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SECFOR 1 conducting a patrol with 7RAR Combat Engineers in the Ground Defence Area

DEAR READER

This month we crossed the halfway mark, for those current and ex serving members “hump day” has come and gone. Soon enough our brothers at the Squadrons will be relieving us of our duties and shipping us home. Pack your Gameboys guys because by halfway through your deployment I don’t think there will be much in the way of entertainment!

We have well and truly settled in now, with a dedicated waiting area and vehicle holding yard, complete with patio courtesy of LAC Jacobs and his section members. A rather large donation from RSL Queensland provided us with 2 televisions and Playstation 3’s with plenty of games and controllers as well as a Barbeque so if you’re thirsty head to your local RSL and say thanks for us by supporting the troops and veterans.

Hopefully our newsletter is keeping you entertained or informed, maybe even both.

Kind Regards

LAC Nicholas Russo (Right)

Email: russo.newsletter2013@gmail.com

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I am Leading Aircraftsmen "LAC" Troy Ritchens.

I am currently deployed in Afghanistan, Tarin Kot as a PMV commander for SECFOR 1.

We have 6 commanders and 6 drivers within a call sign known as Mobility. Our tasking for deployment is to provide

mobility and security as part of the quick reaction element for MNB-TK.

Mobility/ Security

Currently we are operating within shifts through the day and night. The section has three CPLs that provide the Mobil-

ity mounted command element. Each vehicle has a crew commander and driver. The quick reaction element also has

a number of dismounts to provide the ground force element. This provides the base a reaction capability but also a

capability to detect and deter when conducting rehearsals and patrolling within our areas of responsibilities. This has

been a great opportunity and experience for the Airfield Defence Guard mustering and our previous training and hard

work has assisted in the preparation for this tasking in Afghanistan. We have completed around 5 months of our 8

month deployment and have enjoyed the company and new friendships of our fellow troops. The stories and memo-

ries that we have shared and experienced will be with us for the rest of our lives. Mobility section is wiser for the de-

ployment and experience in PMV activities but all of us are keen to return back to Australia.

MOBILITY JOURNEY

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First of all, I’d like to say to all the friends and families of all the guys over here, the letters, packages and even the fact

that you’re reading this newsletter means heaps so cheers for everything.

I came over with nine other guys so that we could perform the duties of the ROCL section, basically what that means is

that when one section goes on their ROCL/ROCTFA (Leave) we take up their position until they come back and the next

section goes, put simply, were benchwarmers….

Our time here has been good and thanks to the great handovers from the other sections we’ve managed to slip in fairly

easily. In our time here we have been fortunate enough to have been used in a variety of roles and the opportunity to

work alongside other elements of the Defence Force has been greatly appreciated. Of note the tasks we have completed

with SECPOL force elements at TK have been outstanding. This I hope can only mean good things for the mustering as we

move toward the forming of the “Security Forces Squadron’s” that has come as a result of the Force Protection Review.

Once again I would like to thank the wives, girlfriends, family and friends of all the guys of SECFOR for your ongoing sup-

port through this deployment and on a personal note I would like to thank all the boys back at the squadron (you know

who you are) and especially 1 AFDS new ADMINO FLGOFF Emily Thorvaldsson for their hard work and diligence in sup-

porting myself and Tracey through our own dramas with the recent natural disaster in Ipswich. We cannot thank you

enough and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks for reading and we’ll see you all soon.

LAC Peter Luxford

RELIEF OUT OF COUNTRY LEAVE SECTION

Using interpreters and other enablers to understand, influence and say G’day to the locals.

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Children are encountered almost every day on duty for the men of SECFOR. The Trade Training School on the base conducts courses for local children to learn a specific skill or trade such as carpentry. These chil-dren have to travel from their home and through multiple levels of security which includes passing through the SECFOR entry control point (ECP). Knowing the routine the children play and joke with the men, particu-larly when they are departing the base always cheeky to gather or asking for anything they can see. This includes items such as pens and pencils to soft drink and lollies. Their English is quite good from the majority of the children and it is easy to communicate on a basic level. On patrol the children are more shy and curi-ous and always keen for a bottle of water. It puts things into perspective for the lads when they experience and see the conditions that the children of Tarin Kot have compared to their own upbringing. The lads with kids back home have a particular soft spot for the children. With the good work of organisations such as AU-SAID and the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) the chance of an education for the children of Tarin Kot is possible with the future ahead.

LAC Collins staying focused on the job.

LAC Wall negotiating why he needs to keep his pen!

THE CHILDREN OF TARIN KOT

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LAC Trottt on patrol as the Combat First Aider

Back in 2012 when it was identified that there would be a contingent of Airfield Defence Guards deploying over to Afghanistan to take over a security role at one of the major bases. It was assessed that there would be multiple tasks that would include the likes of patrols, to provide a quick reaction force for any security and also to man the gates.

As part of the normal AFDS training continuum for 2012, the units conducted Care of the Battle Casualty (CBC) training. This gave us skills in care under fire, tactical field care, and tactical evacuation. A number of people were also selected as CFA’s (Combat First Aiders) to enable a more advanced first aid in the event of an incident whilst on patrol. Three lads conducted the three week long CFA course that was held at Enoggera barracks in Brisbane. As one of these members I can say that it was a very informative and interesting course. We learned how to put an intravenous line for someone in need of fluids, scene management in the event of a mass casualty, and the methods of using more advanced equipment. These included Donway splints and spi-nal boards/collars. We were also taught how and when to administer pain relief under strict control measures.

Training also involved conducting more detailed assessments such as blood pressure statistics, accurate heart rate readings, and to be able to determine if the person has a head injury or not which also aids in categorising the injured so that the medical staff and doctors at the next level of support know what they must prepare for and save their lives. We receive continuation training every second week at the ROLE2 hospital to maintain skills.

The Boss is placing one of us on any patrols. If there is a medical situation in any activity such as a mass cas-ualty or if someone is in need of advanced first aid, there will always be someone on the patrol that can man-age the situation with the calm cool professionalism of an advanced first aider and provide care as casualties are moved back to the closest medical facilities.

By a SECFOR CFA

SECFOR COMBAT FIRST AIDER

LAC Viera with one of the AMK9 security contractors and his explosive detection dog at one of the ECPs.

Sharing the base with US SF has some fringe benefits !

LAC Leddy manning the CAMP Holland pass issue chair.

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The local nationals like to dress up vehicles with weird and wonderful accessories. Here is an ANSF

officer’s motorcycle.

PIMP MY MOTORCYCLE AFGHAN STYLE

AMBULANCE

TK Hospital ambulance at MNB-TK.

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A big thankyou to Returned Services League (Queensland Branch) Mates for Mates Donation to SECFOR 1. Through home units back home and the old boy network we would like to acknowledge the great work of for-mer Air Force personnel Chris McHugh CSC (RSL CEO QLD) and Mr Shane Howard (Ex ADG). Through a great initiative called Mates for Mates, SECFOR 1 was approached through CO 1 and 2 for support provided by this concept. The RSL asked SECFOR what we would like from the generous offer. Most of the lads agreed

to give the money to veterans that needed financial assistance but a few ideas sprung up. One was a BBQ to acknowledge something special and get a meal away from the DFAC and the oth-er was a game console (particularly popular among the younger generation). A few weeks later and the FSGT was advised of a large consignment for SECFOR. The gifts of a BBQ, gaming consoles and controllers/games and a large TV were warmly received. The items are stored in the standby location and gives the lads (off shift of course!) a chance to chew the fat and let off some steam. These items will be handed over to SECFOR 2 until end of mission.

RETURNED SERVICES LEAGUE (QUEENSLAND BRANCH) MATES FOR MATES DONATION

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One of the cold wet days that Afghanistan's winter brings.

GDA patrol

SECFOR arriving in November. Not long till freedom bird will come back to take us home