30 April 2025
In the Exercise Bersama Shield joint safety cell office, where five nations work side by side, the language of safety is a lingua franca.
National safety officers from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom may come from different walks of life, but when it comes to planning a safe multinational military exercise involving fast jets, ships and troops, they read from the same book.
Exercise Bersama Shield is one of two annual exercises pitching air, land and sea capabilities against a fictional enemy. But behind every sortie is a safety framework more than 20 years in the making.
The exercise has been held annually since 2001 under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), the only multilateral defence agreement of its kind in South-East Asia and Australia’s longest-standing regional security mechanism.
Australian national safety officer Major Mark Tamblyn said though each nation had its own policy, when it came to safety, “we’re all drinking from the same fountain”.
“It’s the mission first and safety always,” Major Tamblyn said.
Back in Australia, Major Tamblyn works with Army Directorate of Work Health and Safety.
'It’s the mission first and safety always.'
In Malaysia, he works with safety officers from different backgrounds, such as engineers, fast-jet and helicopter pilots.
He is also the contingent commander for Australian forces on Exercise Bersama Shield.
“It’s a great opportunity to use my experience from the directorate to contribute to the exercise safety team,” Major Tamblyn said.
“What I gain from the others I can bring back, it’s a win-win.”
Deputy chief joint safety officer of the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Commander Karl Byrne, said the mix of experience ensured the team could deal with different issues they might encounter on the exercise, from fire hazards at accommodation to birds striking aircraft.
The duty officer manages incoming Hazard and Safety Observation Reports and monitors the day’s exercise serials.
The Joint Safety Cell also leads safety-specific scenario-based incidents during the exercise to achieve training outcomes, such as maritime search and rescue, casualty evacuation, dealing with mass casualties and aircraft incidents.
