Sinai troubles test Auscon
Volume 11, No. 47, July 13, 2006

Prepared: LCAust Maj-Gen Mark Kelly, SO Plans Maj Mark Jobst and Fijibatt OC A Coy Maj Eliti Nukutabu near Gaza.

LAND Commander Maj-Gen Mark Kelly has observed for himself the good work of Australian soldiers among the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai.

Maj-Gen Kelly made a field tour last month to visit the 25-member Australian contingent (Auscon) at North Camp, based on Egypt’s border with Israel. The threat contingency level in the Sinai has risen from Normal to Bravo+ in less than 12 months. In addition to the increasing number of terrorist attacks against tourists and the Government of Egypt, terrorists have directly attacked the MFO on two occasions since mid-August last year.

The Commander Australian Contingent, Lt-Col Russell Hodson, informed Maj-Gen Kelly that the contingent had “risen to the increased challenges of serving as a peace-keeping force in an increasingly unpredictable battle-space”. Lt-Col Hodson said the increasing terrorist threat, and instability in Gaza, had led to a wide range of staff assessments to ensure that the MFO could continue to complete its mission in the region.

“The Australian contingent this year has been very busy participating in MFO force transformation, strengthening force protection measures, increasing training requirements, and contributing to wide-ranging improvements to the MFO operations,” he said.

“Members have developed a range of operational improvements including a battle-tracking system for the Force Operations Centre, an Auscon security register which is accessed by all Auscon members and is providing very useful information for the force protection officer – to using the in-house specialist skills of Auscon staff to conduct close-quarter battle firing drills and SOPs.”