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Suman tests humans
A sucessful exercise in the theory and practice of combined ops
By WO2 Graham McBean
IT�S a tough job cramming a four-day exercise into a 14 day deployment, but as the Brisbane-based 25/49RQR�s Suman warriors discovered, the annual Five Power Defence Arrangement�s exercise is a whole lot more than just a CPX.
More than 60 soldiers from the battalion and supporting units from 7 Bde deployed to Singapore for the combined exercise between headquarters elements from Singapore, the UK, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand � hence the acronym Suman.
For some, it was their second visit to Singapore in 12 months after Rifle Coy Butterworth last year.
The main focus of Suman Warrior is to test the battalion level command-post expertise and co-operation between each nation�s headquarters group in the event of attack on the Malaysian peninsula or Singapore.
This is exercised in a combined brigade setting, commanded by the host country.
But Ex Suman Warrior 04 was an activity and � more than ever � the cultural, social and military connections between soldiers were clearly just as important to the Singaporean hosts through their ever-present hospitality.
CO 25/49RQR Lt-Col Daryl Campbell said the exercise was a complete success, testing both the theory and, more importantly at soldier level, the practice of combined operations.
�We achieved all exercise objectives while successfully testing interoperability and furthering greater understanding of the FPDA nations in accordance with the exercise objectives,� he said.
�But more importantly, the soldiers from all nations mixed freely, became familiar with the Singaporean equipment and really had no choice but to be immersed in the culture, which was facilitated by the Singaporeans.�
A big factor in that success was the time allocated to alternate military activities for non-CPX players. Activites were conducted concurrently with headquarters staff training on the simulation system used by the host country to deliver the CPX �cyber battle� during the exercise proper.
Diggers got training, soldier�s fives and demonstrations on Singaporean equipment and facilities, from the SAR21 personal weapon through to a rare outsiders test-run on the Singaporean commandos� high-wire obstacle course.
Time was also factored in for moving, historical visits to the Kranji War Memorial and Changi Chapel, while four official functions were conducted where the priority was highlighting the diversity of the cultures taking part in the exercise.
The success of 7 Bde�s integration of regulars and reserves was favourably reflected in the level of 25/49RQR�s performance alongside the regular army BHQ�s of the other participating nations.
Lt-Col Campbell said the CPX was conducted at a high tempo, with little time between planning cycles ,where the Australian contingent �certainly stood up well� under the pressure.
He said the level of maturity of the Australians was a key feature of the contingent which, as a reward for its own success earlier in the year, also included the battalion�s 2004 RQR Military Skills Competition team.
It was a big canvas for an integrated unit to work, but Lt-Col Campbell said, �The soldiers could be proud that they represented their unit and country very well, while wringing all possible training value out of the deployment for the battalion.�
Here's the pics.
A sucessful exercise in the theory and practice of combined ops
By WO2 Graham McBean
IT�S a tough job cramming a four-day exercise into a 14 day deployment, but as the Brisbane-based 25/49RQR�s Suman warriors discovered, the annual Five Power Defence Arrangement�s exercise is a whole lot more than just a CPX.
More than 60 soldiers from the battalion and supporting units from 7 Bde deployed to Singapore for the combined exercise between headquarters elements from Singapore, the UK, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand � hence the acronym Suman.
For some, it was their second visit to Singapore in 12 months after Rifle Coy Butterworth last year.
The main focus of Suman Warrior is to test the battalion level command-post expertise and co-operation between each nation�s headquarters group in the event of attack on the Malaysian peninsula or Singapore.
This is exercised in a combined brigade setting, commanded by the host country.
But Ex Suman Warrior 04 was an activity and � more than ever � the cultural, social and military connections between soldiers were clearly just as important to the Singaporean hosts through their ever-present hospitality.
CO 25/49RQR Lt-Col Daryl Campbell said the exercise was a complete success, testing both the theory and, more importantly at soldier level, the practice of combined operations.
�We achieved all exercise objectives while successfully testing interoperability and furthering greater understanding of the FPDA nations in accordance with the exercise objectives,� he said.
�But more importantly, the soldiers from all nations mixed freely, became familiar with the Singaporean equipment and really had no choice but to be immersed in the culture, which was facilitated by the Singaporeans.�
A big factor in that success was the time allocated to alternate military activities for non-CPX players. Activites were conducted concurrently with headquarters staff training on the simulation system used by the host country to deliver the CPX �cyber battle� during the exercise proper.
Diggers got training, soldier�s fives and demonstrations on Singaporean equipment and facilities, from the SAR21 personal weapon through to a rare outsiders test-run on the Singaporean commandos� high-wire obstacle course.
Time was also factored in for moving, historical visits to the Kranji War Memorial and Changi Chapel, while four official functions were conducted where the priority was highlighting the diversity of the cultures taking part in the exercise.
The success of 7 Bde�s integration of regulars and reserves was favourably reflected in the level of 25/49RQR�s performance alongside the regular army BHQ�s of the other participating nations.
Lt-Col Campbell said the CPX was conducted at a high tempo, with little time between planning cycles ,where the Australian contingent �certainly stood up well� under the pressure.
He said the level of maturity of the Australians was a key feature of the contingent which, as a reward for its own success earlier in the year, also included the battalion�s 2004 RQR Military Skills Competition team.
It was a big canvas for an integrated unit to work, but Lt-Col Campbell said, �The soldiers could be proud that they represented their unit and country very well, while wringing all possible training value out of the deployment for the battalion.�
Here's the pics.