A year of great accomplishment

CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston autographs memorabilia for members of the Air Traffic Control Detachment at Baghdad International Airport during a visit this month. Photo by USAF S/SGT Stacy L. Pearsall

CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston

AS I reflect on what the Air Force has achieved this year I can’t help but be impressed.

Our contribution to operations around the world has been unprecedented in recent times. Operations Relex, Slipper, Bastille, Falconer, Catalyst, Citadel and Anode have tested our people in a range of challenging physical environments. They have been placed in harms way and proven up to the task. Our training systems and our practices have combined positively with the professionalism of our people to produce extraordinary results.

I have heard time and time again from our allies and friends that they are amazed at the commitment and resourcefulness of our people. They are impressed because nothing is too difficult or too much trouble for you. Our efforts on Operation Miata were also well received.

Special mention and thanks is also necessary for the men and women who have tirelessly provided the sustainment support to these operations back home in Australia. You have managed to ensure operational effectiveness is not compromised and at the same time have kept up the ongoing training, policy development and management that form part of the day-to-day activities of the Air Force.

While we have focused enormous energy on current operational commitments, we have also had an eye firmly on the future and our capability projection in the years to come. The formal announcement of the Defence Capability Review (DCR) put the end to many months of media speculation. The outcomes for Air Force were good. My priorities were for a continued emphasis on a balanced and flexible Air Force comprising intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, air combat, strike aircraft, airlift and combat support elements.

I am confident that the proposal to withdraw the F-111 from 2010 will not diminish our strike capability. As I said at the time of the DCR announcement, with the full introduction of AEW&C, the new tankers, completion of HUG programs and a range of weapons upgrades for the F/A-18 and AP-3C, including a follow-on stand-off weapon, the F-111 could be withdrawn from service. Essentially, once we have an alternative credible land and maritime strike capability, we could begin withdrawing the F-111 a few years earlier than envisaged in the White Paper.
The validation of the ECSS concept in current operations ensures that all future capability planning must include a continued, viable combat support structure.

With Christmas nearly upon us, those of you who will be taking leave are no doubt thinking more about the beach and family gatherings than the DCR! I would strongly encourage you to take the time to relax and recover from a busy year.

Those of you who will remain at work, in Australia and overseas, I would like to assure you that the job you’re doing is still very important. The Australian people, your Air Force colleagues, the Government, CDF - and myself - we all thank you and appreciate your sacrifices.

All the best for the Christmas/New Year period.

We’ve had a great year and I look forward to 2004 for the challenges it will inevitably bring, and also the safe return home for those of our people who are still deployed overseas.

Enjoy yourselves, be safe, spend time with your loved ones and feel pride in what we’ve achieved together during 2003.

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