More Defence news: 28 April - 04 May 2008
| Lance Corporal Jason Marks returns home | Hypersonic future a step closer | Solemn Ramp Ceremony in Afghanistan for fallen Commando | Battle Group remains focussed for drawdown | ANZAC Day celebrations at Camp Terendak | Minister for Defence visits Tarin Kowt | Keeping the big birds flying in Afghanistan | Charge of Australian Light Horse commemorated | Special Operations soldier killed, four wounded | Diggers' sacrifices remembered around the world | |
| Lance Corporal Jason Marks returns home Lance Corporal Jason Marks returned home to Australia today, met by his family, friends and colleagues in a moving ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond, NSW. The casket was carried from the C-17 Globemaster to Lance Corporal Marks’ family by an honour guard and bearer party, formed by the soldiers of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. A lone piper led the bearer party. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP; the Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Bob Baldwin MP, representing the Shadow Minister for Defence; Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston; Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy; and Commander Australian Special Forces, Major General Tim McOwan. Lance Corporal Marks was killed in action during a battle with Taliban extremists in Oruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan, on 27 April 2008. More: Images | Audio | Media release |
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| Hypersonic future a step closer 02 May - Missiles 10 times faster than today’s and troops deployed to the other side of the world in just a few hours are all part of the hypersonic future being developed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the University of Queensland (UQ). The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, announced today that DSTO will fund a Chair in Hypersonics at UQ in a significant boost to high-speed flight research. “Hypersonics is the study of flight exceeding approximately five times the speed of sound, and a closer DSTO/UQ collaboration will strengthen Australia’s position as a world leader in the field,” Mr Snowdon Said. “Future applications for hypersonic travel include the inexpensive launch of satellites, and scramjets (supersonic ramjets) for long-range time critical missions.” DSTO’s Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Information and Weapons System), Dr Warren Harch, said the Chair enhances an already excellent alliance and will foster long-term developments. “The research will focus on scramjet technology, and the Hypersonics International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) Agreement,” said Dr Harch. “In November 2006 DSTO signed a $74 million HIFiRE Agreement with the United States Air Force that will comprise up to 10 hypersonic flight experiments planned for the Woomera Testing Facility over the next five years. More: DSTO website |
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Solemn Ramp Ceremony in Afghanistan for fallen Commando
Lance Corporal Marks, from the 4th Battalion (Commando), The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR), was serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) when he was killed in action during a battle with Taliban extremists in Oruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan. Following a memorial service at Camp Russell, an SOTG patrol vehicle bearing Lance Corporal Marks’ casket passed solemnly along a route lined by members of the Australian Reconstruction Task Force and representatives from coalition forces in Oruzgan Province. On the dusty airstrip at Tarin Kowt, his casket was carried by eight of his mates, who slow-marched past his friends and colleagues. He was then moved into a C-130 Hercules aircraft, which would commence his long journey back home to Australia. Dutch AH-64 Apache helicopters hovered in the background in tribute to the fallen, and to the SOTG members they have fought alongside. Speaking to SOTG members at a service prior to the Ramp Ceremony, Australian Army Chaplain Maumau Monu conveyed the thoughts and feelings of the 300-strong Task Group. “This is a great loss to everyone who has been a part of Jason’s life. Today we stand together in support of his wife Cassandra, their two young children and the wider Special Operations family. We mourn the death of a son, a husband, a father and a mate,” Chaplain Monu said. In his address at the service, the Commanding Officer of the SOTG* said Lance Corporal Marks’ death was not in vain. “Our thoughts of support and sympathy, as well as our prayers, are extended to Jason’s family to strengthen and comfort them at this most difficult time. “Jason fought and died for the enduring values of freedom and justice and above all the ANZAC ethos of service to the nation and loyalty to your mates. “Our tribute and testament to his passing and how we honour his death, is to demonstrate our unwavering determination and resolve to our operational focus and mission. “We must continue to strive to bring peace, freedom from oppression and hope for the future to the people of Afghanistan.” Today’s service and Ramp Ceremony in Tarin Kowt was also a chance for Lance Corporal Marks’ fellow Commandos to pay tribute to his professionalism and bravery. A number of his mates from 4RAR spoke at the memorial service of their friend’s humour, loyalty, his dedication to service, and how he will be sorely missed by all those who serving alongside him. “Jason loved his family; he loved his job and the challenge of being a Commando. Jason, you’ll be sadly missed and never forgotten.” – Jim* * Names cannot be given for reasons of operational security. More: Imagery of Ramp Ceremony | Tribute page |
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Battle Group remains focussed for drawdown
Commander of Joint Task Force 633 Major General Mike Hindmarsh said while the rest of Overwatch Battle Group (West)-4 (OBG(W)-4) prepared for the withdrawal, Combat Teams Heeler and Waler would stay on the job until the withdrawal. “They’re still on the front foot, very operationally focussed, and will be that way up until the first of June when operations cease, which is a credit to them,” Maj-Gen Hindmarsh said. CO OBG(W)-4 Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane said the Diggers had been heavily involved in force protection exercises for coalition forces. In addition to the patrolling, Lt-Col Websdane said OBG(W)-4 continued ongoing Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) tasks and key leadership engagements in Dhi Qar and Al Muthanna provinces. At the Aussie Camp Terendak, OBG(W)-4 is in the early phases of handing over to coalition forces while support elements are already packing up. “We’ve got the advanced party of the Force Extraction Team here now, and they’re beginning to support our logistics side in terms of drawing down equipment,” Lt-Col Websdane said. The CO said the battle group’s efforts to assist Iraqis to a point of self reliance was paying off. “The battle group has been heavily involved with training and mentoring the Iraqi 10th Division and the Iraqi Police Service,” he said. “Iraqi Security Forces conduct ongoing VCPs (vehicle checks) on all the main supply routes, including Tampa, and they have been very cooperative in terms of preventing IDF attacks, particularly out of Nasiriyah.” Maj-Gen Hindmarsh agreed that Iraqis in Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar were taking on more responsibility for security in the provinces. “There have been a number of incidents in recent times where our guys have not been involved,” Maj-Gen Hindmarsh said. “They’ve been prepared to be, but there has been no requirement for them; the Iraqis have handled it.” More: Operation CATALYST | Imagery |
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| ANZAC Day celebrations at Camp Terendak 30 April - Australian forces and coalition guests came together at Camp Terendak in Iraq to commemorate ANZAC Day. Soldiers from Overwatch Battle Group (West) 4 and the Army Training Team Iraq shared a Traditional ‘Gunfire Breakfast’, before attending the dawn service. UK personnel from Basra joined in the dawn service providing a member of the catafalque party and a piper, in recognition of the historic links between the battle group and UK units which date back to WWI. In the afternoon, the Australian troops played the UK troops for the annual Desert Ashes cricket match. Australia was victorious during the ’Twenty20’ encounter, beating the UK team by many runs. More: Imagery |
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Minister for Defence visits Tarin Kowt
Lance Corporal Jason Marks, a 4 RAR Commando serving with the SOTG in Afghanistan was killed on 27 April 2008 fighting Taliban extremists in Oruzgan Province. The SOTG operates in support of ISAF security operations and provides security and force protection for the RTF in Oruzgan Province. It consists of Commandos, members of the Special Air Service Regiment and support personnel. More: Image gallery | media release | audio | video |
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Keeping the big birds flying in Afghanistan
Even strikes that don’t cause damage have to be cleaned thoroughly to avoid bird flu. Ground crewman Craftsman James Turner, of 5 Aviation Regiment, said the CH-47 detachment took the possibility of bird flu seriously. “Being bird flu you have to take full precautions, even if it’s only a minor strike,” Craftsman Turner said. Once the procedure is finished, aviation technicians such as Craftsman Richard Miller can start their daily ritual of checking the helicopter over. “Because it’s such a big aircraft, we break it down into parts,” Craftsman Miller said. “We’re looking for anything out of place or broken so we can have it fixed in time for the next sortie.” The procedure is done with a backdrop of coalition helicopters, transports and fighter jets taking off and landing at the busy Kandahar airfield. This is the second and third deployment to Afghanistan for many of the C Squadron soldiers, which makes these daily checks easier to do. “You’re doing it all the time so you know what things should look like and where it should all be,” Craftsman Miller said. He said the Chinooks, which were part of a coalition Rotary Wing Group, had performed admirably. “The more they fly the better they run,” Craftsman Miller said. “They’re perfect for this type of environment. They love to fly and they love to work.” More: Imagery | Operation SLIPPER |
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Charge of Australian Light Horse commemorated
A contingent of seven veterans and 35 Army personnel, principally drawn from the 2nd Division, supported the dedication service which also commemorated the charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba and the broader contribution made by Australian soldiers to the region during the last century. Soldiers from the 4th /19th Prince Wales’s Light Horse Regiment and 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers (the descendant units of the 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments who conducted the charge), made up the majority of the Army contingent. The park, donated to the Be’er-Sheva municipality, has been developed by the Pratt Foundation and features a landscaped recreational area and innovative playground catering for children with disabilities. The central feature is a life-sized bronze sculpture by Australian sculptor, Peter Corlett, commemorating the charge of the Australian Light Horse. More: Imagery | History: Charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba |
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| 29 April - TODAY IN DEFENCE HISTORY 1915 - HMA Submarine AE2 sunk in the Sea of Marmara: AE2 was the first submarine to penetrate the Dardanelles. For five days the AE2 carried out orders to disrupt Turkish shipping. When her torpedoes were exhausted and she was attacked by Turkish gunboats the submarine was scuttled and her crew captured. |
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| Special Operations soldier killed, four wounded 28 April - An Australian soldier serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) in Afghanistan has been killed by Taliban extremists in Oruzgan Province, approximately 25km southeast of Tarin Kowt. Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said the soldier was killed during a gun-battle in the early hours of this morning (AEST) when Australian soldiers were engaged by Taliban extremists using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. “Lance Corporal Jason Marks, who was 27 years of age and from the Sydney-based 4th Battalion (Commando), the Royal Australian Regiment, was killed just after 6pm,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said. More: Media Release | Family Statement | Audio | Tribute page | Images |
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Diggers' sacrifices remembered around the world
This year marks the 93rd anniversary of the Gallipoli battle, where about 9000 Australian soldiers died. Another 18,000 troops were wounded in the fighting. Dawn Services were held around the nation, as well as in Turkey and France. Australian Defence Force personnel deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Sudan, Sinai, Israel, and Lebanon also held commemoration services and parades. The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP; the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd AO; and the Chief Joint Operations, Lieutenant General David Hurley AO DSC represented the Australian Defence Force by attending the ceremonies in Turkey and France. Australia's Federation Guard also provided ceremonial guards for commemorative services at key sites on the Gallipoli peninsula, including ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine, while a detachment of musicians from the Royal Australian Air Force played at the services in Gallipoli. We will never forget their sacrifice. More: Imagery | Anzac Day website |
