A group of local residents from Hinchinbrook Shire sat in a makeshift emergency assembly area on the outskirts of Ingham as they waited to be taken to the airfield in a simulated non-combatant evacuation during Exercise Diamond Strike.
The residents had been informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) that Australian citizens and approved foreign nationals would be taken to a safe haven, away from a deteriorating security situation.
During the exercise, 7th Brigade’s Battle Group Ram and a company from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) were inserted by United States Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys in an air mobile operation where reconnaissance elements had landed just days earlier.
Commanding Officer of Battle Group Ram Lieutenant Colonel Ben Watson said the training would not be possible without the support of the Hinchinbrook Shire and the local residents.
“The Ingham residents have added a layer of realness to this exercise, where our soldiers are having to learn and adapt to changing security and environmental conditions,” Lieutenant Colonel Watson said.
“And by working with our regional brothers and sisters from the RFMF we demonstrate the value of a coalition to respond to a crisis in the region.”
The residents were taken from the emergency assembly area to a handling centre at the airfield where a DFAT crises response team processed them.
“Operations such as this are a whole-of-government effort, and we never work alone,” Lieutenant Colonel Watson said.
“It’s important we work closely with DFAT and other government agencies, so when the time comes where we are called upon for potential contingencies, we understand each other from the get go.”
Deputy Mayor of Hinchinbrook Shire Andrew Cripps, who participated in the exercise, said residents knew the importance of having the ADF exercise in their backyard.
“We’re proud to have the ADF train in our region and we know how training is crucial to our national security,” Mr Cripps said.
“It’s great to see our residents get behind the ADF, and we love having them come into town.”
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