Take care and see you soon

By Cpl Andrew Hetherington
Volume 11, No. 38, March 8, 2006

I won’t be long: Pte Kevin Hale, with his mother Julie Anne and his wife Simone, assures his daughter Isabella that he will be back soon.Photo by Bill Cunneen.

THE main bulk of Secdet 9 has departed for Iraq after being farewelled from Holsworthy by family, friends, 3RAR CO Lt-Col Mick Mumford and Land Commander Maj-Gen Mark Kelly.

The first of two groups left for Iraq on February 28. Secdet 9’s mission is to continue to provide protection to the Australian embassy staff and dignitaries when they visit Baghdad.

Capt Garth Callender, Coy 2IC, said the force comprised more than 100 personnel drawn from five units.
“There are three main groups in the Secdet, with 25 soldiers from 2/14LHR (QMI), 70 from 3RAR, 12 from 1 MP Bn and the rest of the force from 3CSR and 7CSSB,” he said.

In the lead up to the deployment, the unit trained at Gallipoli Barracks for five weeks, participating in a wide variety of exercises.

“The 2/14 initially did their own corps-specific mission rehearsal training to begin with, then did SOP and tactics, techniques and procedures training around the Brisbane area, including high speed manoeuvres, integrating both the 1 MP Bn and 3RAR blokes,” Capt Callender said.

“We also did live-fire combined arms training as well as a fair amount of dismounted live-fire training. We also completed six days of mission rehearsal exercises run by CTC at Enoggera and used the 2/14 compound as a simulated Secdet HQ.”

Capt Callender said it was quite realistic training with the Enoggera area representing the international zone in Baghdad.
“CTC provided a realistic enemy and all played the part very well and stayed in character,” he said.

“There was anything from local civilian cleaners to anti-Iraqi forces carrying RPGs around the streets and suicide car bombers trying to drive in through the front gates.”

In his speech to soldiers and their families, Lt-Col Mumford reassured them the unit was always there to help.

“For those that are remaining behind, I give you my assurance that if you need us we are here to help you. I don’t mind if you are a grandparent, a child or even a friend, if you need assistance we will help you,” he said.

“We will be running activities here at the unit where we will be showing videos made by the crew in Baghdad to show what sort of activities they are doing over there and to see what their general routine is.”

Maj-Gen Kelly also reassured the soldiers’ families by telling them the Secdet “is the best prepared group” sent to Iraq.

“Each group we have sent, we have learnt the lessons from the previous group that were serving there, and we have improved the training that we deliver to them,” he said.

“These young men and women have been put through possible scenarios that they will face in the streets of Baghdad.

“We have a tradition in Army, particularly in the Royal Australian Regiment that we don’t say goodbye and don’t say good luck.

We just say all the very best, take care, and we look forward to seeing you after you return from a successful tour.”