Media Room: Media Releases

ARMY RESERVISTS PREPARING TO DEPLOY TO SOLOMON ISLANDS

Army Reservists from the South Australian and Tasmanian-based 9^th Brigade and the Western Australian-based 13^th Brigade are preparing for deployment to Solomon Islands in December.

The soldiers will take part in Operation ANODE, the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

More than 140 Reserve soldiers from the three States will be supporting RAMSI with its mission of maintaining regional peace and stability and helping the local government to improve law and order. 

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, said the highly skilled contingent for Operation ANODE (Rotation 17) had undergone extensive lead in training to assist them with their tasks in Solomon Islands.

“During the four-month deployment the soldiers will carry out street patrols alongside the Australian Federal Police and in support of the RAMSI Participating Police Forces within Solomon Islands. Additionally, Army personnel will also be involved in numerous community outreach activities on behalf of RAMSI,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“Their contribution in Solomon Islands is made all the more exceptional by the fact that their civilian employers have released them to provide military service to a neighbour in need.”

The employers of Reservists will be given the opportunity to see first-hand the benefits that Reserve service brings to their employees when selected employers fly to Solomon Islands as part of ‘Boss Lift’.

The ADF has been involved with RAMSI since it commenced in July 2003.

Media note:

Details of scheduled media events will be released in the near future. 

Media contact:

Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664