Exercise Steele Tuff 1998
On Sunday 14th June, nine members of the Association attended the conclusion of EXERCISE ‘STEELE TUFF’ at Enoggera Barracks to witness the final chapters in the annual Exercise to determine the Best Section within 9 RQR
The Exercise commenced on Friday evening at Greenbank with a night navigation and patrolling exercise which lasted all night, to be followed on the Saturday by further Patrolling exercises which included contact and ambush drills.
On Sunday morning at Enoggera the Sections were subject to Infantry Weapons Tests, including the 5.56mm Steyr rifle, the 5.56mm Light Machine Gun (the replacement of the M-60) , Claymore Mine, and M79 Grenade Launcher. They also faced a Military History Test (which I may add, most of our members present had extreme difficulty with, although the excuse was “it had a heavy 9 RQR content), and an initiative lest in which the Section had to move a loaded vehicle trailer with only ONE wheel over a kilometre, maintaining security all the time.
The final 6 Sections from the 18 which competed then had to finish the “Confidence" Course. Why they call it the Confidence Course always escapes me as, whilst attending numerous courses at Canungra the “Confidence Course" completely drained any confidence out of me.
My outdated thinking still believes it to be the OBSTACLE Course Anyway this course is a beauty and it takes a lot of stamina and excellent teamwork to complete the course with all members in tact with its water, barbed wire, rope and high obstacles to overcome.
The winning Section was Callsign "Charlie Two" from C Coy, 9 RQR based at Loganlea with the members being Cpl R Serra, Ptes S Robertson, G Brett, D Wymark, B Perkins, P Wagels, A Lutherhand.
Colonel Harry Green, MBE made a speech prior to the presentation of the award, which is an attractive medallion featuring both the PNGVR and 9 RQR badges with each soldier’s name engraved. The award also includes individual Certificates.
Each member of the Association in attendance then presented a medal and certificate to each member of the winning Section. Members present were Col.H Green, Col Gould, Joe Fisk, Norm Mundy, Ken Hendren, John Holland, Jesse Chee, Bob Collins and of course, our official Photographer, Tom Dowling who would have excelled the legendary Damien Parer in his enthusiasm to obtain action shots for the occasion.
Any members who would like to be present at any future like functions, please contact your Members Rep (NB numbers are sometimes restricted). It is always a great to see young soldiers of today going through their paces.
Bob Collins.
The Exercise commenced on Friday evening at Greenbank with a night navigation and patrolling exercise which lasted all night, to be followed on the Saturday by further Patrolling exercises which included contact and ambush drills.
On Sunday morning at Enoggera the Sections were subject to Infantry Weapons Tests, including the 5.56mm Steyr rifle, the 5.56mm Light Machine Gun (the replacement of the M-60) , Claymore Mine, and M79 Grenade Launcher. They also faced a Military History Test (which I may add, most of our members present had extreme difficulty with, although the excuse was “it had a heavy 9 RQR content), and an initiative lest in which the Section had to move a loaded vehicle trailer with only ONE wheel over a kilometre, maintaining security all the time.
The final 6 Sections from the 18 which competed then had to finish the “Confidence" Course. Why they call it the Confidence Course always escapes me as, whilst attending numerous courses at Canungra the “Confidence Course" completely drained any confidence out of me.
My outdated thinking still believes it to be the OBSTACLE Course Anyway this course is a beauty and it takes a lot of stamina and excellent teamwork to complete the course with all members in tact with its water, barbed wire, rope and high obstacles to overcome.
The winning Section was Callsign "Charlie Two" from C Coy, 9 RQR based at Loganlea with the members being Cpl R Serra, Ptes S Robertson, G Brett, D Wymark, B Perkins, P Wagels, A Lutherhand.
Colonel Harry Green, MBE made a speech prior to the presentation of the award, which is an attractive medallion featuring both the PNGVR and 9 RQR badges with each soldier’s name engraved. The award also includes individual Certificates.
Each member of the Association in attendance then presented a medal and certificate to each member of the winning Section. Members present were Col.H Green, Col Gould, Joe Fisk, Norm Mundy, Ken Hendren, John Holland, Jesse Chee, Bob Collins and of course, our official Photographer, Tom Dowling who would have excelled the legendary Damien Parer in his enthusiasm to obtain action shots for the occasion.
Any members who would like to be present at any future like functions, please contact your Members Rep (NB numbers are sometimes restricted). It is always a great to see young soldiers of today going through their paces.
Bob Collins.
Emerging from the underground water pipe. The following photos are all of the "Confidence" Course. In PNGVR days it was correctly referred to as an "Obstacle Course".
One of the tests - stripping and assembling the Minimi.
Jesse Chee presents Medal and Certificate
Colin Gould presents Medal and Certificate
Bob Collins presents Medal and Certificate.
Ken Hendren presenting a Medal and Certificate.
