A flypast of two Hawk 127 jets and a C-17 Globemaster thrilled Exmouth locals and visitors as Exercise Northern Shield 2015 concluded on 24 September.
The Royal Australian Air Force aircraft conducted a low altitude pass over the town, situated on the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia.
Exercise Northern Shield 2015 involved approximately 1000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and finished with a public display at Talanjee Oval.
Exmouth Shire President, Counsellor Turk Shales, was especially impressed with the community engagement that locals had with ADF personnel.
"The efficiency and dedication of the soldiers were second to none," he said.
"The engagement with the community outside of their own work they had to do was great."
"The Australian Defence Force are here to look after us and to look after our country and they were very proficient in everything they did," he said.
Commander Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, Major General Stuart Smith AO DSC thanked the Exmouth community for their support and patience during the exercise.
"From all of the participants in Exercise Northern Shield, I would like to convey my true appreciation for the patience and the support provided by the people of Exmouth as we have conducted this complex joint force operation," he said.
Soldiers from the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment showed off the Bushmaster Personnel Mobility Vehicle, weapons and field kit to hundreds of school kids, parents, teachers, residents and tourists. The Australian Army Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters were also a huge hit.
Eight year-old Lachlan Sansoni and his sisters, Imogen and Amelia, were excited to come to the local oval with their parents to see the helicopters and other military hardware.
"I really want to fly one," Lachlan said.
"I'm going to join the Army, it's so cool," he said.
Four year old Samantha Ness tried on a ghillie suit.
"I look like a wartime scarecrow," she said.
Exercise Northern Shield was the first major military activity to be held in the remote North West Region practicing the ADF's ability to quickly deploy a large joint force across vast distances.
It incorporated force preparation activities, Special Forces activities, land force manoeuvre, air mobile operations and maritime activities with high-readiness forces deploying in response to a simulated security threat.
Issued by Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication,
Department of Defence,
Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999 Fax: 02 6265 6946
