By
FLTLT Simon Paton
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A
boy waves the flag as the last marchers parade along the
main street of Ipswich at a welcome home ceremony for the
Air Traffic Control Detachment that served at Baghdad International
Airport.
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Photo
by AC David Gibbs.
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Governor-General
MAJGEN Michael Jeffrey presents the Meritorious Unit Citation
to parade commander WGCDR Ian Browning.
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A
MERITORIOUS Unit Citation has been awarded to the Air Traffic
Control Detachment that served in Iraq.
Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffrey announced the honour
at a formal welcome home parade in Ipswich on October 1.
The Meritorious Unit Citation was given “for sustained outstanding
service in warlike operations in providing air traffic control
at Baghdad International Airport during Operations Falconer and
Catalyst.”
The welcome home parade included a march and civic reception as
the city of Ipswich acknowledged the achievements of the air trafficontrollers, the combat support members and the Army personnel
who made up the ATC Detachment.
More than 160 personnel marched through the streets of Ipswich
to the applause of about 500 locals.
Two
of the marchers on the day were Corporal Tammy Oostenbroek, of
No. 1 Combat Communication Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond, and
Leading Aircraftman Troy Jorgensen, of No. 2 Airfield Defence
Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley.
Both agreed that their time in the area of operations was an enormously
rewarding experience. CPL Oostenbroek, who spent five months
on deployment, said, “It was fantastic, I really enjoyed myself.”
For LAC Jorgensen, the contrasting climate was especially confronting.
“At its coldest, the weather was below zero. At its peak, we saw
the temperatures soar over 40 degrees,” he said.
Both described the opportunity to march as “an enormous honour.”
“I had to come up from Richmond for the march today, but I wouldn’t
have missed this for the world,” CPL Oostenbroek said.
| The
Citation |
The
air traffic control and combat support elements of Task Unit
633.4.2 made a significant contribution to the success of
Operations Falconer and Catalyst.
The Unit was responsible for the delivery of air traffic and
battlefield airspace management at Baghdad International Airport,
despite it being a high-profile target subjected to rocket
attacks.
Notwithstanding these pressures, and under arduous environmental
conditions, the Unit continued to provide outstanding support
to coalition and humanitarian activity, including assisting
in the recovery of aircraft in distress. |
