Junior officers rise to the challenge at Puckapunyal
Blast: An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank fires its main armament during Exercise Gauntlet Strike at Puckapunyal Military Area.
Photo by
CPL Dustin Anderson
Puckapunyal Military Area recently held Exercise Gauntlet Strike, an intense officer training course.
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It saw 154 of the Australian Army’s combat arms officers rise to the challenge of troop leader or platoon commander.
The exercise, which, including instructors, involved 268 army personnel, was the culmination of the Regimental Officer Basic Course for the Royal Australian Armoured Corps and for the Mechanised Regimental Officer Course for infantry officers to learn manoeuvres in the army’s armoured personnel carriers.
Team: Australian Army lieutenants receive a lesson on artillery capabilities during Exercise Gauntlet Strike.
Photo by
CPL Dustin Anderson
Combined Arms Training Centre commandant Colonel Patrick Davison said the courses qualified the army’s latest cohort of combat arms lieutenants to confidently command their soldiers in combined arms teams.
“While they are artillery, armour or infantry officers first, army expects them to confidently lead teams who can achieve a combination of army capabilities,” Colonel Davison said.
“Exercise Gauntlet Strike exposes officers to a mix of combat arms and tests their ability to plan and execute realistic missions.
Full speed ahead: An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle on patrol during Exercise Gauntlet Strike at Puckapunyal Military Training Area.
Photo by
CPL Dustin Anderson
“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.
“Their performance has been outstanding. I’m confident they can meet the challenges of command and are equipped to face the complexities of war fighting now and into the future.”
Training: Australian Army lieutenants prepare a M1A1 Main Battle Tank during Exercise Gauntlet Strike at Puckapunyal Training Area.
Photo by
CPL Dustin Anderson
The officers successfully completed a range of tasks as part of a combat team against a realistic opposition force. They will now post as qualified junior officers to their battalion or regiment in one of the army’s combat brigades.
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