Whose Name We Share

66 2008 During early 2008, whilst members were deployed to Afghanistan, an FO party deployed to RCB 81. Concurrently the RAA was focusing on introducing AFATDS (Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems) through Land 17 Phase 1A. Land 17 Phase 1A consisted of the Department of Defence seeking approval to provide new and upgraded facilities to support the introduction of the M777A2 Howitzers. They would have to provide new facilities suited to the organisational changes required to introducing the new gun to the ADF and procure 35 M777A2 and introduce AFATDS. Phase 1B consisted of the procurement of the Digital Terminal Control System (DTCS). The 103 rd Battery underwent the transitions necessary to enter the digital age. 103 Battery personnel also redeployed to East Timor in September 2008 as a part of the 5 th Battalion lead rotation of the Timor-Leste Battle Group. Their roles varied from operations staff to signallers. Life in the Battery had a high tempo, between deployments to Malaysia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Solomon Islands and East Timor, as well as the procurement of new digital systems as well as training in those systems it was a challenge to offer some stability. The training in the new systems required exercises to be held and the tempo of the modern gunner’s life was considerably high during this phase of rapid deployment and improvement.