Desert Ops
SOTG launches into action in Afghanistan
AUSTRALIAN Special Forces soldiers have once again launched into action in Afghanistan with the lodgement and commencement of patrols by the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG).

Troopers experienced in Afghan operations
IT HAS been four years since Army newspaper announced that 1500 ADF personnel would be deployed to join the international coalition against terrorism, including a 150-strong Special Forces task group that would serve in Afghanistan.

Home sweet home
THE rising sun reveals stark mountains surrounding the sparsely vegetated sand and stone plateau. Also on hand to greet the sun is the advance party of Australian Special Forces soldiers and support staff who have arrived to stake out the new Forward Operating Base that will be used by the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) in Afghanistan for the next 12 months.

Call for Retention Benefit election
More members to get bonus of one year’s pay
THE MINISTER Assisting the Minister for Defence has increased access to the Military Superannuation Benefit Scheme Retention Benefit.


Special thanks for election day help
AUSTRALIAN Special Forces played a small but vital role in ensuring the success of Afghanistan’s recent historic parliamentary elections.


Battling with the bombers
Explosive exploitation team praised for dangerous work in Iraq
THE MINISTER for Defence Senator Robert Hill has praised the dedicated and dangerous work of a team of Australian soldiers who have returned home following their tour of duty in arguably the most explosive environment in Iraq.


Southern Tiger a roaring success
Malaysian paratroopers drop in
INTEROPERABILITY between the high readiness formations of the Australian and Malaysian armies has been further enhanced during the recent Exercise Southern Tiger at Holsworthy.

Wet season’s hot topic
A NEW heat injury management policy has been introduced to rectify the faults of previous approaches and prevent serious cases of heat injury in the future.


EOD’s new recruit
Remote contol robot due in service by year’s end
A ROBOT, known to its manufacturer as the telerob Explosive Ordnance Disposal and observation robot (tEODor), has undergone confirmatory testing at Holsworthy.


A combined approach to teaching big bang theory
EXPLOSIVE ordnance training in the ADF has been standardised with the opening of the Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School (DOETS) at Orchard Hills, west of Sydney.


High skills payback
RAAPC receives global recognition for corps proficiencies
AS PART of the Pay Corps trade restructure, a new range of courses will professionalise the Army’s finance workforce.


Mech bde’s heavy workload
COMMANDER 1 Bde Brig John Cantwell said no part of the brigade was standing still after a hectic start to the year.


Training the trainers
THE ability of training staff to keep abreast of evolving technology and tactics has been given a major boost with the launch of the new Training Developer 05 Course.

ADF support an educated choice
TWO years after the launch of the Officer Tertiary Recruitment Scheme (OTRS), the program has become the ideal avenue of entry for officer candidates studying subjects not on offer through ADFA.