More Defence news: 10 December - 16 December 2007
| Overwatch Battle Group West 3rd rotation come home | Soldiers home in time for Christmas | ADFA cadets graduate | HMAS Maryborough's first visit to Sydney | It's a girl! | Family farewell for HMAS Adelaide | |
| Overwatch Battle Group West 3rd rotation come home 14 December - The Commander of the Overwatch Battle Group West 3rd rotation (OBG (W)-3), Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood, has arrived home with more than 40 of his troops and personnel from the Australian Army Training Team Iraq VIII (AATTI -VIII). The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, greeted and thanked the returning party before they were reunited with families, partners and loved ones. “On behalf of the Army, I extend my thanks to the soldiers of OBG (W)-3 and AATTI -VIII for their hard work and dedication in providing security and support to the people of Iraq,” Lieutenant General Leahy said. Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood said every day of his command in Iraq was an honour. “The men and women of this Battle Group have had a profound impact in southern Iraq and represented the nation extremely well,” Lieutenant Colonel Ellwood said. AATTI -VIII was responsible for supporting the Iraqi Army through the training of recruits and officers at the Iraqi Army’s Camp Ur at Taji, north of Baghdad. |
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| Soldiers home in time for Christmas 13 December - A group of more than 40 soldiers from the 3rd rotation of the Overwatch Battle Group West (OBG(W)-3), touted with making a profound impact in southern Iraq, arrived back home today. During the rotation, OBG (W)-3 conducted more than 22 major security operations and constantly patrolled to counter improvised explosive device and indirect fire threats against Coalition forces. AATTI- VIII was also responsible for supporting the Iraqi Army through the training of recruits and officers at the Iraqi Army’s Camp Ur at Taji, north of Baghdad. “The men and women of this Battle Group have had a profound impact in southern Iraq and represented the nation extremely well,” the Commander of OBGW-3 Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood said. “The contingent received constant praise from senior officers of the United Kingdom, United States and Romania and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my soldiers for their tireless efforts.” More: Operation CATALYST website |
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ADFA cadets graduate
The Commandant of ADFA, Captain Peter Murray (RAN), congratulated 222 Navy Midshipmen and Army and Air Force Officer Cadets at what was the Academy’s 21st anniversary Graduation Parade. “Since joining the Australian Defence Force Academy these men and women have successfully completed a three-year academic and military training program. Their military and leadership training, combined with undergraduate studies through the University of New South Wales at ADFA, has developed the fundamental knowledge, professional skills and qualities of character they will need as young officers in the Australian Defence Force," Captain Murray said. Awards:
More: Imagery | ADFA website |
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Family farewell for HMAS Adelaide
The cruise departed from Fremantle, Western Australia, where Adelaide had been docked for three days. She was travelling to her home port, HMAS Stirling, on Garden Island, near Rockingham, as part of her decommissioning cruise. The family day provided an opportunity for children, spouses and other family members to see their loved ones at work and experience life at sea aboard a warship. The kids even got a visit from Santa Claus. The cruise is Adelaide’s final visit to her home port, as she is scheduled to decommission early in 2008. Following this, Adelaide will be prepared and then sunk off the coast of the New South Wales Central Coast as a dive wreck. HMAS Adelaide is the first of six Adelaide-class guided missile frigates to serve with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was built in the United States and commissioned in 1980. More: Imagery |
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It's a girl!
Expectant father LS Rose spent his first few days on deployment to the Persian Gulf aboard HMAS Arunta waiting for word from his wife, Alison, on the impending birth. "I wish I could have been there," said LS Rose. "It was one of the hardest things I've had to do, but my wife Alison is really supportive." His first image of Charlotte came via a text message 10 minutes after she was born. "It was a bit weird, it hadn't really sunk in," he said. "Now I'm really proud; this is something that we created." LS Rose operates the acoustic sensors, radar and winch fitted to HMAS Arunta’s Seahawk helicopter. |
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| HMAS Maryborough's first visit to Sydney 11 December - The maiden voyage of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) newest addition continues with HMAS Maryborough to sail into Sydney harbour tomorrow morning. Commissioned in a traditional ceremony in Brisbane last Saturday, Maryborough is to be based in Darwin and will form the Aware Division with her sister ship, Glenelg, which will be commissioned in the New Year. Current commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Gerry Savvakis said, "Maryborough will provide considerable improvements in both operational capability as well as crew habitability. She will add a new dimension to border security." Maryborough's primary employment will be in the important role of border protection, conducting patrols to protect Australia's fisheries and immigration. Maryborough is expected to dock alongside Fleet Base East at Garden Island in Wooloomooloo at 10am. |
