CPLs Jason Smart (who wrote the article below), David Harding and Cameron Ruhl have returned to their home base after three years with the Army's 5 Aviation Regiment in Townsville. Photograph by CPL Glenn Mayne.

After three-and-a-half years spinning spanners for the Army, three RAAF Aircraft Technicians have this year headed back to their home base.

Corporals Jason Smart, David Harding and Cameron Ruhl were given the unusual posting to 5 Aviation Regiment in Townsville in mid-1998 following the release of an expression of interest for employment within the Army.

The three jumped at the chance to obtain some rotary wing time on Black Hawk helicopters and because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Their careers working on P3 Orions with 10SQN at Edinburgh, a complete contrast to the one they were about to embark on.

The CPLs' time with the Army has certainly allowed them many fulfilling and challenging experiences including 'diggin' in' on field deployments and regularly flying virtually around Australia in the back of the Blackhawk.

Of course the most notable achievements would be deployments on Operations INTERFET, UNTAET, TREK, GOLD and to CHOGM as well as other exercises where the tempo was very high but extremely rewarding.

The men believe their time with the Army has helped strengthen inter-Service ties and has certainly quashed a few misconceptions held between the two Services.

'Many of our mates back home thought that we needed our heads checked for going "green", but in all truth we haven't regretted a minute,' CPL Ruhl said. CPL Harding added, 'It took us a couple of months to get a grasp on some different Army ways, but really RAEME Aviation isn't that far removed from the Air Force. In fact they are often referred to as RAAFies in green by the rest of the Army'.

The three fitted in quite well with 5 Aviation Regiment and are a little saddened at leaving.

'I think that we will miss many of the mates that we have made here along with the opportunities that Army helo maintenance in the tropics has given us, and we will be forever appreciative of that,' CPL Smart said. 'However, we are now looking forward to some new challenges and integrating back into normal Air Force life.'

CPL Smart and CPL Harding are posted to 10SQN and CPL Ruhl was posted to 11SQN WEF 15 January. They have thanked everyone at 5 Aviation Regiment, especially A and B Squadrons, who made them feel welcome and ensured their time with them was as enjoyable and challenging as possible.