As the sun started to rise over the misty mountains of south Sumatra, a radio crackled to life with an incoming transmission.
"Black Death in-heading."
The incoming Apaches received a reply: "Black Death cleared hot."
In response, machinegun fire and Hellfire missiles pummelled the mountain side in the distance, destroying the target.
The voice clearing the flight was Bombardier Zeke Barker, from 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (8/12 RAA).
He was at the top of the watch tower, level with the flight path of the attack helicopters, in full control.
From the age of 13, while surfing waves in Cronulla, Bombadier Barker knew he wanted to be a joint terminal attack controller (JTAC).
"I was reading books and then started looking online trying to find something that could be in line with what I wanted to do," Bombadier Barker said.
"Surely calling in artillery and calling in joint effects had to include aircraft, is what I thought. I kept working towards the goal of becoming a JTAC."
Bombadier Barker was the only JTAC for the entire exercise, controlling US and Indonesian Apaches in Indonesian airspace.
"It was stressful. The first day we were out there I was a bit nervous but after that I was able to get it together and turn that into confidence," he said.
"The language barrier was the most difficult thing, and having our interpreters there was a massive help."
Bombadier Barker said his biggest learning curve was understanding everyone's needs and knowing how to accommodate them.
Identified by the call sign Dagger, Bombadier Barker said that of his career highlights - including four months with Rifle Company Butterworth and Exercise Best Buy Test with 101 Battery in Hawaii - he puts this year's Super Garuda Shield on the top shelf.
"The pilots of the US Apaches were rehearsing on the ground the day before, pretending to have Aussie accents calling in over the radio. Quite hilarious to watch and see how far they were from it," he said.
Bombadier Barker has heard some interesting aircraft call signs during his career.
"My first ever one was Carnage, that's one that will stick with me," he said.
"But Black Death is pretty cool. Not going to lie, I'm a big fan of it."
The 'boy from The Shire' now has his eyes set on a training posting to pass on his knowledge.
