More Defence news: 28 September 2009 - 04 October 2009
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ADF response to Sumatran Earthquake - Operation Padang Assist | ADF response to Samoan earthquake - latest update | Feedback on military justice system | ADF responds to Samoan earthquake | Aussie Gunners on target in Afghanistan | Progressive armour for ADF soldiers in Afghanistan | JSF to meet Australia’s future air combat needs | Aussie Mentors see real improvement in Afghan Army colleagues | A soldier's best friend | CDF extends tenancy for Breeanna Till |
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ADF response to Sumatran Earthquake - Operation Padang Assist
02 October - The ADF has launched Operation Padang Assist, its Indonesian earthquake relief effort today, following the acceptance by the Indonesian Government of an offer of emergency assistance from Australia yesterday. More: Media release |
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ADF response to Samoan earthquake - latest update
02 October - The ADF is now responding to the Samoan tsunami tragedy with a tri-service disaster relief operation in support of the Australian Government’s contribution to the wider disaster relief effort. A C-17 aircraft has recently left RAAF Base Richmond carrying two five-person ADF aero-medical evacuation teams, rescue equipment and emergency response supplies. Tents, tarpaulins, trunks and stretchers, collapsible water containers, bottled water and rations were rushed to Samoa to meet the immediate demands of the disaster relief. Chief of Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said more flights and other measures have been prepared. “Two Australian C-130s, in New Zealand on training tasks, were expected to transport New Zealand officials and NZDF Iroquois helicopters as part of the New Zealand Government response to the disaster,” Lieutenant General Evans said. “HMAS Success has also been diverted to Townsville to prepare to transport engineering and humanitarian stores.” A C-130 flight left Richmond yesterday afternoon with 34 civilian emergency specialists coordinated through Emergency Management Australia. Defence personnel involved in the operation are confident they have the equipment and skills that can provide practical relief to the people affected by the disaster. The ADF remains fully engaged in planning with other government agencies and international partners to present an efficient and effective response to this disaster, and is ready to respond to any further Government direction. More: Media release | Image gallery |
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Feedback on military justice system 01 October - Defence is seeking feedback on your experiences with the military justice system. The information gathered will assist in confirming best practice, ensuring that any concerns are addressed. The Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force, who monitors the military justice system, has commissioned the questionnaire aiming to improve problem areas where necessary. The feedback opportunity is open to anyone who has been involved in any capacity in:
You can have your say by visiting www.defence.gov.au/mjs. Your comments will be non-attributable and treated in confidence. |
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ADF responds to Samoan earthquake
01 October - The Royal Australian Air Force will soon provide significant air-lift support to the Australian Government’s humanitarian relief effort for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Samoa. Up to three Royal Australian Air Force flights into Samoa will take place today, transporting Australian Government officials and emergency aid into the disaster affected region. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said the first of these flights will be a C-17 Globemaster carrying emergency humanitarian stores and medical personnel from RAAF Base Richmond this morning. “The C-17 will carry around 20 tons of AusAID-supplied humanitarian aid as well as specialist AusAID officials and 10 specialist RAAF aero-medical evacuation (AME) staff to assist in the urgent response operation,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said. If required, a C-130 Hercules will also be available to carry additional medical personnel and stores supplied by several of State Health Departments. A Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules, currently in New Zealand on another task, will transport a group of New Zealand Government personnel into Samoa to assist in the regional emergency response,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said “I consider this type of mission - coming to the aid of our regional neighbours in their time of need - as one of the ADF’s highest priorities and we will do what ever else is required to help.” At this stage, the ADF has only been asked to provide air-lift support to the Australian Government agencies supporting the relief effort.More: Media release | Image gallery |
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Aussie Gunners on target in Afghanistan 01 October - Firing rounds in support of ISAF patrols whilst deployed to the Helmand Province, Afghanistan with the British Armed forces has been an experience of a lifetime for Gunners from the Enoggera-based 105 Medium Battery, 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. Located at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Armadillo, the gunners have been working hard to support ISAF troops during their deployment, engaging in fire missions to support British, Danish and ANSF troops in contact. In arduous conditions with temperatures rising to a barmy 55 degrees and contacts ranging between 1000 to 2500m from the FOB wall, the Aussie Gunners have maintained the outstanding standard set by the previous rotations from 8/12 Medium Regiment and 4 Field Regiment. In early April, the British 19th Light Brigade including the Aussie Gunners conducted the transfer of authority with all UK force elements in Helmand Province for what was expected to be a bitter round of fighting leading up to the Afghanistan elections. Lieutenant Khalid El Khaligi and Warrant Officer Class Two Shaun Graham had done an excellent job in pre-deployment training and ensured that the mixture of Australian and British troops was prepared for all eventualities. There has been never a dull moment at the gun position with the Troop immediately commencing work resighting and reinforcing defensive positions, reorganising gun platforms and improving accommodation. On a regular basis patrols were conducted to resight the field defences. Ground dominating patrols by day and night have been conducted to deter and observe local national support to the Taliban and identify depth firing positions used by the Taliban to engage the FOB from maximum range. Living in HESCO buildings, sleeping on stretchers in mosquito domes, the gun position is as basic as it comes in Helmand Province. But in true Australian style the troop have made life as comfortable as they can in their accommodation. Food at the Gun Position is also basic; consisting of travel cereal packs with powdered milk for breakfast, a United States Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) for lunch and a cooked British 10-man ration pack meal for dinner. Over the months the meals have become very creative as the soldiers are using field ovens made from ammo boxes to make bread and cakes. In the first 4 months of the tour the troop have engaged in 42 fire missions, and have laid on numerous others, totalling 1008 rounds fired in anger in support of Danish and British infantry units. All contacts have been between 900m to 2000m from the FOB which means that it is possible to observe the fall of shot, watch air support engage with 500lb bombs, see A10 Warthogs conduct strafing runs and Danish tanks engage with 120mm rounds from the desert into the Green zone. The other result of the contacts being so close to the FOB is the high threat of ricochet and “spill over” rounds coming over the wall from the contacts. The gun detachments always wear body armour and helmet when manning the guns, due to this threat and the fact that the gun platforms are raised, leaving them exposed above the Hesco wall barriers. The troop have been involved in some large scale operations as well, including the Brigade operation, Operation Panthers Claw. Panthers Claw was designed to increase the ISAF area of influence. During the operation a high value target was identified and engaged with HE rounds from the Troop, 500lb bombs from F15’s and 120mm rounds from Danish Leopard 2 Tanks simultaneously. The combined engagement of this target was very exciting to be apart of. The day was then topped off when the troop fired a 60 round smoke screen to allow the Tank troop to disengage from the contact. On one occasion the FOB was subjected to small arms fire around the gun position from 5 different firing points as well as coordinated Indirect Fire (IDF). This fire included Rocket Propelled Grenades which detonated behind and within the walls of the FOB. During the contact the troop received a counter battery fire mission on the IDF point of origin given by the counter IDF detachment. The IDF was silenced by after 14 high explosive proximity rounds from the troop. Another highlight of the tour included the involvement in an incident which required the FOB to launch a hasty multinational Quick Reaction Force (QRF) commanded by elements of the Aussie Troop to assist a British Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) patrol under heavy accurate and sustained fire. The QRF consisted of elements from all elements within the FOB and utilised Danish vehicles for transport and Fire Spt. The deployment has been an extremely rewarding and humbling experience for the Diggers, working for the combined British-Australian troop supporting Danish and British infantry in an international FOB. The troop has and will continue to provide first class fire support to ISAF troops and has maintained the esteem that Australian Gunners have earned since WW1. There is an enormous trust and respect for the life saving, combat multiplying capability that gun troops can provide. |
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Progressive armour for ADF soldiers in Afghanistan
01 October - The recently fielded Modular Combat Body Armour (MCBAS) is undergoing further development work to provide soldiers and commanders greater options to modularise the equipment to better deal with the prevailing threat. Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, said MCBAS was being adjusted because the environment and the nature of the tasks that Australian soldiers perform in had changed. “Originally designed for use in Iraq where the majority of operations were mounted, it is now being adapted to better deal with the dismounted operations increasingly being conducted in Afghanistan,” Lieutenant General Gillespie said. “The weight and mobility trade-off in these modular options is a key determinate for commanders in assessing which combination is best suited for particular threat scenarios.” Future enhancements to the armour include expansion of the armour to a multi-tiered system, allowing for greater options for ballistic protection and mobility to meet prevailing threats. Private Paul Warren lost his right leg in an improvised explosive device blast on 18 July this year, and said the MCBAS saved his life. “The body armour did its job really well,” Private Warren said. Lieutenant General Gillespie said the current body armour provided superior ballistic and blast fragmentation for soldiers, but providing soldiers with the best equipment was an ongoing process. “Defence always strives to continually improve our equipment based on ongoing scientific testing as well as the feedback it receives from the soldiers on the ground,” he said. Soldiers will continue to use a lighter body-armour variant that affords greater mobility until the new body armour arrives.For more, see page 2 in the latest edition of Army News. |
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JSF to meet Australia’s future air combat needs
29 September - Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, has visited Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, to view progress on the US-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. Mr Combet toured the JSF production line and discussed the JSF’s progress with senior Lockheed Martin officials. “The visit has reinforced my confidence that the JSF is the right aircraft to meet Australia’s future air combat needs and represents value for money for the Australian taxpayer,” Mr Combet said. “In the 15 months since my last visit to the US to review progress on the JSF, it is clear that the US Government continues to provide strong support for the Program and Lockheed Martin continues to make good technical progress. “As a large and complex project many challenges remain, but what I’ve seen today convinces me that Lockheed Martin and its industry partners – including Australian companies – are up to dealing with those challenges.” While the 2009 Defence White Paper confirmed that Australia will acquire around 100 JSFs, Mr Combet reiterated that the Government will not formally commit to buying JSF until it has confidence that the JSF Program is meeting cost, schedule and capability goals. “The final timing of Australia’s JSF acquisition and the delivery schedule will be decided by the Government in late 2009,” Mr Combet said. More: Media release |
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Aussie Mentors see real improvement in Afghan Army colleagues 29 September - After four months in Afghanistan, the second rotation of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-2) is seeing real improvements in the Afghan National Army (ANA). A key part of MRTF-2’s mission is the mentoring of the Afghan National Army’s 4th Brigade which is deployed in Uruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan. To achieve this mission, MRTF-2 has two Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (OMLTs) which have continued the work started last year by the previous rotation of the MRTF. The soldiers in the OMLTs are based around Uruzgan Province, enhancing the ANA 4th Brigade’s operational capabilities. The OMLTs’ goal is seeing their Afghan National Army (ANA) colleagues gaining enough skills so they can take over security in the province and defeat the insurgent threat. MRTF-2’s original OMLT is working on improving the infantry skills of the 2nd Kandak. Kandak means battalion in Pashtu and the 2nd Kandak is part of the 4th ANA Brigade. Given the wide variety of roles in the 4th Kandak, there are members from nine different Australian Army Corps represented in the second OMLT, reflecting the unique role it has. The Officer Commanding this OMLT, Major Gordon Wing, says all the members of his team have trained very hard for their role and have hit the ground running. “In the fortnight since our arrival, our Reconnaissance mentors have already successfully mentored an Afghan Company to deploy, takeover a patrol base and conduct operations in a new Area of Operations,” Major Wing said. “The Reconnaissance mentors have been given excellent support by other personnel from within the OMLT and we have established good relationships with our respective Afghan counterparts. “We look forward to working with our Afghan National Army colleagues and together increase their capacity to secure a peaceful future for the people of Afghanistan,” he said. Meanwhile, the Officer Commanding of the other OMLT, Major Brenton Russell, says his men have been enjoying the experience of living and fighting alongside their Afghan Army colleagues over the past few months. “We’re definitely seeing improvements within the Afghan soldiers,” said Major Russell. “The Afghan soldiers have some very good natural skills because they themselves are of the people, they understand the people and are very good at communicating with the people. “What we sometimes take for granted, as a more developed Army, is the ability to incorporate supporting assets and increased command and control. We are now trying to pass this onto the Afghan soldiers,” he said. Major Russell says Afghan soldiers were good learners. “They’re always very keen to learn new ways of how to do things better but they’ve got some really good skills as well; we learn from them and they learn from us,” he said. The Commanding Officer of the Afghan Army’s 2nd Kandak appreciates the mentoring his soldiers are receiving. “We are very happy because you support us and in this case the National Army can improve and one day we can stand on our own feet,” he said. Lieutenant Nathan Cooper is one of the mentors from the OMLT based in Chora, north of Tarin Kowt. “It’s been slow but they are progressing and I think the most important thing to realise is that although we have a long way to go, we’ve made some improvements,” said Lieutenant Cooper. “We’re teaching them infantry minor tactics, trying to teach them when they get on the ground how to counter the main threats that they’re facing, being the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), being threats from insurgents with small arms fire and other things of that nature,” he said. Lieutenant Cooper says there’s a lot more to it than just basic military skills. “In addition, we’re teaching them how we operate in a COIN (counter insurgency) environment, talking to locals and trying to gain information,” he said. The 26 year old says he’s enjoying himself. “The danger is very real and the Australian soldiers are facing that danger everyday but the training that we’ve received has prepared us very well for that and we are capable of dealing with anything that comes our way,” Lieutenant Cooper said. “The Afghans are inherently a warrior race, they will get into a fight and they will fight with us, they’re not afraid of any danger at all.” Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Nigel Brien has also been based in Chora working with Lieutenant Cooper. “The improvements within the Afghan soldiers have been quite significant; what we’re finding is that when we get into more practical demonstrations with them, we see an improvement – once they can visualize what they are trying to learn,” WO2 Brien said. WO2 Brien, who joined the Army in 1992, says he’s finding the mentoring role very rewarding. “Things that we have been trying to identify and fix are things such as section identity, what section that they are from and that they continually work together to build up that continuity,” he said. Lance Corporal Aaron Kime, who’s also from Lieutenant Cooper’s team, says working with the Afghan Army has been a good experience. “We’ve noticed a few improvements with them, a lot of it’s their basic patrolling skills, they’ve improved quite a bit,” Aaron said. “Weapon carriage, field signals, their ability to provide good security in all environments, urban and in the open fields; and their ability to notice differences in the pattern of life in civilians, stuff that we being foreigners find hard to pick up,” he said. For the soldiers who have been in Afghanistan for a number of months already, recreational leave has started. “Home’s a while away, so I’m not really thinking about that at this stage but I will be having a break sometime in the trip so I’m focusing on that,” said Lieutenant Cooper. “I am missing my family but it’s a very important job that we’re doing here; I find it very rewarding and that really helps me through those tough times,” he said. “We love it here, having a good time, it’s a good challenge and it’s something we look forward to,” said Lance Corporal Kime. “I’ve absolutely no doubt we should be here, I believe in the mission and I know all my men believe in the mission, we’re here to help the people of Afghanistan become responsible for their own security,” said Major Russell. |
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29 September - Australian Army cooks at Patrol Bases around Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan are proving to be the soldiers’ best friends. The soldiers, part of the second rotation of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-2), have been enjoying fresh food daily after an influx of Australian cooks. One of the cooks is 34 year old Corporal Leon Brown. His cooking skills have proven a hit with the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) at Forward Operating Base Mirwais in Chora, north of Tarin Kowt. “Here at the patrol bases we are very much appreciated due to the fact that before we got here, a lot of the members were eating ration packs, so now with us here, we can control their nutritional needs, as we cook at least on efresh meal a day,” said Leon. “The lads go out, they patrol half the day out in the hot sun, walking around and they know when they get back they are going to get a good feed,” “Some lads patrol a lot longer than others, so we need to take that into mind, carb load the night before, when they get back give them more carbs to replenish everything that they’ve used throughout the day.” Leon says the cooking conditions are pretty primitive but he gets by. “Then we can start slipping in a few comfort foods, such as hamburgers, there is not a lot of nutritional value there but it’s kind of a morale boost so everyone’s pretty happy with that now and again.” Leon and the other cooks rotate between bases around the province. “Day to day we cook for the OMLT, but every now and again a combat team will come through doing what they do, so we try and feed them twice a week because they’re on ration packs the rest of the time,” said Leon. This is Leon’s second military deployment. He served in Timor Leste in 2006 for four months. “I’ve found my time on this deployment especially rewarding because it’s the first time in ten years in the Army that I’ve actually felt very appreciated and we’ve been able to really knuckle down and do our job to the best of our ability and really improve on our skills,” Leon said. Operational Mentor and Liaison Team Officer Commanding, Major Brenton Russell, is enjoying the food on offer. “The food has certainly come a long way since the Australians have been here, we now have a cook at every patrol base, and whilst it may not necessarily be what your mum makes you at home, it’s certainly a lot better than the past when we’ve had to eat ration packs each day,” said Major Russell. “Last night we had a really good feed of roast pork ribs, which were fantastic and I’ve got to admit we’re pretty lucky with the cook we’ve got here at the moment,” he said. It’s not just the soldiers at Patrol Bases who will benefit from some good Australian cooking. The ten additional ADF cooks that were deployed earlier this year will improve the menu at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ripley in Tarin Kowt. These cooks supplement the cooks supporting the Patrol Bases around Uruzgan Province. The ADF is continuing to improve the catering facilities at FOB Ripley through the development of a new kitchen facility and enhancements to the quality and style of food on offer. It’s expected the new kitchen, which will be operated by civilian caterers with oversight from ADF cooks, will be operating by December 2009. “I guess we are very popular at the moment because before then the food was a bit of a drama and now that we are here, we’re kind of a morale boost,” said Leon. |
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CDF extends tenancy for Breeanna Till
28 September - The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has intervened to assist war widow Mrs Breeanna Till. Mrs Till’s Defence residency and associated moving costs have now been extended until September 2010, after her husband Sergeant Brett Till was killed in action in Afghanistan earlier this year. Air Chief Marshal Houston said it was Defence policy to provide Defence housing for the dependants of an ADF member killed in action for the following six months. “Given the particular circumstances of this case, I have decided to extend this out to 18 months – to September 2010,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said “On 31 August, I spoke with Mrs Till and told her I would look at this matter for her. The Chief of Army had previously advised Mrs Till in April that the tenancy had been extended to March 2010. “I feel this is the only reasonable course of action. It will allow Mrs Till more time to deal with her husband’s tragic loss and the arrival of a new baby. “Every bereavement is complex and difficult. So too is every family situation. This complexity necessitates that we deal with the individual circumstances of each family compassionately. “I believe in this case, this is a sensitive and appropriate course of action.” Air Chief Marshal Houston said he and the Army Chain of Command had been unaware until recently that Mrs Till was waiting for reimbursement on equipment her late husband had purchased before he went to Afghanistan. “I was unaware of this issue, however, I give an undertaking to Mrs Till that we will reimburse her for this equipment expeditiously,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said. “Defence has, and will continue to provide Mrs Till with ongoing assistance to deal with the emotional and financial effects of the death of her husband. We are committed to assisting Mrs Till and her family through this very difficult time.” Sergeant Till, from the Sydney based Incident Response Regiment, was serving with Special Operations Task Group when he was killed-in-action on 19 March 2009. More: Media release |
