Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
04 September 2006
Chief of Army visit Australian Troops
Chief of Army, Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Peter Leahy and Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) Warrant Officer Kevin Woods, visit Australian Troops serving in the Middle East Area of Operations.
Australia's 450-strong Overwatch Battle Group (West) is based at Camp Terendak, Tallil Air Base, Iraq. Its mission is to support Provincial Iraqi Control in Al Muthanna Province. This is achieved by continued engagement with Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and local authorities in the province. It involves a range of activities, including meetings with local leaders, exercising with the ISF and supporting and mentoring them as they consolidate their capabilities. Another key role is the Battle Group's on-going CIMIC (Civil Military Cooperation) Program. This provides reconstruction assistance in Al Muthanna Province. Australian Army members also train Iraqi Army personnel at a Basic Training Centre in Tallil.
Operation CATALYST is the Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.
Working with the Iraqi Government, the ADF continues to contribute to Multinational Force efforts to develop a secure and stable environment in Iraq and assist national recovery programs.
Operation CATALYST comprises approximately 1400 Australian Defence Force personnel. It runs concurrently with Operation SLIPPER, Australia’s contribution to the War on Terror.
| 20060801adf8243116_004 Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods, along with key personnel, wait for a helicopter to take them to a forward operating base, where Australian soldiers maintain contact with Iraqi officals in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_005 Captain Adam Dunbar accompanies the chief of Army's group on this leg of their tour of the Middle East Area of Operations. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_011 Officer Commanding Combat Team Alpha Major Shane Wakely (far left) points out landmarks to Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_015 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle in the early morning light during a patrol in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_021 Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mahy (left) points out landmarks to Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and Brigadiers Craig Orme and Michael Moon, on a map-board hung from the side of an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_025 Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods (right) talks to soldiers during his time with the Australian patrol in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_026 Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods (left) talks to soldiers during his time with the Australian patrol in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_027 Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods (with coffee mug) talks to soldiers on patrol in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_028 Warrant Officer Class 2 John Ferguson (left) and Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods (right) during a patrol in Al Muthanna province. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_032 Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy (left) with Corporal Mark Reasons (right) at a breakfast gathering inside the Iraqi 2nd Brigade Army barracks in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_036 Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy addresses Australian soldiers at a breakfast gathering inside the Iraqi 2nd Brigade Army barracks in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_059 Private Grant Durich makes himself a hot brew during the Chief of Army's visit to the Iraqi 2nd Brigade Army barracks in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_061 Australian soldiers prepare breakfast during the Chief of Army's vist at a gathering inside the Iraqi 2nd Brigade Army barracks in Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_073 Sharing conversation at a breakfast gathering inside the Iraqi 2nd Brigade Army barracks in Al Muthanna is Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mahy (far left), Colonel Hassan Tweer Sadoon (left), Colonel Sadoon's staff officer (right) and Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy (far right). (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_084 Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and Officer Commanding of Combat Team Alpha Major Shane Wakely during breakfast at the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_095 Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods (2nd from left) talks to soldiers of Overwatch Battle Group (West), during breakfast at the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_097 Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods (2nd from left) talks to soldiers of Overwatch Battle Group (West), during breakfast at the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_103 (L-R): Private Anthony Lockley, Private Idris Mainwaring, Sergeant Michael James (seated) and Corporal Jason Carlyle from Combat Team Alpha relax in the early hours of the morning during the Chief of Army's visit at the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_105 Private Jittaret Sukhanthapree (right with hat on), chats to Lance Corporal Johnson at the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks during the Chief of Army's visit. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_107 Brigadier Michael Moon (far left) talks to the Commanding Officer of Overwatch Battle Group (West), Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mahy (far right). Civil and Military Cooperation officers, Captains Matthew Markey (left) and William Boyd-Law (right) stand watching in the background during the Chief of Army's visit to the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_116 Iraqi soldiers pose for this photo at the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_133 Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, Brigadier Michael Moon and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mahy attend a meeting in Colonel Hassan Tweer Sadoon's office with Iraqi Brigadier Zwadi Shareef Hoessein at the Iraqi Army 2nd Brigade barracks. COL Sadoon is the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Iraqi Army 10th Divison. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_137 Chief of Army Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Peter Leahy (left) presents Brigadier Zwadi Shareef Hoessein (right) with a gift at the conclusion of their meeting. LTCOL Mahy (centre left) and local Iraqi translator (centre right) stand in the background. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_150 Sheik Raysaan, an important local tribal leader in As Samawah, hosts the Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and staff in his home. A traditional meal is served and presented to guests during LTGEN Leahy and Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) Warrant Officer KevinWoods' meeting with Sheik Raysaan. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_163 Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Kevin Woods listens to conversation during a meeting at Sheik Raysaan's house. Sheik Raysaan and his guests shared a traditional meal during the visit and discussed matters concerning local issues. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_164 Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy presents Sheik Raysaan with a gift of appreciation for his hospitality, wishing him well prior to leaving on the next stage of his tour of the Middle East. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_168 Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mahy (left) thanks Sheik Raysaan for his hospitality prior to leaving with the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_178 A soldier from the Close Personal Protection detachment watches the surrounding area while helicopter transport comes in for a landing. An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle maintains perimeter security. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060801adf8243116_179 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle maintains perimeter security and yellow smoke signals the "all clear" for the helicopter to land. (Date taken: 01 August 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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