Page 209 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Melbourne University Regiment
2017 continued the ever evolving
role of Melbourne University Regiment (MUR) through the delivery of a diverse range of training courses and devel- opment opportunities to both unit members
and members of the wider Army Reserve.
At the regimental level activities provided a mix of ceremonial and development events. In April Anzac Day commenced with a Dawn Service at the University of Melbourne Cenotaph in drizzly conditions followed by participation in the march through the streets of Melbourne to the Shrine of Remembrance. The day concluded back at the depot with the traditional mess games of Two-up and Crown and Anchor.
Mid-year saw MUR’s adventure training activity for the year, Exercise Monash Storm, which was conducted over a week in the Bogong High Plains of Victoria. This activity took the form of backcountry skiing and an alpine survival exercise and was conducted with staff and Of cer Cadets to test members leadership and resilience, physical and moral courage, trust, cameraderie and teamwork. Members from all companies undertook a series of lessons and challenges including understanding weather patterns, types of snow, building a snow shelter and the importance of clothing layers. These lessons greatly assisted the group in overcoming the dif culties faced in a challenging and confronting environment.
Later in the year is the annual Herring Lecture instituted by a former CO, LTCOL Jim Wood, who passed away this year. The Herring Lecture aims to expose Of cer Cadets to a variety of eminent speakers in the elds of military history and leadership. The speaker for 2017 maintains the high standards of the Lecture and is LTCOL Patrick Cullinan SC, OAM who was the rst member of the Australian Defence Force to climb Mount Everest. He achieved this as part of the 1988 Australian Bicentennial Everest Expedition and was one of the two people who reached the summit in that expedition
A highlight of the year has been the reinvigoration of recognition for Of cer Cadets who have excelled in various elds. The S.A.F. Pond Scholarship is from an endowment from MAJ Samuel Pond, a MUR of cer of the 1930s, who was captured at the fall of Singapore and survived the war in captivity, mainly in Changi. It is a monetary award to assist an Of cer Cadet as an undergraduate student at the University of Melbourne and was awarded to Of cer Cadet Nicholas Kitchen.
The second notable award is a travel scholarship offered by our regimental association, Melbourne University Ri es Association (MURA). This schol- arship is offered to a graduating Of cer Cadet for a two week attachment to The Ri es followed by a World War One battle eld tour of northern France. The winner this year was LT Elizabeth Normand who graduated from the Royal Military College – Duntroon in February and was also awarded the Sword of Honour. Her attachment with The Ri es is the subject of a separate article.
By chance our af liation was further strengthened when our primary point of contact
at The Ri es RHQ for organising the attachment, Captain Tom Brown, came to Australia in mid-year as Contingent Commander for EX LONGLOOK. Although his of cial duties didn’t bring him to Melbourne, an informal visit was arranged to thank him for his support with the attachment. He couldn’t help but comment on the wealth of Green Jackets and Light Infantry artefacts on display respectively in our two depots as indications of long standing af liations.
At a company level Monash Company has been focused strongly on building individual of cer tactical and leadership skills amongst Of cer Cadets. Training over the course of the year was delivered targeting the development of the potential junior of cer’s individual skills, infantry minor tactics, and leadership. These lessons were the foundation to a number of training weekends and quali cation courses.
This training and development leads to the nal training block within the Commissioning Course. This takes place at the Royal Military College - Duntroon, and is speci cally designed to test the resolve, resilience and attitude of senior Of cer Cadets in a platoon commander role.
Training Company started the year with a mixed bag of old and new hands. The older, and more seasoned personnel, looking on with curiosity as the new hands tried to make sense of working in the Reserve world. The learning process was steep and not without moments of head scratching as to why things were done this way.
It wasn’t too long before the rst suite of courses were upon us with the Initial Employment Training for Combat Arms soldiers and the follow on speci c to Corps training conducted by this unit for Infantry and Light Cavalry. Training was conducted in the relative comfort of suburban Melbourne initially, before taking a more country route up to the regional expanse of Puckapunyal training area.
Here a number of activities can be completed as part of the residential phase, general lessons conduct in the myriad of training facilities, simulated weapon ring and ultimately deploying onto the training area to conduct dry eld activities prior to conducting dismounted live- re activities. Training is intense with the IET recruits expected to meet the criteria demanded of them to ensure that they are con dent in their own ability before taking their place within their unit as a trained soldier.
Years end will see further organisation change as we pass under command from 4th Brigade to 8th Brigade. This restructure will see 8th Brigade re-roled as the 2nd Division training brigade and bring all university regiments under a uni ed command for the rst time in many years.
Irrespective of command we look forward to maintaining and building on the strength of our af liation with The Ri es in years to come.
TRAINING COMPANY STARTED THE YEAR WITH A MIXED BAG OF OLD AND NEW HANDS
Combat Shooting Course
THE LEARNING PROCESS WAS STEEP AND NOT WITHOUT MOMENTS OF HEAD SCRATCHING
THE RIFLES
ALLIANCES 207