Manoeuvre support courses enhancing capability in the field, concludes for the first battalion

Townsville’s 1st Battalion soldiers have just wrapped up their manoeuvre support courses, allowing soldiers to better navigate obstacles in the field using shotguns, small boats, chainsaws and explosives.

Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment conduct small boat training as part of the units Mobility Support Course at Townsville, Queensland. PHOTO: MAJ Taylor Lynch

After a number of action packed weeks breaching doors with shotguns, handling explosives and taking to the water in small boats, the first battalion have concluded their manoeuvre support courses that soldiers are saying has enhanced the lethality of the unit.

This year was the first time the manoeuvre of support courses was undertaken by soldiers at the 1st battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) with participants hailing it a massive success.

Commanding officer of 1 RAR, Lieutenant Colonel Brent Hughes said that this set of courses will continue to be offered to soldiers in the coming years as they are vital to their warfighting capabilities.

“The 3rd brigade is the armoured amphibious brigade of the Australian Army and notably the 1st battalion role is to act as the GCE or the ground combat element and for us our role is amphibious and air mobile,” he said.

“What this means is that often at times we will be separated from the brigade and we won’t have access to a lot of the brigade commander’s resources, in particular highly skilled groups like the combat engineers.

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Brent Hughes, Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Photo: CPL Jack Pearce

“To that end, Often when we are forward or conducting seize type tasks and we are trying to get ahead and support the brigade we may have obstacles and other things that can get in the way and we need to have creative and interesting ways most importantly to get through those obstacles and enable us to win the fight.”

“That’s what this suite of courses is really all about.”

Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment conduct live fire demolitions at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. PHOTO; PTE Jessica Gray

Major Patrick Box from 1RAR said that the series of courses allows the battalion to navigate obstacles without having to rely on other units, enhancing their capability in the field.

“The soldiers had an excellent time. This is a group of courses that are fun and what soldiers joined the army to do; blowing things up, shooting shotguns at doors with our mates out on the range or out on the water in terms of the small watercraft course,” he said.

Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment conduct Method of Entry training at Mount Stuart Training Area, Queensland. Photo: CPL Jack Pearce

The suite involved five main courses including watermanship, limited urban explosive breaching, shotgun method of entry, explosive user course and a basic chainsaw user course.

Private Isaac Alder from 1RAR said that the shotgun method of entry course was his favourite learning experience.

“It’s just not something you regularly get to do in a day of work at 1RAR so it was good to be doing something else than getting your hands on rifles, and getting another tool out of your toolbox and giving something else a go.”

Originally published as Manoeuvre support courses enhancing capability in the field, concludes for the first battalion