Central Queensland University's (CQU) communications program is well represented as part of the Australian Defence Force's Exercise Swift Eagle, currently being held in Central Queensland.

Exercise spokesperson, Captain Jason Logue, is a CQU graduate, and CQU academic Lieutenant Kate Ames is a member of the Joint Information Bureau, facilitating media requests.

Journalism students Len Walker, Dave Cochrane, and Megan Sheehan have are also involved, attending local media conferences as 'local journalists'.

The exercise involves 2500 military personnel, and its aim is to test the ADF's capability to conduct evacuation operations. The high level of involvement of civilians (900) from the local area is a unique feature of the exercise, and has attracted media attention from throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The exercise also features the first full deployment of the Joint Public Affairs unit (1JPAU), and media liaison. Role playing has been a key activity.

Jason graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in communication, from CQU in 1997. He subsequently joined the regular army, and is currently the Military Public Affairs Officer for Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, normally based in Brisbane. "I've enjoyed being able to combine an interest in the military and knowledge of public relations," he said.

"This is a big exercise for us, and it has been great to come back to Rockhampton to catch up with friends and family. I get up here fairly regularly, and I tend to keep in touch with my old lecturers, as students are often involved in some way in exercises." Kate, a lecturer in Professional Communication, is also an Army Reserve Public Affairs Officer based in Rockhampton. "I am normally the Public Affairs Officer for the local Army Reserve unit, the 42nd Battalion," she said.

"It's a great opportunity for me as a Reservist to work with the regular army in a fairly realistic scenario. What has been interesting for me is watching how an exercise scenario is also managed when real life media are involved." "I have also enjoyed being in close-working and intense environment with other 'PR' experts. "As an academic, it's important to practice skills and ensure that my knowledge is up to date, and I can't think of a better environment in which to do it." The exercise finishes this weekend (29 September).

Pictured is Captain Jason Logue with CQU's Kate Ames.