Image Gallery: February 2006
Special Forces Task Group ceremony
25 February 2006
The Governor-General and the Prime Minister were among the dignitaries who today welcomed home members of the Afghanistan Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) at a ceremony at Perth’s Campbell Barracks.
The soldiers were members of the first rotation of Special Forces troops to be assigned to the task group last year. Their mission was to destroy Taliban and Al Qaeda resistance to Afghanistan’s democratically elected government. The dangerous nature of their operations in southern Afghanistan was highlighted at today’s ceremony when two gallantry awards were presented to SFTG members. A Warrant Officer and a Sergeant were both awarded the Medal for Gallantry for their outstanding actions, leadership and bravery during contacts with anti-coalition militia elements.
The 190-strong SFTG is comprised of soldiers from the Special Air Service Regiment, 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), Incident Response Regiment, 1 Commando Regiment, the Special Operations Combat Services Support Company and other specialist ADF personnel drawn from across Australia.
| 20060225adf8185016_0015 Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston (right) congratulates Special Air Service Regiment member Sergeant "Y", who has just been presented the medal for Gallantry. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0019 Senator Chris Evans (representing the Leader of the Opposition) welcomes home Special Air Service Regiment members from their deployment to Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0025 The Prime Minister John Howard welcomes home Special Air Service Regiment members from their deployment to Afghanistan. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0050 Governor General His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery (right) congratulates Special Air Service Regiment member Warrant Officer Class 2 "Z", who has just been presented the medal for Gallantry. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0054 Governor General His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery (right) awards Special Air Service Regiment member Sergeant "Y", with the medal for Gallantry. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0059 The Medal for Gallantry now joins the campaign and service medals of Warrant Officer Class 2 "Z". (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0060 The Prime Minister John Howard (left) congratulates Special Air Service Regiment member Warrant Officer Class 2 "Z", who has just been presented the medal for Gallantry. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0061 Senator Chris Evans (representing the Leader of the Opposition, left) congratulates Special Air Service Regiment member Warrant Officer Class 2 "Z", who has just been presented the medal for Gallantry. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0068 The Medal for Gallantry, as awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 "Z" and Sergeant "Y", returned members of the Afghanistan Special Forces Task Group. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060225adf8185016_0074 The Medal for Gallantry, as awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 "Z" and Sergeant "Y", returned members of the Afghanistan Special Forces Task Group. (Date taken: 25 February 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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