Exercise Tobruk hones 7 Battalion’s infantry skills

By Carey Clements

26 October 2011

An enthusiastic company of soldiers from Bravo Company of the 7th Wellington and Hawkes Bay Battalion Group went back to some grassroot infantry skills recently during Exercise Tobruk.

Soldiers on patrol during Exercise Tobruk near Masterton (AW-11-1101-1).

The three-day close country exercise was held at Ngaumu Forest near Masterton and involved both patrolling and carrying out section attacks to help with the development of junior leaders.

The IC of the exercise, Lieutenant Jeremy Hodren, said another aim over the three days was to include some new soldiers into a training environment, which they previously had not experienced.

"The terrain was challenging on this exercise and as a result it was not only a learning curb for the junior leaders, but for me as well, as I learnt about how to be flexible when plans have to be changed.

"As a result, it also forced other commanders to think on their feet as time went on," Lt Hodren said.

The enemy party on the exercise included two members of the 7 WNHB Band, Lance Corporals Ricky Henderson and Andrew Guerin.

A member of the Territorial Force since 1986, LCPL Guerin was originally an infantry soldier before switching to becoming a bandsman a decade later. Exercise Tobruk was the first field exercise in many years that resulted in him experiencing life out in the field and firing a weapon.

"It was great to be amongst some action again after all these years and I will definitely be recommending to my peers that we need to come along and support more training exercises like this in the future," he said.

LT Hodren felt the highlight of the exercise was a strong dawn attack, which went according to plan from when H Hour arrived at 0630 on the Sunday morning.

"It was done in a swift and professional manner without any injuries to the attacking force, despite them having to go through some thick vegetation to get to their objective," he said.