NEWSLETTER 59Th Edition December 2018 9 RAR ASSOCIATION (VIC) INC
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59th EDITION DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER 9 RAR ASSOCIATION (VICTORIA) INC TOUR OF DUTY – SOUTH VIETNAM 1968 – 69 All correspondence to: The Secretary, 9 RAR Association (Vic) Inc PO Box 6213 Frankston Vic 3199 CONTENTS men and women who made this year and beyond, occasioned by PRESIDENT’S REPORT 1 history. good health and happiness. In my case, I was twenty years We will next catch up on Anzac UPCOMING EVENTS old when my Grandfather, a Gal- Day 2019 and I look forward to it. ANZAC DAY 2019 1 lipoli and Western Front veteran Stan Sutherland. CANBERRA 2019 2 passed away. This living link ARMY NEWS with the First World War will be ST 1 BRIGADE HIT WITH UNARMED carried by me until I also am his- UPCOMING EVENTS COMBAT REVIVAL 2 REMEMBERING A HIGHLY DECORATED tory. There will be a time howev- SOLDIER 3 ANZAC DAY 2019 COLOURS PARADED AT AWM TO MARK er, when the First World War will TH RAR 70 4 Anzac Day 2019 will be differ- carry the same weight in history FEATURE STORIES as the Battle of Waterloo fought ent from all previous years for THE WAR TO END WAR 4 two reasons: STRIKE SWIFTLY – AUSTRALIA’S in 1815. This battle also changed COMMANDOS 5 the future in so far that it included 1. The Anzac Day March is VIETNAM 1969 6 CAUCASIANS IN THE VIET CONG 7 30,000 Prussian soldiers fighting starting 30 minutes earlier 9RAR DIGGER HAS STREET NAMED against Napoleon’s armies which than previous years at AFTER HIM 7 McDOWELL STATE SCHOOL – led to the rise in German nation- 0830.hrs NATIONAL MEMORIAL WALK NOV 2018 8 2. The RAR assembly area THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT alism and we all know where that FOUNDATION – SCHOLARSHIPS 8 went from then on. will more than likely VALE 9 From our vantage point today change to accommodate the digging associated EDITOR’S COLUMN we can see no end to battles and MEMBERSHIP FEES 2018/9 9 wars. Some will be wars fought with the new city rail sub- DIRECT BANKING 10 way tracks. Details will be BACK IN TIME 9 RAR 10 by our service men and women FUNNY BITS 10 as is the case at the moment but, published when known. We are not sure how this will 2018/19 COMMITTEE DETAILS 10 hopefully, we won’t see one of total war for the nation involving affect our Annual General Meet- the whole population. Our cur- ing and lunch arrangements at Rosco’s, we will need to talk to PRESIDENT’S REPORT rent and recent service personnel who fight in our nation’s interest the management before Anzac Over the last 4 on our behalf deserve all the Day to sort it out. years Australia support our people can give With the above in mind, we will has visited its them. It is not sufficient to pay you keep well informed via our military history our taxes and think that our re- newsletter and emails, however, pursuant to the sponsibility ends there. To do so tell your mates of these new First World War is a cop out of the highest magni- changes in Victoria’s infrastruc- in a big way. tude as only a small percentage ture projects, especially if they The educational awareness of of people are prepared to go into are travelling from interstate. the younger generations in our harms way on our behalf as they CANBERRA society has increased dramatical- do. th th th 27 – 29 November 2019 ly. Given that this history was We had a great day on 18 No- made at horrendous cost to all vember at the Shrine where we Email from Bob Plumber villages, towns, suburbs and cit- held our commemorative Service 10/11/2018 ies across the length and breadth then afterwards at Rosco’s where The venue we have a booked of the Commonwealth it is im- we enjoyed a lovely lunch and for the Meet and Greet (27/11) portant that we can carry the refreshments amidst good com- will be at the Thoroughbred knowledge of this period well into pany. We need more people to Park racecourse, we will be in the future. This task is made that make an effort and come along to an area known as “Cherry Tree much easier while there are still this event. Lane”. people in our communities that On behalf of the Committee I The function runs from 11.30 had close associations with the wish you and your families a mer- a.m. until stumps. The cost per ry Xmas and a prosperous new 1 NEWSLETTER 59th Edition December 2018 9 RAR ASSOCIATION (VIC) INC person is $40 per for a self-serve derstanding and abilities in a endurance were essential, physi- buffet style lunch. Those not close environment and provide cal preparation needed to be wishing to eat will still need to additional ‘tools’ when conducting paired with mental resilience and pay a $6 Chair Hire entry fee. combatives. confidence. All drinks are at members ex- ACP has evolved from Infantry “This is particularly important pense. Integrated Combat (IIC) estab- during extreme close engage- lished in 2014 and consist of lev- ments that may result in hand-to- RTA Lunch (28/11), to be held els based on a range of common hand encounters,” Lieutenant at the Hotel Realm, located at 18 principles and techniques. Colonel Graham said. National Circuit, Barton. The first two levels incorporate “By encouraging martial-arts The function starts at 12 noon an all-corps mandatory training training within the battalion, cou- until 3 p.m. The cost is $70 per that equips individuals to survive pled with a new focus on ACP, person for a two-course menu a physical encounter and retain our soldiers are physically and (alternative drop for a main and their weapon followed by discre- mentally prepared to win in the desert). tionary training for any corps, close fight.” All drinks are at members ex- equipping select individuals or Recently the School of Infan- pense. trades to apply lethal and non- try’s ACP train-the-trainer team Commemorative Service lethal techniques in an all-corps and 7RAR ACP instructors joined (29/11), to be held at the Protest environment. forces to deliver ACP training at ant chapel at the Royal Military The next two levels see partici- RAAF Base Edinburgh, providing College, Duntroon. pants undertake mandatory train- a substantial boost to the devel- The service commences at ing for all infantry to apply lethal opment of this capability across 11.00 a.m. and will be preceded and non-lethal techniques as part Adelaide units. by a march. of an infantry section as well as Conducted from 18 to 29 June, required training for all special the course saw personnel from st ARMY NEWS forces to apply lethal and non- across 1 Brigade (South) under- lethal techniques as part of a take a week of ACP training, 1st BRIGADE HIT WITH UNARMED special-forces team. which generated a pool of level 1 COMBAT REVIVAL The final component is an in- and 2 instructors who have now Brian Hartigan – Contact structor qualification enabling the joined a growing group of ACP Breaking new ground for the training and qualification of per- trainers Army wide. 1stBrigade in 2018, 7th Battalion sonal up to and including certified Under the careful supervision of level of ACP. course manager Sergeant Na- the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) has introduced the Army than Searle from the School of Combatives Program (ACP) as a Infantry and Sergeant Dale MacAskill from 7RAR, soldiers routine part of battalion life. st from 7RAR, 1 Armoured Regi- ment, 1stCombat Service Support Team and 16 Air Land Regiment received detailed instruction in ACP through theoretical and in- Under the watchful eye of an in- tensive practical training. structor, soldiers from the 1st Ar- Sergeant MacAskill said that, by moured Regiment, 1st Combat design, ACP training culminated Service Support Team and 16 Air in reality-based training sessions You owe me a drink Land Regiment practise subduing to ensure training and instruc- The battalion’s push to incorpo- an enemy soldier during an Army tional techniques were met, rate ACP into daily training has Combatives Program training ses- providing a valuable skills set for been enabled through internally sion at RAAF Edinburgh. 7RAR all soldiers. delivered ACP training and ac- photo. “The program gives them the cess to the ADF Martial Arts As- required knowledge and ability to sociation-sponsored Integrated Commanding Officer 7RAR subdue the enemy with or without Combat Club (ICC) – Edinburgh, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Graham the use of weapons – arming which offers martial arts training said that while high levels of them with the tools to eliminate as sport to enhance people’s un- muscular strength, stamina and 2 NEWSLETTER 59th Edition December 2018 9 RAR ASSOCIATION (VIC) INC the threat,” Sergeant MacAskill Editor: This training is fantastic, it “He was involved in almost eve- said would have been very useful in Vung ry major battle with his unit, the Student and now qualified ACP Tau, South Vietnam when trying to 9th Australian Infantry Battalion, instructor Corporal Tom Leech- recover your wallet from Mamma including Gallipoli and on the man from 7RAR has already in- San because you didn’t pay the go- Western Front,” Sgt Wright said. ing price for tea and services ren- corporated combatives into his dered by those pretty young ladies. “After swapping the soft sand for training program. hard cobblestone and enduring “ACP provides an exciting ca- rain, the 9 Bn had to learn to face pability and training opportunity REMEMBERING A HIGHLY a different enemy on a different for all units”, Corporal Leechman DECORATED SOLDIER landscape with different tactics said.