Battle group builds confidence in combined force

“Should we have to meet in the dark at a time not of our choosing, it won’t be the first time we have operated together.”

CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, transit to Balabac Island, Philippines, on an American Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, as part of Exercise Balikatan. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

Those were the words of Commanding Officer Battle Group Tiger, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grogan, as he praised the successful integration of Philippine, United States and Australian forces during a maritime key terrain security operation (MKTSO) on Exercise Balikatan.

Inserting by US V-22 Osprey, the multinational battle group seized coastal terrain in support of an amphibious operation in the Philippine archipelago.

Lieutenant Colonel Grogan said operations such as the MKTSO were crucial to build combined tactics and integrate across multiple levels.

“The activity showcased the capacity for the multinational battle group to conduct supporting operations across concurrent lines of effort,” he said.

“Activities such as the MKTSO are crucial for preparedness and allow us to operate together to understand how, in times of crisis, we will conduct these types of activities.

“The battle group will return home confident in its ability to move rapidly as a combined force to provide security within the region should we need to.”

CAPTION: Soldiers of 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, board a V-22 Osprey for air insertion on to Balabac Island, Philippines. Photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

In the airmobile insertion on to Balabac Island, the combined forces divided and conquered multiple lines of effort.

Philippine marines from the 3rd Marine Brigade moved first to secure a company objective, allowing the Australian soldiers and US marines to push forward, clearing the path to seize the critical airstrip.

US marine 1st Lieutenant Max Burke said the activity built confidence among the different nations in their ability to execute high-stakes missions together.

“In a real-world scenario, if we were down and needed to link up with the Aussies or the Filipinos, we now know that at the battalion level and even regimental level we can plan and move forward and pull assets from each individual country in order to make and execute that plan,” 1st Lieutenant Burke said.

“I enjoyed sharing tactics and swapping information to better ourselves in the Marine Corps, and hopefully [the other forces] found something they can better themselves with too.”

Private Luke Taylor, of the 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, said it was a great experience.

“We conducted a section attack in muddy, wet terrain; it was a good reminder of what our job actually entails, especially over in another country,” Private Taylor said.

“Jumping off the Ospreys boosted the team’s confidence and morale, knowing that we are here overseas doing our job and seeing the guys get amongst it with the Philippine and US marines.”

The Australian Defence Force deployed a contingent of about 260 personnel to participate in the exercise.

Exercise Balikatan is the largest annual training exercise conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States military.

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