| COMMANDING OFFICER 16th BATTALION |
FOREWORD BY CO: LIEUTENANT COLONEL DAVID JONES
24 October 2009
Welcome to the 16th Battalion website. As a light infantry battalion, our mission is to train and sustain light infantry, in order to provide specified forces for deployment on operations.
This is a great time to be in the Army Reserve - the challenges facing the professional part time soldier have never been greater. The increasing operational tempo within the ADF has seen increased demands placed on the ARes that continue to grow into the foreseeable future.
We're meeting those challenges - with them come great opportunities for the men and women of our battalion. Fundamental to our success is our ability to recruit, train, develop and retain first class officers and soldiers. My command group is committed to ensuring our people are inculcated with our culture, one centred on readiness, professionalism and an adaptive approach to solving complex problems.
Our soldiers are trained in many skills including navigation, first aid, weapon handling, communications, the use of night vision equipment and military tactics. The training and experience they receive develops their personal confidence, management skills and physical fitness and provides them with advanced leadership skills and abilities.
Possessing a unique combination of civilian and military skills, our reservists continue to volunteer and deploy to support operations and exercises in Timor, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Volunteers have also deployed on coastal security and naval boarding party tasks in the Timor Sea.
In 2009, we have deployed on overseas rotations to Malaysia and twice to the Solomon Islands. Our Reserve Response Force members have also deployed at short notice to Operation Vic Fires Assist to support search efforts after the Victorian bushfires.
16th Battalion is well placed to continue to play an integral part in contributing to Army capability. It's a privilege to command this outstanding Battalion and to share an insight into our unit via this website. |
