Aussies run to celebrate

Australian soldiers at Camp Victory, Baghdad, join in the run to celebrate the 229th birthday of the US Army.

Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East Brig Peter Hutchinson with Lt-Gen Thomas Metz the Commanding General of the US Army 3 Corps in Iraq. Photos by Maj Matt Grant

From Maj Matt Grant in Iraq

AUSTRALIAN Army members of Joint Task Force 633 Headquarters and embedded personnel celebrated the US Army’s 229th birthday recently the only way armies the world over know how – by going for a run before dawn.

Led by Commander Joint Task Force 633 Brig Peter Huchinson, the Australian Army personnel fell into step, but declined to join the cadence, of more than 1000 US Army personnel during a 3km run around Camp Victory.

“At the invitation of Commander Multi-National Corps – Iraq, Lt-Gen Metz, Australian Army personnel formed up to run the route at 5.30 am on Monday June 14,” Brig Hutchinson said.

“We ran well and punched well above our weight in the consumption of US Army birthday cake after the run, however, we were dismal performers in the participation of the cadence as we ran.”

As the only Coalition member outside the US to participate in a formed group, the Australian contingent brought up the rear of a line of formed troops stretching out over more than a kilometre.