The final training activities of Exercise Hamel 2014 have been completed and soldiers will soon start returning home from training areas throughout North Queensland.
Exercise Hamel 2014 was conducted in North Queensland in areas stretching from Townsville, Atherton, Innisfail, Tully and Cairns, making it the largest Army training activity of the year.
More than 25,000 kilograms of meat, 16,000 loaves of bread, almost 30,000 litres of milk, 57,000 kilograms of fruit and vegetables and 88,000 eggs were used in providing some 200,000 meals for the 5000 soldiers from Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the United States of America who participated in the exercise.
Brigadier Mark Brewer, Director General – Training of the Australian Army’s Forces Command, said Exercise Hamel 2014 had been a great success.
“Exercise Hamel 2014 aimed to evaluate the Army’s reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence capability as an enabler to our combat force, and this was accomplished,” Brigadier Brewer said.
“I am thoroughly impressed with the professionalism demonstrated by our soldiers in both the planning and conduct of the exercise.”
“The support from the people of North Queensland has been tremendous. I would like to thank the people of North Queensland for allowing us to train in their communities, to spend time with them and for helping the Army achieve its training objectives.”
The 3rd Brigade, with their assigned 6th Brigade (Combat Support) force elements, has been evaluated as ready and capable to conduct future operations.
As the 25-day exercise comes to an end, Defence would like to thank residents around Townsville, Atherton Tablelands and surrounding areas for their patience as military vehicles and personnel return from the exercise.
Media note:
Imagery is available at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20142051
Video is available at: http://video.defence.gov.au?mediaId=faf838a8-c1d3-455b-8464-bd051768ca65
Media contacts:
Mark Tanzer, Regional Manager, Public Affairs – N-QLD 0407 467 235
Defence Media Operations 02 6127 1999
Issued by Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication,
Department of Defence,
Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999 Fax: 02 6265 6946
