Gallery: Soldiers storm trenches in tactics rethink

Soldiers from the 1RAR infantry battalion, some as young as 18, are learning about the limits of technology as they turn back time and embrace a completely different kind of warfare.

Evan Morgan

less than 2 min read

June 15, 2025 - 12:43PM

Townsville Bulletin

Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

1/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

2/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

3/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

4/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Commanding officer 1RAR Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Farrell and Captain Samuel Ellwood. Picture: Evan Morgan

Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, conduct trench clearance as part of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Picture: Supplied

5/27Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, conduct trench clearance as part of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Picture: Supplied

6/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Commanding officer 1RAR Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Farrell. Picture: Evan Morgan

7/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR applies camouflage before the exercise. Picture: Evan Morgan

8/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Commanding officer 1RAR Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Farrell watches the exercise. Picture: Evan Morgan

9/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Soldiers use MAG58 machine guns in support of the assault on the trench. Picture: Evan Morgan

10/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Soldiers use MAG58 machine guns in support of the assault on the trench. Picture: Evan Morgan

11/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

12/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR applies camouflage before the exercise. Picture: Evan Morgan

13/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

14/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

15/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

16/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Snipers from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rifes. Picture: Evan Morgan

17/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Commanding officer 1RAR Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Farrell watches the exercise. Picture: Evan Morgan

18/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Commanding officer 1RAR Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Farrell. Picture: Evan Morgan

19/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. A sniper from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rife. Picture: Evan Morgan

20/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Artillery rounds explode fired from a 4th Field Regiment battery. Picture: Evan Morgan

21/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Artillery rounds explode fired from a 4th Field Regiment battery. Picture: Evan Morgan

22/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Snipers from 1RAR with a Blaser Tactical 2 Sniper Rifes. Picture: Evan Morgan

23/27Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, conduct trench clearance as part of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Picture: Supplied

24/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Commanding officer 1RAR Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Farrell watches the exercise. Picture: Evan Morgan

25/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Soldiers use MAG58 machine guns in support of the assault on the trench. Picture: Evan Morgan

26/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Soldiers use MAG58 machine guns in support of the assault on the trench. Picture: Evan Morgan

27/27Soldiers from 1RAR storm a trench system assisted by other elements for 3rd Brigade in a live fire exercise in the culmination of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area at High Range. Soldiers use MAG58 machine guns in support of the assault on the trench. Picture: Evan Morgan

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gallery-soldiers-storm-trenches-in-tactics-rethink/image-gallery/0db866403edb76c3390deb3e7c064c73

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