Image Gallery: August 2007
Military Readiness Exercise for 3rd Reconstruction Task Force
17 August 2007
Soldiers from 3 Platoon 2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment will make up part of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force, which has conducted lead-up training for their future deployment to Afghanistan later in the year.
The Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) is Australia's contribution to the Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan's Oruzgan Province.
The RTF consists of around 385 personnel providing command, security, engineering and operational support capabilities.
Townsville’s High Range Training Area is currently the base for approximately 370 soldiers as they train to go to Afghanistan later this year.
Drawn from over 20 units, the mainly Queensland based soldiers are part of the engineer led Reconstruction Task Force Three (RTF-3).
As part of the Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Uruzgan Province Southern Afghanistan, RTF-3 will work on reconstruction and community-based projects as part of Australia’s commitment to assisting Afghanistan achieve a stable and secure future.
The Australian contribution will also include ongoing skills training for the local population to ensure the benefits of the deployment continue long after our personnel have returned home.
RTF-3 will consist of a combined arms battle group made up of armour, infantry, & combat engineers with logistic and specialist support. The goal is to ensure that every care is taken to provide for troop protection during the conduct of reconstruction projects in the dangerous Southern Afghan environment.
| 20070810adf8248214_005 Members of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force face out in all directions as they provide cover for their Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle. The Task Force is conducting lead-up training for their future deployment to Afghanistan. (Date taken: 10 August 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070810adf8248214_008 Members of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force face in opposite directions as they provide cover from the rear hatches of a Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle. The Task Force is conducting lead-up training for their future deployment to Afghanistan (Date taken: 10 August 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070810adf8248214_023 A soldier of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force kneels with rifle ready as he and his section conduct urban drills in Line Creek Junction situated in the High Range Training Area in North Queensland. He is conducting pre-deployment training for the future deployment of the Task Force to Afghanistan (Date taken: 10 August 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070811adf8248214_021 (L-R) Lance Corporal Blake Dirkham and Private Robert Parkinson of 3 Platoon 2nd Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment, as part of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force, speak to Lieutenant General Frank Hickling (retired) about their future deployment to Afghanistan. He paid a visit to the Task Force which conducted lead up training in the High Range Training Area, North Queensland. (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070811adf8248214_046 Lance Corporal Blake Kirkham of 3 Platoon 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment as part of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force halts on the corner of a building whilst another member of the section faces rearward at the opposite corner. The Task Force is conducting lead-up training for its future deployment to Afghanistan later in the year (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070811adf8248214_083 Private Dirk Thomson from 3 Platoon 2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment pivots to begin his rear-ward bound of a fighting withdrawal drill during lead-up training in the High Range Training Area, North Queensland. He is part of the 3rd Reconstruction Task Force who are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan later in the year (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070811adf8248214_150 Corporal Ty Mcrae taps the shoulder of Private John Schneider as he peels past during a section fighting withdrawal drill (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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