The Australian Army’s newest qualified combat arms officers rose to the challenge of command during Exercise Gauntlet Strike at Puckapunyal Military Area from June 20-30. The group of 56 lieutenants were tested on their ability to confidently lead their troops or platoons before they join the trained force in one of Army’s combat brigades. The exercise was the culmination of the Regimental Officer Basic Course (ROBC) for the Royal Australian Armoured Corps and for the Mechanised Regimental Officer Course (MRCO) for infantry officers to learn manoeuvres in Army’s armoured personnel carriers. Exercise Gauntlet Strike replicated a conventional medium to high intensity operation, and was planned and executed by the School of Armour, School of Artillery, School of Military Engineering and School of Infantry under the supervision of the Combined Arms Training Centre.
Officer Commanding B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment Major Mark Montague said,” It was extremely rewarding to watch the trainees put into practice what they had learned. Our objective for Gauntlet Strike is to provide the best training possible for the young lieutenants, and to give them the best possible early exposure to the combat team environment. This is a unique experience for the lieutenants that allows them to put their new found skills into practice and I’m glad that I get to be a part of it.”
Commandant of the Combined Arms Training Centre, Colonel Patrick Davison said.”That this exercise provided important combined arms context to Army’s combat arms lieutenants. While they are artillery, engineer, armour or infantry officers first, Army expects them to confidently lead teams that can achieve combined arms effects – a combination of army capabilities – to fight and win. Their performance has been outstanding. I’m confident that they can meet the challenges of command and are equipped to face the complexities of warfighting now and into the future.”
Exercise Gauntlet Strike provides excellent exposure to the other combat arms these officers will be working with and tests their ability to plan and execute realistic missions. In the lead up to this exercise, trainees became proficient at platoon and troop operations and learned the importance of situational awareness, communication and working in the combined combat team environment. The Combined Arms Training Centre provides world-class training that is purposefully demanding to ensure the next generation of combat leaders is equipped to fight and win under arduous conditions and challenging circumstances. The lieutenants who finished ROBC or MROC will move out to the combat brigades to join armoured cavalry regiments, mechanised infantry battalions or combat engineer regiments, to move into a troop leading or platoon command position for one to two years.
