It’s jingle all the way
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006
By Lt Simone Heyer

Aussie larrikins: Capt Michael Whitney and Pte Paul Smith show off 5 Avn Regt’s Q-Store ute, decorated to fit in with local jingle trucks on Kandahar Air Field. Photo by Lt Simone Heyer

A GOOD vehicle can be hard to come by on operations – you want to fit in with the locals but require all the modern convenience a sturdy vehicle can offer.

Pride of TG 637.3’s fleet is a jingled-up bongo ute – much to the squadron quarter master’s disgust.

Jingle trucks, driven by locals, are all over KAF, taking away garbage and moving general stores.
Resplendently decorated with colourful motifs, their edges lined with jingling chains, the trucks are a colourful reminder of central-Asian culture.

TG 637.3’s new bongo ute was rather plain, though bright blue, when acquired, until a local worker offered a packet of colourful stickers to brighten it up.

Under the cover of darkness, staff decorated it to match its popular cousins.

Now, when Australians move around KAF, they bring a swish of colour to an otherwise drab environment.