More Defence news: 27 October 2008 - 02 November 2008
| Exercise Swift Eagle 08 winds down | Minister for Defence inspects first Nary Special Operations Vehicles for the ADF | ADF Families Survey | New Panther fire truck fleet at RAAF Base Amberley | Guy Sebastian and the Army Divas sing for Canberra Legacy | 1500 technical trade scholarships offered to Year 11 and 12 students | Minister for Defence announces enhancements to ADF’s land forces | HMAS Toowoomba returns to Rockingham | Operation Astute visit by Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta | Multi million dollar base redevelopment at RAAF Base Pearce | New Special Operations Vehicles delivered | Air Force Chiefs meet at RAAF Pearce | “Cruel Conflict” launched | Army reservists prepare to deploy to Solomon Islands | Unknown sailor to be re-interred with full military honours | |
Exercise Swift Eagle 08 winds down
2,500 troops from the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces have been participating in Exercise Swift Eagle 08 this week at the Townsville Field Training Area. The Combined Training Centre’s war fighter exercise provides valuable experience in the field at the tactical level by offering personnel a chance to operate in a combined arms environment. The amphibious component of current training – Exercise Sea Lion 08 – ran concurrently with Exercise Swift Eagle 08. The exercises were designed to develop and test the ADF’s operational capacity, part of which is the ability to conduct amphibious operations. Other training activities on the exercise occurred concurrently at the Army’s jungle training facility west of Tully and the High Range Training Area west of Townsville. The Exercise started on 7 October and will finish up this weekend on Sunday, 2 November. More: Image Gallery |
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Minister for Defence inspects first Nary Special Operations Vehicles for the ADF
The Minister for Defence, The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP spent this week visiting various military establishments in Western Australia which included Campbell Barracks, HMAS Stirling and RAAF Base Pearce. While visiting the Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) at Campbell Barracks in Western Australia, Mr Fitzgibbon inspected the first Nary Special Operations Vehicles (SOVs) to be delivered to the ADF. The new vehicles will be utilised by Australia's Special Forces, and were delivered by the Defence Materiel Organisation under Project Redfin. This project will enhance the ADF Special Operations capability, and will introduce a range of combat and support vehicles. More: Media release | Image Gallery |
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31 October – Today the ADF Families Survey was launched at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane. More: Media release | Image gallery |
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New Panther fire truck fleet at RAAF Base Amberley 31 October – Today, a fleet of Panther Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting vehicles was officially handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The handover ceremony was held at RAAF Security and Fire School in Amberley, in conjunction with the Graduation Ceremony of the first Fire Fighter Basic Course to train on the Panther. Panther vehicles are able to rapidly traverse an airfield by crossing drains, fences and small obstacles. They are equipped with a large capacity tank and high volume pumps to deliver sufficient fire retardant in order to rescue passengers and aircrew and prevent the spread of fire to other aircraft and airfield infrastructure. |
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Guy Sebastian and the Army Divas sing for Canberra Legacy
29 October - Army in Concert 2008 was a chance for the talented Army Divas to entertain alongside special guest performer Guy Sebastian while they raise funds for Canberra Legacy. More: Image Gallery |
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1500 technical trade scholarships offered to Year 11 and 12 students
29 October - The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP has announced a new initiative aimed at addressing the critical shortage of skilled tradespeople in Australia. Starting with the 2009 school year, Defence will offer up to 1500 Defence Technical Scholarships to students entering Years 11 and 12, and want to pursue a technical trade career. Students must be studying a non-modified maths subject and a vocational technical trade subject to be eligible. Scholarships will be awarded on merit. Year 11 scholarship recipients will receive $2,000 and Year 12 scholarship recipients will receive $3,000. Minister Snowdon spent time travelling this week, to schools such as the Tully State High School to launch the new scholarship program. More: Media release | Image Gallery |
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Minister for Defence announces enhancements to ADF’s land forces 29 October - The Minister for Defence, The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon has announced a range of enhancements that will upgrade the Australian Army’s operational capabilities. The Australian Government has recently approved a $220 million upgrade of an additional 81 M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers to improve the protection, mobility and firepower of the Mechanised Infantry units of the Australian Army. The Minister has also announced that the Government has given approval to commence planning for Phase 4 of the LAND 121 project, which will replace some of the Australian Defence Force’s 4,200 Land Rovers with a fleet of protected light mobility vehicles. In developing options for this project, Australia is intending to participate in the technology demonstration phase of the United States’ Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Program. In parallel, Defence will also engage with industry to explore other options to provide protected light mobility vehicles. More: Media release |
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| HMAS Toowoomba returns to Rockingham 29 October – Yesterday, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac Class frigate HMAS Toowoomba returned to her home port of HMAS Stirling in Rockingham. Toowoomba has been deployed from her homeport since June, taking part in two multinational exercises – Singaroo and Kakadu – followed by border protection patrols in the Arafura Sea. To finish off her busy time abroad, Toowoomba conducted a port visit to Busan, South Korea. More: Media release |
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Operation Astute visit by Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta
28 October - President of East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta recently visited the 5th Battalion's Royal Australian Regiment Charlie Company, currently based at the International Stabilisation Force's (ISF) Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Bacau, which is part of East Timor's Battle Group 5. Officer Commanding Charlie Company, Major Paul Greive provided President Horta with a familiarisation of the Bacau FOB, with Commander ISF Brigdier Mark Holmes MVO. The tour included a comprehensive brief on Charlie Company's operations throughout the western districts of East Timor. |
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Multi million dollar base redevelopment at RAAF Base Pearce 28 October - The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, visited RAAF Base Pearce today and broke ground to mark the commencement of construction for the Base Redevelopment Stage 1 project and upgrade works to accommodate C-17 aircraft operations into RAAF Base Pearce. More than $142.2 million will be invested in the redevelopment through new construction and refurbishment works to update and enhance critical aged dysfunctional infrastructure and facilities. In addition to the redevelopment, upgrade works valued at $12.6 million for the introduction of the C-17 aircraft will be delivered concurrently as part of the C-17 Heavy Air Lift Infrastructure project. More: Media release |
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New Special Operations Vehicles delivered 27 October – The first Nary Special Operations Vehicles (SOVs) have been inspected at the Special Air Services Regiment at Campbell Barracks in Western Australia. The new vehicles will be utilised by Australia’s Special Forces, and were delivered by the Defence Materiel Organisation under Project Redfin. This project will enhance the ADF Special Operations capability, and will introduce a range of combat and support vehicles. The SOV has been named the ‘Nary’, in honour of Warrant Officer Class Two David Nary. Warrant Officer Nary was an Australian Special Forces soldier who died during a training operation in the Middle East in 2005. More: Media release |
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Air Force Chiefs meet at RAAF Pearce
27 October - The Australian and Singaporean Chiefs of Air Force have discussed ways to further enhance cooperation during a visit to RAAF Pearce near Perth. Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, and Chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Major General Ng Chee Khern, also met members of RAAF’s No. 2 Flying Training School and RSAF’s No.130 Squadron based at Pearce. The RAAF has a strong relationship with the RSAF, demonstrated through bilateral exercises and the Five Power Defence Agreements. Both countries recently completed Exercise Bersama Lima, which was conducted in the South China Sea. More: Media release | Image gallery |
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27 October - The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, MP today launched Dr Kathryn Spurling’s new book, “Cruel Conflict: The triumph and tragedy of HMAS Perth” on board the current HMAS Perth, the third Australian warship to bear the name. Dr Spurling, currently a Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, received praise for her portrayal of the story of the men who served in HMAS Perth I between 1939 and 1942. “Cruel Conflict is a moving account of chance, endurance and the power of the human will. It honours the tradition of the Australian spirit and reminds us all of the hardships endured by the courageous POWs during World War II,” said Mr Fitzgibbon. More: Media release |
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Army reservists prepare to deploy to Solomon Islands 27 October - Army reservists from the South Australian and Tasmanian- based 9th Brigade and the Western Australian-based 13th Brigade will deploy to the Solomon Islands in December. 140 soldiers from three different states will spend four months taking part in Operation ANODE, supporting RAMSI with its mission of maintaining regional peace and stability and helping the local government to improve law and order. The civilian employers of the reservists will have an opportunity to see the benefits that reserve service bring to their employees, when selected employers fly to the Solomon Islands as part of ‘Boss Lift’. More: Media release |
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Unknown sailor to be re-interred with full military honours 27 October - The reburial of the remains of the likely HMAS Sydney II sailor will occur on 19 November 2008. The remains have not yet been identified however it is believed the remains could be those of a crew member from HMAS Sydney II after it sunk off the West Australian Coast in 1941 following enemy action. The sailor’s remains were exhumed from Christmas Island in October 2006. The Royal Australian Navy will be holding a DNA sample of the unknown sailor, so if any further information is discovered, comparing with relatives can still occur. Due to the capacity of Geraldton War Cemetery, the reinterment will be a very small, intimate affair. However HMAS Sydney II family members and the general public are invited to attend a larger memorial service Queens Park. More: Media release | HMAS Sydney II website |
