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BRIEFING: Council CEO Chris Cowley with Captain Brett Watson and Sergeant Matt Ponder at Jubilee Park.
City of Whyalla CEO Chris Cowley met the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D) advance party last week as Operation Binh Ba got back underway at Cultana.
The operation involves exercises at the Cultana training area this week followed by a civilian population exercise from November 15-23 which is based around a peacekeeping, humanitarian and disaster relief scenario where the staff cadets (SCDTs) will be required to operate within the mock destabilised civilian population in the “war torn” region of Whyalla.
Once again the cadets will wrap up the exercise with the popular community day for the public to come and meet the soldiers and see some of the equipment on Thursday November 22, from 3-6pm at Jubilee Park.
The Whyalla operation is the final exercise the SCDTs of the RMC-D will perform before graduating as lieutenants in the Australian Army.
Mr Cowley said Council warmly welcomed the RMC-D to town once again for what is becoming a beneficial arrangement for the armed forces and Whyalla.
“These exercises are very important in terms of our relationship with the defence forces and, in particular, the Royal Military College – Duntroon,” Mr Cowley said.
“We have a fantastic relationship with the RMC-D and we are seeing the benefits and opportunities that arise from these exercises.
“Not only does it provide the cadets with invaluable training, it gives our community a valuable insight into the operations of our defence force, provides an economic boost for our community and gives our young people an opportunity to get a first-hand look at the defence force as a real career opportunity.”
Mr Cowley met with operation leader Captain Brett Watson and Sergeant Matt Ponder to scope the RMC-D’s Jubilee Park base. Capt Watson explained the nature of the exercise around the city.
“Most of the cadets will be carrying weapons and possibly discharging blank ammunication which is perfectly safe,” Capt Watson said.
“People will see some large vehicles and we will be setting up checkpoints which the community is more than welcome to become involved in.
“The cadets are all very excited about this opportunity to train and to be involved in a community.”
Captain Watson said the community day was one of the highlights for the cadets. The RMC-D command will be issuing daily bulletins on the nature of the activities and locations and will be ensuring all spent shells are removed and there is no undue disruption to the community or facilities.
“The community day is our way of saying thanks to Whyalla,” Capt Watson said.
Officially Battle Block 1D (BB1D), Exercise Binh Ba is named after an Australian battle in the Vietnam War.
The RMC-D earlier issued the following information for the Whyalla community:
EXERCISE OVERVIEW
- The exercise will occur over November 15 to November 23 and is based around a peacekeeping / humanitarian and disaster relief scenario where the Staff Cadets (SCDTs) / officer trainees will be required to operate within the destabilised civilian population / war torn region of Whyalla.
- While faced with a complex enemy they will be required to provide security, restore law and order and provide humanitarian aid.
- The end state is the transition of law enforcement responsibilities and other government functions / essential service to civilian authorities.
- For context, this is the final exercise that the SCDTs will complete in their training at the Royal Military College – Duntroon prior to graduation and commissioning as lieutenants in the Australian Army.
LOCATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
- Our main base will be located at Jubilee Park with several smaller bases across the town where we will house platoons of up to 30 SCDTs.
- Various other locations around Whyalla will be used for our scenarios by day and night – these locations will be made known to the public through daily correspondence and leaflet drops.
- The activities we will conduct include foot and vehicle mounted patrolling, defence of critical infrastructure, vehicle check points, searches, clearances, support to local emergency services and key leadership engagements (meetings).
- Some activities will involve the firing of blank ammunition and there will be large vehicles moving throughout the town
- While we acknowledge there will be some disruption to the local population, it is our intent to keep this to an absolute minimum.
- Participation by the civilian population is 100% voluntary and is encouraged in order to increase the level of realism for the SCDTs.
- Community day for public to come and meet the soldiers and see some of the equipment will be Thursday November 22, 3-6pm at Jubilee Park. This will be confirmed.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- The RMC-D Facebook and Army pages are great resources which provide content specific to the Officer Commissioning Course undertaken by the SCDTs over 18 months.
- Facebook page – https://m.facebook.com/RoyalMilitaryCollegeDuntroon/
- Army page – https://www.army.gov.au/taxonomy/term/132%20
BACKGROUND
For more information on the Battle of Binh Ba go to: