THE HON. JASON CLARE MP
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE MATERIEL
Thursday, 4 November 2010
7/10
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 3rd Brigade is supported by elements from Army’s 1st Brigade, 7th Brigade and 16th
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.
Media contact: Korena Flanagan - 0418 251 316
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