Our soldiers best of best

A GROUP of talented, young Townsvillebased soldiers have been crowned best in class at the Army’s most challenging military-skills competition.

After a two-year break in the Duke of Gloucester Cup, held in Singleton in NSW, elements of 3RAR have beaten seven other infantry teams from across the country to take out the top gong.

Section commander Cpl Liam Reynolds said his men had represented themselves well after committing to the task ahead.

“We went down there to win. We had a winning mindset and I think it paid off,” Cpl Reynolds said.

“Everyone was confident that we’d done everything we could to win it.”

The contest, which took place over a week at the start of August, evaluated each team on their physical endurance, their grasp of tactics and teamwork.

The challenges, which began with marksmanship and combat shooting, then took sections of soldiers through the bush and Singleton shrub where they had to navigate the landscape, employ heavy weaponry and provide medical treatment.

In addition to the high stress challenges, soldiers from 3RAR also had to solve complex problems in the field, including assessing and identifying friends and foes.

In addition to the introduction of CBRN equipment usage and paint rounds during some of the challenges, the competition also saw changes to the adjudicating this year.

“Having a directing staff from a different battalion attached to each of the patrols made sure the scoring was done properly,” Cpl Reynolds said.

Cpl Reynolds and his men also received the OSCMAR trophy for best battle endurance, while soldiers from other units took out a number of honours.

As the winning section, 3RAR will now head overseas, travelling to the United Kingdom to take on the best teams from around the world in the Cambrian Patrol in October.

“We’re going to take a week off to unwind and then we’re right back into the training,” Cpl Reynolds said.

Soldiers from the winning 3RAR Duke of Gloucester Cup squad at the School of Infantry in Singleton, NSW.

Australian Army soldiers from 3RAR provide security outside a building.

A 3RAR soldier provides security on a stairway during an urban assault

3RAR soldiers conduct a section patrol.

A 3RAR section commander on patrol.

3RAR soldiers assist a section member on the obstacle course (left); and a 3RAR soldier provides security during a wire breach demolition (above).

Australian Army 3RAR soldiers conduct a building clearance during an urban assault.

A 3RAR soldier provides target indication.

A 3RAR soldier on patrol.