ALPHA CRUSADER HITS THE MARK

With the backdrop of the Southern Alps, Alpha Company personnel were put through their paces to achieve live field fire at Army Training Level 2B, putting the new Army training levels and tiers through a test during a seven day field firing assessment. This exercise enabled the conduct of the most live fire manoeuvre and complexity since pre-Op Protect times. During the exercise participants conducted some of the following activities:

• Close combat shooting

• Long range shooting

• Static night shooting with reactionary targets

• Fire and manoeuvre with complexity and battlefield inoculation enhanced with the inclusion of over-head fire and the throwing and posting of HE, and

• The unit also conducted its first 60mm light mortar LFF serial in a number of years.

Officer Commanding Alpha Company, Major Josh Sullivan, said Alpha Crusader served as an excellent opportunity to showcase the trained state of both trainers and exercise participants.

“The complexity of the training required detailed planning and orchestration, which enabled the development of everyone from Company HQ through to individual operator.”

It was clear that the additional complexity incorporated into the exercise, which was needed to develop and implement complex and innovative training had direct impacts on the participants’ job satisfaction and outlook.

Company Sergeant Major Alpha Company, WO2 Joseph Van Arendonk said there were a lot of good learning points and feedback from the team during the field training exercise.

“What was obvious was that inclusions such as incorporation of night firing, HE, OHF, 60mm LM LFF and more, should become business as usual. This will enable the continuation of job satisfaction and the general upskilling of combat capabilities.”

Alpha Company and the wider 2/1 RNZIR, will now extend on these experiences with their REGEN milestone activity FTX Whakamahi Wahaaro.