Aussie and Kiwi troops “seize” critical Far North Air Base during Exercise Diamond Trident in Weipa
Australian and New Zealand defence force troops have “seized” a critically important Far North air base and “evacuated” civilians as part of a major training exercise in The Cape.
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Australian and New Zealand defence force troops have “seized” a critically important Far North air base and “evacuated” civilians as part of a major training exercise in The Cape.
Exercise Diamond Trident, based out of RAAF base Scherger and Weipa, was effectively the final rehearsal for a ready group which may be tasked with safely extracting Australian citizens from conflict and or disaster zones around the world if the need arises.
Battle Group Heeler was hastily re-tasked after just completing its annual warfighting and live-fire exercise, Diamond Run, at Shoalwater Bay in central Queensland.
The battle group comprised of soldiers from Army’s 7th Brigade joined by Kiwi soldiers from the New Zealand Army’s 1st Brigade.
Commander 7th Brigade Brigadier Giles Cornelia said the combined readiness activity was nested with the Royal Australian Air Force’s Exercise Mobility Blue Gum.
“What we have just conducted is training to seize, open and hold an airfield and we have lodged over 400 soldiers from an Anzac Battle Group at the very northern tip of Queensland, some 2000 kilometres from the start point,” Brigadier Cornelia said.
“We mounted at very short notice out of a warfighter exercise, and were able to reconstitute with the support of the Royal Australian Air Force and the United States air force at RAAF Base Amberley, deliver confirmatory orders, load artillery, protected mobility vehicles, stores, equipment and troops and launch the force with a flight time of just under three hours.
“We had five aircraft with 45-second intervals conducting tactical flying and then coming in fast and seizing the airfield with our troops offloading and assuming tactical battle positions.”
Brigadier Cornelia said the activity generated readiness and capability between two essential components of the integrated force.
“The 7th Brigade is the ADF’s ready brigade, which permanently generates the Ready Battle Group. The Battle Group must be able to deploy rapidly and the quickest way to go is by air,” he said.
The Battle Group then worked with deployed personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to safely evacuate Australian citizens from the fictional war zone within 24 hours of touching down.
“The evacuation operations demonstrated a whole-of-government response to a crisis by supporting DFAT with its crisis response plan actions in a rapidly deteriorating security situation, which was a key part of our mission,” Brigadier Cornelia said.
“Our Battle Group performed superbly. Seeing our combat power in action was an outstanding opportunity for all involved, and a rare treat for me as Commander 7th Brigade.”
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Originally published as Aussie and Kiwi troops “seize” critical Far North Air Base during Exercise Diamond Trident in Weipa
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