Special Forces comrades, Special Forces comrades, family and friends farewell family and friends farewell experienced SASR member experienced SASR member Sgt Blaine Diddams

Edition 1286July 19, 2012

‘Blaine was a relaxed relaxed professional professional whose quick whose quick wit could wit could turn a smile turn a smile in the worst in the worst situations’ Page 2Page 2

NAIDOC WeekIndigenous soldiers join

the celebrations and share their stories

CENTREPIECE

MTF 4 hands over to the 3RAR Task Group in Uruzgan

province, Afghanistan

Transition

PAGE 3

3

Army July 19, 2012NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews2

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“BLAINE is forever engraved in the history of our nation and the proud history of the SASR.”

Special Operations Commander Australia, Maj-Gen Gus Gilmore, paid tribute to fallen SASR member Sgt Blaine Diddams during a ramp ceremony at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia on July 9.

“His leadership, courage and dedi-cation to his mates will inspire gener-ations of Australian soldiers to come,” Maj-Gen Gilmore said.

“The scale of our loss of Sgt Diddams is perhaps only surpassed by our recognition of his contribution to Australia over so many years in so many places and at such a consist-ently high standard.”

He was killed during an engage-ment with insurgents in Afghanistan on July 2 while serving as a patrol commander with SOTG.

He was shot in the chest during the partnered mission with Afghan National Security Forces to target a known insurgent commander.

The patrol’s advanced first aider provided immediate assistance. Sgt Diddams was evacuated by helicop-ter to the Role 2 Medical Facility for further treatment, but unfortunately he succumbed to his wounds and was declared deceased by a treating doc-tor.

Born in Canberra in 1971, Sgt Diddams enlisted in the Army in 1990 and after completing his initial employment training for infantry was posted to 1RAR in Townsville. He successfully completed his SASR selection course and was posted to the unit in 1995.

This was his seventh tour to Afghanistan since 2001 and he had deployed previously to Somalia, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

Sergeant Diddams, or “Didds” to his mates, was described as a devoted family man and a dedicated profes-sional soldier. Known for his outgo-ing personality and quirky sense of humour, he was held in the highest regard by his mates.

Soldiers from SASR formed an honour guard and bearer party to escort Sgt Diddams’ casket from the RAAF aircraft to his grieving family at the ramp ceremony.

Sgt Diddams’ family released a statement after his death describing the experienced Special Forces soldier as “the most loving of husbands and a devoted and proud father”.

“He lived his life to the fullest,” the statement reads.

TWO ADF military dogs have been killed by insurgents during recent SOTG operations in Afghanistan.

On July 2, military dog Devil was shot during the engagement in which SASR’s Sgt Blaine Diddams was killed while on a mission targeting an insurgent commander in the Chorah region.

Devil was three years old and on his second tour to Afghanistan when he was killed.

On June 25, military dog Quake was struck by small-arms fire dur-ing an engagement in which an Australian soldier sustained a minor wound.

Four-year-old Quake, who was also on his second tour to Afghanistan when he was killed, was part of partnered operation conducted by Afghan National Security Forces and SOTG, which destroyed an insur-gent bomb training and manufactur-ing facility.

The dogs’ bodies were returned to Multinational Base Tarin Kot and their ashes will be repatriated to Australia in the near future.

CO SOTG Lt-Col J said the dogs’ deaths would have a big impact on the task group.

“Personnel who work closely with our dogs form extremely close bonds with them so these deaths will affect them. These dogs were much loved members of the SOTG and they will be sorely missed,” he said.

Military dogs killed in engagements

“His enthusiasm and humour were utterly infectious.

“If you were around Didds you were having a good time. Everyone has a ‘Didds story’.”

SOTG members fa rewel led Sgt Diddams in a memorial service at Camp Russell in Afghanistan on July 5.

CO SOTG Lt-Col J paid tribute to a well-respected and highly experi-enced Special Forces soldier during the service in Tarin Kot.

“Today we farewelled a husband and father, a mate and brother who

will be forever missed but never for-gotten,” Lt-Col J said.

“He died doing what he loved in the only way he knew how – to lead his men from the front.

“Blaine was the relaxed profes-sional whose quick wit and sense of humour could turn a smile in even the worst of situations.

“Blaine endeared himself to every-one who knew him due to his quirky sense of humour and love of a joke.

“He thrived on adventure and time with his mates and he was the type of person that, if you were in trouble or

on a winning streak, you wanted to share the experience with.”

Soldiers from SOTG along with Australian, Afghan and coalition forc-es personnel lined the route to salute as the casket carrying their comrade was loaded on to a Hercules for the journey home to Australia.

Sgt Diddams is survived by his wife Toni-Ann, their daughter Elle-Lou and son Henry, his parents Peter and Cate, and siblings Nikki, Sian, Christian and Luke.

Sgt Diddams’ funeral was held in Perth on July 14.

Tributes paid to an ‘inspirational leader’� Special Forces community mourns the loss of one of SASR’s most experienced soldiers

Experienced professional: SASR’s Sgt Blaine Diddams, pictured inset during an SOTG operation in Afghanistan, is farewelled by thousands of soldiers in a ramp ceremony at Tarin Kot on July 5.

DECORATIONS� Australian Active Service

Medal with Clasp Somalia, Clasp East Timor, Clasp ICAT

� International Forces East Timor (Interfet) Medal

� Afghanistan Campaign Medal

� Australian Service Medal with Clasp Solomon Islands, Clasp CT/SR

� Defence Long Service Medal

� Australian Defence Medal

� NATO ISAF Medal

� Meritorious Unit Citation

� Infantry Combat Badge

OPERATIONS� Op Solace (Somalia) –

January-May 1993

� Op Warden (East Timor) – January-February 2000

� Op Tanager (East Timor) – February-May 2000

� Op Trek (Solomon Islands) – 2002

� Op Slipper (Afghanistan) – November 2001-April 2002

� Op Slipper (Afghanistan) – May-October 2007

� Op Slipper (Afghanistan) – January-April 2008

� Op Slipper (Afghanistan) – May-July 2008

� Op Slipper (Afghanistan) – June-November 2009

� Op Slipper (Afghanistan) – January-July 2011

� Op Amulet (CHOGM Perth) – 2011

� Op Slipper (Afghanistan) – February 2012-July 2012.

TWO soldiers from the 3RAR Task Group are recovering from wounds suffered in an IED strike in Uruzgan province on July 10.

The soldiers were travelling in a Bushmaster in the Deh Rawud region when the IED detonated against the vehicle.

Joint Operations Chief Lt-Gen Ash Power said one of the soldiers suffered serious wounds in the blast, while the other soldier received minor wounds.

“It was pleasing to see that the soldiers from the 3RAR Task Group reacted promptly and professionally to this incident by providing the best quality care to their wounded mates,” Lt-Gen Power said.

“Both of the wounded soldiers received immediate first aid at the incident site and were quickly evacuated by helicopter to the Role 2 Medical Facility at Multinational Base Tarin Kot.”

The seriously wounded soldier is expected to return to Australia for fur-ther recovery and rehabilitation.

So far this year, 17 ADF personnel have been wounded in Afghanistan.

Soldiers stable after IED strike

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Army July 19, 2012 NEWSwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 3

THE 3RAR Task Group has taken over responsibility for mentoring the Afghan National Army’s 4th Brigade in Uruzgan province after an official transfer of authority ceremony at Tarin Kot on June 24.

MTF 4 personnel have returned home after completing their five-month deployment on Operation Slipper.

The ADF has changed the task force name to the 3RAR Task Group for the latest rotation to align with International Security Assistance Force naming conventions for tran-sition.

CO MTF 4 Lt-Col Kahlil Fegan said his team had helped the ANA make significant progress in the past five months.

“Security across Uruzgan prov-ince has improved as a result of the increased confidence and compe-tence of the ANA 4th Brigade and

its spring offensive was particularly successful,” he said.

Lt-Col Fegan said the relation-ship between MTF 4 personnel and their 4th Brigade colleagues had been integral to the success of the mission.

“Our mentoring relationship was based on mutual respect, trust and friendship,” he said

“This trust and respect was forged in combat and in the face of adversity – the manner in which Australian and Afghan soldiers went to great lengths to protect each other from unnecessary risk has been most impressive.

“Working with the ANA and see-ing its steady progress has proved to be a highlight for many of our soldiers.”

Lt-Col Fegan said the steady pro-gress had put the 4th Brigade in a good position to take responsibility for security in the province.

“I am confident that the ANA 4th Brigade will be ready for transition to security lead in accordance with the established timelines,” he said.

“I am immensely proud of the work my men and women have achieved in building the confidence and competence of the 4th Brigade.

“Several successful recent clear-ance operations led by the Afghan National Security Forces are testa-ment to the growing capability of the ANA, not to mention the dedica-tion and hard work of its mentors.”

Lt-Col Fegan said the planning, building and manning of a new patrol base at Chaka Juy in eastern Uruzgan province was of particular importance.

“The ANA 4th Brigade deter-mined a need to secure a key sup-ply route from Tarin Kot to Khas Uruzgan, and as a result they estab-lished a patrol base along the route,” he said.

“They have s ince manned the patrol base and it is clear that their presence is having a positive effect on security in the area with an increase in local traffic security along the route.

“MTF 4 personnel assisted in upgrading the route, transporting stores and equipment, providing spe-cialist trade skills at the build site and mentoring security patrols in the area.”

The mission was in good hands with the hand over to the 3RAR Task Group, led by Lt-Col Trent Scott, according to Lt-Col Fegan.

“I have no doubt that the new task force will continue to build on the good relationship established by all those before them,” Lt-Col Fegan said.

“It has been a rewarding deploy-ment and our men and women are looking forward to returning to their loved ones.”

CDF Gen David Hurley has called on all ADF members to keep an eye out for each other following the public release of the DLA Piper Review into allegations of inappropri-ate behaviour.

“My primary concern at this time is for the welfare and wellbeing of all those who are affected by the DLA Piper Review. Defence has put in place support arrange-ments to assist serving and former ADF members who may be experiencing difficul-ties as a result of this Review,” GEN Hurley said.

The review identified 775 plausible alle-gations dating back to 1951. While these alle-gations are yet to be tested, the CDF said any form of abusive behaviour in the ADF was unacceptable.

“I have said publicly that there is no place for inappropriate behaviour in Defence and any serving member who is proven to have engaged in abusive behaviour will be dealt with,” he said.

The CDF said given the nature of the alle-gations it was critical that they be addressed as soon as practicable.

“Australians need to be assured that when they choose to enlist in the ADF they will be afforded every opportunity to pursue a rewarding military career in a safe and sup-portive work environment,” GEN Hurley said.

It is his strong belief that the review does not define the ADF.

“I have served in the ADF for 40 years and I know that the ADF is not characterised by abusive behaviour,” he said. “While the overwhelming majority of ADF members live up to the high standards expected of us, at times, some members have acted in a manner that has harmed people. This is not accept-able and as members of the ADF we must ask ourselves ‘how could this happen?’ and ‘how do we ensure this does not happen again?’ ”

Government is considering a number of options presented in the review which may be adopted to address plausible allegations of past abuse.

The final report of the review has been under consideration since April and the Government is expected to announce a response in the near future.

For volume one of the DLA Piper Report and for more information on the review visit http://www.defence.gov.au/culturereviews/Docs/DLAPiper/

Look after your mates, CDF says

WHO TO CALLCounselling or assistance is available for current and former Defence members:

� Serving ADF personnel 1800 628 036

� Former ADF and APS employees1300 361 008

� Defence APS employees 1300 361 008

� MTF 4 troops return home after hand over to 3RAR Task Group

In good handsDeployment begins: WO2 Jason Watene, of 3RAR Task Group, gets to know the Mirabad Valley during a familiarisation patrol with troops from MTF 4. Inset top, from left, 3RAR Task Group RSM WO1 Shane McPhee and CO Lt-Col Trent Scott take over from Lt-Col Kahlil Fegan and WO1 Ian D’arcy of MTF 4. Inset bottom, troops from the ANA 4th Brigade hold a farewell parade for MTF 4 in Tarin Kot. Photos by Cpl Hamish Paterson

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Army July 19, 2012NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews4

OFFICERS throughout the Army are providing career management feedback through the Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) survey.

The survey is part of the PAR Review, which is led by DGPers-A with the aim of improving career management for officers.

The review team has been working closely with the Directorate of Officer Career Management and Army senior leadership, and has looked at current best practice, how other armies and multina-tional companies measure performance and the human dimension of the Army’s objective force 2030 to see what kind of officer will be required in the future.

The survey was established to cap-ture the views of all officers on the PAR process and launched by DCA Maj-Gen Angus Campbell on June 20 with 8800 emails to officers inviting them to par-ticipate.

It was sent to officers between the ranks of lieutenant and brigadier seek-ing feedback on their experiences being appraised and appraising others.

DGPers-A Brig Gavan Reynolds said a key outcome of the survey would be an understanding of the extent to which officers believed the PAR process was fair, relevant and effective.

“Individual performance appraisal is linked to several important career man-agement decisions,” Brig Reynolds said.

“The views of officers who have used the current process to appraise the perfor-

Help shape appraisal process with survey

Diversity, career management discussed

Projects progressTHE approval of four Defence projects announced on June 3 brings the total number of projects approved in 2012 to 11, worth more than $2.6 billion.

The government has given first-pass approval for a pro-ject to replace the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) systems currently used by the ADF.

IFF and SSR are used in a range of systems, including RBS-70 ground-based air defence systems, to identify friendly forces within a field of unidentified contacts. The

upgrades, cost capped between $100m and $300m, will continue to prevent friendly fire incidents and promote air safety.

First-pass approval has been given to investigate a replace-ment for the Australian Army’s 81mm mortar system under Land 136 Phase 1 (Land Force Mortar Replacement).

The project aims to acquire a modern, digital mortar system which will deliver more respon-sive, precise fire support for ground forces.

Funding has been approved

for first pass to second pass work, including project development and risk mitigation studies and investi-gation of the mortar system solu-tion.

First-pass approval has also been given for Joint Project 1770 Phase 1 – Rapid Environmental Assessment and Sea 1778 Phase 1 – Organic Mine Counter Measures.

The approvals follow the record 49 capability projects approved in 2011, worth more than $6 billion. In the next financial year, about $9 bil-lion in projects will be considered for approval by Government.

� Radar, mortar system and maritime projects move forward

mance of others are critically important to understand.

“Through the survey officers can help shape a future appraisal process with only a small investment of their time.”

The survey, which closes on August 3, takes about 10 minutes to complete and the feedback could be delivered to the senior leadership within weeks.

For more information contact PAR Review project lead Lt-Col Brian Johnston on (02) 6266 0219 or email brian.johnston1@defence.gov.au

Fair assessment: The PAR survey is an opportunity for officers to provide feedback on the Army’s performance appraisal process. Photo by Cpl Mark Doran

Friend or foe: A project is underway to find a new radar system to help distinguish between friendly and enemy radar contacts. File photo by LAC Leigh Cameron

CA’s Senior Advisory Committee (CASAC) met on June 22. Although Army continues to con-firm the activity program for this financial year, CASAC discussed in detail the pressures on Army’s commitments as a result of gov-ernment budget requirements.

The Beersheba Implementation Plan was also debated. CA guided the devel-

opment of the Plan in enough detail to allow presentation of a more detailed plan at the August CASAC. At that meeting, the concrete steps to be taken will be confirmed and CA will announce shortly thereafter what steps need to be taken this year to enable it.

CA, through CASAC, is also looking in considerable detail at what can be done to make service

rewarding and encourage reten-tion of individuals performing well.

The CASAC has looked at how Army manages talent and is undertaking steps to better man-age Army’s talented people. It is also looking at what options may be available to CA to make it easier for families to contribute, in particular in child care.

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Army July 19, 2012 NEWSwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 5

TROOPS from 1RAR are train-ing in the realistic and challenging environment of Hawaii, made to seem like Afghanistan through dis-tinctive smells and sounds during exercise Rim of the Pacific.

More than 150 Townsville-based 1RAR soldiers kicked down doors and secured buildings as part of an 1100-strong Australian Army, Navy and Air Force contingent that stormed the Pacific paradise on June 27.

RIMPAC is the world’s largest multilateral live-fire maritime train-ing exercise. There are 22 partici-pating nations including Australia, Canada, France and Russia.

The US-sponsored exercise aims to enhance the interoperability of the combined forces and involves warfighting exercises, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and mari-time security operations.

RIMPAC 12 has brought together 25,000 sailors, soldiers and airmen for five weeks participating in a series of complex and realistic warlike scenari-

Say aloha to Hawaii� Australian soldiers storm the tropical paradise for exercise RIMPAC 12 alongside troops from 21 other nations

The global maritime

environment is too large and complex for

one nation to safeguard.

– Cmdr Stuart Mayer, head of Australian forces on RIMPAC 12

os and, for the first time in the history of RIMPAC, Australia will lead the maritime component.

Troops from A Coy, 1RAR, are working with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines and engineers from 3CER and 4 Regt, RAA are supporting the infantry along with medical specialists.

The soldiers are training in urban operations at the Marine Corps Training Area Bellows at Kaneohe

Bay, as well as conducting live-fire exercises and training on board USS Essex. The urban operations training facility has been built to replicate villages like those in Afghanistan.

OC A Coy, Maj Mick O’Sullivan said working with 1/3 is a great opportunity for the company to share professional experience and trade tactics techniques and procedures.

A special-purpose marine group task force from the 3 Bde, will also work with US personnel to fur-ther develop the ADFs amphibious capability.

Commande r o f t he 1100 Australians on the exercise, Cmdr Stuart Mayer, said RIMPAC pro-vided unique opportunities.

“The global maritime environ-ment is too large and too complex for any one nation to safeguard,” Cmdr Mayer said. “RIMPAC helps all of us foster and sustain the coop-erative relationships that are so criti-cal to safeguarding sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.”

The exercise finishes August 3.

All clear: Above and inset, soldiers from 1RAR secure areas at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows. Right, sappers from 3CER remotely detonate a suspected IED. Photos by Cpl Christopher Dickson

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Army July 19, 2012NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews6

Wg-Cdr Patrick Del Guidice and Flt-Lt Phil Thomas

A SELECT group of Australians working in the US at the heart of a major global satellite communica-tions (Satcom) system will now be eligible to be awarded the US Army Space Badge.

It’s US Army policy to only award the badge to US personnel, but Satcom Division Operations Officer Wg-Cmdr Patrick Del Guidice said an exemption was made to recognise Australians doing the same training and work as their US colleagues.

“The badge recognises their com-petency as space professionals and as members of the US Army Space Cadre,” he said.

Cpls Michael Thomas, Clint Chilcott and David Boucaut, Sgt Eliot Kruger and Flt-Lt Phil Thomas received their badges from the Commanding General of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Lt-Gen Richard Formica.

Conditional approval has been granted for these members to wear the badge on their uniforms while posted to their positions to foster a one-team approach.

The personnel are embed-ded into various Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) operational and plan-ning organisations in the US, with two more members due to arrive in January next year.

As cooperative project person-nel (CPP), they work in a variety of project management and operational planning and execution roles, report-ing directly to US supervisors as US team members.

Their training and experience,

including a fresh working knowl-edge of the US’s space operations and space force enhancement mis-sion areas, will help the ADF to be a more effective and efficient partner to the US in global Satcom opera-tions.

There is also potential for their space-related skill sets to extend beyond Satcom and contribute to the definition and realisation of an ADF space cadre.

The WGS is a worldwide con-stellation of high-capacity wideband communications satellites, with globally dispersed control stations. Its objective is to provide ample, reliable and sustainable wideband

military Satcom to the US and its international partners.

Australia committed to provide the resources needed for a sixth WGS satellite, which allowed the partnership to take advantage of the Boeing WGS satellite produc-tion line, grow the constellation and increase the overall communications capability.

For Australia, the agreement provides assured access to the once US-only network of six satellites, proportional to its investment of about 10 per cent in the overall pro-gram.

US funding for the seventh and eighth satellites has since been secured, and in January, the US signed a multilateral agree-ment with Canada, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Luxembourg, for a ninth.

All 16 CPP roles will remain cur-rent until the scheduled completion of the agreement in 2029. Postings are for three years and positions rotate between the three services.

TWO Bills have been introduced into Parliament to establish a Military Court of Australia and to transition from the current interim system of court martial and Defence Force magistrate.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon intro-duced the Bills on June 21 with the aim of improving the military discipline system.

They will be debated in Parliament and examined by Parliamentary Committee before the military court can start trying ser-vice offences, which is not expected before 2013 at the earliest.

The Military Court of Australia will be a new, separate federal court with guaran-teed constitutional independence. It will try service offences under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (DFDA).

The Defence Legal Military Discipline Law director, Gp-Capt Christopher Ward, said the importance of discipline in the ADF was reflected in the government’s plans to establish the new court.

Gp-Capt Ward said trials of serious ser-vice offences by the military court would only represent a small percentage of the total number of trials of service offences. The Judge Advocate General’s report for 2011 showed 5306 infringements were dealt with by discipline officers, 1452 trials by sum-mary authority and 61 trials by court martial or Defence Force magistrate last year.

Because of the military court’s independ-ence, judges and federal magistrates of the military court would not be serving mem-bers of the ADF. However, the Bills require that these judicial officers must understand the nature of ADF service.

The prosecution and defence of ADF members tried by the court will still be the function of the Director of Military Prosecutions and ADF legal officers pro-vided at Commonwealth expense.

Prosecutions can only begin if they sub-stantially serve the purpose of maintaining or enforcing service discipline. However, members charged with a DFDA offence can elect to face trial in the military court, sim-plifying the current process.

Commanders and key unit personnel will be trained in how the military court affects them before any changes take effect.

US Space Badge offerRecognised: 13 ADF members and an APS civilian are eligible to be awarded a US Army Space Badge.

Boosting our military discipline

� Australians recognised in US Army Space Cadre for their Satcom work

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Cpl Nick Wiseman

FOUR new Australian positions have been established with the US Marine Corps to support the devel-opment of the Army’s amphibious capability.

Coinciding with the recent arrival of Fox Company 2/3rd Marine Regiment in Darwin, Capt’s Luke Condon and Ben Watson have been embed-ded within the 13th and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units and Maj Matthew Cross is embedded with the Special Operations Training Group.

Lt-Col Paul Smith, who is posted to HQ Marine Forces Pacific on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, said the officers posted to Marine Expeditionary Units would become great assets to the Army.

“These officers will come back to Australia having experienced amphib-ious operations and ready to impart their knowledge,” he said.

“This knowledge will be fed back into our own amphibious force.”

The two officers posted with the Marine Expeditionary Units are part of a two-year posting serving alongside Marines and undergoing the full range of training before deploying with the units in their coming operational afloat periods.

Maj Cross works with the Tactical Exercise Control Group in the Special Operations Training Group – Pacific, whose task is comparable to our Combat Training Centre used to train and certify units before deployment.

Capt Condon, who is posted to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the logistics plans officer, said work-ing with not only the Marines but also other international militaries conduct-ing amphibious exercises was a great opportunity.

“Although only six months into the two-year exchange posting, I’ve been involved in the planning and conduct of two USMC joint international engage-ment exercises,” he said.

He worked with the Japanese Self Defence Force as part of Exercise Ironfist 12 and the Indian Army as part of Exercise Shatrujeet 12.

Capt Condon will continue to pro-vide logistics planning support to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit for the duration of his posting, experiencing further international exercises and a deployment in mid-2013 to experience the amphibious capability firsthand.

Lt-Col Smith, in his role at HQ

Marine Forces Pacific, supports the col-laboration between Army and USMC forces.

He said the position of an extra liai-son officer located in the Pacific was required to support the increased train-ing and exercising the two countries would be doing together.

“Right now my position is being used to support an increased flow of information between the two organisa-tions as the Marines look to develop

their Australian rotational force con-cept,” he said.

“I’ve been made to feel very wel-come.

The Marines hold the Australian Army in very high regard and see our service holding the same ethos and pro-fessional culture as their own.”

The four positions were establishedat the start of the year as the Army’s Amphibious Ready Group is expected to launch by 2017.

Getting their feet wet� US Marine Corps exchanges under way to help develop Australian amphibious capability

Working together: Australian officers will be posted to important positions within the US Marine Corps to help develop experience in amphibious operations. File photo by Cpl Chris Moore

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Army July 19, 2012NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews8

Cpl Nick Wiseman

THE war against weight has been waged with 1 Bde rolling out its Fit2Fight program at Rober tson Barracks, Darwin.

Aimed at soldiers with a body mass index greater than 30 and those returning to nor-mal PT from injuries, the pro-gram looks to re-educate and better train soldiers in physi-cal training and their eating habits.

F i t 2 F i g h t P T I C p l Anthony Novak said the gen-eral level of physical activity these days was less than what it used to be.

“Having something like this in place will help pro-mote a fighting fit Army,” he said.

“It’s designed to keep eve-ryone safe.”

The program is in its sec-

ond course and people are already seeing results, with soldiers on the first course returning to previous states of physical fitness not seen in years.

A typical course will start with ‘weighing in’ where measurements such as weight, height and girth are measured to compare further down the track.

Vo l u n t e e r s t h e n g o through a regime of nutri-tion and a variety of PT in an effort to gain back what many lost over years of neglecting their bodies.

Cpl Novak said that even after teaching them to look after the bodies better, the onus came down to the indi-viduals to continue.

“Hopefully they utilise the tools, education and knowl-edge we’ve given them while they’re here.”

Fighting for fitness: Physical training instructor Sgt Nemani Valucava instructs the class on how to use equipment in the war against the bulge. Photo by Cpl Nick Wiseman

Choppers join searchBLACK Hawks deployed to Papua New Guinea for election support joined the search for a private helicopter missing near Mt Hagen since July 6. The Army helicopters joined the search on July 10 at the request of the Rescue Coordination Centre Australia and the PNG emergency services. An aeromedical evacuation team, additional observers and a downed air-crafter recovery team were also involved in the operation to locate the Hevilift Bell 206. The Black Hawks were used to assist in the search and provide relief for civilian search aircraft. The military helicopter is well suited to search operations with a long range, above aver-age seating capacity and winch capability. As Army went to print the missing helicopter had not been located.

Engineers log onTHE Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) Foundation now has a website. The Foundation is not-for-profit and has the objectives to assist with the welfare of RAE personnel and their depend-ants; help enhance the image of the RAE Corps; maintain military engineering heritage; conduct research and produce histories of military engi-neering; and encourage excellence. Their pro-grams includes welfare support for soldiers who are injured and the families of those killed while serving. They work with industry to find employ-ment for soldiers who can no longer serve. See www.raefoundation.org.au for more information.

Protecting historyMORE than $218,000 will go to 88 projects that commemorate Australia’s wartime history. Veterans’ Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon is encouraging community and ex-service organisa-tions to apply for funding to support commemora-tive events and initiatives under the Saluting Their Service commemorations program. Go to www.dva.gov.au/grants or call a DVA office on 133 254 (or 1800 555 254 from regional Australia) for more information or to apply for funding.

BRIEFSBusting a gut to get fit� Inside 1 Bde’s Fit2Fight program

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Army July 19, 2012 NEWSwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 9

Cpl Max Bree

THE sound of chainsaws and drills marked the opening of new 6ESR lines at RAAF Base Amberley.

The engineers left out the usual ribbon cutting on June 28, instead having CA Lt-Gen David Morrison use a chainsaw to cut through planks of wood and drill in the unit sign with 6ESR CO Lt-Col Matt Galton.

The first element to move to RAAF Base Amberley was 21 Const Sqn in 2011. Regiment HQ and the squadron HQ of the newly raised Op Spt Sqn followed this year, leaving their old building at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera.

“21 Const Sqn were in lines at Enoggera that were incredibly small for such a large sub-unit,” Lt-Col Galton said. “They’re only just getting used to having a modern facility purpose built for a construction squadron.”

A rebuild and expansion of 7 Bde facili-ties at Enoggera would have left little room for 6ESR’s Headquarters and a construction squadron on the barracks.

Since 6ESR is a unit of 6 Bde, not 7 Bde, its elements were the logical choice for relo-cation out of Enoggera, Lt-Col Galton said.

He also believed RAAF Base Amberley would be an ideal place from which to rapidly deploy an online engineer squadron since the base is home to five C-17 transport aircraft.

During the opening ceremony, the CA offi-cially named the regiment’s new home Zabul Lines, after a province in Afghanistan where Reconstruction Task Force 4 conducted a major operation to replace a bridge destroyed by the Taliban in 2008.

Members of 6ESR formed the headquar-ters and nucleus of troops for the task force,

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hence the significance of Zabul to the regi-ment.

“The operation to construct the bridge in Zabul was the first significant task conduct-ed by a reconstruction task force outside of Uruzgan province,” Lt-Col Galton said. “It’s a great example of a combined-arms task led by engineers. Naming the new regiment lines Zabul Lines is a concrete way to recognise one of the achievements of the unit on opera-tions.”

About 200 soldiers from 21 Const Sqn, Op Spt Sqn and regiment HQ make up the 6ESR presence at RAAF Base Amberley.

“We have a very good relationship with our RAAF brothers and sisters. We even man-aged to get a flyover by a Super Hornet when we opened the lines,” Lt-Col Galton said.

Subject to government and parliamentary approval, it is also proposed that 17 Const Sqn will relocate from Holsworthy Barracks to Amberley in January 2015.

The regiment’s two other sub-units, 20 EOD Sqn and 1 Topo Svy Sqn, will both remain at Gallipoli Barracks.

New home: CA Lt-Gen David Morrison saws through the “ribbon” to open 6ESR’s new facilities at RAAF Base Amberley. Inset, Members of 6ESR stand on parade ready to march over the threshold of their new lines. Photos by LACW Kylie Gibson

� Elements of 6ESR move to RAAF Base Amberley

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Army July 19, 2012 WORLDwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 11

Maj Cameron Jamieson

SOME things in our communities can be so commonplace that they become wallpaper and fade into the landscape.

Transpose those objects into a community where life is a constant struggle and suddenly things take on much greater significance. This situa-tion has become a reality for a group of Army engineers who have created a playground for children in a remote part of the Philippines.

In the rural village of Malaga, located on the west coast of the island of Samar, engineers from 21 Const Sqn have put the finishing touches on new and refurbished playground equipment for Malaga Central School, which covers infants and pri-mary classes.

As part of the ADF’s contingent to Pacific Partnership 2012, the 12 engineers have been working along-side US Navy Seabees (construction engineers) to refurbish and build new infrastructure at hospitals, medical clinics and schools in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Before the engineers arrived at the school the existing playground equip-ment was dilapidated and mostly ignored; a situation that wasn’t help-ing student attendance.

Now the students have working swings, seesaws, monkey bars, a bas-ketball net and a small soccer field.

They even have some shade cloth over their repaired slippery-dip,

which means for the first time the children can use the slide in the blis-tering tropical sun.

School principle Elena Salinas had appealed last year to the Pacific Partnership advance team to have the playground repaired because it would encourage children to come to school.

“There is nothing else like this around, so by encouraging them to come to school they’re learning more, which is important for succeeding in life,” she said.

“It also encourages them to play more and develop physically.”

Elsewhere in the school the engi-neers have replaced a roof that pre-viously leaked water onto students every time it rained.

“The work has been done and I’m very grateful,” Mrs Salinas said.

“Elementary schools such as ours are central to a community.

“They encourage friendliness among people, and by improving the school we are improving the com-munity.”

For Spr Steven Bellman, a car-penter and father of three, the chance to help the school was especially rewarding.

“The kids are chomping at the bit to play with the new equipment,” he said.

“The job is far removed from building military fieldworks, but it certainly has meaning.

“To see the kids happy to have something in working order is fulfill-ing for me.”

Maj Cameron Jamieson

THE first ADF medical contingent has rotated home from Pacific Partnership 2012, handing over to new doctors and nurses for the second half of the humani-tarian mission.

Twenty-four ADF personnel, mostly medical specialists, have returned to Australia and a second contingent of medical personnel has joined the remaining 17 Australians on the US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy.

Pacific Partnership mission com-mander US Navy Capt Jim Morgan said Australia had been a great partner since the mission’s inception in 2006.

“The Australians bring one of the largest partner nation contingents and they are with us throughout the mission each year,” he said.

“They don’t only provide us with continuity of the mission, they also bring their experience, leadership and capacity.

“Our ability to work together for so long also makes things so much easier because we’re not new to the planning process or working together, and we’re certainly not new to the mission execu-tion process.”

Personnel on Pacific Partnership 2012 have completed two weeks in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province and two weeks in Samar in the Philippines, and are headed to Vinh in Vietnam, and Sihanoukville in Cambodia for the sec-ond half of the mission.

Mission gets fresh medics

Making a game of it� Engineers fix up a playground that will give kids a future in the Philippines

Freshen up: Australian Spr Jordan Fairholm (left) paints the basketball backboard with US Navy Seabee Abraham Alba at the Malaga Central School in the Philippines. Photo by Flt-Sgt Craig Sharp

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Army July 19, 2012WORLD www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews12

Lt Kara Wansbury

MEMBERS of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) proved their skills under pressure when they recov-ered an Australian Bushmaster after a break down in Deh Rawud last month.

Returning to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Hadrian after a patrol near Dizak in Uruzgan province, the Mentoring Team One members’ vehi-cle came to a halt in the Deh Rawud District Centre. It could no longer be steered.

The Bushmaster couldn’t be repaired on site and assistance was called in from FOB Tysz to retrieve it.

Platoon commander Lt David Nazareth said the incident highlight-

ed the good relationship between the Australians and Afghans.

“It is a really good relationship between my team and their ANA col-leagues; we work together really well,” Lt Nazareth said.

He said it also showed the progress made by the ANA.

“It shows the ANA have come a long way. They were able to recover a vehi-cle successfully that was not one of their own, using a complicated set of equip-ment,” Lt Nazareth said.

“You don’t want to be recovered by another callsign, but the fact that it was completed successfully was a really good outcome.”

The vehicle was returned to the workshop at FOB Hadrian and repaired.

Helping hand: Lt Dave Nazareth, of MTF 4, discusses the mission to retrieve a Bushmaster with members of the ANA. Photo by Cpl Hamish Paterson

Steering the team home� Bushmaster returned with teamwork

Up skilling in Sorkh BedSgt Mick Davis

AUSTRALIAN engineers are working closely with the Afghan National Army (ANA) at Patrol Base Sorkh Bed in northern Kandahar in teams that are finding and destroying IEDs and weapons caches.

Search team member LCpl Daniel Parker said Australian explosive ordnance disposal tech-

nicians and explosives detection dog handlers formed the search teams which, through training, assistance, specialist courses and mentoring, provided an enduring skill set to their ANA partners.

“The courses have gone really well. I have operated with the ANA since and they have retained a lot of knowledge,” LCpl Parker said.

Spr Joel Thomas has enjoyed the exchange of ideas and skills.

“It’s good to see how that they have adapted to the threat which they live in, but also taken advice from the mentors to improve their skills,” he said.

Pictured here are Cpl Wayne Meech, Spr Joel Toms, explosive detection dog Solo, Cpl Tyson Clark and LCpl Daniel Parker from Combined Team – Uruzgan at Patrol Base Sorkh Bed. Photo by Cpl Hamish Paterson

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Army July 19, 2012 WORLDwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 13

Fuelling work flexibility� Helping with the Papua New Guinea elections meant thinking outside the boxWHEN ADF personnel flew to Papua New Guinea to help with the elections it called for some critical thinking.

Teams arrived in the country in early June to find that providing support would bring challenges, such as locating and securing fuel for the helicopters around the Central, Northern and Milne Bay provinces.

PNG logistic chain manager Maj Ed Bennett said logistics support was vital to all operations and for aviation that footprint could become quite large and complex. Keeping the supply footprint small while still providing everything required for up to four fixed wing aircraft, four Black Hawks, three New Zealand Iroquois helicopters and 200 personnel was a daunting task.

“We needed to tap into the host nation’s contract-ing support but that certainly didn’t come without sig-nificant challenges in terms of accommodation, rations, fuel, transport and security,” Maj Bennett said.

The helicopters flew in their own fuel to the more remote locations, but contractors coordinated deliver-ies in areas closer to Port Moresby where road access could be used.

When the local contractor option was not available or not possible, airlifts via Hercules or road convoys were the only solution.

Maj Bennett said a Refuelling Point Aviation Team was deployed into the village of Tapini in the first operational deployment of its type since East Timor in 1999.

“Every problem was confronted, assessed, and a solution found,” he said.

“I can say the operation in terms of logistics has been largely successful due to flexibility locally.”

The PNG elections were held from June 23 to July 6 with support from the ADF and New Zealand Defence Force.

Air support: Petroleum

operators Pte Kieran Pinfold,

left, and Pte Riley Sherwood assist with ADF

support of the Papua New

Guinea elections by carrying out visual tests of

fuel nozzle line strainers.

Photo by Cpl Melina Mancuso

Army July 19, 2012 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDwww.defence.gov.au/ne ////ws//////////armyneynynyynnennnnneeeynnnnnneneeeeeneeeeewswswswswswwswwswswswswwwwswswwwwswwwsssss 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111133333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

tions meant thinking outside the box

All aboard: Capt Jack Sevier helps Papua New Guinea election officials board a Black Hawk to fly to remote polling locations during the election. Photo by Cpl Brad Hanson

14 Army July 19, 2012NAIDOC WEEK 2012 15

PAST and present indig-enous servicemen and women were honoured and remembered at the Australian War Memorial d u r i n g t h e D e f e n c e Indigenous Memorial Service on July 4 for NAIDOC Week.

About 200 guests and Canberra school children attended the service, which was supported by Australia’s Federation Guard and the Australian Army Band – Sydney.

NA I D O C , w h i c h s t a n d s f o r National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recog-nise the contributions of indigenous Australians.

One of the themes for NAIDOC Week 2012 was “They dared to chal-lenge”, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have championed change.

CDF Gen David Hurley was the guest speaker at the ceremony and was joined by Defence Secretary Duncan Lewis to lay a wreath at the War Memorial’s Armistice Stone.

Gen Hurley said Defence had a proud tradition of engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags fly proudly beside the Australian flag and the ADF flag in Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Square at Russell Offices to mark the significance of NAIDOC Week,” he said.

“It’s a small but important gesture to honour the important contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made to our military history and to acknowledge their continued ser-vice today.

“History shows that our indigenous service men and women dared to chal-

Speaking out: WO1 Don Bowie, of

Defence People Group, addresses attendees at the NAIDOC Week

2012 Defence Memorial Service at the Australian

War Memorial. Photo by Lauren Black

CELEBRATING THOSE WHO DARE

lenge the system by fighting for their country in a time of great need and were among the early pioneers of a reconcilia-tion process that continues today.”

The ADF has a long indigenous his-tory, with indigenous military members fighting in all major conflicts since the Boer War.

More than 3000 ind igenous Australians enlisted during World War II. Another 150-200 served as de facto servicemen, patrolling and performing other military duties along the north

Australian coast, while 3000 indigenous Australians supported the World War II defence effort as civilian labourers.

Across the Top End, indigenous sol-diers have played a significant role in the Regional Force Surveillance Units and on border protection command opera-tions such as Operation Resolute.

WO 1 D o n B ow i e f r o m t h e Directorate of Indigenous Affairs, who is the ADF Senior Indigenous Recruitment Adviser, took part in the NAIDOC Week ceremony.

Born on Thursday Island, WO1 Bowie has been a soldier for 32 years.

He said NAIDOC meant a lot to him as a way to show respect for the contri-butions of indigenous people.

“Members of my family served dur-ing WWII and I have relatives who are still serving in the Defence Force today,” he said.

“I see NAIDOC Week as being for them – they have served and fought alongside other Australians for their country for what we are today.”

As the nation celebrated NAIDOC Week 2012, the ADF recognised more than a hundred years of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander members serving the nation, Cpl Mark Doran reports.

NEW HANDBOOKDEFENCE recently launched the Indigenous Handbook for com-manders, managers and supervi-sors to inform them of Defence’s strategic approach to indigenous affairs.

Issued by the Directorate of Indigenous Affairs (DIA), the 20-page publication contains infor-mation which may be useful when managing with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Defence personnel or external communities.

The handbook is endorsed by CDF Gen David Hurley and Defence Secretary Duncan Lewis, and explains fully Defence’s posi-tion on indigenous matters.

DIA’s community engagement deputy director, Michael Rowe, said the handbook was developed with support from the Defence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Network.

“They didn’t want an exhaustive resource as they wanted a hand-book which would be easily digest-ible and read by commanders,” he said.

“We also received valuable com-ments on the draft version of the handbook from the senior officer students at the Centre for Defence Strategic Studies as part of their Defence Indigenous Affairs work-shop.”

As well as information on his-tory, culture and flag protocols the handbook also gives commanders advice on the the self-identification process, which is a personal and voluntary decision indigenous Defence members can make to declare their heritage.

The handbook can be downloaded at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/home/documents/data/DEFPUBS/DEFMISC/INDHANDBOOK/IndigenousHandbook.pdf

Proud of heritage and Army serviceCpl Mark Doran

‘I’LL give it a go,” said Cpl Mary Ware said when she was recruited from the St Pauls community on Moa Island in the Torres Strait for the Army Reserve.

Cpl Ware enlisted in 1997 as a reservist with 51FNQR and in 2004 started continuous full-time service (CFTS) on Thursday Island as a clerk for C Coy.

With its headquarters in Cairnes, 51FNQR serves as a regional force surveillance unit, carrying out recon-naissance and surveillance tasks as its primary role.

The battalion plays an important role

in the security of Australia by conduct-ing surveillance patrols in the sparsely populated and remote regions of far north Queensland.

About 30 per cent of the battalion’s members are indigenous.

Cpl Ware finished her CFTS at the start of this year and was posted to the unit’s headquarters.

“The best thing about the Army is that you get to work with so many dif-ferent people and visit many areas of the country,” she said.

“I am proud of my indigenous herit-age and to be in the Army.

“As an indigenous person I can also help promote Defence and encourage more to enlist.”

Cpl Ware’s grandfather, Cpl Elia Ware, was a member of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, which was raised 1942 at the height of World War II. It was a unique formation in that almost all of its enlisted men were Torres Strait Islanders.

The formation of this unit in the face of the Japanese advance led to the devel-opment of inter-island unity between Islanders as they developed their skills and worked together in the Army.

The battalion was disbanded in 1946 after the war.

Cpl Ware said NAIDOC Week was a fantastic way to be involved in reconcili-ation.

“To me it recognises Aboriginal and Islander people and all Australians living and working together as one nation in this beautiful country,” she said.

THE PERFECT PLACE TO FIND AND ATTRACT NEW MEMBERSTHE soldiers of 51FNQR supported Cairns NAIDOC Week celebrations at the Cairns esplanade on July 6.

Maj David Jarvis and 2Lt Richard Stewart, of the 51FNQR Indigenous Liaison Cell, staffed a promotional stall with help from Cpl Mary Ware, Pte Pedro Tapim and Pte Gerard Lampton.

Members of 51FNQR, the Directorate of Indigenous Affairs, Defence Force Recruiting and HMAS Cairns represented the ADF and were kept busy with enlistment enquiries, particularly from young indigenous women.

Maj Jarvis said the engagement

with the large number of indigenous attendees was very successful and provided a positive outcome for 51FNQR and Defence.

“The objectives of the com-munity engagement activity were to showcase 51FNQR to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders attending the NAIDOC celebration and to promote recruit-ment into 51FNQR, Army and Defence,” Maj Jarvis said

“Attendance was far in excess of last year’s numbers and was well supported by indigenous elders and leaders, local politicians and com-munity members.”

Coming together: Cpl Mary Ware, of 51FNQR, and LS Rothana Abednego, of HMAS Cairns, Celebrate NAIDOC Week in Cairns. Photo by Maj David Jarvis

Continuing traditionCAPT Chloe Dray, of Norforce, is a descendant of the Gungurri peo-ple of Western Queensland and is a third-generation servicewoman.

Deployed on Exercise Hamel in preparation for her coming deployment to Afghanistan with Combined Team – Uruzgan, Capt Dray spoke proudly of her family’s military history and said her grandfather, Uncle Arthur, joined the Army in 1941.

“He served in New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies during World War II, taking part in the Battle of Tarakan in 1945,” she said.

“My [other] grandfather, Dave Candish, served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1948 to 1959 as an electrical mechanic and saw service in Korea, Malaya, Papua New Guinea and Japan.

“My father, Bill Dray, served for 13 years in the RAAF as an instrument fitter and worked with the Hercules simulators.

“He joined air cadets as an instruc-tor in 1994 and is still involved with the Air Cadets in North Queensland.”

Postings to Canberra, Puckapunyal, Townsville, Brisbane and now Darwin working in the regimental HQ at Norforce, have helped Capt Dray contin-ue to write her family’s military legacy.

Capt Dray also spoke of the oppor-tunities the Army had given her, from playing rugby across the world to lead-ing troops on operations, and of the sense of equality she enjoyed in the Army.

“At my unit, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or if you’re white, because when you put on this uniform, we’re all wearing the green skin and we’re all treated the same,” she said.

“I love getting out and seeing the country, visiting the communities, meeting the people and seeing how Norforce and the Defence Indigenous Development Program have made a real difference.

“I’m also looking forward to the new plan to encourage local indigenous women to join Norforce. It will be a real recruitment opportunity for indigenous

women from all over the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region.”

Rugby has always been a pas-sion for Capt Dray, from playing in the 2004 ADFA rugby in New Zealand and the 2007 Army Women’s Rugby in Singapore to the 2008 Royal Logistics Corps (UK) European 10s in Belgium while on Exercise Long Look.

Capt Dray said she believed there were five core elements to success in life – education, health, community, role-models and the belief in yourself to dream big.

“To me as an indigenous soldier it means I have a connection with the land,” she said.

“The best thing about the ADF is our involvement in the border protection of our country and protecting that land.”

On Ex Hamel Capt Dray is super-vising a group of intel-ligence analysts to provide information in brigade head-quarters to assist the battle groups.

She said it was unfortu-nate the exercise kept her from attending the NAIDOC Week activi-ties or watching the State of Origin this year, but she was glad to hear Queensland got up.

“NAIDOC Week 2012 is a celebration of culture and advancing equality – especially with this year’s theme – They dared to challenge,” she said.

My name is Chloe, I’m an indigenous woman from Queensland and I’m an

Australian Army Captain.

Show of respect: The Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags fly at half mast during the ceremony. Photo by Lauren Black

Photo by LS Andrew Dakin

Protecting heritage: A triservice catafalque party from Australia’s Federation Guard man the cenotaph during the Australian War Memorial’s NAIDOC service.

Photo by Lauren Black

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Army July 19, 2012 TRAININGwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 17

Lt Darran Charles

SOLDIERS from Rifle Company Butterworth have teamed up with the Malaysian Army to sharpen their warfighting skills near Kuala Lumpa over the past two months.

The exercise, dubbed Haringgaroo 63, was designed to increase coop-eration between the Malaysian and Australian troops, with a side aim this year to introduce the Malaysian soldiers to urban tactics.

The soldiers of D Coy, 6RAR, making up the latest Rifle Company Butterworth rotation, came under command of the 8th Battalion, Royal Malaysian Regiment (8RMR) based in Kuala Lipis, about two hours east of the Malaysian capital.

The exercise opened with a cer-emonial parade, followed by D Coy providing three days of instruction, demonstrations and practice for the 8RMR soldiers on operating in urban environments.

Lt Mohamed, from 8RMR’s A Coy, said the training was well received by Malaysian soldiers.

“Australians have a great deal of operational experience and it’s good to have them pass it on to us,” he said.

D Coy formed a combat team as part of the 8RMR Battle Group dur-ing the field training component of Ex Haringgaroo, destroying squad and platoon-sized delay positions during a battle group advance to con-tact in a conventional warfighting scenario.

The soldiers advanced both mounted and dismounted and con-ducted an assault river crossing from the battle group.

A deliberate attack on an urban complex by the battle group fol-lowed, with D Coy spearheading the main effort to break in and clear the area.

The Australians were reinforced for the attack with two extra infantry platoons from 8RMR.

To enhance the coordination of these platoons, D Coy exchanged the Australian platoon sergeants with their Malaysian counterparts and attached several soldiers and junior NCOs into the Malaysian rifle sections.

Sgt Kevin Hale, of 11 Pl, said the

Going to town in Malaysia� Troops on Rifle Company Butterworth rotation take Malaysian counterparts through urban ops training

Malaysian soldiers had started to grasp urban tactics during the field phase.

“It was good to see the hard work we put in prior to the exercise started paying off,” he said.

“You could see the Malaysian soldiers’ skill levels and confidence working in built up areas improve.”

Before teaming up with the Malaysians, D Coy and soldiers from 8/9RAR conducted section and pla-toon exercises in Southern Malasia with instructors from the Jungle Training Wing – Tully.

The training was conducted under the new infantry battalion model and aimed to enhance D Coy’s knowledge and skills in jungle fighting.

WO2 Sean Milligan, of the Jungle Training Wing, was impressed with

the level of knowledge the company achieved.

“I didn’t think they would achieve the level they did when I first arrived,” WO2 Milligan said.

“It’s good to see soldiers from two different battalions come together and work so well.”

Since the end of Ex Haringgaroo, the soldiers from Rifle Company Butterworth have conducted a series of live-fire exercises and jungle sur-vival training.

The company then moved to Singapore for extra urban operations training.

Rifle Company Butterworth 98 will finish at the end of this month, handing over to a company of sol-diers from 3RAR.

Watch and learn: Troops from D Coy, 6RAR, demonstrate urban operating procedures to Malaysian soldiers during Ex Haringgaroo. Inset, troops from both countries get together for the closing ceremony at the end of the exercise.

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Army July 19, 2012FEATURES www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews18

Getting the word out

IT WAS the beginning of a new era for the Defence Force School of Languages (DFSL) when com-mand responsibilities were trans-ferred from Army to VCDF Group on July 1.

The transfer is a key milestone among several major changes initiated by the 2009 Defence White Paper to manage language skills as a capability in their own right.

More than 250 staff and students attended the formal handover ceremony at RAAF Base Williams on June 29.

The ceremony ref lec ted the change in command from the Defence Command Support Training Centre (DCSTC), under the leadership of Col Christopher Rule, to the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC), under the leadership of Cdre Richard Menhinick.

CO DFSL Lt-Col Giles Gorman has been with the school since 2009. He said being managed by VCDF Group meant the school was now more strate-gically aligned.

“The VCDF Group employs the most language trained personnel and now also manages the training system,” he said.

“While we are a Defence train-ing establishment, we apply as much education as we do training, so there is a natural place for us within the Australian Defence College from an education, training and leadership per-spective.”

Defence rethought and rewrote the standards of language training and the management of Defence linguists under the recommendations of the 2009 White Paper.

Lt-Col Gorman said one thing that had remained constant was the out-standing reputation of the school to deliver language training to Defence.

“This reputation is based on our dedicated staff who are entirely com-mitted to achieving the best outcomes for their students, the high qual-ity of our training packages, which are becoming more tailored for the Defence workplace, and our highly motivated students, who take every opportunity to learn and develop their language skills,” he said.

Col Rule said the organisational and functional changes at the school were made to adapt to a dynamic environ-ment of changing operational for the ADF’s international commitments.

“The transition to VCDF Group is

the right organisational change for the ADF,” he said.

“The organisation is in good shape and well prepared to continue its role in the VCDF Group.”

Future projects at Laverton include the expansion of the main facility to incorporate an extra six classrooms. Regional training centres will also be established in Darwin, Townsville and Brisbane, which will mean permanent classrooms in the brigades.

The school has adopted a lan-guage-for-specific-purpose approach,

which means the language courses are now focused on the military work-place.

Lt-Col Gorman said the content and structure of the courses reflected what the students actually needed to be successful in the workplace.

“This is a great benefit for the stu-dents as they are better prepared for the operational and strategic environ-ments,” he said.

A student training computer network will also be established as the school moves away from being

a paper-based training institution. Trainees will now be issued with lap-tops to download their course mate-rial.

Cdre Menhinick said he knew change was always difficult and chal-lenging.

“We are looking at becoming a cen-tre of excellence in joint education and training and are committed to helping the staff at the DFSL in providing the best we can to the students for when they represent Australia diplomatically and on operations,” he said.

A new command means new opportunities for the ADF’s internationally renowned languages school, Cpl Mark Doran reports.

Col Christopher Rule Cdre Richard Menhinick

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on language capabilityCpl Mark Doran

‘LANGUAGES are a fundamental ena-bler for Defence operations and busi-ness,” CO Defence Force School of Languages Lt-Col Giles Gorman said when asked about the importance of learning foreign languages.

The teaching of foreign languages to members of the ADF began in 1944 when the need was identified to train translators and interpreters in Japanese to operate in the Southwest Pacific theatre during World War II.

Initially conducted at Sydney University, training continued there until 1945, when the school now col-loquially known as “Langs” moved to Point Cook in Victoria.

The Japanese language program continued until 1948, when the school closed temporarily, then reopened in 1950 under the command of Flt-Lt Toby Garrick.

Flt-Lt Garrick presided over the school’s transition from its status in 1950 as a part of the RAAF Training Directorate to a fully independent unit of the Air Force, named RAAF School of Languages in early 1952.

Flt-Lt Garrick remains the school’s longest-serving CO, eventually retiring from the post in 1968 as a wing com-mander.

The languages taught by the school have always been a reflection of Defence’s requirements, hence in 1950 during the Cold War, and with the prospect of war on the Korean

Peninsula, Chinese and Russian lan-guages were added to the curriculum.

With heightened tension between Australia and Indonesia in the mid-1950s, Indonesian was introduced in 1956 and training in Vietnamese began in 1961.

Training in French began the following year after the Air Force purchased the Mirage from France and Khmer was introduced in 1989 when Australia committed troops to the UN peace-keeping operations in Cambodia.

On February 1, 1993, the school became the ADF School of Languages.

In 1994, the language training func-tion was tested by commercial tender under the Federal Government’s Commercial Support Program.

The in-house option submitted by the school was accepted and imple-mented on July 1, 1995.

The school maintains the capability to provide training in Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, Fijian, Filipino, French, German, Khmer, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Javanese, Malay, Solomon Islands Pidgin and Bislama (Vanuatu), Pashto, Portuguese, Thai, Tetum, Tok Pisin (PNG), Urdu and Vietnamese.

Moving to its current location at Laverton in December 1999, the school is now known as the Defence Force School of Languages (DFSL).

DFSL transferred from Air Force to Army command in 2008 and is now under VCDF Group.

HISTORY OF AN EDUCATION LEADER

Making the change: Pte Anthony Jenkins (left) receives the new ADF School of Languages shoulder patch from CO Lt-Col Giles Gorman at the school’s transfer from Army to VCDF Group. Inset, the new shoulder patch worn by ADF personnel posted to the School of Languages. Photos by Sqn-Ldr James Allen

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