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The army is coming back to Whyalla.
The Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D) will be back in town from October 29 to December 1 as the final component of field training for its trainees (staff cadets) prior to graduating as lieutenants in the Australian Army.
This exercise is focussed on simulated stability activities. This includes peace keeping and humanitarian operations intended to secure the civilian population so that other functions of government can rebuild and provide basic services.
Essential to this training is giving the cadets exposure to working among the community in close co-ordination with police, emergency services and other government agencies. It will be a similar exercise to the one conducted in Whyalla in November last year.
The RMC-D wrote to the City of Whyalla seeking approval for this latest exercise which has been granted.
In its letter to Council, the RMC-D said last year’s exercise had been successful in Whyalla.
“Feedback we have received is that the exercise was well received amongst the community, had tangible benefits for the economy and provided mutually beneficial training for the emergency services and other local government participants,” it said in its letter.
“The training would include the firing of blank ammunition and other military activities in and around Whyalla.
“A central component to conducting this exercise is the community engagement plan.”
This plan includes involving the local media, community meetings and letter drops. There is no indication of where the cadets will camp or what the exact nature of their exercise in Whyalla will involve.