Image Gallery 2010

04 May 2010
Afghan and Australian Troops help improve Afghan lives in Southern Baluchi Valley Region

Set against the picturesque rugged mountains and lush green valley of the Southern Baluchi, soldiers of the First Mentoring Task Force and their Afghan National Army (ANA) counterparts swept the laneways, qualas and fields of villages in Southern Baluchi Valley in surge operations that delivered an increased security presence in the area.

The operation called Jenub Fayda (Southern Advantage) was a major combined ANA and MTF1 security operation that was designed to facilitate Afghan government development opportunities in liaison with the local community. The main focus of development is education, health and works.

Commanding Officer of the First Mentoring Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Jason Blain said that support from the community was strong with local elders voicing their thanks for Afghan Army and MTF1 efforts.

A range of combined MTF1 and ANA surge operations will be conducted over the coming months in the Baluchi and Mirabad valleys as well as the Chorah area.

LTCOL Blain said MTF1 will deliver a suite of effects including security, development and governance by working closely with AusAid, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Afghan government and Coalition partners.

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Soldiers from the Afghan National Army and the First Mentoring Task Force step off on a patrol to a local shura from Patrol Base Qudus.

(Date taken: 18 April 2010)
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First Mentoring Task Force troops advance to clear an elevated feature overlooking a Southern Baluchi village with US helicopters in support during Operation Jenub Fayda.

(Date taken: 20 April 2010)
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First Mentoring Task Force troops advance to clear an elevated feature overlooking a Southern Baluchi village during Operation Jenub Fayda.

(Date taken: 20 April 2010)
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First Mentoring Task Force troops advance to clear an elevated feature overlooking a Southern Baluchi village with US helicopters in support during Operation Jenub Fayda.

(Date taken: 20 April 2010)
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(L-R) Commanding Officer of the First Mentoring Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Jason Blain and Operations Officer Major Damien Green plan future patrols with Afghan National Army Lieutenant Farhad Habib.

(Date taken: 20 April 2010)
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Corporal Cameron Butler an engineer with the First Mentoring Task Force works alongside Afghan National Army engineers to build a security post in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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(L-R) Corporal Phillip Brown, Private Andrew Houston and Private Craig Hawkins from the First Mentoring Task Force man the tower at the security post in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Private Craig Hawkins from the First Mentoring Task Force on security watch in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Nothing goes to waste at patrol bases as Corporal Damien Flanagan an engineer with the First Mentoring Task Force hands over some timber off-cuts to a local Afghan to use as firewood in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Corporal Cameron Butler an engineer with the First Mentoring Task Force shares a joke or two with Sergeant Gulrahman from the Afghan National Army.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Soldiers from the First Mentoring Task Force on patrol in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Danger at the doorstep - A recently built security post in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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(L-R) Private Andrew Houston and Private Craig Hawkins from the First Mentoring Task Force on security watch in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Private Andrew Houston from the First Mentoring Task Force on patrol in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Soldiers from the First Mentoring Task Force conduct mounted patrols and convoys in Bushmasters through the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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First Mentoiring Task Force troops on mounted patrol in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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Soldiers from the First Mentoring Task Force provide security during the construction of a security post in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 28 April 2010)
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(L-R) Lance Corporal Joseph Ansell and Corporal Danny Whitehead provide security for the residents of the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 29 April 2010)
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First Mentoring Task Force soldier Lance Corporal Joseph Ansell takes a break while provide security to the residents of the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 29 April 2010)
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Soldiers from the First Mentoring Task Force discuss local issues with a local Afghan man in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 29 April 2010)
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(L-R) Corporal Phillip Brown and Lance Corporal Joseph Ansell are welcomed by a local Afghan child during a patrol in the Baluchi Valley.

(Date taken: 29 April 2010)
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