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Rachel Riley is a Senior Reporter and Chief of Staff at The Courier-Mail based in Brisbane. She was previously the Assistant Editor at the The Mercury in Tasmania, Chief of Staff at the Townsville Bulletin and a Senior Reporter in North Queensland.

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Rachel Riley

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Townsville

Philippine Army solider Sergeant Sonny Casuga practices urban combat techniques with Australian Army soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, at Capinpin, Philippines, as part of Operation AUGURY. *** Local Caption *** On Thursday, 9 November 2017, an Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mobile Land Training Team operating as part of Joint Task Group 629 guided Filipino soldiers through their final day of training in the inaugural Urban Close Combat Course delivered by the ADF in the Philippines as part of Operation AUGURY. The course ran from 25 October to 10 November 2017. The urban warfare elements of the course were delivered by instructors from the Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade and 17th Brigade and the Royal Australian Air Force. The course also included a combat first-aid element designed to share best practice techniques for caring for battle casualties. The training package put together by the Australian soldiers draws from the extensive experience the ADF has had in operations combating violent extremists in urban environments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Operation AUGURY is the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the Whole-of-Australian-Government effort to counter terrorism and violent extremism in the domestic, regional and global context. Joint Task Group 629’s mission recognises that the Armed Forces of the Philippines already has significant counter terrorism and counter violent extremism capabilities, so the training being delivered by the ADF is designed to enhance the capabilities of Filipino soldiers to fight in urban environments.

More Townsville soldiers deploy to volatile region

EXCLUSIVE: Another contingent of Townsville-based Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to an unstable region in an ongoing fight against Islamic State.

Townsville

Australian Army Major Lucinda Westhead is part of Task Group Taji rotation six in Iraq. *** Local Caption *** Task Group Taji Six are on operations in Iraq and will spend Christmas away from family and friends. Members from the Task Group Taji send home seasons greetings to their loved ones and all Australians. More than 300 Australian and 100 New Zealand military personnel are deployed to Iraq on Operation Okra as part of Task Group Taji Six. They are deployed to train members of the Iraqi Security Forces as continue to secure and stabilise areas now cleared of Daesh. The training provided by the Australian and New Zealand troops includes: the laws of armed conflict, weapons handling, first aid, vehicle checkpoints, explosive hazards awareness, building clearances and obstacle breaching techniques. Instruction is inclusive of tactics, techniques and procedures from squad through to company-level operations.

Christmas with the troops

BEING overseas for Christmas is often a treat but for Townsville-based Australian Defence Force personnel currently deployed, it will be a tough time away from family a friends.

Townsville

Troop welcome goes full force

Homemade signs, balloons, flowers, tears, hugs and kisses greeted Townsville soldiers returning from a lengthy deployment in the Middle East yesterday. Watch the heartwarming video here.

Townsville

Iraqi Army Rangers prepare to storm a building during the Iraqi Army Ranger culminating activity at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. *** Local Caption *** The Iraqi Army Qwat Khasah (Special Forces) Battalion conducted two company-sized air mobile operations as part of the certification exercise held at Taji Military Complex. This exercise was the culmination of a qualification and training continuum delivered by the Training Task Unit of Task Group Taji Five to the Iraqi Army Rangers who form the Iraqi Army Qwat Khasah (Special Forces) Battalion. More than 300 Australian and 100 New Zealand military personnel are deployed to Iraq on Operation Okra as part of Task Group Taji Five. They are deployed to train members of the Iraqi Security Forces to defeat Daesh. The training provided by the Australian and New Zealand troops includes: the laws of armed conflict, weapons handling, first aid, vehicle checkpoints, explosive hazards awareness, building clearances and obstacle breaching techniques. Instruction is inclusive of tactics, techniques and procedures from squad through to company-level operations.

300 soldiers come home from Iraq

MORE than 300 Australian Defence Force personnel are returning to Australia in time for Christmas after a six- month deployment on Operation OKRA in Iraq.

Townsville

Military students fly over Townsville

A military surveillance plane has been providing eyes in the skies above Townsville as part of vital national security training.

Townsville

Theatre Communications Group ÐSix (TCG-6) comprised of three forces, farewell parade prior to their deployment to the Middle East Region.Naval Petty Officer Michael Baruch, Commanding Officer of TCG-6, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Carey and RAAF Corporal Alladice Aufai.

Soldiers march off to war zone

THE next contingent of Australian Defence Force personnel in charge of operational communications in the Middle East have marched to fanfare as they prepare to leave.

Townsville

Soldiers to get a taste of Christmas

MORE than 100 Australian Defence Force personnel will receive a little taste of home this Christmas thanks to the generosity of the Townsville community.

Townsville

Joint Fires Observer Gunner Ronald Bevan of 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in an observation pos during Exercise NIGRUM PUGIO â€“ Townsville Field Training Area October 2017. Joint Fires Observers from 3 Brigadeâ€™s 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery worked with the JTACs to mark targets with smoke rounds fired from 4 Regimentâ€™s M777s to assist the F/A-18 crews in identifying the target.Last month at Townsville Field Training Area, Army JTACs, expertly supported by RAAF No. 3 SQNâ€™s F/A-18 Hornets, conducted the twice-yearly Exercise NIGRUM PUGIO. Ex NIGRUM PUGIO is conducted to maintain JTACsâ€™ currency requirements in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between United States Forces and numerous allied countries across the globe.Remaining current and competent is critical as a JTAC may well control other nationsâ€™ aircraft onto a target. Officer Commanding 16th Air Land Regimentâ€™s JTAC Troop, Captain Cameron Phasey said maintaining the standard is critical to force protection and minimising potential fratricide. â€œJTAC personnel are likely to be required to call in close air support and their job is to protect own forces while helping destroy the enemy â€“ there is no room for error and thatâ€™s why we have to make sure we get it right in trainingâ€. Exercise NIGRUM PUGIO immediately followed Exercise BLACK DAGGER which is a RAAF No.4 SQN lead ab-initio JTAC course certification exercise. Sequencing these two activities created efficiencies as No. 3 SQN supported both exercises while deployed to RAAF Base Townsville. Joint Fires Observers from 3 Brigadeâ€™s 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery also worked with the JTACs to mark targets with smoke rounds fired from 4 Regimentâ€™s M777s to assist the F/A-18 crews in identifying the target.Many of the current JTACs involved have operational experience including one who gained proficiency with the US Army. Bombardier David Allen of 8/12th Medium Regiment is a lateral

Defence looks west of Townsville to find more training land

THE Department of Defence is contacting landholders west of Townsville as they move ahead with plans to buy properties for the region’s second military training area.

Townsville

Farewell parade for Major General Chris Field at Lavarack Barracks. Brigadier Scott Winter. Picture: Evan Morgan

Brigade’s final salute to departing commander

NORTH Queensland’s most senior Australian Defence Force officer has officially farewelled Lavarack Barracks after handing over command of Townsville’s 3rd Brigade.

Townsville

2RAR transition from infantry to amphibious parade at Lavarack Barracks. 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Pashley. Picture: Evan Morgan.

2RAR transition inspired by the Anzacs

TOWNSVILLE soldiers have used inspiration from their forefathers who landed at Gallipoli to transition from a traditional infantry to a modern amphibious battalion.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/journalists/rachel-riley/page/17