Air Force News, Month, 2001

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February 2002

		Set to fly A new era in the delivery of air power for the Royal Australian Air Force has begun with the inauguration, this month, of Air Combat Group (ACG). The union of the Strike Reconnaissance Group (SRG) and the Tactical Fighter Group (TFG) to form Air Combat Group has ...

		Air Force answers call The Royal Australian Air Force's commitment to support the local community is as strong as ever. The most recent - a gesture of goodwill by members in Victoria. No. 32 Squadron flew two civilian nurses from Melbourne to Sale, to assess potential donors for the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

		ESP team earns kudos The 'unstinting devotion' of the Engineer Sustainability Project team was recognised recently with a Chief of Air Force Commendation. The team, led by Wing Commander Stephen Hayes was commended for outstanding achievement in addressing ongoing problems with the sustainability of the Aerospace Engineering Specialisation.

		Final showdown in North Pilots, navigators, fighter controllers and an intelligence officer faced their final showdown late last year in Exercise Aces North. Based out of RAAF Base Tindal, Aces North is part of the Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI), Fighter Combat Controller (FCC) and Fighter Intelligence Instructor (FII) courses, run approximately every two years.

		Move to new blue well under way By now all clothing stores have received supplies of new uniform items, and with the exception of SD caps, members should be able to be purchase, or be issued with, most Air Force blue garments and accoutrements. Joint Materiel Agency (JMA) is currently negotiating with the cap manufacturer with a view to increasing the delivery rate for this item.

		RAAFie embarks on new phase Thirteen years to the day that Flight Lieutenant Darren Jones graduated from No. 41 Radio Apprentice Course at the School of Radio RAAF Laverton, he embarked on a new phase of his Royal Australian Air Force career. FLTLT Jones graduated from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) with First Class Honors as an Electrical Engineer and was posted to ARDU, EW Squadron this year.

		RAAF Fairbairn plaque dedicated in Memorial Grove RAAF Fairbairn's proud tradition of service to Canberra and the people of Australia will live on following the recent dedication of a plaque in the RAAF Memorial Grove. According to then Base Commander, Group Captain Grant MacDonald (now DMAN-AF), the disbandment plaque.

		Bougainville deployment eye-opener for RAAFie Bougainville's Op Belisi deployment has seen large contingents of Army and Navy personnel grace the shores of the small island as part of a Peace Monitoring Group (PMG), on this tour however, only three Air Force members are part of the group - Flight Sergeant John de Haan is one.

		Paul makes his debut In 1993 the Royal Australian Air Force began an ambitious restructure of several non-aircraft technical trades aiming for considerable benefits including multi-skilling, improved career paths, and aligning training with employment needs.

		New GETG clearly identifies trades as individual skills sets In 1993 the Royal Australian Air Force began an ambitious restructure of several non-aircraft technical trades aiming for considerable benefits including multi-skilling, improved career paths, and aligning training with employment needs.

		722SQN cadets back to basics No. 722 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) in the remote Kimberley region had first-hand experience at a recruit and field craft camp on at RAAF Curtin. The camp provided the opportunity to expose new cadets to the RAAF environment and culture.

		CPL Tracey Mosley selected in Australian softball team Corporal Tracey Mosley, a member of RAAF Base Edinburgh's Electronic Warfare Squadron, heard some fantastic news while on leave in Melbourne with a group of friends. A mobile telephone message played the words she had been waiting to hear for more than four years: 'you've been selected as part of Australia's national softball squad'.