RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA Liaison Letter – 2024 / 2025 Edition 48 Ukrainian members were appreciative of the level of professionalism that our members demonstrated and were blown away by the level of knowledge they were provided. Due to being in an area with limited technical support, Bombardiers Fulham and Oliver were instrumental with their technical knowhow with the repairing of the Type 2 Simulators from being degraded to Fully Functional. The Ukrainian members were impressed with their efforts; it is believed one of them was offered ‘eight sheep and land’ so he could stay there to assist them in the future! All those involved with this type of international engagement should be proud of their efforts and have represented the Australian Defence Force with the highest professionalism, along with gaining a once-in-a- lifetime experience. With the year coming to an end and the posting cycle on the horizon, the AMDW will undergo a large portion of staff rotation. Each of these members have been highly valued by the team and will be greatly missed. The following members of the Wing will be moving on in their careers: • AMDW SI - MAJ Marshall • AMDW IG – CAPT McCartney • AMDW SM – WO2 A Smith • AMDW SM – WO2 P Smith • AMD Inst – SGT S Laskowski • AMD Inst – SGT S Pullen • AMD Inst – BDR D Snowball • AMD Inst – BDR S Oliver • AMD Spt – BDR J Fulham • AMD Spt – BDR D Kelly 53 Battery Under the theme of ‘quick wins’ 53 Battery launched into a program of off-base PT, Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, before moving into the field to shake out on Exercise Southern Crawl and Walk. In early March Exercise Southern Warrior presented a spectacle to determine the champion soldier of the Battery. After gathering early at the athletics track, the next several hours would test individual combat skills to slowly whittle down numbers until left with the champion. In the end, Lieutenant Barclay Roach demonstrated the skill, fight and determination expected of the Southern Warrior. His reward was to be immediately removed from the duty roster for the year – the Southern Warrior has no time for such menial matters. Exercise Southern Run was our first opportunity to live fire for the year. A reinvigorated focus on gun line defence saw the Battery encounter waves of small UAS followed by a cavalry troop attempting to conduct a night-time raid of the position – if only their main armament didn’t jam at the decisive moment! After shaking out under live-fire conditions the Southern Gunners got up close to the effects of 155mm with a concurrent (surprise) direct and indirect fire practice. With a brutal combat team fireplan supported by PGK in a ‘multiple precision aiming points’ engagement rounding out the week, the Battery was ready for anything required of it this year. The inaugural FO Fireplanning Live Fire Exercise two weeks later presented the first opportunity to validate our work – and the Battery showcased its skill. Having rallied to a glorious ‘come from behind’ 11-point win against HMAS Cerberus on the footy field, April presented time to pause and reflect on Exercise Southern Remembrance. A tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australian Sports Museum was followed by an Albert Park Lake run and a tour of the Shrine of Remembrance the following day. Joining our group (by chance) was a young teenage lad who was interested in joining the Army to be a Gunner – an easy recruitment coup for the Bty, we had to stop him from getting on the bus straight to Puckapunyal with us! In May we supported Joint Fires Wing through the execution of course support for Regimental Officer Basic Course, Detachment Commanders and Gunner Grade 1. Against the steady backdrop of support to DTR, 53 Battery engaged in a program of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training under the tutelage of unit sensei Captain Andy Le. This would culminate with Exercise Southern Slam, a three-day fight camp leading into a full day tournament. After intense competition, the final pitted the Battery Commander against our Southern Warrior. In a spectacle that would make WWE scriptwriters proud, the Battery Commander overcame Lieutenant Roach in the final seconds of the overtime round to be awarded the Southern Heavyweight Championship and, more importantly, LT Roach receives the 2024 Southern Warrior title belt after a hard fought win.