The main Army contingent marching along George St in Sydney on Wednesday, June 18, 2003. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper Glad to be home after a lengthy trip in a Hercules, A Coy, 5/7RAR, poses for the camera on arrival at Melbourne Airport. Photos by Sgt Dave Grant, PACC-Vic Pte Alfonso Lai was born in Dili, East Timor – 27 years later he returned as an Army Reserve soldier. He is warmly welcomed home on the tarmac at Melbourne Airport by Commander 4 Bde Brig Wayne Dunbar

A for achievement
Reserve company returns from East Timor after tour with 5/7RAR

By Capt Ian Toohill
THE Reserve Coy of AUSBATT East Timor has just returned from six months active service on Op Citadel as an integral component of 5/7RAR.

A Coy, 5/7RAR, was made up of 91 Reserve soldiers from 4 and 8 Bdes, 2 Div, and had the distinction of being the first Army Reserve combat sub-unit to serve overseas since WW2.

One member of the company, Pte Alfonso Lai, has another reason for his sense of achievement.

He was born of third generation Chinese-Timorese parents in Dili in 1975. His family fled to Australia and became Australian citizens.

Twenty-seven years later he returned to further his part-time military career and do something to help the country of his birth.

“I was jogging in Melbourne when there was a demonstration over the anarchy following the election in September 1999 and I nearly joined in,” he said.

“But I stopped and thought, no if I really want to help, I will await my opportunity through the Army, which I felt one day may come. So three and a half years later here I am!”

While the NSW contingent was greeted in Sydney, the 4 Bde members continued to Melbourne Airport on an RAAF Hercules and to a welcome home parade at Simpson Barracks.

After the parade they were reunited with family at a BBQ. Many of the soldiers had not seen family for nearly 12 months.

The company’s preparation for deployment to East Timor included barrier testing at Puckapunyal, before moving to Darwin in July where they underwent further collective training with the 5/7RAR Bn Gp.

CO 5/7RAR Lt-Col Michael Lean said the Reserve Coy had shown that, given the training and the opportunity, the reserves can provide a viable operational capability.

“A Coy has performed extremely well in an important and sensitive area on the Tactical Coordination Line [border],” he said.

“This Government initiative as a partnership between Government, the Army and employers has been highly successful.”

Members of A Coy will now be on leave until the end of June, when they will return to their Reserve units.

Reserve personnel are an increasingly important part of the structure and capability of the ADF and can transfer extra skills to both the military and their workplace through their experience in both areas.

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