Defence

Cover story

Deployed forces doing us proud

The Australian Defence Force remains committed to a range of global operations. Strategic Operations Division has compiled this update on key deployments for the first edition of Defence Magazine for 2006...

Operation Pakistan Assist

PTE Sheyna Veal holds a new born baby outside a village house in Kailgiran in the Neelum Valley.
Photo by FLTLT Trevor Grant

On 11 November 2005, after an invitation by the Pakistani Government, a relatively small contingent of about 140 young men and women from both the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force deployed by RAAF B-707 and C130 aircraft to Dhanni on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir line of control. Their mission was to provide immediate medical and humanitarian assistance to the people affected by a devastating earthquake which struck their region.

Nine weeks into the operation the ADF personnel working at Camp Bradman have provided urgent and much needed medical attention to over six thousand five hundred (6500) men, women and children of the Dhanni region. This includes:

• Over twenty-one (21) Aero Medical Evacuations (AME) of patients with life threatening injuries.
• Over 2500 immunisations to the children in that region, which in turn will mean a lasting legacy to the people in that remote area.
• Assistance in the birth of a healthy baby boy.
• Our Blackhawk crews have flown over 4000 pounds of humanitarian supplies into remote villages and towns.

Together with this essential work, our personnel have even found the time to help teach the local children some English, play soccer and win the occasional game of cricket against the locals.

Operation Pakistan Assist is being conducted in some of the most remote and inaccessible mountainous regions in Pakistan where the temperatures are now getting to below freezing, and in recent weeks the onset of a bitterly cold winter has brought the first snowfalls.

ADF personnel have won the admiration and respect from the local Pakistani Military and the local people they were sent to help.

Operation Catalyst - Iraq

Over 1330 ADF personnel continue to make a significant contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq. In the northern Persian Gulf HMAS PARRAMATTA is patrolling the waters around the two Iraqi oil transfer stations together with other coalition warships. This is the sole point where Iraqi oil is loaded into giant tankers for world consumption. Securing these facilities is critically important for Iraq's economy.

Australian Army officers discuss replacement of a floating bridge which is an important link for the local community across the Euphrates River in As Samawah, Iraq. The project is part of the Civil and Military Co-operation Program.
Photo by MAJ Croft

HMAS PARRAMATTA and her crew have performed exceptionally, undertaking a number of risky day and night boardings to search vessels of all nationalities, and the numerous other tasks a warship on active patrol undertakes.

Two RAAF's AP-3C Orion surveillance aircraft continue to provide invaluable overwatch throughout the Gulf. Through their efforts, early identification and tracking of vessels heading towards the protected areas is made possible, making the battle space for the ships below them much safer. A typical P-3 airborne patrol over those waters lasts anywhere from 8 - 10 hours. And, like those on the warships they fly over, the crew maintains maximum concentration and vigilance.

The C-130 detachment flying two aircraft continues to provide logistic support to our forces, as well as occasional logistical support for the Coalition. This includes flying to the north of Iraq on Aero-Medical Medical Evacuation Mercy flights to transport seriously wounded and other patients. In the six months from July 05 the C-130s carried in excess of one and half million pounds of cargo and nearly 1000 passengers. Most of the cargo and passengers destined for our forces in the Middle East pass through the Force Level Logistics Asset or FLLA. This is a small and very dedicated team of sailors, soldiers and airmen and women who provide a multitude of very necessary services. A critical task is making sure the right cargo and the right people get to the right locations within the Middle East. The FLLA manning also includes tradespeople - carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics and armourers.

The Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG), operating in southern Iraq has the primary role of providing a secure environment for the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group. The AMTG also has a small Civil Military Cooperation or CIMIC group who fund and manage smaller infrastructure projects such as refurbishment of medical and vet clinics, bus shelters and irrigation channels. To date $2.25 million has been committed to these projects using local contractors and providing a large economic benefit to the area.

The ADF is making a significant input to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq in the training field - training the Iraqi Defence Force in modern workable methods of doing their business. The work of previous Australian training teams has been in developing Iraqi instructors while the current teams are now in advisory and mentoring roles. There are three teams of Australians doing this at the moment. In the north of Iraq, at Kirkush, two highly experienced senior Army Warrant Officers are key advisers to the First Iraqi Army Training Battalion, and two Army Logistics Officers occupy a similar role at IASSI, the Iraqi Army Support and Services Institute at Taji, just north of Baghdad.

In Al Muthanna, the Australian Army Training Team - Iraq 5 is responsible for the 'mentoring, monitoring and training' of the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Division, Iraqi Army. Although the focus is now more on the monitoring and mentoring, the AATTI is responsible for the raising and validation of the brigade capability to be ready to assume security responsibilities (as part of the wider Iraqi Security Forces) in Al Muthanna independent of Coalition assistance.

In Bagdhad, Security Detachment 8 (SECDET 8), based in the International Zone continues to provide protection to Australian ambassadorial staff. There are approximately 110 members of SECDET, whose main task is to protect our Embassy and to provide secure transport, using ASLAVs, for the Ambassador and staff when they travel to meetings with Iraqi Government Ministers. This often entails travelling into the dangerous areas of the city. This is the eighth rotation of SECDET, and SECDET 9 is due to move into Iraq in March.

Operation Slipper - Afghanistan

Special Forces Task Group personnel in Afghanistan remain very busy with their tasks against a determined enemy. Their morale is high and they continue to win high praise from our partners in operations against terrorism.

Preparations are well underway for the deployment to Afghanistan of two Chinook helicopters and about 110 personnel from the 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville who will fly and support them. These aircraft will provide additional aero-medical evacuation and air mobility support to our Task Group in conjunction with support they receive from other Coalition Forces. The helicopters are currently undergoing a $25 million upgrade to ensure they are combat ready to be deployed in February. They are expected to be fully operational by late March and will remain in Afghanistan for the balance of the Special Forces' deployment that is planned to conclude in September.

The upgrade that these aircraft are receiving will provide enhanced Electronic Warfare Self Protection equipment, additional crew and passenger protection and advanced communications.

The Government is considering options to contribute to a Provincial Reconstruction Team of around 200 personnel in Afghanistan later this year.

Compiled by SQNLDR Paul Lineham, CAPT Andrew Bird and MAJ Jeff Squire.

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