More Defence news: 15 September - 21 September 2008
| Environment and Heritage Awards for 2008 | Japanese Orions Visit RAAF Edinburgh | Antonov (AN-124) Delivers FA/-18 Hornet to RAAF Williamtown | Minister for Defence Visits Indonesian Minister for Defence | Rewriting the Australian Defence Force Law Manuals | ACT Hosts Defence 2020 Youth Challenge | Aussie Gunners Pull Their Weight in Afghanistan | International Stabilisation Force Helps Remote School in East Timor | Aussies Participate in Exercise Cooperative Spirit 2008 | Minister for Defence Meets with French Counterpart | Aussies Farewell to General Petreaus | Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal Inquiry into Recognition of 4RAR’s Malaysia Service | |
| Environment and Heritage Awards for 2008 19 September - Six new awards for excellence in environmental and heritage management were recently presented by the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC, AFC and the Secretary of the Department of Defence, Nick Warner PSM. The annual awards recognise achievements by Defence individuals or groups who have done outstanding work to promote good environmental practice and to protect Australia’s natural and cultural heritage. This year’s winners of the environment and heritage management awards were as follows: • The Russell Offices Energy Efficiency Pilot Project Management Group for excellent leadership and contributions to energy conservation. • Dr Doug Cato, Maritime Operations Division in Defence Science and Technology Organisation, for exceptional leadership and research into the impacts of underwater sound on marine animals which has informed the development of best practice procedures for the Royal Australian Navy. • Major Colin Bassett, Officer Commanding 176 Air Dispatch Squadron, for outstanding contributions to environmental management during conduct of Talisman Saber 07. • Infrastructure Asset Development Branch for excellent contributions to sustainable development of the Defence estate. • Mr Max Harker, Defence Support Southern Victoria, for excellent commitment and contributions to environmental stewardship at Simpson Barracks. • Commander Steve Cole, Navy Headquarters, for excellent commitment and contributions to Defence environmental management. More: Media Release |
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| Japanese Orions Visit RAAF Edinburgh 19 September - Two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) P-3C Orion aircraft recently arrived at RAAF Base Edinburgh in Adelaide to conduct a bilateral goodwill visit. This was the second Japanese P-3C visit to Australia and builds on previous bilateral P-3C exchanges in Australia in May 2006 and in Japan in October 2007. The Japanese visit provided a useful opportunity to further deepen unit-to-unit links and working exchanges between our countries’ Defence Forces. It also provided an opportunity for a bilateral P-3C flying activity focused on improving interoperability in the area of maritime surveillance and communications. All flying activities took place off the coast of South Australia. |
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| Antonov (AN-124) Delivers FA/-18 Hornet to RAAF Williamtown 19 September – On Thursday, RAAF Base Williamtown played host to a Ukrainian transport aircraft, the Antonov An-124. The An-124 delivered a F/A-18 Hornet which made its journey from RAAF Williamtown to Canada and then back home. The purpose of the journey was to complete a vital modification as part of the Centre Barrel Replacement program. The program is part of Project AIR5376 - Hornet Upgrade, carried out on the RAAF Hornet fleet in order to maintain aircraft to their highest operational capabilities and meet the fleet’s planned withdrawal date of 2015-2018. More: Image Gallery |
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| Minister for Defence Visits Indonesian Minister for Defence 19 September - Earlier this week, the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, met with his counterpart, the Indonesian Minister for Defence, Dr Juwono Sudarsono, in Jakarta. During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the close defence relationship between Australia and Indonesia through exercises, exchanges, senior dialogue and education and training. Australia and Indonesia have a confident and maturing Defence relationship, based on a foundation of mutual respect and trust. The meeting also provided both Ministers an opportunity to discuss progress in engagement initiatives and identify opportunities for future cooperation. More: Media Release |
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Rewriting the Australian Defence Force Law Manuals
Mr Snowdon said that the launch of the new Volumes of the DLM follows the significant recent reforms to the military discipline system. The reforms to the military discipline system will strengthen the protection afforded to individuals while enhancing the impartiality, rigour, transparency and timeliness of military discipline. The reforms have received significant support from Government and the ADF’s senior leadership and have resulted in a ‘world’s best’ system. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said that completion and promulgation of the revised DLM is a significant milestone in Defence’s ongoing commitment to implementing reforms to the military discipline system. More: Image Gallery |
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ACT Hosts Defence 2020 Youth Challenge
Special guest, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, said the level of interest in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) from those attending was inspiring and reassuring. The Defence 2020 program includes a series of 15 regional Youth Challenges across all states and territories and involves around 150 schools and hundreds of students. For further information of Defence 2020 visit www.Defence2020.info More: Image Gallery |
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Aussie Gunners Pull Their Weight in Afghanistan
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Gunners have fired over 140 fire missions involving over 2500 artillery rounds so far in the first deployment of Australian artillerymen in their primary role since ADF operations ceased in Vietnam in 1972. Since late March the Gunners have been serving with the British 7th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. They provide accurate and timely artillery fire as part of the wider Task Force Helmand organisation. Prior to this deployment the Gunners completed six months training in the UK preparing for their deployment. The Australian gunners employ the 105mm L118 Light Gun, a similar weapon to the ADF’s L119 Hamel Gun. The deployment is conducted under a bilateral arrangement and will enhance the training and experience of the Australian Gunners. This deployment will be followed by a similar embedding of Gunners from Townsville’s 4th Field Regiment later this year. More: Image Gallery |
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International Stabilisation Force Helps Remote School in East Timor
The ISF conducts approved capacity building engineering activities designed to improve local infrastructure. Schools have been a major target for refurbishment across East Timor. The role of CIMIC is to facilitate discussions between the ISF, the East Timor Government and the local community. This allows for identification of mutually beneficial and achievable capacity building projects. The ISF spent three days building a new roof for the school at Quelicai. There was 1000 square metres of re-roofing completed and a number of blackboards were repainted to benefit the teachers and students. The school now has a new corrugated iron roof. The school Principal, Fernando De Santos, and the East Timor Education Minister, Almerio De Soares, were grateful for the refurbishment. The new roof will be a great asset to the school for the new school year, improving the children’s educational experience and providing shelter when the wet season starts. More: Image Gallery |
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Aussies Participate in Exercise Cooperative Spirit 2008
The ceremony signalled the start of the American, British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand (ABCA) Armies’ training exercise. It will focus on the interoperability of equipment and the exchanging of tactics and procedures between ABCA. During the month long exercise, the 180-strong 1RAR contingent will combine with a company from the 2nd/1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment to create the ‘ANZAC Battle Group’. Together they will conduct operations in the field, under stressful battlefield conditions, complete with a sophisticated opposing force and realistic training scenarios in a world-class training facility. There will be approximately 1,800 troops participating in the training, which includes cordon searches, downed aircraft recovery, provincial reconstruction team operations and live-fire scenarios. To begin with, there will be squad and platoon level training which will build up to multinational integrated brigade-level operations and missions. The troops will also participate in a variety of civil affairs projects, including building up local economies and establishing reclamation projects such as schools and hospitals. More: Image Gallery |
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Minister for Defence Meets with French Counterpart
At the meeting, the Ministers discussed the situation in Afghanistan and progress of negotiations on a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement (MLSA) which will be signed as soon as possible after ratification on the 2006 Australia-France Defence Cooperation Agreement, which is anticipated to occur later in the year. The MLSA will facilitate enhanced cooperation in the provision of logistic support to each other regionally and globally, in situations such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the South Pacific. Australian and French engagement in the Pacific is focused on training, joint exercises, maritime surveillance conducted in conjunction with New Zealand and the United States, and support to regional defence and police forces. Australian Forces participate in joint exercises in New Caledonia, including in Exercise Croix du Sud this year. French Forces also participate in regional Australian exercises including Exercise Pitch Black and Exercise Kakadu. Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation and its French counterpart, Delegation General Pour L’Armement, have a strong relationship and are cooperating closely on the introduction of the Multi Role Helicopter (MRH90) and the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (Tiger). More: Image Gallery |
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Aussies Farewell to General Petreaus
Major General Hindmarsh presented General Petraeus with a statuette gift in recognition of the outstanding support and guidance he offered Aussie troops during his time as coalition chief. The inscribed statuette depicts the iconic Aussie digger carrying a wounded US soldier to safety during the New Guinea conflict in 1943, a lasting and poignant symbolisation of the unique and special bond between the two nations’ servicemen. Major General Hindmarsh expressed his gratitude to the outgoing General saying it had been an absolute honour and a privilege for Australian forces to serve under his command and congratulated him on his achievements in dramatically improving the security situation in Iraq. General Petraeus is due to relinquish command of MNF-I on 16th September, when he will be replaced by General Ray Odierno. More: Media Release | Image Gallery |
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| Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal Inquiry into Recognition of 4RAR’s Malaysia Service 15 September - A call for submissions for recognition of service for Australian Military personnel who served with 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) in Malaysia in 1966 to 1967, has been issued in the national press. On Friday, The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, announced that the Defence Honours and Award Tribunal will inquire into recognition of service of members of 4RAR. In particular, The Tribunal will focus on members of 4RAR who served at Terendak, Malaysia from May to September 1967 for the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp ‘MALAYSIA,’ the General Service Medal 1962 with clasp ‘MALAY PENININSULA’ and the Pingat Jasa Malaysia. Any findings or recommendations that arise from the inquiry will be reported to The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly AM MP. The Tribunal can be contacted at: Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal Locked Bag 7765 CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE ACT 2610 Or via email to DHA.Tribunal@defence.gov.au Further information can be found at: www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au |
