Flight Lieutenant Damian Fasher surveys progress on the Milanrakie Elementary School's Gymnasium. Photo by SGT Bill Guthrie

DEALING with chilly winters and attitudes that are a hangover of the Iron Curtain era are part of life for the only Royal Australian Air Force officer in Bosnia.

Flight Lieutenant Damian Fasher, of No. 1 Combat Logistics Squadron, is in an environment a world apart from RAAF Base Townsville.

FLTLT Fasher, 26, is working as a project officer with the G5 Multi-National Division Stabilisation Force in Bosnia.

The West Australian answers to a New Zealand major, consults with a Canadian captain, receives administrative support from a British sergeant, is driven by a Dutch corporal and liaises with Bosnian mayors.

The airfield engineer said it was a challenge to be working in such a diverse multicultural environment.

"All cultures and languages need to work together here - as you can imagine, each country has a different way of doing things which often makes the day-to-day working environment interesting just trying to understand what's happening," he said.

FLTLT Fasher said although it appeared to be a recipe for confusion, things actually worked, with goals achieved and everyone satisfied most of the time.

He said although his 14 projects were not airfield runways, the building process was very much the same.

Beyond the standard construction details, the Air Force officer is for the first time interacting at a personal level with the local community.

"Up until now, my roles have been very generic military-wise. My involvement here with finance, contractors and the day-to-day technical on-site exposure has proved to be a valuable experience," he said.

The Perth-born engineer is working closely with government officials, school administrators and local contractors and said the experience was amazing.

Until the early 1990s, Bosnia was part of the former communist-ruled Republic of Yugoslavia.

"Their way of thinking is worlds apart from the Western way and the old communist approach is very evident in everything they do," he said.

FLTLT Fasher said it was a challenge to understand the local mentality but it was a necessity to successfully work together.

"If you don't understand them you may achieve nothing," he said.

He filled the one Air Force position available on the Army team and considers himself fortunate to have been given the opportunity to help repair a war- torn country.

"It has offered an edge that cannot be found within the military system in Australia," he said.

The 1CLS member said increased Air Force involvement in such operations would be invaluable.

"While there is not much of an air presence, the experience for ground personnel is enormous," he said.

Based at the Banja Luka Metal Factory in North West Bosnia, FLTLT Fasher said the working conditions were "better than some offices in Australian industry".

With full computer support, his major obstacles have been the cold and access to vehicles.

The problem of the cold weather was solved by the loan of a fleece from a Canadian.

Embracing the experience, the groom-to-be is pleased with the busy six day a week 12-hour shifts.

"The working hours are long but this just makes the time go faster," he said.

After a seven-month deployment abroad, FLTLT Fasher will arrive home in September with plans to marry his fiancée, Alison, in January. He's looking forward to that event - as well as the warmer weather.

By Shane Fairlie