More Defence news: 01 September - 07 September 2008
| First Navy Under Bridge | Defence Supports Legacy | P3 Project Cleans Up at Engineering Australia Awards | New Chief Defence Scientist Appointed | Inquiry into Recognition for Service with the United States Army Small Ships Section During World War II | Graduation Parade for Pilots in WA | Warehouse Facilities at Bandiana to go Ahead | Defence 2020 Youth Challenges Showcasing Talent | Dash For Cash 08 | Top Gun Training Goes International | Exercise Albatros Ausindo 2008 | Special Operations Task Group Soldiers Wounded In Afghanistan | Temporary Detainee Holding Enclosures in Afghanistan | The Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Exchange Program | |
| First Navy Under Bridge 05 September – This morning, the Royal Australian Navy Auxiliary Minesweeper vessel, MSA Wallaroo, had the honour of being the first RAN ship to pass under the new Diver Derrick Bridge at Port Adelaide since the bridge was officially opened in August. Wallaroo made the landmark passage when the bridge opened to marine craft. Wallaroo is visiting Adelaide from its home port of Sydney in support of routine submarine trials. Wallaroo is one of two RAN Auxiliary Minesweepers, and is an integral element of the RAN's mine warfare capability. MSAs are primarily used for inner coastal and inner harbour mine sweeping within Australian waters and, unlike other RAN ships, have a Warrant Officer or Chief Petty Officer of the Mine Warfare branch in charge. Although commonly referred to as Navy tugboats, MSAs provide vital mine warfare support to the Huon class Coastal Minehunters and also allow for important training exercises. |
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| Defence Supports Legacy 05 September – Legacy fundraising activities were held in various areas of Victoria today. The Legacy 100 running and mountain bike event was held today at the E.C. Lord Oval at Gaza Ridge Barracks, South Bandiana. The event was open to all military members within the Albury Wodonga Military Area. The event was undertaken by individual runners or mountain bikers and relay teams. The relay consisted of four runners attempting to run 25km each in 5km legs in 8 hours. The individual category consisted of running up to 80km in 8 hours. Mountain bike teams consisted of four riders completing 40km each, in 8km legs, totalling 160km in 8 hours. The individual mountain bike category comprised of 120km per individual in 8 hours. There was an excellent response to the event with runners and bikers securing sponsorship from local Albury Wodonga business and retailers. In Melbourne, the Defence Force School of Signals (DFSS) based at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia also supported Legacy fundraising activities today. DFSS is a major contributor to the annual statewide effort by Australian Defence Force members to raise funds for Legacy. Legacy Association funding will assist Legacy in their continued support to Australian War Widows and their families. |
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| P3 Project Cleans Up at Engineering Australia Awards 05 September - Earlier this week, Greg Combet, the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, congratulated the RAAF Edinburgh-based P3 Accord project team for its success at the South Australian Engineering Australia Achievement Award. The team won the major Project Management award, as well as the Malcolm Kinnaird Engineering Excellence Award, for their work delivering the Orion aircraft Tactical Common Data Link upgrade. It was the first time that a Defence Aerospace project has taken out an award Australian Orion’s are now better placed to support Coalition operations in the Middle East with the introduction of ‘real time’ tactical video links to support ground and maritime forces. More: Media Release |
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| New Chief Defence Scientist Appointed 05 September – The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, announced today that Professor Robert Clark will be appointed as Chief Defence Scientist and head the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). Professor Clark currently holds several professorial and director appointments, including Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology within the University of New South Wales; a role which encompasses scientific leadership in cutting-edge quantum computing research along with governance of the Centre’s operations. More: Media Release |
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| Inquiry into Recognition for Service with the United States Army Small Ships Section During World War II 05 September – Today it was announced that the recently established Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into recognition for service with the United States (US) Army Small Ships Section during World War II. The inquiry to review this long standing recognition issue from World War II, was an election commitment. The US Army Small Ships Section was established during 1942 to move ships and supplies in the South West Pacific during World War II. Australians who served with the US Small Ships are eligible for US awards but have sought Imperial recognition for their service. More: Media Release |
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| Graduation Parade for Pilots in WA 05 September – Today, 23 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and three Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officers were presented with their ‘wings’ after successfully completing an intensive 38-week Pilots Course. RAAF pilots will now begin conversion training on operational aircraft including the DHC4 Caribou, PC Orion, C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, Beech King Air, Hawk Lead-in Fighter and the VIP aircraft (Boeing business jet and the Challenger C604). Navy pilots will now begin conversion to the RAN’s Squirrel Helicopter. The parade was reviewed by Air Vice Marshal John Quaife AM, and was held at RAAF Base Pearce in Bullsbrook, Western Australia. |
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| Warehouse Facilities at Bandiana to go Ahead 05 September – A $36.4 million project to construct warehousing facilities at Wadsworth Barracks, East Bandiana, has been approved in Parliament this week. The facilities will provide Defence’s Joint Logistics Unit in Victoria with a modern, purpose-built warehouse, addressing current warehouse deficiencies. The Joint Logistics Unit supports the Australian Defence Force both at home and on operational deployments by providing maintenance, storage and distribution of Defence items, including combat clothing, personnel equipment and repair parts for armoured and wheeled vehicles. Construction is planned to commence in early 2009 and expected to be completed in 2010. More: Media Release |
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| Defence 2020 Youth Challenges Showcasing Talent 05 September – Over the next two months, hundreds of young students across Australia will be studying Defence issues and responsible citizenship as part of the Defence 2020 Youth Challenge program. Defence 2020 aims to raise awareness of the values of the Australian Defence Force amongst senior school students and to encourage discussion about Defence issues through such subjects as history, economics, geography, politics and citizenship. Defence 2020 seeks to create a better understanding of the Defence culture, the variety of roles ADF members are able to take on, and of the contribution the organisation makes both nationally and internationally. The program includes a series of 15 regional Youth Challenges that will be rolled out in all states and territories and will involve some 300 schools and hundreds of students More: Media release |
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Dash For Cash 08
Since ACT for Kids (Formerly the Abused Child Trust) became the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment Charity, the members of the Regiment have raised in the order of $150,000.00. The Engineers really enjoy supporting ACT for Kids, it’s their way of giving back and supporting our community as a Regiment. ACT for Kids is an independent charity organisation, which provides therapeutic health education and counselling services to children and families caught in the cycle of child abuse and neglect. More: Image gallery |
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Top Gun Training Goes International
The aircraft, from elements in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, will be based at RAAF Williamtown from 20 August to 20 September 2008 to support Number 30 Fighter Combat Instructor’s course. The course, which began on 30 June and will conclude on 22 December 2008, will provide participating Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 and F-111 pilots and Air Combat Officers with the highest possible level of fighter combat skills. More: Image gallery | Media release |
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Exercise Albatros Ausindo 2008
The exercise demonstrated the increased co-operation between the two countries in developing maritime surveillance procedures. This was the ninth year the exercise has been held and included a search and survivor supply activity. More: Image gallery |
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| Special Operations Task Group Soldiers Wounded In Afghanistan 03 September - Nine Australian Special Forces soldiers have been wounded in action during an overnight battle with Taliban extremists in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. The soldiers were part of an ongoing Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) operation to disrupt Taliban extremist command and control networks at the time of the incident. Initial reporting indicates that one SOTG soldier suffered life-threatening wounds, five suffered serious wounds and three suffered slight wounds in the contact. Defence spokesperson Brigadier Brian Dawson said the wounded soldiers were provided immediate first aid by fellow members of their patrol at the scene of the contact and evacuated by helicopter to ISAF medical facilities. More: Operation Slipper | Media release |
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Temporary Detainee Holding Enclosures in Afghanistan
Four men suspected of being Taliban extremists were detained by Australian soldiers within a compound that had been used to engage the Special Operations Task Group. Special Operations Task Group soldiers were conducting an operation to clear a compound of interest. During the approximate 15 hours they were held at the austere Forward Operating Base, the Special Operations Task Group soldiers confined the suspected Taliban extremists in temporary holding enclosures. The enclosures were constructed from HESCO Bastions that are approximately 1.4 metres high, 1.2 metres wide and 1 metre deep. The Bastions are made with weld mesh and a non-woven geotextile lining. The enclosures offered the best secure, safe and isolated short-term accommodation until the following day. More: Media alert | Image gallery |
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The Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Exchange Program
The ADF Parliamentary Exchange Program was introduced in 2001 and has always been well supported by Members of Parliament and Senators. A number of Senators and Members of Parliament have already participated in the ADFPP which offers parliamentarians an understanding of the capabilities of the Australian Defence Force and an experience of the challenges of service life. Conversely the ADF Parliamentary Exchange Program allows our future Defence leaders the opportunity to gain an insight into the parliamentary process and a greater understanding of the environment in which our parliamentarians operate. More: Media Release | ADF Parliamentary Program | Imagery |
