On the 25 May, 54 Battalion crossed the border into Angola and started securing the route of advance that the other battle groups would take in the following weeks. 54 Battalion secured the area up to Mulemba, which was 90 km into Angola, thereby establishing the HAA and staging area. During this period leading up to D-day, the group came into contact with PLAN soldiers and destroyed caches losing two men with one missing in action and secured the route by 9 June.