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1RAR conducted its yearly HE Week at Wide Bay, Defence revealed.
1RAR has officially kicked off its training schedule for 2021, with the Regiment’s yearly High Explosive (HE) Week in Wide Bay Training Area, Defence revealed this week.
Soldiers conducted their training across a broad spectrum of weapons systems, from Claymores through to the 84mm Carl-Gustaf, the 66mm Rocket Launcher, the 40mm GLA, MAG 58 and 9mm pistol.
Captain Lachlan Colquhoun, Joint Fires Team Commander, outlined that the HE week was crucial for building capabilities among the Regiment’s junior soldiers – especially their gunners.
“This is the basis of the gunline’s survivability on the battlefield, it’s fundamental to our warfighting skills,” CAPT Colquhoun said.
“The integration of newer gunners with more experienced soldiers is first achieved through physical training at the unit and exposure to their new team, then senior soldiers take care in assigning a range of tasks to increase junior soldiers’ resilience and knowledge.
“By the end of the High Explosive Week, new gunners generally respond well and are prepared for upcoming exercises, short-notice tasks and new roles at the regiment.”
CAPT Colquhoun further outlined that it was good to give the soldiers the opportunity to get away from a barracks environment.
“Getting out to the range to work on technical skills on a live fire range is generally welcomed by the members of the regiment, they don’t mind a short trip away to shoot and learn,” he said.
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