Exercise Rock Apes was conducted in the third term on completion of lectures on Air Base Defence and designed with a hypothetical situation. The Air Student Officers were grouped in to two syndicates, representing two groups of Staff Officers of Sri Lanka Air Force and were tasked to develop two Air Base Defence plans for the captured Air Base of the Videsh Air Force situated in Pulmudai area.

The exercise unfolded in two phases.  1^st phase was conducted by visiting Air Force Officers on Air Base Defence on 27 and 28 Sep 22 followed by a central discussion. 2^nd phase was commenced on 29 Sep 22 and concluded on 02 Oct 22.  The main events in the 2^nd phase were, Student Officers have given an opportunity to conduct an air reconnaissance over the actual exercise area and visited the Air Base Defence infrastructures in the Air Force Academy China Bay. Student officers were divided in to five groups and provided five sorties of Bell 212 helicopter to carry out the air recce. They got air born from Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay and flown over the exercise area (GR 209121) of 1: 500000 Sheet No. 14 KOKILAI map, subsequently have visited the Air Base Defence Area of the Air Force Academy China Bay. The Commandant of the DSCSC has witnessed the exercise activities conducted in the Air Force Academy China Bay. Thereafter, Student Officers returned to DSCSC on 29 Sep 22 and conducted presentations on Critical Analysis and model briefings on formulated Air Base Defence plan on 01 and 02 Sep 22.

The objectives of the exercise Rock Apes are to develop the Student Officers knowledge on the mechanics of Ground Defence and make understand the responsibilities of Air Base Defence environment in an Airbase. Practice of writing a formal Ground Defence Plan and brief the same to the higher commander are also given priorities in the objectives.

The social gathering was held on 28 Sep 22 at Marble Beach Resort, China Bay and the Commandant of the DSCSC graced the occasion.

EXERCISE – ROCK APES - 22