HRTU SHARPENS SKILLS

Special Operations forces, helicopters and personnel from No. 3 Squadron RNZAF and members of the Army’s High Readiness Task Unit (HRTU) honed their skills recently on Exercise Steel Talon.

The exercise preceded the live field firing certification of HRTU platoons on Ex Venom 2.

The officer commanding HRTU Major Matthew Singleton said the exercise offered the HRTU the opportunity to integrate with force elements from the air component and SOTG. “It practised the deliberate and quick planning functions as well as cross boundary support and logistics.”

Exercise Steel Talon took place in the close country of Raumai Air Weapons Range and Santoft Forest, where decentralised platoons were inserted via NH90 in order to counter threat group smuggling operations. An escalation in enemy activities cued a move to Waiouru, and saw the HRTU link up with FSG Platoon, No. 3 Sqn and 1NZSAS to conduct clearance tasks culminating in a live fire Javelin ambush.

With Steel Talon completed, the HRTU quickly reconstituted and redeployed onto Venom 2 where platoons conducted live firing quick attacks. These BHEs saw the realisation of the crawl, walk, run approach to training. They also provided the HRTU with valuable integration training and exposure to working with strategic defence assets as well as practising core infantry skills.

Photos: Corporals Naomi James and Rachel Pugh