An exercise in expansion

MAJOR Lucas Mckennariey stood next to the large armoured truck and pointed to the ground.

“I thought I’d be sleeping here,” he said. “(Last time), we just slept next to the vehicles,” he said of his time spent at Camp Rocky during Australia’s largest joint-military training exercise, Talisman Sabre.

It is Major Mckennariey’s third time participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre, but his first time since 2009.

The combat team commander with Battle Group Jacka said the changes in the exercise’s base camp – on Canoona Rd in Rockhampton – are evident to those who have previously participated in the biennial exercise, which started in 2005.

One of those was the investment in infrastructure, including the fact soldiers passing through the base were now all accommodated in large, shared military tents of up to 12 people, with cement floors added in 2014.

“We just slept next to the (Bushmaster) vehicles,” Maj Mckennariey said of his time spent at Camp Rocky during 2007 and 2009.

“The facility has grown significantly. When I first came here it was very much a small smattering of buildings.

“The mess is more accommodating, there are more ablutions and this has been set up more to support more forces moving through here. The exercise is getting bigger and bigger so it’s responding to that need.”

More than 34,000 personnel from five countries are participating in the largest ever Talisman Sabre along the Queensland coast, until to July 24.

Designed for the Australian and American militaries to practice combat readiness and interoperability, the exercise has expanded to now include troops from New Zealand, Canada, the UK and, for the first time, Japan.

On any given day, hundreds of military personnel come and go from Camp Rocky on their way in or out of Shoalwater Bay to play war games.

A sea of army green tents border an openair mess hall with ceiling fans, where up to 1000 people can be fed at one time.

Major Jessica Luciani said the base was the theatre gateway, or entrance point, for military units to the massive training exercise giving a place for military personnel to prepare for battle or to relax on return.

“They come from all across Australia as well as our coalition partners and the Kiwis,” she said.

“As part of our role here we receipt them into the theatre, which includes accommodating them, rationing them and so forth.

“We also marry them up with their equipment, as often their equipment can come by air, land or sea.”

Vehicles heading to or from Shoalwater Bay are also washed thoroughly on the base in a custom-made wash bay to ensure no unwanted dirt or plants from other areas contaminates the training area.

Trooper Ashley Humphries, 29, from South Australia’s 3rd/9th Light Horse regiment, said it was his first time in Talisman Sabre.

“We drive around the infantry, getting them in and out of situations, anywhere they need to get to,” he said.