Exercise Steele Tuff 2002

In     October     2002,     members     of    BRAVO Company, 9 RQR based at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, competed in their annual military competition and training weekend, code named "Steel Tuff".

Since 1976 our Association has sponsored an annual    Military   Excellence   Award'   to   the winning   section   of   `Steel   Tuff.   The   award consists of a green and gold medallion ( see photos     this     newsletter)     featuring     the Regimental badges of the PNGVR and 9 RQR. Engraved on the reverse side is the soldier's name,    rank    and    serial    number,    plus    a Certificate of achievement.

The exercise, which was held at the Canungra Land   Warfare   Centre,   included   navigation, weapons, obstacles, check points, first aid and tactics. The bush area was bone dry and hot, and I countered no less than 7 water bottles on one young digger's webbing4 on his waist webbing and 3 mounted on his back pack, not to mention the `camel pak' - a water bladder which   is   packed   into   the   back   pack   and accessed by way of a long plastic tube to the mouth. These camel paks can contain 2- 4 litres   or more.   No   wonder   I   couldn't lift   a typical back pack, let alone actually walk or rather stagger with one more than 10 metres.

The overall winners were the young soldiers of 6 section   Recon Platoon BRAVO Company, led by LCpl Michael Mersiades.   Top soldier award for 9 RQR for 2002 went to   Pte Jarrod Brook from Recon Platoon.

CO, Lt Colonel Mark Plath and RSM WOI J Heron made Association representatives-Bob Collins, Joe Fisk, Col Gould, Tom Dowling and Barry    Wright    welcome    and    thanked    the Association   for   its   ongoing   commitment   in supporting military excellence in 9 RQR.

After   the   official   proceedings,   a   great   field 'steak and snag' lunch was delivered out in the field. How things have changed.

One   thing   that   has   not   changed   was   the commanding voices of senior NCO's as diggers prepared to leave the base ....... "It is an offence both military and civilian to remove from a training area or live firing range any ammunition etc" Barry Wright had his eye on some new, but now empty metal ammo boxes   (   would   make   great   tool   boxes   says Barry) but, these days everything is counted, re-countered and six copies of all paperwork completed.

Our congratulations to all members of BRAVO Company   who   took   part.      To   quote   from Winston Churchill on Reservists    " They are twice the citizen. They serve their country in peace, and are prepared to die for it in war".

Setting up the table to total the marks received by each Section.
In the background is the tower at the end of the Obstacle Course at Canungra off which the soldiers had to jump into Canungra Creek.
Below. Calcuiating the marks for the Setions.