how they would perform when using

their many years of training in an operational

environment. People like John Cantwell have

proven it to themselves in very challenging

situations on many occasions. I found the book a

little odd overall, however I hope that it has

assisted John Cantwell in dealing with his personal

demons. I encourage everyone to take the time to

read the book and form their own opinion.

30


31


32


Combined Joint

Live Fire ExerciseCaptain Max Williams

4th Regiment RAA

On 28th July 2013, members of 107, 108 and 109

Battery completed their contribution to Exercise

Talisman Sabre 2013 and prepared for deployment

to Townsend Island for the conduct of the

Combined Joint Live Fire Exercise (CJLFX). The aim

of the CJLFX was to test and adjust existing TTPs in

the combined joint environment, as well as the

development of new ones.

The tempo was high and saw the

JFECC engage in some of the

most complex mission profiles of

the year.

Movement to the island was coordinated through

the use of LCM8, LCH and air mobile assets. The

majority of Joint fire Teams (JFTs) moved to the

island via rotary lift, with the remainder arriving

over the following days by sea. Units involved

included 4th Regiment, 16th Air Land Regiment, the

31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as well as additional

Navy and RAAF liaison officers.

Initial activities conducted included safety briefs,

MEL analysis and synchronisation between the

Australian JFECC and USMC Fire Support

Coordination Centre (FSCC). The live fire exercise

commenced with calls for engagement being

coordinated between both the FSCC and JFECC

simultaneously. This involved the coordination of

both Australian and US fixed wing and rotary wing

aircraft, combined Naval Gunfire Support, US Fire

Support Teams (FSTs) utilising the Australian JFECC,

Australian JFTs utilising the FSCC and combined

joint fire planning with both Australian and USMC

Gun lines. 107 Battery fell under the command of

Major Thomas Drew with the Australian JFECC

being coordinated by Battery Captain 107 Battery,

Captain Max Williams. The supervision of air serials

was coordinated by Captain James Wood

throughout.

After a period of two days, the Australian JFECC

took the lead for the prosecution of all targets. This

33


Around theRegiment

Townshend Island

Landing Craft Heavy on return from TownshendIsland

involved the coordinated direction of all calls for

engagement through the JFECC from USMC FSTs,

Australian JFTs as well as mission profiles received

by observer qualified pilots. The tempo was high

and saw the JFECC engage in some of the most

complex mission profiles of the year. Subtle

differences did exist between Australian and US

observer teams' fire discipline, however with some

interpretation the intent of the originator was able

to be met.

Despite the relatively busy nature of the exercise,

ample time existed for soldiers and officers alike to

mingle with our American allies as well as members

of other Australian Defence Force services. Weather

on the island throughout the activity was relatively

mild with only small periods of rain and fog

influencing live fire activities. The USMC departed

two days prior to the remainder of force elements

and allowed the Australian men and women who

had participated to consolidate on lessons learnt.

The 2013 CJLFX was a success and thoroughly

enjoyable, beneficial and worth while training

activity for not only the Regiment, but our allies

too.

Combined Arms

Training ActivityCaptain N. Gould

4th Regiment RAA

This year's Combined Arms Training Activity (CATA)

officially began between 12th and 20th May, with

actual start dates fluctuating based on which unit

was deploying. 107, 108 and 109 Battery Joint Fires

Teams (JFTs) and Joint Fires and Effects

Coordination Centres (JFECCs) were attached to

battle groups from 1 RAR, 2 RAR and the

trial-construct 1st Armoured Cavalry Regiment (1

ACR), respectively.

Meanwhile, the gun lines of 107 and 109 Battery

deployed directly and immediately began preparing

themselves for live firing, in support of the

upcoming danger close assaults and battle runs that

34


CH47 Preparing for a Personnel Lift

Air Mobile Operations

CH-47 'Chinook' Preparing to Lift a 107 BatteryM777A2

would mark the successful culmination of the

exercise.

The live fire activity involved dismounted attacks

from 1 RAR and 2 RAR, and a battle run from 1 ACR.

4th Regiment supported all elements of the activity

with live high-explosive rounds directed by the JFTs

to impact danger close within 250 m of the

advancing units. The JFTs and the guns performed

to a high standard throughout, with accurate

shooting and effective coordination ensuring that

the practice remained safe but highly effective.

… live firing, in support of the

upcoming danger close assaults

and battle runs that would mark

the successful culmination of the

exercise.

Adding to the complexity of the scenarios was the

addition of the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter

platforms providing close air support to the troops

on the ground. These were controlled by 4th

Regiment JTACs. Each unit's support weapons

assets, such as 1 RAR and 2 RAR's 'Javelin' anti-tank

missiles, sustained fire machine guns, and 1 ACR's

M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, were controlled by

4th Regiment's Battery Commanders for the

duration of the activity. In doing so the Battery

Commanders could integrate them with indirect

and close air support into an effective and

synchronised fire plan.

The exercise allowed the Brigade JFECC and

Battalion Group JFECCs to utilise the AFATDS in its

ability to conduct synchronised planning and

mission processing. This was the Regiment's first

opportunity to have a digital Brigade JFECC

integrate with the Brigade Headquarters. This

allowed for the remainder of the Brigade to become

familiar with the system and what the JFECC

requires for planning.

The exercise also allowed the

Regiment to execute its new

AFATDS live fire TTPs including;

Timed and Event Based Fireplans.

During this integration the Brigade JFECC was able

to effectively coordinate both air and indirect

support to the Battalion Group conducting its

activity. The exercise also allowed the Regiment to

execute its new AFATDS live fire TTPs including

Timed and Event Based Fireplans. Overall the

Regiment provided fires on time, on target and safe.

The tactical phase of CATA marked the first time in

2013 that the Regiment's JFTs and JFECCs

integrated with their supported infantry or

armoured units. 107 Battery integrated with 1 RAR,

108 Battery with 2 RAR, and 109 Battery with 1 ACR.

Another highlight of the exercise was Bombardier

Freckleton having terminal control over the live

release of six Hellfire missiles from the ARH.

35


Detachment Commander Lance Bombardier Aaron Spicer moving Ammunition on the Gun Line

Exercise Talisman

Sabre 13 –

Regimental Air

Land EffectFor the first time since its inception in 2012, 16th

Air Land Regiment (16 ALR) deployed all of its

capabilities simultaneously to support Coalition,

Joint and Army operations. This realisation of a

Regimental Air Land Effect occurred on Exercise

Talisman Sabre 13 (Ex TS13). The Regiment was

used to provide GBAD, Sense Warn and Locate, and

Air Land Integration at all levels of command – from

Battle Group (BG) to Combined Joint Task Force.

The Regiment provided two troops from 110th Air

Defence Battery to provide Ground Based Air

Defence (GBAD) to support the 3rd Multi-role

Combat Brigade (3 MCB), protecting them from air

attack and enemy ISR for all phases of their

operations. 111th Sense, Warn and Locate (SnW&L)

Battery provided a SnW&L Troop of Lightweight

Counter Mortar Radars (LCMR) and a Giraffe Agile

Multi-beam (G-AMB) Radar. The LCMRs were

deployed forward with 3 MCB to warn the force and

locate enemy IDF attacks and positions. The G-AMB

performed the SnW&L function but also generated

an Air Surveillance capability for 3 MCB to warn of

enemy air attacks, provide early warning to the

GBAD Detachments for engagement and to track

friendly aircraft movements for enhanced

situational awareness. Throughout the three major

phases of the exercise, both 110 and 111 Battery's

provided protection to 3 MCB by detecting and

warning of threats and cueing the subsequent

engagement with organic or coalition / joint assets.

For the first time since its

inception in 2012, 16th Air Land

Regiment (16 ALR) deployed all of

its capabilities simultaneously to

support Coalition, Joint and Army

operations.

36


A Detachment of RBS-70, protecting 3 MCB fromatop their Protected Mobility Air Defence Variant

(PMADV) Bushmaster, in the Shoalwater Bay

A G-AMB providing a Locating and Air-Surveillancecapability to 3 MCB, in the Shoalwater Bay Training

Area

The BALIC, providing air planning and airspaceplanning, Locating, GBAD and Sensor Fusion

advice to 3 MCB

The 1st Air Ground Operations (AGO) Battery

deployed a Brigade Air Land Integration Cell (BALIC)

at HQ 3 MCB. They provided the hub for air support

and airspace planning, to accommodate the

effective employment of a variety of coalition and

joint platforms in support of manoeuvre. This work

was executed closely with 4th Regiment RAA. With

the plan in place, the Air Force personnel attached

to 3 MCB were able to control the air platforms in

the local airspace, handing off to JTACs amongst the

BGs. The BALIC also acted as the hub where all of

the information from 16 ALRs organic GBAD and

LCMR sensors fused into HQ 3 MCB. This ensured

that 3 MCB was accurately warned about

Surface-to-Surface fires events and locations of

enemy guns and mortars. This data was passed from

the LCMR and G-AMB detachments digitally over

the Joint Fires / AFATDS network for engagement by

Joint and Coalition offensive support assets. The

BALIC also provided the control of the assigned

GBAD assets, ensuring that they had the most

updated and accurate situational awareness to

ensure the enemy was neutralised and fratricide

avoided.

by detecting and warning of

threats and cueing the

subsequent engagement with

organic or coalition / joint assets.

The Regiment also provided the core of the

Deployable Joint Force Headquarters Joint Fires

Element (DJFHQ JFE). With US Army and Marine

Corps augmentation, the DJFHQ JFE was

responsible for deliberate targeting, the

synchronisation and execution of effects across

4/25 ABCT, the Amphibious Task Group and 3 MCB,

and the provision of Offensive Support advice to

the JTF Comd.

Ex TS13 provided an opportunity to test the ALR

concept in a live environment. To achieve the

deployment of the Regt as a whole involved the

provision of digital communication links,

integration to existing command and control

systems, the establishment of sound planning

procedures and the interaction and support of

many ADF agencies outside of Army; this included

the DMO, RAAF and LNIC. The Regiment is now

confident that the concept of the ALR is sound and

achievable, providing ready, deployable capabilities

to the ADF. The focus for the Regiment will now

shift from establishing the capability to migrating

concepts into sound doctrine and TTPs, further

refining the communication solutions and

examining the Unit structure, in light of lessons

learnt.

Visit to 16th Air

Land Regiment1st Lieutenant Ola Svärd

Swedish Air Defence Regiment

There were a couple of things that I wanted to

experience whilst in Australia: I wanted to see all of

the exotic animals of your beautiful country

(hopefully even killing one or two of them and

eating them); I wanted to see the culture and life of

a soldier / officer in the Australian Army; and I

wanted to learn how to surf. From my time with

16th Air Land Regiment, I got so much more than

that.

The first thing I noticed on arriving in Adelaide was

the weather. I was in Australia in your winter and,

for me, it was a case of 'best winter ever'. One day it

was +25 degrees Celsius – I loved it. Despite

deploying with 111th Battery to 'Murray Fridge', I

had a very welcome reprieve from Swedish weather.

I had heard a lot about the Australian wildlife,

especially about the drop bears. Naturally, I was

terrified whenever I walked under a tree. I actually

had a close encounter with a drop bear and

survived. The drop bear was waiting outside of my

door in the officers' mess and attacked me, but I

survived having sustained only a couple of bruises

37


and scratches. Fortunately, I had my camera and was

able to take a picture of the beast. I was pretty

shook up though and shall forever warn my fellow

countrymen of the dangers of the Australian drop

bear.

I wanted to see the culture and

life of a soldier / officer in the

Australian Army; and I wanted to

learn how to surf.

I soon learnt that it was not only the drop bears that

could kill you. It was also the numerous poisonous

animals, including sharks, crocodiles and kangaroos

that could tear you to pieces. Despite being

surrounded by some of the most dangerous wildlife

in the world, I didn't see much of it, other than the

drop bear. Probably the most dangerous beast that I

saw the most of was actually the Giraffe (AMB). This

beast could detect you at 125 km, chase you at

100 km per hour, go cross country after you and

could be very temperamental. I soon learnt a

golden rule – do not feed the Giraffe.

I was very anxious to learn about the Australian

culture and, specifically, the culture of the

Australian Army. I had been informed about Anzac

Day, just before I left Sweden. It was Anzac Day on

my second day in Australia and, I must say, it was an

experience of a lifetime. The whole community of

Adelaide was part of these celebrations, in such a

way that the Swedish society would never be

involved in. There was a respect and admiration for

the armed forces in Australia that was great to be a

part of. People honoured the armed forces for their

actions and sacrifices in a way that was respectful

and thoroughly deserved. Needless to say,

whenever it is a celebration for any armed forces, in

any country, there is going to be a large amount of

alcohol involved – in this area, the Australian and

Swedish soldier are both equally well trained. It was

a perfect welcome party for me and while the

alcohol flowed freely so did my rusty English. I

woke up the next day with a lot of new friends.

Australia is truly blessed with a

wide variety of experiences of

nature that are both powerful and

beautiful. In Sweden we have our

mountains, our cold weather and

our beautiful women. I guess

Australia can't have everything.

Having observed them, this is my perspective of the

Australian officer they:

• love abbreviations and are not afraid to use them;

• love to write elaborate orders and are not afraid

to issue them;

• have a love for the Australian wildlife and are not

afraid to kill it;

• are very hospitable and are not afraid to get

Swedish officers intoxicated;

• have a good moral and work ethic but are not

afraid to get down and dirty with 'the boys';

38


L-R: Captain O. Griffiths, Lieutenant O. Svärd andCaptain K. Smith, atop the escarpment at Cultana

Range, during the Regimental Exercise

• have respect and consideration for their soldiers

but are not afraid to lecture them; and

• like beef jerky and they're not afraid to share it.

From everything I had previously learnt about

Australia, I knew that I wanted to learn to surf. I

managed to surf both the south coast and the east

coast of Australia. It was when I 'surfed' the east

coast that I thought I saw a shark – but it was a

dolphin. This was a much different experience than

surfing in Sweden – I would have risked bumping

into a cod, rather than a dolphin. Australia is truly

blessed with a wide variety of experiences of nature

that are both powerful and beautiful. In Sweden we

have our mountains, our cold weather and our

beautiful women. I guess Australia can't have

everything.

For me, the trip was a great opportunity to make

friends across the other side of the world – it was

truly an experience of a lifetime. I also learnt a lot

about your Air Defence – there is so much in

common between your forces and our Swedish

forces. I was greeted with open arms and open bars.

I felt well taken care of by all in 16 ALR, from the

soldiers, to the lieutenants, to the commanding

officer. Everywhere I looked in the Regiment, I saw

professional and driven officers and soldiers. Thank

you 16 ALR, my sincere apologies for the dried fish

and Ikea furniture.

Far Northern

Gunners

Exercise Thunder RunLieutenant Dion Paull

The first major gunnery exercise for the 2013

training year was held during March when 8th/12th

Regiment deployed to the Cultana training area to

conduct Exercise Thunder Walk / Run in the lead up

to Exercise Kite Hawk in April.

Offensive support sub-units deployed to the field as

101st Composite Battery with a gun troop of six

M777A2 Howitzers, while Combat Service Support

deployed to establish a tactical patrol base.

Commanding Officer 8th/12th Regiment Lieutenant

Colonel Julian West said the exercise provided a

great opportunity to practise gunnery across the

spectrum of conventional operations. 'This involved

training from the coordination and execution of joint

fires, including Danger Close and Direct Fire serials, to

the tactical deployment of the gun line, small-arms

live-fire practices and a regimental route march,' he

said.

Thunder Walk focused on joint

fires teams training with the

groups conducting live-fire

immediate neutralisation

missions as well as infantry minor

and small-team tactics.

The Regiment successfully completed a road

self-deployment of military and civilian vehicles

from Robertson Barracks to the Cultana Training

Area for the exercise.

Thunder Walk focused on joint fires teams training

with the groups conducting live-fire immediate

neutralisation missions as well as infantry minor

and small-team tactics. The gun line conducted

live-fire and movement and was tactically tested

through a complex enemy scenario. Elements from

the Adelaide-based 102nd Coral Battery also

deployed to Woomera to successfully conduct a

trial of the Excalibur Precision Guided Munitions.

Exercise Thunder Run consolidated the live-fire

training with a focus on the speed of response after

a call for fire, and culminated in the conduct of

live-fire danger-close missions which had

high-explosive rounds impacting 175 m from dug-in

friendly troops.

The exercise allowed the regiment to enhance its

digital gunnery procedures with the newly acquired

M777A2 Howitzer and the Advanced Field Artillery

Tactical Data System.

Soldiers certified to deploy on Advisory Task Force

2 and 8/12 Regt is postured to conduct further field

training in 2013.

Exercise Thunder Run 2

Thunder Shakes the Ground

Gunners from 8th/12th Regiment showed what they

were made of during Exercise Thunder Run 2 at the

Mount Bundy Training Area recently. The unit

deployed for a live fire exercise to train joint fires

teams and gun troops up to danger-close practices.

39


Over two weeks the unit was put through the full

range of conventional war fighting activities it

could reasonably be expected to conduct in

combat. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel

Julian West said one of the highlights of the exercise

was firing danger close missions at night in support

of dug-in infantry with 155 mm HE rounds

impacting 175 m from his own troops.

'Two weeks isn't a long time in the field, but under the

leadership of hardworking junior non commissioned

officers, the Regiment successfully conducted realistic

and high-tempo joint fires coordination and execution by

day and night,' he said.

Over two weeks the unit was put

through the full range of

conventional war fighting

activities it could reasonably be

expected to conduct in combat.

Lieutenant Colonel West was also happy with the

performance of the M777 A2 howitzer. 'The M777 is

an excellent gun; it has a good rate of sustained fire

providing consistent and accurate indirect fire support,'

he said.

Detachment commander Bombardier Adrian

Broadhead said the unit had an active enemy

probing and ambushing the gunners constantly. 'We

had to pay attention, we had to make ourselves a hard

target and know our drills and procedures,' he said.

Lieutenant Nathan Small, 103rd Battery command

post officer, said the post-battle procedure

immediately after an intense contact with the

enemy was an eye opener. 'We trained a lot to conduct

our correct processes during a quick attack, but dealing

with casualties and handling back-loading and resupply,

while still providing indirect fire support, was difficult at

first,' he said.

'However, due to our robust training and operating

procedures we quickly learnt to plan for this, execute and

move on.'

Bombardier Chris Saetta said the live fire and

movement ended with danger close missions in

support of 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment

(5 RAR) final activity, a clearance of an enemy main

defensive position. 'We brought the rounds into 175 m

from 5RAR's forming up point,' he said. 'The infantry

boys weathered it really well – it created a lot of energy

for the attack.'

Exercise Kite HawkSergeant Michael Smith

Joint fires teams (JFT) from 8th/12th Regiment (8/12

Regt) deployed to the Mount Bundey Training Area

to conduct live-fire training with Tiger helicopters

from 161st Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment, from

15-19 April.

Before Exercise Kite Hawk, the JFTs spent time in

the 161st Squadron flight simulation centre. This

gave junior soldiers exposure of the aircraft's

capabilities and an opportunity to meet and discuss

tactics with the pilots.

The missions were conducted in

late afternoon and evening, which

presented an opportunity for the

pilots to focus on their night flying

and mission procedures.

Commander of the JFT for 103rd Battery,

Bombardier Michael Krek, said the exercise

provided a great opportunity for the soldiers. 'They

were able to practise their observation skills and target

talk-on using the Tigers during both day and night

controls,' he said. 'It was good to have the attack

helicopters on for the week as this gave the lads multiple

controls and plenty of ammunition to destroy targets.'

The combined exercise focused on JFT training with

the Tigers conducting live-fire attacks from several

different battle positions, engaging targets with

70 mm rockets and the 30 mm cannon.

The missions were conducted in late afternoon and

evening, which presented an opportunity for the

pilots to focus on their night flying and mission

procedures.

During their training, the JFTs used infrared

pointers to help the aircraft identify and engage

targets out to 4 km. Focusing on the speed of

response after a call for fire, the exercise

culminated in live attacks from the Tigers.

40


ADF Pathfinder

JTAC of the YearMajor R. Wehby, Officer Commanding

JTAC Troop, 16th Air Land Regiment

Warrant Officer Class Two Matthew Dawson, Troop

Sergeant Major, Joint Terminal Attack Control (JTAC)

Troop, 16th Air Land Regiment (16 ALR) was

recently announced as the recipient of the annual

Air-Vice Marshal (AVM) Don Bennet award for the

ADF JTAC of the year.

The award's history is based on the scarcity and

valued capability of air power that must be focused,

prioritised and employed in a safe and efficient

manner. The successful integration of these air

assets with surface force objectives is not a new

challenge, having first presented itself during World

War One. On the modern battlefield JTACs are the

critical enablers between air power and ground

commanders at the tactical, operational and

strategic levels that allow this integration to occur.

The award was raised to recognise the ADF JTAC or

Combat Controller who has made the most

significant and lasting contribution towards the

advancement of the ADF JTAC capability and related

air surface integration within the ADF over the

previous twelve months. The recipient will have

demonstrated professional mastery of Joint

Terminal Attack Control and will have embodied the

elements of mutual trust, respect and training

required within the joint environment to achieve

successful air surface integration.

Warrant Officer Class Two Dawson has been posted

to JTAC Tp and 4 SQN previously as a JTAC instructor

and has been the TSM at JTAC Tp since 2011. JTAC

Tp is a small entity of 16th Air Land Regiment

located at RAAF Williamtown. With a posted

strength of eight its purpose is fourfold: firstly to

maintain a pool of qualified, trained and combat

ready JTACs to augment conventional and special

operations deployments; secondly to augment

units for major exercises within Australia; thirdly to

provide dedicated assistance to 4 Sqn (RAAF) JTAC

Courses; and fourthly to screen and prepare

candidates for JTAC course and uphold JTAC

standards throughout FORCOMD units.

Warrant Officer Class Two Dawson's award citation

states, 'As a senior FORCOMD JTAC, WO2 Dawson is

respected amongst the CAS community and a role model

for junior soldiers. His role, as interface between the

services, adds balance to instructor experience, and is

fundamental in 4 SQN maintaining US accreditation.'

The recipient will have

demonstrated professional

mastery of Joint Terminal Attack

Control and will have embodied

the elements of mutual trust,

respect and training required

within the joint environment to

achieve successful air surface

integration.

Warrant Officer Class Two Dawson has been

instrumental in a number of areas with regard to

the JTAC capability. This has included: setting and

maintaining the standard for other JTACs to

emulate; harnessing operational experience and

capturing lessons learnt based on the recent tempo

and experience ADF JTACs now have; working

effectively in the joint environment; maintaining a

focus on combat application and readiness; and

cultivating the growth of the capability to ensure

world's best practice amongst partner nations.

The award was presented to Warrant Officer Class

Two Dawson at the annual Pathfinder Association

Day on 19th September 2013 at RAAF Amberley.

41


42


DSCM-A

By Captain Chris Lingard &

Warrant Officer Class One Grant Boyce

Greetings from the Directorate of Soldier Career

Management-Army (DSCM-A) formally SCMA until

2012, we hope you have all had a productive and

rewarding year to date. This year for DSCM-A has

been a very busy and challenging one. As most of

you will be aware at the start of the year DSCM-A

re-located from the seafront tourist scene of Fort

Queenscliff, Victoria to the shiny new digs at the

Brindabella Business Park (Airport precinct),

Canberra. The exciting new changes at DSCM-A has

not stopped with the joys of the re-location, as

there has been some fundamental developments in

the way DSCM-A conducts business. The aim of this

article is to give an overview of the most significant

of these developments; the recently endorsed

Enhanced Career Management (ECM) model and

the new Personnel Advisory Committee (PAC)

process.

Enhanced Career Management for Soldiers

The Enhanced Career Management model for

soldiers, as seen in Figure 1, has been signed off by

the Chief of Army and will provide a more modern

approach to career management for Army's

soldiers. The ECM model links in with the Officer

ECM, it sets the framework for the Warrant Officer

Class One Career Management Strategy (WO1 CMS)

and will be complimented by the new Soldier

Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) to be released

for the 2014 reporting period.

The ECM Model has five lines of operation:

• Average time in rank

• Talent management

• Flexible workplace

• Development of Career Advisors and Command

Teams

• One career – many jobs

The Model will enhance soldier career management

by setting the conditions for flexible and rewarding

career opportunities that meet the expectations of

the soldier, while providing the chain of command

more options to meet Service needs (see Figure 1)

Average time in rank (ATiR)

The ATiR has officially increased to five years to

align with current reality and remove false

expectations. Five years allows at least two

postings at each rank and enables our junior leaders

to gain the experiences and knowledge required to

advance to the next skill and rank level. It also

enables the chain of command and career advisors

to better assess a soldier's potential. Naturally, it

will also allow an increased return on investment

for those employment categories with extensive

training requirements. It is important to remember

that five years is the average, and that it is not a one

size fits all solution. Some will be longer or shorter

depending on service need, talent management or

personal circumstances.

Talent Management

Unique, personalised and focussed talent

management will support the development and

retention of Army's most talented soldiers. These

soldiers are to be identified by the chain of

command and DSCM-A as suitable for more

demanding appointments. Talented individuals will

be given the opportunity to conduct outplacements

within civil industry to ensure that we develop a

greater understanding of inclusivity and diversity

into our workforce, as well as introduce technical

elements.

Outplacements are managed by DSCM-A, and will

be coordinated in consultation with the chain of

command.

43


Personnel &Training

Flexible Workplace

Flexible Workplace Arrangements (FWA) is the

collective term used for a number of different

initiatives that have been in place, formally and

informally, for many years.

They may include, Part Time Leave Without Pay, Job

Share, Variable Work Hours, Temporary Home

Located, and Alternate Located Work

FWA aims to achieve the best possible match

between the needs of individual soldiers and Army,

all the while maintaining capability. FWA allows

Army to better use and retain the valuable skills and

experience of its existing soldiers. The modern

soldier has competing priorities that change

throughout their career. To keep the right people

Army must provide options to support different life

circumstances at certain periods in a soldier's

career.

Development of Career Advisors and

Command Teams

Management for GNR-LBDR will be moving to the

unit level. Once a CO has assessed a soldier as ready

to be promoted to BDR, the soldier will be

individually career managed by a career advisor at

DSCM-A. Soldiers can normally expect to remain

within the same unit until the rank of BDR; however,

there are GNR and LBDR positions at the SoArty,

Australian Federation Guard (AFG) and RMC that

must be filled. Every soldier represents a capability

to Army. DSCM-A is developing a guide to support

unit command teams in the management of their

junior soldiers. It will also be taught on pre

command, RSM and other key career courses.

DSCM-A will work with command teams and

PMKeyS administrators to ensure the right access is

given to units to manage GNR-LBDR ranks. DSCM-A

will continue to transact postings, pay and

promotions at all ranks.

As a result of this change in career management, the

first PAR to be submitted to DSCM-A will be from

worn rank BDR. Units will write PARs on JLC

qualified GNR(P) - LBDR as an internal development

tool, however they will not to be submitted to

DSCM-A.

One Career – Many Jobs

Army is proactively targeting soldiers to fill critical

vacancies in other trades. This initiative is part of

the Stay Army initiative (also includes Project

Boomerang and selected targeted retention

bonuses). In the past, vacancy targets were adjusted

six monthly, now it's every fortnight. This allows

Army to offer positions to existing trained soldiers,

whereas previously these targets were given to

recruiting and DSCM-A had to wait until they failed

to recruit enough people before a call for

nominations went to serving soldiers. A webpage

will be maintained of jobs that Army needs to fill

and DSCM-A will work with the Trade Transfer and

Retention Warrant Officers (TTR-WOs) located at

each major barracks to support the identification

and placement of trade transfers into these

positions.

The New Personnel Advisory Committee (PAC)

Process

The Personnel Advisory Committee (PAC) is the

process used to determine the order of merit for

promotion at the rank of SGT, WO2 and WO1 in

each trade in Army. The result is a ranked list of

soldiers against their peers in a Final Order of Merit

44


Figure 1 – Enhanced Career Management Model

List (FOML) that shows who is next in line to be

offered promotion in to the next available vacancy.

The PAC period for all ranks is conducted from

September to late November each year with up to

five PAC rooms running at the same times. Each

individual soldier takes approximately 20-30

minutes to be reviewed and up to 60 soldiers will be

presented per PAC for each of Army's 90 ECNs.

The soldier PAC process has undergone these

changes to ensure soldiers receive the best possible

representation by the Committee. The main

changes to the PAC process are the number soldiers

being presented at PAC and the number of annual

reports that are to be considered for each soldier.

The PAC process now considers a soldier's last four

annual reports, including the current year, which is

why it is vital that soldier's PARs are submitted on

time.

When will I be presented at PAC?

Once as soldier has completed their average time in

substantive rank they become eligible to be

considered for promotion. However, only those

soldiers who meet the promotion criteria and

achieve a Group 1 rating will be considered in detail

by the PAC. The method to determine which

soldiers will go to the PAC is done through a process

of category and group allocation, based on

performance history as seen in Figure 2.

DSCM-A has introduced a two-step process to

support every soldier being presented. The first,

allows the career advisor to raise a member to

Group 1, regardless of PAR scores, and the second

allows a CO to request a soldier to be raised. This

ensures that there is an independent check to

ensure that the right people are presented for

detailed consideration at PAC.

For those who are familiar with the old process,

DSCM-A has removed the Promotion Eligibility

Zone (PEZ). Now, soldiers will enter in their fourth

year in a rank, and will remain in that rank until

either promoted or allocated Band 4 at PAC.

It is important to note that being made Band 4 does

not necessarily mean a soldier is performing poorly;

it can simply mean that they have a very strong

performing cohort and they are simply not

competitive with their peers.

What happens in the PAC room?

Once the Group 1 candidates have been determined

they will be presented for detailed consideration at

PAC. PAC is held in two parts which determines the

FOML and allocates a soldier's banding.

PAC Part 1 – The Career Advisor presents the last

four PARs for all their Group 1 candidates and the

committee assesses the suitability and

competitiveness for promotion to the next rank. At

45


Figure 2 – The New PAC Process

the conclusion of Part 1 all personnel considered

are allocated a position on the FOML. The PAC

consisting of a Chairperson (CAPT to MAJ) and a

voting member (WO2-MAJ) pending the target rank

of the PAC.

PAC Part 2 – The PAC Part 2 determines whether or

not a soldier is to be cleared for promotion,

approves the FOML and allocates the banding for

promotion. PAC Part 2 comprises the members of

the Part 1 board with the addition of the Part 2

Chairman, normally a LTCOL, and is the decision

maker for the FOML and allocates the soldier one of

the following bandings:

• Band 1 – Soldiers suitable and likely to be

promoted in the target CMC.

• Band 2 – Soldiers suitable, but promotion will

depend on availability of positions in their skill

grade.

• Band 3 – Soldiers performing effectively at

current rank but not competitive for promotion

in the target CMC unless a service need arises.

• Band 4 – Soldiers performing effectively at

current rank, but will not be considered for

further promotion.

All soldiers considered by the PAC will be notified of

their results via their unit Chain of Command.

In a nutshell some or all of these developments will

affect those currently serving members at some

stage in their careers, especially those junior and

future leaders in the RAA. If you are still craving

more information on the ECM or the new PAC

process and how it may shape your career please

refer to the DSCM-A intranet webpage:

http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/DSC

MA/ComWeb.asp?page=105099

To all have a fantastic end to the year and we look

forward to seeing those serving members early

next year when DSCM-A conducts the annual Career

Guidance Interviews starting in February 2014.

Artillery Trade &

TrainingWarrant Officer Class Two M.V. Mlikota

Trade Manager Ground Based Air Defence

Introduction

As Spring is apparently approaching (here in Pucka)

Artillery Trade and Training (Arty TT) cell continues

the daily grind of TMP development, recognition,

releasing exported training TMPs, category reviews

and the continuous steam of Employment Category

Testing Officer appointments.

With the current manning diminished as the OS

Trade Manager on Long Service Leave and the OS

TD absent, Arty TT is actively recruiting to fill these

positions. Until this occurs the work usually

conducted by those positions has been shared

across the cell with input from the SO3 and RMG as

the current OS SMEs, both who were employed as

umpires on TS 13.

Trade/Employment Management

Employment Specifications for all the trades have

been all been reviewed and are awaiting DWM-A

approval prior to being loaded onto the DRN and

the Arty TT web site.

Significant work has been conducted and is still

continuing with the STA Category review to ensure

its success at ECREM this year, for sustainability of

the trade with its current UAS capability and

termination of ECN 271. The OPUAS TMP has been

used to conduct the first Australian based UAS

training.

OS Trade is continuing to monitor and report on

ongoing GORPS 2009 implementation plan. GBAD

TT has assisted in the conduct of the GAMB Course

at 16 ALR and with joint Co-operation with GBAD

Wing, ARTY TT is in the early stages of preparing for

trade model reviews prior to ECRM next year.

Some of the milestones reached so far this year are

as follows:

• PESA has been introduced into all IET TMPs and

soon to be introduced on ROBCs TMPs;

• Deploy Landing Mat TMP has been signed off;

• Digital Terminal Control System (DTCS) TMP will

go into PILOT once the Train the Trainer IIS

courses are completed;

• SOFIE hand held thermal imager TMP is in draft;

• Shadow Mission Commander's Course has been

modified and is in PILOT; and

• Currently ARTY TT has seven TMPs awaiting

endorsement.

46


Contact ListRAA Regimental Fund

SO2 HOR School of Artillery

Bridges Barracks, Puckapunyal, VIC 3662

Phone: (03) 5735 6465

Mob: 0400 854 323

Email: [email protected]

RAA Historical Company

P O Box R1638, NSW 1225

Phone: (02) 98249275

Website: http://www.artilleryhistory.org

[See Membership Form]

Cannonball (Official Journal)

Australian Army Artillery Museum

Currently CLOSED.

Battery Guide (Newsletter)

RAA Historical Society WA (Inc)

President - Bruce Campbell

Phone: (08) 9221 2494 (Bus)

Secretary - Stan Davies

P O Box 881, Claremont, WA 6910

Mob: 0418 903 722


Website: www.artillerywa.org.au

Take Post (Quarterly Newsletter)

4 Field Regiment (Vietnam) Association

R. J. (Gabby) Hayes

Unit 40, 276 Handford Road, Taigum, QLD 4018


Peter Bruce

Phone: (03) 5752 2114

Mob: 0419 349 317


7 Field Regiment Association

President - Captain Steve Flower

Secretary - John Balfour OAM


Mob: 0418 412 354

Correspondence to:

P O Box 206, Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086

Website: 7fd-regt-raa-association.com

10 Medium Regiment Association Inc

P O Box 1915, Geelong, VIC 3220

President - Pat Eldridge

Mob: 0415 098 046

The Big Gun (Newsletter)

12 Field Regiment (Vietnam) Association

President - Graham Floyd


Vice President - Rob Costello


Secretary - Trevor Bryant

Phone: (08) 82707130


23 Field Regiment Association

President - Barry Willoughby

Phone: (02) 9533 3215

Mob: 0417 400 902


Secretary - Peter Merlino

63 Penshurst Road, Penshurst, NSW 2222

Phone: (02) 9570 2776


Website: www.23fd-regt-raa-association.org

47


Associations &Organisations

A Field Battery Association Inc

President - Ron (Tex) Bassan

Secretary - Ron (Tex) Bassan

6 Harveys Road,

Beaconsfield, QLD 4740

Phone: (07) 4942 5433


A Field Battery National Newsletter

Editor - Ron (Butch) Slaughter

6/8 St Ives Drive, Robina, QLD 4226


Website:http://afdbty.australianartilleryassociation.com/

101 Battery

Secretary - Jim Booth

104 Edinburgh Drive, Mt. Hallen, QLD 4312

Phone: 07 5424 6506

Mob: 0417 731 393


Website:http://www.homepage.powerup.com.au/~

assoc101bty

101 Battery (Malaya 1959-1961)

President - David Troedel

36 Murphys Creek Road,

Blue Mountain Heights, QLD 4350

Phone: (07) 4630 8787


102 Battery

Don Tait

Mob: 0419 287 292


Ian Ahearn

Mob: 0417 691 741


103 Battery

Doug Heazlewood

10 Tarhood Road, Warrnambool, VIC 3280

Phone: (03) 5561 4370

104 Battery

John Sullivan

P O Box 34, Taralga, NSW 2580

Phone: (02) 4840 2283

Mob: 0417 298 925


Germ Journal

105 Battery

President - Graeme Maughan AFC

Phone: (07) 3266 6646


Secretary - Greg West RFD, ED

14 Marral Street, The Gap, QLD 4061

Phone: (07) 3300 5303


Tiger Rag (Newsletter)

Editor - Arthur Burke OAM

7 Aspley Court, Aspley, QLD 4034

Phone & Fax: ( 07) 3263 6025


Website: http://www.105bty.asn.au/

106 Battery

Contact Information Required

107 Battery

President - Warren D. Feakes

Phone: (02) 6231 8369

Mob: 0417 209 360


Secretary/Treasurer - Hilton Lenard

Mob: 0418 695 345


Correspondence to: 107 Field Battery RAA

Association, P O Box 199, Erindale, ACT 2903

Ram - Ramblings (Newsletter)

Editor - Warren D. Feakes


Website: www.107fdbty.com

108 Battery

John Wells

P O Box 407, Beaconsfield, VIC 3807

Phone: (03) 5944 3157 (H)


The Journal With No Name (Newsletter)

RAA Association (QLD) Inc

President - Colonel Vern Mullins RFD ED

Secretary - Lieutenant Colonel Ron West

P O Box 174, Lutwyche, QLD 4030

Mob: 0408 073 944


Website: http://www.artilleryqld.com.au/

Gunline (Newsletter)

48


RAA Association (NTH QLD)

President - Paddy Durnford

362 Carlyle Gardens, Condon, QLD 4815

Phone: (07) 4755 1005

Mob: 0412 411 928


Secretary - Michael Dinnison

18 Mango Ave, Mundingburra, QLD, 4812

Mob: 0467 799 583


Gunners Gossip (Newsletter)

Editor - Steve Wilson


Website: www.ozatwar.com/raa-nqld.htm

RAA Association (NSW) Inc

President - Colonel Don Tait, OAM

Mob: 0419 287 292


Secretary - Michael Carrodus

G P O Box 576, Sydney, NSW 2001


‘Gunfire’ (Magazine)

Editor - P O Box W1034, West Cessnock, NSW 2325

Phone: (02) 4990 8560

Mob: 0417 680 617


Website: www.artillerynsw.asn.au/

RAA Association (NSW) NewcastleSub-Branch

Secretary - Grant Nicholls

P O Box 918, Charlestown, NSW 2290


Website: www.raaanewcastle.com

RAA Association (ACT)

President - Lieutenant Colonel Nick H. Floyd

Phone: (02) 6266 0351


Shot Over (Newsletter)

RAA Association (VIC) Inc

President - Major N. Hamer RFD

Phone: (03) 9702 2100


Secretary - Mrs Rachel Decker

8 Alfada Street, Caulfield South, VIC, 3167

Phone: (03) 9578 5205


‘Cascabel’ (Magazine)

Editor - Alan Halbish, 115 Kearney Drive,

Aspendale Gardens, VIC 3195

Phone: (03) 9587 1676


Website: www.artilleryvic.org.au

RAA Association (SA)

President - Geoff Laurie

12 Chatsworth Grove, Toorak Gardens, SA 5065

Phone: (08) 8332 4485


RAA Association (NT)

The Secretary - Dr Tom Lewis

G P O Box 3220, Darwin, NT 0801


Phone: (08) 8981 9702

RAAANT Newsletter

National Liaison Officer,

RAAANT - John Johnston


Mob: 0419 836 669

RAA Association (WA) Inc

President - Lieutenant Colonel R.B. Farrelly RFD

Phone: (08) 6488 3223 (Bus)

Mob: 0417 981 615

Vice-president - Major P.J. Mahoney RFD

Phone: (08) 9268 8072

Mob: 0428 198 707

Secretary - Major J. Blylevens RFD

P O Box 881, Claremont, WA 6910

Phone: (08) 9461 6001 (bus)

Mob: 0438 695 711


Website: www.artillerywa.org.au

Artillery WA (On-line Newsletter)

RAA Association (TAS) Inc

President - Colonel Stephen Carey RFD, ADC

Honorary Secretary - Norm Andrews OAM

Tara Room, 24 Robin Street, Newstead, TAS 7250


Phone: (03) 6344 8307

Mob: 0409 539 430

Website: www.tasartillery.com

49


The Artillery News (Newsletter)

Editor - John McIntee

14 Craig Street, Waverley, TAS 7250


Phone: (03) 6329 1819

Australian Air Defence Association Inc.

President - Glynn Potter


Secretary - Alan Mears

AADAA, P O Box 41, Rosedale, QLD, 4674

Email: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Phone: (07) 4156 5215

Website: http://aadaa.asn.au

Locating Artillery Association

President - Major Joe Kaplun CMC, JP

Phone: (02) 9774 1471

Mob: 040774 1473


Vice President - LTCOL Phil Swinsberg

Phone: (07) 3353 5210

Mob: 0425 000 370

Secretary - Bob Morrison

Phone: (02) 4861 6463

Mob: 0417 447 504



Website: www.locatingartillery.org

LOCREP (Newsletter)

Editor: Major Allan Harrison (see above)

131 Locators Association Inc.

Eyes & Ears (Newsletter)

Editor: Paul Dickson


18 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Association

Secretray - Alan Lark

1 Manor Hill Road, Miranda, NSW 2228

Phone: (02) 9522 4815

Mob: 0428 461 621


9 HAA/LAA Regiments Association

President - Phil Easton

29 Michael Crescent, Kiama, NSW 2533

Phone: (02) 4237 6087


13 Battery Association Inc

President - Paul Scarborough

Mob: 0418 872 324


Secretary - John Parnell

13 Bty Assoc Inc SITREP (Newsletter)

41 Battery/11 Field RegimentRAA Association Inc

President - Graeme Fitzpatrick

25 Manakin Ave, Burleigh Waters QLD 4220

Phone: (07) 5535 1211 (H)


Gunner Ear (Newsletter)

Fort Lytton Historical Association (QLD) Inc

President - Maurice McGuire, OAM

P O Box 293, Wynnum QLD 4178

Phone: (07) 3399 3198


Website: www.fortlytton.net.au

'The Custodian' (Newsletter)

Editor: Harry Lynas

Fort Scratchley Historical Society

Website: www.fortscratchley.org.au

RA Association

Website: www.forums.theraa.co.uk.php

RAA Unit Websites

RAA and other unit websites maybe accessed via

the Australian Army website.

http://www.defence.gov.au/army/RRAA

http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/RRAA

49


Important Websites

‘Australian Artillery Association’

Website:

www.australianartilleryassociation.com

Email:

[email protected]

‘Royal Australian Artillery HistoricalCompany’

Website:

www.artilleryhistory.org

Email:

[email protected]

50


Regimental Fund BenefactorsCorrect as at 1st September 2013

LTGEN D.M. Mueller

LTGEN B.A. Power

MAJGEN J.E. Barry

MAJGEN M.P. Crane

MAJGEN P.J. Dunn

MAJGEN G.J. Fitzgerald

MAJGEN G.P. Fogarty

MAJGEN T.R. Ford (see note)

MAJGEN S.N. Gower

MAJGEN J.P. Stevens (see note)

MAJGEN P.B. Symon

BRIG M.G. Boyle

BRIG D.P. Coghlan

BRIG J.R. Cox

BRIG G.W. Finney (see note)

BRIG W.L. Goodman

BRIG N.D. Graham

BRIG J.G. Hughes

BRIG J.A.R. Jansen

BRIG P.R. Kilpatrick

BRIG R.A. Lawler

BRIG I.G.A. MacInnis

BRIG T.J. McKenna

BRIG I.J. Meibusch

BRIG K.B.J. Mellor

BRIG K.J. O'Brien

BRIG M.F. Paramor

BRIG D. I. Perry

BRIG M.L. Phelps

BRIG S. Roach

BRIG K.V. Rossi

BRIG G.T. Salmon

BRIG W.M. Silverstone

BRIG G.B. Standish

BRIG B.G. Stevens

BRIG R.A. Sunderland

BRIG D.J.P. Tier

BRIG P.J. Tys

BRIG A.G. Warner

BRIG D.D. Weir

BRIG V.H. Williams

BRIG P.D. Winter

COL S.P. Amor

COL B.M. Armstrong

COL B.J. Bailey

COL J.F. Bertram

COL J.P.C. Black

COL R.V. Brown

COL A.R. Burke (see note)

COL D.L. Byrne

COL S.R. Carey

COL S.E. Clingan

COL F.G. Colley

COL M.C. Crawford (see note)

COL J.A.L. Fairless

COL C. D. Furini

COL R.N. Gair

COL S.T. Goltz

COL G.C. Hay

COL E.D. Hirst

COL C.B.J. Hogan

COL J.H. Humphrey

COL C.H. Hunter

COL A.G. Hutchinson

COL W.T. Kendall

COL J.C. Kirkwood

COL P.J. Lawrence

COL M.G. Lovell

COL I.A. Lynch

COL R.M. Manton

COL N.H. Marshall

COL R.V. McEvoy

COL B.H. Mitchell

COL R.B. Mitchell

COL D. J. Murray

COL R.A. Parrott

COL P.R. Patmore

COL A.T. Piercy

COL A.A. Plant

COL J.C. Platt

COL G.G. Potter

COL D. Quinn

COL S.T. Ryan

COL S.M. Saddington

COL G.M. Salom

COL R.H. Stanhope

COL B.J. Stark

COL D.M. Tait

COL A.D. Watt (see note)

COL W.A. Whyte

COL B.A. Wood

LTCOL S.D. Aldenton

LTCOL C.W. Andersen

LTCOL B.J. Armour

LTCOL J.D. Ashton

LTCOL R.M. Baguley

LTCOL N.K. Bolton

LTCOL J.E. Box

LTCOL D.N. Brook

LTCOL M.A. Cameron

LTCOL J.H. Catchlove

LTCOL I.D.S. Caverswall

LTCOL S.G. Condon

LTCOL R.J. Crawford (see note)

LTCOL C.F. Dodds

LTCOL D.M. Edwards

LTCOL L.D. Ensor

LTCOL E.P.M. Esmonde

LTCOL J. Findlay

LTCOL N.H.B. Floyd

LTCOL R.J. Foster

LTCOL A.W. Garrad

LTCOL I.D.W. George

LTCOL R.G. Gibson

LTCOL G. Gilbert

LTCOL K.R. Hall

LTCOL M. Harvey (RNZA)

LTCOL B.N. Hawke

LTCOL P.L. Hodge

LTCOL B.G. Hurrell

LTCOL J.R. Jauncey

LTCOL D.J. Kelly

LTCOL S.N. Kenny

LTCOL J.F. Kerr

LTCOL P. Landford

LTCOL S.F. Landherr

LTCOL B.L. Lloyd

LTCOL J.L. Macpherson

LTCOL R. Maurice

LTCOL J.H. McDonagh (AALC)

LTCOL P.D. McKay

LTCOL K.W. MacKenzie

LTCOL P.D. Monks

LTCOL J.E. Morkham

LTCOL S.G.T. Mott

LTCOL D.M. Murphy (see note)

LTCOL S.W. Nicolls

LTCOL T.C. O'Brien

LTCOL G.F.B. Rickards

LTCOL L.F. Searle

LTCOL M. Shaday

LTCOL C. Taggart

LTCOL R.A. Vagg

LTCOL W.R.C. Vickers

LTCOL D.H.R. Wilton

LTCOL B.J. Winsor

MAJ W.C. Barnard

51


MAJ G.K. Bartels

MAJ G.F. Berson

MAJ P.E. Bertocchi

MAJ D.T. Brennan

MAJ P. Cimbaljevic

MAJ C.T. Connolly

MAJ S. Denner

MAJ P.K. Dover

MAJ M. Dutton

MAJ J.B. Evans (see note)

MAJ M.J. Finnerty

MAJ C.A. Flear

MAJ A.O. Fleming

MAJ W.J. Francis

MAJ T.J. Gibbings

MAJ W.H. Grimes

MAJ N. Hamer

MAJ M.R. Hartas

MAJ L.P. Hindmarsh

MAJ S.A. Hompas

MAJ D.A. Jenkins

MAJ G. Johns

MAJ D.E. Jones

MAJ J. Kaplun

MAJ J.B. Kelly

MAJ D. Klomp

MAJ M.D. Laurence

MAJ H. Lenard

MAJ R.S. McDonagh

MAJ M.W. Middleton

MAJ G.K. Milic

MAJ D.R. Morgan

MAJ L.W.L. Partridge

MAJ P.J. Prewett

MAJ V.J. Ray

MAJ S.G. Rohan-Jones

MAJ W.A. Ritchie

MAJ P.S. Richards

MAJ K.F. Schoene

MAJ L.J. Simmons

MAJ A.H. Smith (see note)

MAJ A.E.R. Straume

MAJ M. Taggart

MAJ W. Tapp

MAJ M.L. Van Tilburg

MAJ A.C. Turner

MAJ T.W. Vercoe

MAJ M. St C. Walton

MAJ C.V. Wardrop

MAJ P.R. Widelewski

CAPT J.P. Casey

CAPT J.M. Costello

CAPT J.M. Groves

CAPT M.S. Hodda

CAPT A.M. Ludlow

CAPT S.R. Nebauer

CAPT D.T. O'Brien

CAPT M.A. Pasteur (AAAvn)

CAPT A.E. Sheridan

CAPT P.J. Smith

CAPT M.C. Squire

CAPT P.J. Watkins

CAPT P. Wertheimer

LT J.F. Henry

LT S.L. Shepherd

WO1 D.G. Annett

WO1 D.W. Bowman

WO1 K.J. Browning (see note)

WO1 L.A. Cooper

WO1 B.A. Franklin

WO1 G.A. Jebb

WO1 M.I. Johnson

WO1 M.A. Johnston

WO1 T.L. Kennedy

WO1 D.R. Lehr

WO1 P.A. Matthysen

WO1 B.J. Stafford

WO1 R.J. Thompson

WO1 M. Vandyke (see note)

WO1 P.T. Washford

WO1 C.F.J. Watego

WO1 G.J. Webster

WO2 D. Bannerman

WO2 M. Broughton

WO2 P. Carthew

WO2 M.R. Dawson

WO2 R.T.B. Hay

WO2 J.J. Hennessy

WO2 D.G. Ogden (see note)

WO2 A. Pavlovich

WO2 R.N. Skelton

SSGT R.W. Morrell

SSGT E.J. Paddon

SGT J. Nield

SGT G.V. Saint

SGT D.H. Wood

Mr C.J. Jobson

Note:

COL M.C. Crawford, COL E.D. Hirst

and MAJ A.H. Smith have paid three

life subscriptions.

LTGEN B.A. Power, MAJGEN T.R.

Ford, MAJGEN J.P. Stevens, MAJGEN

J.D. Stevenson, MAJGEN J. Whitelaw,

BRIG G.W. Finney, BRIG R.K. Fullford,

BRIG J.R. Salmon; COL A.R. Burke,

COL A.D. Watt; LTCOL D.M. Murphy;

LTCOL G.K. Phillips; MAJ J.B. Evans,

WO1 K.J. Browning; WO1 M.

Vandyke and WO2 D.G. Ogden have

paid two life subscriptions.

Associations

RAA Association (Tas)

RAA Association (Qld)

RAA Association (North Qld)

RAA Association (Vic)

RAA Association (SA)

RAA Association (NSW)

RAA Association (NSW) - NewcastleBranch

105th Field Battery Association

107 (Field) Battery Association

Fort Lytton Historical Assoc

RAA Retired Officers of South EastQueensland

Australian Air Defence ArtilleryAssociation

13th Battery Association

Deceased Benefactors

Sir Roden Cutler

MAJGEN T.F. Cape

MAJGEN G.D. Carter

MAJGEN P. Falkland

MAJGEN R. G. Fay

MAJGEN J.D. Stevenson (see note)

MAJGEN J. Whitelaw (see note)

BRIG R.K. Fullford (see note)

BRIG A.G. Hanson

BRIG R.Q. Macarthur- Stranham

BRIG J.R. Salmon (see note)

COL M.J. Kingsford

LTCOL R.H.E. Harvey

LTCOL P.L. Overstead

LTCOL G.K. Phillips

LTCOL G.W. Tippets

MAJ M. Dawson

MAJ A.A. Thwaites

RAA Gunners

Fund – Needs

Your Support

Introduction

The RAA Gunners' Fund is designed to provide a

source of funds that can be utilised for the benefit

of all Gunners. One of the most important uses for

these funds is to support requests from RAA units

and organisations to assist in the ongoing

preservation and promotion of the Regimental

heritage. Other worthy goals that this funding

supports, is not limited to, but includes:

• support RAA extra-Regimental activities,

• encourage RAA Officers and Soldiers who excel in

their profession,

• support activities that benefit RAA personnel,

not normally funded by public money,

• safeguard, maintain and purchase items of RAA

Regimental property,

• preserve RAA heritage and history, and

• record RAA Operational service since

deployments began in the 1990s.

The Regimental Committee cannot achieve these

very worthy goals without the support of individual

members and organisations within the Gunner

community. All officers, warrant officers and

sergeants are encouraged to make a financial

contribution to the Gunners' Fund or take up the

option of a ‘Life Subscription’ which then absolves

the subscriber from being asked for any further

subscriptions. The list of life subscribers is

published in the Liaison Letter and they

automatically receive a complimentary copy.

Recent Projects

Over the years the Gunners' Fund has supported a

wide range of requests for financial support,

including some of which are ongoing such as

insurance and maintenance of the AIF and Mount

Schank Trophies. It is worth noting that the sums of

money requested from the Fund are generally

significant and therefore can only realistically have

any chance of being provided if each and everyone

of us support the Fund. Projects supported by the

Fund include the allocation of:

• $2,500 to 8th/12th Medium Regiment to assist

the Regiment to build a Regimental Memorial to

coincide with the Regiment's 30th anniversary

celebrations;

• $500 to 131st Surveillance and Target

Acquisition Battery to improve the Battery

memorial and add a plaque to mark the 50th

Anniversary of the unit and its name change from

131st Divisional Locating Battery;

• $1,000 to 1st Field Regiment for its 50th

anniversary celebrations;

• $1,000 to 4th Field Regiment for its 40th

anniversary celebrations;

• $1,500 for shield to be held by winner of Mount

Schanck trophy;

• $1,000 to 1st Field Regiment to mark 50th

anniversary of 105th Field Battery, 50th

anniversary of committment to Malaya and 40th

anniversary of committment to South Vietnam;

• $1,000 to complete the Major General T. Cape

Bequest to the Regimental officer’s mess;

• $5,000 to commission a painting to mark the

withdrawal from service of Rapier;

• $6,000 to support commissioning a painting to

mark the RAA/RA deployment in Afghanistan;

• $2,500 towards the Anti-Aircraft and Air Defence

Memorial at 16th Air Defence Regiment;

• The on-going Royal Military College Graduation

Artillery prize which is approximately $100 per

graduation; and

• Annual Regimental Officer, Warrant Officer and

Sergeant farewells.

Subscriptions

The recommended new rate of contribution is

deemed as $155 for a life subscription and the

following sliding scale based on rank for an annual

subscription for Army Reserve and Retired

Members:

• LTCOL and above – $30,

• MAJ and CAPT – $25,

• LT and WO – $20, and

• SGT – $15.

It is understood that some individuals may not be in

a position to meet the suggested scale, therefore

any contribution will be gratefully appreciated in

helping to continue the good work the Fund has

provided the Regiment over many years.

52


53


RAA Gunners' Fund

Subscription

Rank/Initials: ___________________________ [BLOCK letters please]

Surname:

__________________________________________________________________

(or Association)

Address:

__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________ P/Code:__________

Email Address: _____________________________________________________

Telephone: _________________________ Mobile:_________________________

� Enclosed is my/our contribution to the RAA Gunners' Fund

� A receipt is required

Please return this form with a cheque made out to 'RAA Regimental Fund':

Major Greg Metcalf, SO2 HOR, School of Artillery,

Bridges Barracks, Puckapunyal Vic 3662

or to pay by electronic funds transfer using a bank or credit union, the followingis required:

Credit Union: Australian Defence Credit Union (ADCU)Account Name: RAA Regt FundBSB: 642 170Account Number: 526805

The description or reference must include Organisation (i.e. mess or association)or Initials and Surname and the word 'subscription'.

For further information contact Major Greg Metcalf on (03) 5735 6465

Annual Subscription for Army Reserve and Retired Members:

� LTCOL & above: $30.00 � MAJ and CAPT: $25.00

� LT and WO: $20.00 � SGT: $15.00

Life Subscription:

All Ranks: $155.00

54


Do Unto OthersCounter Bombardment in Australia's Military Campaigns

Alan H Smith

Since 1899, the significant role Australian gunners have played in supporting theAustralian Military Forces' campaigns has been well-documented. They havegallantly and whole-heartedly supported Australian, British, New Zealand andIndian armies in both World Wars, the Korean and Borneo Confrontation Warsand most recently the Vietnam War.

Most Australian military historical accounts focus onthe support role gunners played to cavalry andinfantry rather than counter bombardment activities,where they used artillery fire to locate and destroyand/or neutralise enemy artillery and mortars. DoUnto Others is a comprehensive history of the useof counter bombardment from the inception of thistechnique in the First World War, through to theVietnam campaign.

The 'art of counter bombardment' originated duringthe First World War, when an Australian scientist,William Bragg, a lieutenant in the Royal HorseArtillery, along with Australian physicists andenthusiasts, developed a method of locating enemyguns using the physics of sound, called 'soundranging', and meteorology. From this time theAustralian Military Forces in their campaigns have

been major beneficiaries of counter bombardment, which became increasinglymore sophisticated with the advent of radar location during World War 2 and thelast big artillery war of the 20th century in Korea.

Counter bombardment reached new heights with the Vietnam War, the first timethe Australian Army deployed its own locating battery to a war zone, allowinggunners to achieve outstanding results and an enviable reputation for locatingskills. Vietnam culminated in a triumph for the 'scientific method' across manydisciplines and the efforts of the many dedicated gunners involved in counterbombardment over the 58 year period since introduction of this technique.

Do Unto Others is a comprehensive account of the history of counterbombardment, including the development of Australian techniques, equipmentand procedures through the campaigns up until Vietnam, with references to thetechniques and actions of the British and American artillery included whereappropriate to place the Australian experience in perspective. It is also the storyof the brave men behind the artillery and their outstanding efforts and resultsacross these varied campaigns.

Do Unto Others is available online www.bigskypublishing.com.au & in all good bookstores

55


Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery

REGIMENTAL SHOPNEW STOCK

Check out all the latest deals on the SOARTY web pagehttp://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/ARTYSCH/

• Field Equipment

* Sleeping Mats

* INOVA AA Torch, Photon Micro Light, Mag Light with Filters

* Customised Field Packs, Day Packs and Webbing (can be ordered)

� Day Packs

* Bivvy Bags

* Nomex Field Gloves (DPCU)

* Leatherman Knives

* Silva Compasses

• Plaques and Presentational Items

� RAA Regimental Plaque

� School of Artillery Plaque

� RAA Cyphers

� Prints and Artwork

� Statuettes and Action Figures

� Desk Sets

� Canes and Stands

� Decanter and Whiskey Sets (can be engraved)

� Medal Boxes (can be engraved)

• Things to Wear

� Jewellery (including Cuff Links, Tie Pins, Lapel Pins)

� Polofleece Casual Jackets (with RAA Regiment embroidered badge)

� Regimental Ties

� RAA Caps

• Models – L119 and M198 resin kits and assembled kits available

For Information and Orders:

School of Artillery, Bridges Barracks

WO2 Daniel Stewart- [email protected]

Telephone: (03) 5735 6129

Trading Hours:

12.30 –13.15 hrs every Thursday and Friday on Pay Weeks

Regimental Publications Index

Liaison Letter

Ser Title

1 Director Royal Artillery Technical Liaison Letter 1/48+

2 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 3 June 1954#

3 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 18 October 1954+

4 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 24 November 1954+

5 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – February 1955+

6 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 31 May 1955+

7 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 30 September 1955#

8 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 20 January 1956+

9 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 18 June 1956+

10 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 26 November 1956#

12 Director Royal Australia Artillery Liaison Letter – 24 February 1957+

13 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 26 November 1957#

14 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 30 April 1958#


16 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 17 June 1959+

17 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – January 1960#

18 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 29 July 1960#

19 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – 17 February 1961#


21 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – July1962#

22 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – October 1962#

23 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – February 1971#

24 Director Royal Artillery Liaison Letter – September 1972#

25 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – February 1973#

26 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – September 1973#

27 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – March 1974#








35 Royal Australian Artillery Personnel Notes – October 1977#

36 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – May 1978#

37 Royal Australian Artillery Personnel Notes – 1978#

38 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – March 1980@

39 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – December 1980@

40 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – May 1981@

41 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – November 1981@

42 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1982 (Issue One)@

43 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1983 (Issue One)@

44 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1983 (Issue Two)@

45 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1984 (Issue Four)@

46 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1986 (Issue One)#

47Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1986 (Issue Two) –

4 November 1986#

48Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – Issue One – 1987 – 18 June

1987#

49Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – Issue Two – 1987 –

11 November 1987#

50Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – Edition 1 – 1988 – 23 June

1988#

51Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – Edition 2 – 1988 –

14 November 1988#

44 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – Edition 1 – 1989#




Ser Title


49 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1992 – First Edition#

50 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1992 – Second Edition#

51 Royal Australian Artillery – August 1993 – Liaison Letter#

52 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1996 – First Edition#

53 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter – 1996 – Second Edition#

54 1997 – Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter#

55 1998–99 RAA Liaison Letter+

56 RAA Liaison Letter – 2000+



59 RAA Liaison Letter 2003 – Autumn Edition+

60 RAA Liaison Letter 2003 – Spring Edition+

61 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter 2004 – Autumn Edition+

62 Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter 2004 – Spring Edition+


















Australian Gunner Magazine

Ser Title

1 Australian Gunner – Vol. 1 No. 1*

2 Australian Gunner – Vol. 1.No. 2*

3 Australian Gunner – Vol. 2 No.1 – September 1979*

4 Australian Gunner – March 1980*

5 Australian Gunner – December 1980*

6 Australian Gunner – May 81*

7 Australian Gunner – November 81*

8Australian Gunner – The Official Journal of the Royal Regiment of

Australian Artillery – March 1997*

Miscellaneous Regimental Publications

Title

1 DARTY Personnel Notes – December 1969#

2 Royal Australian Artillery Personnel Notes – 1978#

Note:

*Copy held by SO to HOR

# Copy held by Puckapunyal Area Library

+ Copy held by HOR at School of Artillery

@ Not available to HOR at School of Artillery

56


RAAHCRAAHCNEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

The Royal Australian Artillery Historical Companyneeds Your Help to Support the Preservation and Promotion of

Artillery History and Heritage and the Management of the RegimentsCollection Nationally

How Do You Join?A membership form can be found in this publication

Submit a form and start supporting a very worthwhile cause

How Much Does It Cost?$30.00 (1 year), or $120 (5 years)

All Gunners and friends of the Regiment are invited to join

RAAHC THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

What You Get In Return?RAA Liaison Letter and Cannonball twice annually

Free access to the Artillery Museum (temporarily closed) and most othermuseums in the Australian Army Museum network

Use of the Artillery Museum’s library resources

Personal satisfaction in supporting the preservation of Artillery heritage

How Does The Company Benefit?They can add your weight to the membership numbers when seeking

grants and other assistance from public and non-public sources

Your subscription assists with ongoing administration costs

the royal australian artillery liaison letter...royal new zealand artillery update congratulations...

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