More Defence news: 21 July- 27 July 2008
| International Defence Personnel Gather for Exercise Kakadu IX | New Training Ships Gladstone and Maryborough | Australian Submarine Fires New Heavyweight Torpedo | ADF Equals Opportunity | US Secretary of State to visit SAS | Exercise Kakadu IX Commences in Darwin | Women’s Olympic Basketball Team Train at Land Warfare Centre | Australian Defence Force Investigators deploy to East Timor | Royal Australian Navy works with Mercy in East Timor | |
International Defence Personnel Gather for Exercise Kakadu IX
The international exercise hosted biannually by the Australian Navy and Air Force in the Darwin area, has started exercising interoperability in maritime security operations between regional nations. More: Image gallery |
|
| New Training Ships Gladstone and Maryborough 25 July - Over the weekend, Training Ships Gladstone and Maryborough will officially be recognised as the newest Australian Navy Cadet training ships. Training Ships Gladstone and Maryborough will join similar navy cadet units in South Queensland offering youth development skills and a taste of life in the Defence Force. Cadets from new training ship Gladstone and Maryborough will be involved in ceremonial parades at their respective bases. |
|
Australian Submarine Fires New Heavyweight Torpedo
The torpedo was fired during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 08) held off the coast of Hawaii. The exercised involved a planned sinking of a retired US warship. The MK 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) torpedo is the latest enhancement for the MK 48. Considered the world’s premier submarine-launched torpedo, the MK 48 Mod 7 represents a superior capability against both surface ships and submarines with sonar enhancements that make the torpedo an effective weapon in shallow water and in a countermeasure environment. More: Media release | Image gallery |
|
| ADF Equals Opportunity 25 July - More than 200 servicewomen have volunteered to share their experiences of working in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of a new recruitment program for the Navy, Army and Air Force. The Alumni Visits program, which was launched today at the 20th Women, Management and Employment Relations Conference in Sydney by Air Commodore Margaret Staib, will highlight what lifestyles and career opportunities are really like in the military. The ADF offers women a range of work that is challenging, social, rewarding, and family friendly but plans to do more to promote the possibilities of Defence careers. More: Media release |
|
| US Secretary of State to visit SAS 25 July – This afternoon the Hon. Dr Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, United States of America, will visit the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth, Western Australia, to express her appreciation for Australia’s support in Afghanistan and Iraq. Dr Rice will personally thank members of the Regiment and their families for their ongoing support and efforts. |
|
| Exercise Kakadu IX Commences in Darwin 23 July – Exercise Kakadu IX, the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) premier exercise for 2008, launched earlier this week. Exercise Kakadu IX is an international exercise hosted biannually by the Australian Navy and Air Force in the Darwin area, with the aim of developing interoperability in maritime security operations between regional nations. An impressive force of ships, aircraft and submarines will be offshore in Darwin over the next three weeks. The 19 day exercise has brought together around 2000 defence personnel from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand and the French Armed Forces – New Caledonia; with observers also from India, the Philippines and Indonesia. During the exercise the RAN is represented by the Replenishment Vessel HMAS Sirius, the Anzac Class Frigate HMAS Toowoomba, Adelaide Class Frigate HMAS Melbourne, a Collins Class Submarine HMAS Collins, the Armidale Class Patrol Boats HMAS Maryborough and HMAS Maitland and two Mine Clearance Vessels HMA Ships Diamantina and Gascoyne. Royal Australian Air Force Hornet and Hawk Fighter Strike Aircraft and two AP-3C Orion Aircraft are also participating in the exercise. |
|
Women’s Olympic Basketball Team Train at Land Warfare Centre
The Army Land Warfare Centre organised and conducted a range of activities designed to develop leadership and instil the Army’s core values of courage, initiative and teamwork in team members. “Our theme for pre-Olympic training was attention to detail, and we looked no further than the Army to find a benchmark organisation that delivered in all aspects of what we could learn as a team,” said Lauren Jackson, the team’s Captain. Colonel Mark Frendin, the Commander of the Land Warfare Centre, said he thought the players were enthusiastic and positive throughout the course, which was quite challenging, both physically and mentally. “They have developed a greater appreciation of how well-trained and well-equipped our soldiers are for current and future operations.” 2006 World Championship Most Valuable Player, Penny Taylor and Olympic debutant Rohanee Cox agreed that the players all felt an enormous sense of achievement after completing the course. More: Images |
|
Royal Australian Navy works with Mercy in East Timor
LCDR Caldwell has been working in a make shift dental clinic with United States War Ship Mercy on its humanitarian mission in East Timor. US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy is working alongside medical facilities and personnel from several South East Asian and Pacific Nations including Australia, to conduct engineering and medical tasks in the South West Pacific. The ship will visit East Timor for about two weeks and perform a number of tasks across the nation including surgical operations on board once potential patients have been screened ashore. More: USNS Mercy | Dental Clinic |
|
Australian Defence Force Investigators deploy to East Timor
ADFIS is an together amalgamation of Navy, Army and Air Force investigators who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through out all of Australia and all ADF Deployments. Regular preparation of drills and procedures with enhancing training skills improves and develops the capability of this close net unit, which can provide useful outcomes and solutions for commanders. More: Images |
