CHARTERS Towers will become a simulated battlefield with soldiers invading the town as part of a military training exercise.
About 200 staff cadets from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, with participate in the 10 day exercise in May.
Armoured and soft skin vehicles, helicopters and various specialist capabilities including military working dogs will be taken to the town as the cadets complete their final exercise of the 18-month course to become officers in the Australian Army.
During exercise Binh Ba, Charters Towers will become a fictitious country where the Australian Army is deployed to conduct stability activities.
The majority of the participants will arrived via a Chinook (CH-47) on May 19 and will then be highly visable around town as they use the region as their base.
Soldiers will be wearing uniforms, and carrying weapons, and while blanks will be used, no live rounds will be fired.
Residents can expect to see cadets conducting response to simulated emergencies, civil unrest, engagement with the community and media.
The exercise will play out in the community and impacted residents and businesses will be advised.
Participants will reside at numerous public, private and council-controlled locations throughout Charter Towers.
Defence have been liaising closely with Charters Towers Regional Council and residents will be advised of any disruptions that may be incurred after the final schedule is decided.
Residents will also have a change to interact with soldiers and see their capabilities at work.
The soldiers will start arriving in Charters Towers from May 12, ahead of the exercise which runs from May 19-29.