Air Force News, February, 2001

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Air Force News is published every month except January for the information and entertainment of members of the Airforce and their families.

DRP Update | From East Timor | From Bougainville |

February, 2001

		Australia Day Honours This year's Australia Day honours list distinguishes 10 members of the Royal Australian Air Force named for their outstanding efforts in field of service, not to mention the Chief of Defence.

		Australian of the Year The Chief of the Air Force, Air Marshal Errol McCormack has congratulated Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove, as Australian of the Year 2001.

		First RAAF Hawk 127 pilots graduate The first six Hawk 127 qualified RAAF pilots returned to Australia in September last year after completing a conversion course in the United Kingdom. The pilots left Australia on 21 July to travel to the BAE Systems facilities at Warton, near Blackpool in England.

		DRP Update...

		Workforce Defence Review Program Update This text is a comprehensive explanation of the impact of the Defence Reform Program (DRP) on the RAAF workforce.

		From East Timor...

		Peace and law - family effort in East Timor Brother and sister Colin and Toni McNeill are certainly doing their bit to keep the peace and maintain law and order in East Timor. Colin, a Flight Sergeant, was serving with the RAAF in the UN Peacekeeping Force and Toni has rejoined the UN Civil Police organisation supporting the emerging nation.

		No rest for the Caribou and crew While many of us have enjoyed a relaxing break over Christmas, the hard work hasn't stopped for the men and women who are maintaining the RAAFs' longest continuous operational flying deployment since the Sinai contingent in the 1980's.

		Recognition for 383 The RAAF's newest squadron, 383ECSS, was presented with it's UNTAET medals in recognition of their first 90 days of Service in support of UNTAET on October 7.

		Majority of East Timor medals presented More than 10,300 Australian Defence Force servicemen and women have been presented with the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) for active Service in East Timor, according to Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Bruce Scott..

		Time Out Sergeant Rod Richards from the Australian National Command Element (ASNCE), East Timor, takes a break with a couple of local children. Rod was in East Timor for six months providing security for the ASNCE, and was expected to return home last month.

		From Bougainville...

		PMG celebrates The multi-national, tri-Service and civilian Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) celebrated its 1000 days in Bougainville on 9 January 2001. To commemorate the day, the PMG's helicopter squadron organised a fly-past of the headquarters in Loloho.

		In the spirit For the seven RAAF members of the Peace Monitoring Group who spent Christmas in Bougainville, it was a scorcher. While it is always hot in PNG, the seasonal weather brought thoughts of home.

		Minister pays a visit The Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Mr Alexander Downer, visited the Peace Monitoring Group on Bougainville in the week before Christmas. Minister Downer was on a whistlestop tour to Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

		HDPE spends Christmas in Bougainville Recognising the significant work carried out by the Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) in Bougainville, Major-General Simon Willis, Head Defence Personnel Executive, spent Christmas with the ADF and civilian monitors currently posted to the island.