Heartfelt welcome
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

Home at last: Pte Jorge Ockenden, 2 Cav, welcomed back by his wife, Alison, and children Tiaran and Drae.

AFTER six months in the desert of southern Iraq the soldiers of AMTG2 are back in the arms of their loved ones after a series of homecomings between June 1 and 11.

Commander 1 Div Maj-Gen Ash Power and Commander 1 Bde Brig Craig Orme were at Darwin International Airport to welcome them home.

“It’s always hard to send soldiers off to a difficult situation, as I did when I farewelled you back in November last year,” Maj-Gen Power said.

“I can assure you that today is a much happier day for me in welcoming you back, safe and sound, after you have again made us proud to be Australian through your efforts in the Al Muthanna province.

“You have earned yourself a well-deserved break now and I’m sure your families and loved ones are equally as proud as I am of the tremendous results you’ve achieved, and the way you’ve conducted yourselves, during your time on deployment.”

AMTG2’s 450 soldiers returned in four groups and have been fully replaced by AMTG3.