Combat Support Group (CSG) is taking Williamson Airfield from “bare to there” ahead of the start of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS19).
In the next week the base will swell to hold about 1300 personnel, plus aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, Australian Army, the United States and New Zealand for the exercise from 11-24 July.
CSG is setting up the remote airfield situated in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area to perform a critical role for TS19, Australia and the United States’ largest bilateral exercise.
As a forward operating base, it will be an epicentre for air operations, and also provide important facilities for the exercise such as catering, communications, security, and medical support.
The importance of ensuring the base’s readiness is not lost on Wing Commander (WGCDR) Alan Brown, Base Commander Williamson Airfield for TS19.
“If we weren’t here, the aircraft would turn up and not have any support,” WGCDR Brown said.
“People would have no health facilities, they wouldn’t be fed, there’d be no communications – we are key enablers.
“Combat Support Group is extremely important to any air operation that occurs.
“It doesn’t just happen by itself, there’s a lot of talented people behind the scenes that support those air operations.”
Conducted every two years, Talisman Sabre is the Australian Defence Force’s largest combined exercise.
You can find out more about TS19, which will run 11-24 July, on .
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