Training at Horseshoe DPR/TV/1104

Australians in Vietnam have begun a refresher training course for a battalion the 18th Division of the South Vietnamese Army. It is the first of three six week courses for ARVN battalions to be run at The Horseshoe, an Australian held feature south of the Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat. "C" Company of 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is conducting the first course and its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. L. Morrison arrived by helicopter for a ceremony to mark the opening of the course. Also present for the opening ceremony were Brigadier C. M. I. Pearson, Commander of the 1st Australian Task Force, and Brigadier General Giai, Commander of 18th ARVN Division, with senior US advisers. After inspecting a joint Guard of Honour provided by South Vietnamese and Australian soldiers both Brigadier Pearson and General Giai addressed a joint parade. Object of the training is to improve the ARVN battalion's operational capabilities and to develop staff techniques and operating procedures. Brigadier Pearson said the Australians would do all they could to ensure the success of the joint venture, and General Giai told his men they were fortunate to have such good instructors and said they had much to learn from the techniques and tactics of the Australians. (Also identified: Mr John T. Josephs, Senior US Adviser in Phuoc Tuy; Colonel Walter Coleman (tall American) Senior US Adviser to 18th ARVN Division; Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Be Truoc, Province Chief, Phuoc Tuy).