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Prime
Minister John Howard greets WO2 Peter Halvorsen in Iraq.
Photo by WO2 Al Green, 1JPAU(P)
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Farewell
tour
From
WO2 Al Green in the Middle East
As a 19-year-old Artillery Signaller, W02 Peter Halvorsen served
in a number of fire-support bases in Vietnam.
Now,
more than 30 years later he’s on his final operation –
Falconer – which sees him again close to the action, ensconced
as an intelligence operator in Baghdad.
As
such, he is in a unique position as the only currently serving Australian
Army Vietnam Veteran on the operation – the culmination of
a long and varied career.
After
a three-year absence after Vietnam, WO2 Halvorsen re-enlisted and
joined Intelligence Corps, retiring from full-time service in 1991.
After
10 years as a reservist he was asked to return to full-time service
at the Olympic Intelligence Centre where he was seconded to the
NSW Police Force for Operation Gold. He’s been full-time since
with Operation’s Bel Isi, Slipper, Bastille and Falconer.
WO2
Halvorsen said comparing operational experience between the two
conflicts is hard, in that it’s a different job and a very
different situation, but he does talk of the contrasts.
“The
biggest change I see is that today’s operational environment
is technology reliant,” he said.
“Our
guys, therefore, have to be very switched on and well educated in
order to succeed.”
He
said the main reason for this is that the modern battlefield is
much more fluid and information currency is absolutely critical
to battle-winning decision making.
“Today’s
soldier needs to be a quick decision maker and flexible thinker
to deal with changing and rapidly developing situations.”
In
Vietnam, warfare for the front-line soldier, according to W02 Halvorsen,
was simpler, relying on basic skills and set roles.
Today
he sees the battlefield as a complex and changeable environment
for soldiers, which requires multi-skilling.
“Being
able to adapt to battle, peace-making and peacekeeping environments
needs a lot of individual skill and tolerance to be able to adjust
when the goal posts shift.”
With
intelligence and analytical skills in demand outside in an ever-more
uncertain world I asked WO2 Halvosen why he kept coming back for
more.
“Apart
from being a masochist I’d have to say it’s the comradeship.”
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