Bougainville deployment
eye-opener for RAAFie

FSGT de Haan is one of only three Air Force PMG members.

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.

FSGT de Haan is based in Loloho, and despite 28 years in the RAAF this is his first operation overseas, though he has been deployed to Butterworth and New Zealand.

'This trip has been a real eye-opener, but it has been great,' he said.

'The place really runs itself, we all have our responsibilities and there's not much that goes wrong here as far as I can see.'

FSGT de Haan's task in Loloho is to run air movements for the group but back at home, he is 2IC Air Terminal Squadron.

'As a SNCO in Australia, you don't get much to do with the other aspects of air movements, here you do the lot from scratch and it gives you a lot of experience that's definitely worth having.'

He said the next person deployed to his position would have a slightly more comfortable workspace due to a location change.

'We were in the same area as workshops and transport. There was a lot of noise and fumes from vehicles. Now we've moved down the end of the compound and it's really quiet.'

Coming from Darwin, FSGT de Haan said he was better adjusted to the heat than members from the southern parts of Australia.

'You get used to the heat, it's something that happens I guess. I've got a huge fan which helps. I can see it really knocks some people around.'

FSGT de Haan said Loloho had everything a member needed including televisions, the Internet and a Frontline store.

'It's what you make of it, and when you get the chance to relax, you can really relax. You can sit on the esplanade and it's a great view.'

'Christmas was good, you miss your family of course, but everybody does. We made the best with what we had, considering we were away from home. New Year's Eve was great with entertainment from RMC Band.'

He said this had been his first experience working with the Army and has been a bit of a culture shock.

'It has definitely been different working with the Army, but I've made some great mates here.'

Story and photograph by Simone Heyer-Irwin