Whose Name We Share

81 2019 The current members of the Battery have continued to enjoy the strong relationships forged by the previous members – from the locals to the US Marines. From 2015 to today the Battery continued to provide support to the 5 th Battalion on exercises across the country, from Cultana in South Australia to Shoalwater Bay in Queensland. Exercise Koolendong that year saw the battery deploy to Mount Bundey Training Area where soldiers from 8/9 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment assaulted an enemy position sitting at the top of a steep and rocky hilltop. They fought through barbed wire and charged their position whilst live rounds echoed throughout the training area. Alpha Company, 8/9 RAR successfully assaulted their target but it would not have been possible without the large interoperability effort that had taken place over the course of 2019’s Exercise Koolendong. The exercise began with 8/9 RAR being inserted via the United State’s MV22 Ospreys and they began to move several kilometres to the final objective. As they moved, United States Marines and 103 Battery fired many missions in support of their activities. Safety supervisors had been sourced from the 5 th Battalion to ensure danger close procedures were conducted safely and in a timely fashion. With all measures in place, the exercise went ahead with little delay. The French Armed Forces of New Caledonia, who were also attached to 8/9, moved independently to take a separate objective – clearing the way for 8/9 to proceed forward. In the final objective, all forces on the ground participated in taking the hilltop. Koolendon was designed to increase interoperability with the United States Marines and readiness to respond to regional crises. Figure 41 The 103rd Battery engages in a direct fire mission. Defence News.