Going back to Basics

An infantry platoon moved through damp bush as the early morning sun diffused through clouds, greeting soldiers with more drizzle. They patrolled cautiously towards their destination – an enemy position two clicks north of their position – with heavy packs and a full load of ammunition for the fight ahead.

Gunfire pierced the silence, quickly followed by section commanders’ orders directing soldiers into formation and pushing towards the enemy pits.

Cries of “get that gun going” were drowned out as F89 Minimis were unleashed, and grenades finally silenced the enemy gunfire.

Sunlight broke through the clouds as 5 Bde soldiers cleared the battlefield, re-shouldered their packs and continued patrolling as part of Exercise Menin Blade.

The brigade-level foundation warfighting activity was held in Singleton from May 15 to 21, with more than 300 soldiers drawn from across 5 Bde’s units.

Soldiers progressed from section to platoon and combat-team-level activities in what activity officer in charge, Lt-Col Andrew Hargreaves, called a back-to-basics approach.

“The most important capability bricks that we wanted to develop were sections and platoons,” Lt-Col Hargreaves said.

“If you have effective sections and platoons, supported by a good command structure, we know that the brigade will succeed in most tasks.”

At the section level, soldiers performed corps-specific tasks.

Riflemen from the RNSWR patrolled and ambushed. Sappers from 5ER practised demolitions and constructed a dug-in command post.

Cavalrymen from 1/15 Royal NSW Lancers conducted mounted reconnaissance patrols.

Heavy weapon platoons practised support-by-fire missions and live-fired 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles.

Sections combined to conduct platoon-level tasks, integrating supporting elements such as combat engineers and uncrewed aerial systems from 9 Regt, RAA. 

The culminating activity was a combat team clearance of the urban operations training facility, bringing all aspects of the activity together. The infantry assault was supported with breaching demolitions by combat engineers, and UAS providing live battlefield commentary.

Synchronised fire support was provided by direct-fire support weapons and mortars (simulated with battle noise), while a cavalry screen was established to the north.

Logistics and catering were provided by 5CSSB, along with communications from the 142nd Sig Sqn and medics from 2 Health Bn.

Lt-Col Hargreaves said watching the synchronised effects during the attacks was fantastic.

“We put a lot of effort into trying to build an environment where we can get good training outcomes, and to see the entire brigade get around it and support it is really important,” he said.

“We’re doing foundational warfighting training, but we’re focused on preparing the soldiers and officers and senior NCOs of the 5th Brigade for war, in line with the Second Division mission.”

See more photos here.