Armed Forces put through their paces

Armed Forces put through their paces at Exercise Hamel

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare was in Townsville today to be briefed on Exercise HAMEL – the biggest Army exercise this year.

Mr Clare was briefed by Chief of Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie on the field training and live-fire exercise, before heading to the training field for the pre-dawn live fire activity.

“Our troops are among the best-equipped and best trained in the world,” Mr Clare said.

“More than 6,000 members of the Army, supported by Navy and Air Force, are taking part in Exercise HAMEL – the most complex training activity ever undertaken by the Australian Army.

“This is an important training exercise for our armed forces – putting our troops and the equipment they use through battle conditions.

“It’s vital in making sure they have the war fighting skills they need and that their equipment is appropriate for the task.”

Exercise HAMEL has also included the testing and developing of capabilities in the field such as target acquisition using Army’s ARH Tiger Helicopters, electronic warfare and combat health support.

Army’s 3^rd Brigade is supported by elements from Army’s 1^st Brigade, 7^th Brigade and 16^th Aviation Brigade as well as US Marine Corps and the New Zealand Defence Force in the realistic force on force exercise.

The exercise involves the use of Army’s:

* Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles; * Howitzers; * Abrams tanks; * Air-support including Chinooks, ARH Tiger, Black Hawk and Kiowa Helicopters; * Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs); and * M113 Personnel Carriers.

ENDS

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