When you are dropping mortars in support of your mates, it's essential that all your drills remain consistent under pressure.
So, when mortar platoons from across Army gathered for a live-fire danger-close activity, it was the subtle differences in the teams that interested Sergeant Kurtis Sharman.
The long-time mortarman from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), noticed that despite everyone learning the same drills, each platoon had its own quirks.
"It was interesting to see the minutiae in differences. It could be as mundane as which side they place their bombs to which side they drop down after they fire," Sergeant Sharman said.
"I'd have a yarn to these guys from across Australia to ask 'why do you do that?' and it was good to learn and share knowledge from all the different platoons."
The mortarmen concentration aimed to re-certify all mortar platoons across Army to conduct danger-close fire missions as part of regular training.
Danger-close refers to fire missions with friendly call signs inside 600 metres, with a safety distance of 90 metres on operations and 300 metres in training.
This type of fire is used to support troops in close contact. An historical example is the Battle of Long Tan.
Each battalion progressed through basic mortar drills and technical fire missions, assessed by the School of Artillery Mortar Wing, which links shooting and fire planning.
'It was interesting to see the minutiae in differences. It could be as mundane as which side they place their bombs to which side they drop down after they fire.'
The danger-close serials were carried out by pre-firing coordinates, then moving the mobile fire controllers into position to call in the fire mission.
It was the first danger-close mission for Private Brendan Walsh, a number two mortarman from 1RAR, who said despite the heightened intensity of a danger-close mission, drills remained the same.
"Obviously, we want to make sure we're as accurate as possible because we don't want to be hitting our own guys," he said.
"We put sandbags on the legs of the mortars, but apart from that, it'll be the same as a normal mission."
As a number two, Private Walsh is responsible for dropping the bombs down the tube, as well as confirming the number one's input firing data.
He joined mortars for the culture and the important role they play for infantry battalions as their organic indirect fire support.
Sergeant Sharman said being able to run danger-close missions as part of regular training benefits not only the mortar teams but the rest of the unit.
"If our company's doing a live-fire assault, soldiers from across the battalion will actually be able to see the bombs fall and the effect [they have] on the ground," he said.
"It will make actions like an all-arms call for fire make a lot more sense to newer soldiers."
