Australian Army training: Townsville soldiers go to Brunei for Exercise Mallee Bull

If you think hiking up the goat track is hard, spare a thought for these Townsville army soldiers, who slogged it out on a training camp in Brunei. Watch the video.

Townsville-based army soldiers have chowed down on bugs, set hunting traps and been put through their paces in the dense Brunei jungle.

About 30 soldiers, mostly from the 3rd Brigade completing Rifle Company Butterworth rotation 137, took part in Exercise Mallee Bull earlier this month, hosted by Royal Brunei Land Forces.

It was last hosted in Brisbane in 2019 and is a bilateral training and learning exercise as part of the two countries’ defence relationship.

As part of the two-week training exercise, the contingent made their way through thick vegetation and muddy slopes and learnt jungle survival skills from the local Brunei soldiers, including how to build and solidify shelters and identify safe things to eat in the wild.

Royal Brunei Land Force officer Lieutenant Ziam shares caught and cooked food with Australian Army soldier Lance Corporal Brodie Forrest in Brunei. Picture: Guy Sadler.

Royal Brunei Land Force officers and soldiers show Australian Army soldiers from Rifle Company Butterworth Rotation 137 how to catch food in the Bruneian rainforests during Exercise Mallee Bull. Picture: Guy Sadler.

Platoon Commander Lieutenant Nicholas Toohey said he was “amazed” by the local soldiers’ ability to survive in the jungle.

His RBLF counterpart, Lieutenant Najib, said he was proud to share their survival skills with the Australian soldiers and to see their keen interest.

The soldiers also took part in a series of training activities with the RBLF, focusing on weapon systems, survival, clearances, ambushing and deliberate attacks.

Lt Toohey said the sense of accomplishment, pride and teamwork was felt throughout the platoons, and the exercise had further strengthened the relationship between the two countries’ defence personnel.

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Nicholas Toohey and Royal Brunei Land Force officer Lieutenant Najib at the Exercise Mallee Bull closing ceremony in Brunei. Picture: Guy Sadler

“The jungle in Brunei is harsh, however, it’s a feeling of accomplishment to master it and be able to operate effectively,” he said.

“I was very proud as an Australian Army officer to see my soldiers work so well with another nation’s army.

“Those bonds and relationships are forged now and it won’t take much to pick up again.”

Exercise Mallee Bull is set to return to Australia next year.

Originally published as Australian Army training: Townsville soldiers go to Brunei for Exercise Mallee Bull