More Defence news: 17 November 2008 - 23 November 2008
| Australians take the lead | Achievement award for scientist of many coats | Returned from Active Service Badge post-Armistice South Korea | Pacific Patrol Boat Program | Minister for Defence to Visit Canada, Spain, Portugal and UK | A final farewell for HMAS Sydney II | Street patrols in Afghanistan | NORFORCE soldiers prepare for Operation RESOLUTE | Defence assistance to storm clean up | Navy Christmas stand down | Troops help build medical clinic in town of Uaimori | ADF trainees receive pay increase and $8,000 allowance | Indonesian patrol boat exercise commences | |
21 November – On Tuesday, a short ceremony was held in southern Afghanistan to mark the official transfer of authority, between Dutch and Australian Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLT). While the Australian soldiers have already commenced mentoring and training the Afghan National Army in Uruzgan Province, the ceremony marked the conclusion of Dutch command and the commencement of Australian responsibility for the mission. Major Van Gelder of the Netherlands Royal Marines presented Officer Commanding the OMLT, Major David McCammon with the Marines crest, signifying the handover of operational responsibilities between their forces. More: Image gallery |
|
Achievement award for scientist of many coats 21 November - The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, presented an achievement award to a Defence scientist whose specialised research into paints has markedly improved the performance and durability of military aircraft, ships, submarines and land vehicles. Dr Lindsay Wake from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) was presented with a trophy and a cash prize of $15,000 at a function in Melbourne. Dr Wake has developed high performance coating systems which combine camouflage with high durability and low toxicity. He has also developed and introduced a helium leak detection system that identifies fuel leaks in F-111 aircraft and greatly increases the safety of aircrew. More: Media release |
|
Returned from Active Service Badge post-Armistice South Korea 21 November - The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, today announced the eligibility criteria for the Returned from Active Service Badge (RASB) for service in post-Armistice South Korea. The RASB will be issued to those former Defence Force personnel who completed 30 days in South Korea during the post-Armistice period from 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956 and would be linked to the criteria for the proposed Australian General Service Medal for Korea (AGSM). Applications are now being accepted from former Defence Force personnel who served in South Korea during the above mentioned period. Applications should be made to the following address: Directorate of Honours and Awards If an applicant for the RASB changes their address before they receive the AGSM, they should advise the Directorate of Honours and Awards of their new address as soon as possible to ensure they receive it. More: Media release |
|
20 November – Twelve Pacific nations have been provided twenty-two Pacific Patrol Boats as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. The role of the Program is to provide support to allow Australia’s Pacific neighbours to independently patrol and protect their exclusive economic zones. The boats provide Pacific Island countries with a visible and effective maritime surveillance capability, as well as a search-and rescue capability. They represent Australia’s most significant defence commitment to the South Pacific and illustrate the ADF’s strong commitment to meeting the security challenges of the region. More: Image gallery |
|
Minister for Defence to Visit Canada, Spain, Portugal and UK 20 November - The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Minister for Defence, will travel to Canada, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom from 20 to 30 November. Mr Fitzgibbon will meet with his counterparts from various nations to discuss key operational challenges in Southern Afghanistan, as well as broader strategic developments. He will also meet with his Spanish and Portuguese counterparts to discuss operations in locations such as East Timor and Afghanistan, and will provide the opportunity to progress a number of key policy objectives relating to operations, regional security and complex military capability. More: Media release |
|
A final farewell for HMAS Sydney II
19 November – Today, HMAS Manoora and HMAS Sydney conducted the first memorial service at sea for the lost sailors of HMAS Sydney II over the site of the sinking. Manoora embarked 284 family members and relatives from Geraldton, Western Australia for a cruise out to the resting place of Sydney II to farewell and remember lost loved ones. Sydney II was found on 16 March 2008 by the Finding Sydney Foundation in a position 112 nautical miles off Steele Point at 26° 14’ 37” S 111° 13’ 03” E in approximately 2.5km of water. More: Media release | HMAS Sydney II website |
|
19 November - Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-1) have been conducting street patrols in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. The MRTF-1 is Australia’s largest contribution to the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and consists of 440 Australian Defence Force personnel. The Task Force is continuing the efforts to rebuild and improve infrastructure undertaken successfully by previous reconstruction task forces and has the additional mission of mentoring the Afghan National Army Brigade in Uruzgan Province. More: Image gallery |
|
NORFORCE soldiers prepare for Operation RESOLUTE
19 November – With the patrol ready for insertion into the region, the coxswains powered up their boat motors and flicked on their night vision goggles to navigate the waterways. The patrol’s mission following insertion into the region was to setup an observation point on a small island off the coast, under the veil of night. The island’s sparse vegetation meant the soldier’s movement during the day would be extremely limited. There would be no opportunities for foraging bush tucker or fresh seafood rations this deployment, as any movement could compromise the mission. NORFORCE has had a long history looking after the bush and its people, so any requests for support by Government that has our soldiers out and actively engaging the communities, even if it’s only a chat at the general store or a sports day with the local primary school; it all reinforces our unit’s ideals to the public and further promotes what we can do for young eager indigenous Australians. The Aboriginal people look up to NORFORCE as modern day protectors of the land, and our soldier’s presence out in the communities on Op Outreach hasn’t done anything to falter that high regard. More: Image gallery |
|
Defence assistance to storm clean up
19 November - More than 750 Australian Defence Force Personnel have been mobilised to assist the Brisbane City Council and Emergency Management Australia to clean up in the wake of Sunday’s storm. The personnel are being coordinated by the 7th Brigade at Gallipoli Barracks, with soldiers from Enoggera and airmen and soldiers from RAAF Amberley. They are providing clean-up assistance to restore vehicle and pedestrian access to homes in Brisbane’s Northern Suburbs, as well as assisting with covering roofs of damaged homes. Soldiers have also been manning a water distribution point at the Gap Primary School, and delivering water to aged care facilities in the area. |
|
|
18 November – Today, a new Christmas stand down period was announced under the Chief of Navy’s “New Generation Navy” program. The Christmas period will not have any adverse impact on national security. Around 500 Navy personnel will remain on active duty during this time. HMAS Parramatta and Task Group 158 in the Persian Gulf will continue their activities, as well as other Navy deployed personnel to the Middle East Area of Operations. Operation RESOLUTE will also continue with border protection duties. More: Media release |
|
Troops help build medical clinic in town of Uaimori
The clinic will enable a nurse to visit the location weekly, to give medical assistance to the community. Currently the locals have to walk up to nine hours to the nearest available clinic. More: Image gallery |
|
ADF trainees receive pay increase and $8,000 allowance 18 November – Yesterday, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, announced that Australian Defence Force (ADF) enlisted trainees would receive increased pay together with an $8,000 trainee allowance. The ADF is offering an attractive remuneration package to meet the current ADF recruiting challenge. ADF members undergoing employment training of 12 months or more will receive an increase of $5,390, bringing their salary to $37,109. In addition, a new amount of $8,000 per annum trainee allowance will also be included to recognise extra demands placed on personnel undergoing training in a military environment. More: Media release |
|
Indonesian patrol boat exercise commences 18 November – Yesterday, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) joined forces for the week-long maritime exercise, Cassowary. Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Armidale and the Indonesian Navy vessel KRI Kakap – 811 are participating in the exercise which focuses on surveillance and maritime operations in the Timor Sea. Deputy Fleet Commander, Commodore Simon Cullen, AM, CSC, RAN, said exercise Cassowary will assist the RAN and TNI-AL to hone skills in the areas of seamanship, patrol techniques and capability building. More: Media release |
