Trainees from the Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (ASEME) have embraced the first iteration of their transformed biannual field training exercise in October.
“This field exercise is different,” he said. “Instead of micro-activities, we’re capitalising on the time available. So, they [soldiers] march in, they conduct a seven- to eight-day activity instead of doing discrete stands, which is very disruptive and doesn't allow a ‘pattern of life’," Commanding Officer ASEME Lieutenant Colonel Hans Hamilton stated.
“This activity also allows some superimposition with the School of Armour – to get some training value while we're in the field and actually feed that intelligence material to us to inform the OC’s [officer commanding] approach to the activity."
The field training exercise has comprised three components: the soldier skills block, combat service support and live-fire range activity.
Held at Puckapunyal, the soldier skills have blocked recaptured soldier skills gained at ARTC in Kapooka, solidifying them in a field setting.
“It’s situational awareness, maintaining defence, daily routine, and establishing and maintaining a battle rhythm whilst looking after your mates in a fatigue environment,” The officer commanding the activity Major Dominic Buchan said.
The combat service support activity in the Albury Wodonga Military Area has linked individual and small-team soldier skills to operating within a technical but tactically focused mobile team.
The live-fire range activity was held at Kapooka. ASEME trainees can expect to take part in two iterations a year of the transformed field training exercise, beginning in March.