RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA Liaison Letter – 2024 / 2025 Edition 111 Figure 2: Diagram of the fire mission routing employed for Ex BROLGA RUN Battle Group Joint Fires Rehearsals The value of Battle Group (BG) level joint fires rehearsals prior to each deliberate action was multiplied when ten-fold when a foreign language force is involved. The fires rehearsal enables artillery stakeholders to back brief the Battery Commander (BC) on their specific fires responsibilities by phase. They occurred in person post BG orders, usually around a mud model. The ability to visualise the joint fires actions on a mud model enhances battle visualisation and understanding. This emphasis on the visual dimension proved the most effective method of conveying intent to the JGSDF. During these rehearsals the FSCC provided important bottom-up refinement to the BC on the capability of their platforms, as well as planning refinements to their fire unit employment. Bi-lateral Teaming To combat language and procedural differences, both parties maximized bi-lateral teaming at every level. For instance, although 106 Bty was the senior artillery HQ, it was co-located with and worked in close coordination with the JGSDF’s FSCC. The Australian Fire Support Officer interfaced directly with his JGSDF counterpart. Australian JFTs also teamed with CT Asahi’s Forward Observers (FOs). This illuminated another procedural difference, being that Australian JFTs are more deeply involved in planning and executing operations alongside their combat team commanders. Despite the importance of teaming, it was still critical that a senior HQ was clearly delineated, being the 106 Bty JFECC, to ensure unity of command and clarity of intent. In multilateral activities, it was important to avoid undermining partner force procedures to an extent, so as to accommodate their unique training objectives. Teaming at every level proved critical, and was continually refined throughout to reduce the time to kill. Linguist Support Mitigating Miscommunication The frictions of training for high-intensity combat are multiplied when significant language