First visit to Middle East as CDF

By Corporal Simone Liebelt

IN HIS first visit to the MEAO as the new the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston had nothing but praise for his people working in the hot and dangerous environment commonly known as the “sand pit”.

“Conditions were very extreme, but the fact that they were extreme didn’t worry our people at all,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

“They were just getting on with the business of doing their job and doing it wonderfully well. It was evident wherever you went – the humour, the smiling faces; they were all very proud of what they were doing and doing it well.”

The Air Force element of his visit began with a visit to the AP-3C and C-130 crews and support personnel, and he said both groups were providing a “very flexible, very versatile capability in a very demanding environment”.

“I saw very professional people working as one team; morale was sky high, and they were really focused on their mission,” he said.

“I flew with the C-130 into Iraq and everything they were doing was just first class. They are producing some magnificent results.”

Next, he visited the air traffic control and medical detachments in Balad, about 80km north of Baghdad.

“The air traffic controllers are doing a wonderful job in an environment where they not only have the climatic conditions to put up with ... but are working with different equipment, and one of them said he’d never complain about his equipment back in Australia again.

“I also spoke to the [Coalition] CO of the medical detachment, who spoke in glowing terms about our people. He compared them to the pioneers from the American West – very direct people who showed adaptability in meeting the demands of the job.

“They are compassionate, caring and considerate, and doing a great job in extreme circumstances.”

He said it was “an absolute delight” to visit all his troops in the field, who despite the obvious challenges, were doing a great job for Australia.

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