Image Gallery 2007
26 March 2007
Dutch and Australian troops during Operation SLIPPER
A contingent of Australian Defence Force personnel is working in Afghanistan as part of the Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team under the NATO International Security Assistance Force's Stage III expansion into southern Afghanistan.
Australia's contribution, known as the Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), is a mix of engineers, security and support personnel deployed to Afghanistan for up to two years to work on reconstruction and community-based projects as part of Australia's commitment to assisting Afghanistan achieve a stable and secure future.
The majority of the task force is drawn from the Darwin area and made up of personnel from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment which will provide combat engineers and tradesmen (carpenters, plumbers, electricians and plant operators) that will undertake the majority of the RTF's construction activities. This will include skills training for the local population to ensure the benefits of the deployment continue well after our personnel have returned home.
The Australian protective force for the RTF is being provided by the Brisbane-based Motorised Infantry of the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Command, logistics and support elements have come from the Darwin-based 1st Brigade.
| 20060831adf8185016_0141 Sapper Tim Lee, a carpenter from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, joins timber for the roof of the camp hospital with the help of Dutch carpenter Corporal Menno Visscher. (Date taken: 31 August 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20060913adf8185016_0025 Dutch soldiers form an honour guard for the arrival of the Dutch Defence Minister Henricus Gregorius Jozeph Kamp. The Defence Minister was in Afghanistan to meet with the troops from the Dutch and Australia Reconstruction Task Forces. (Date taken: 13 September 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20060916adf8185016_0078 Sapper Peter Jeffery (right), a carpenter from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment and Dutch carpenter Corporal Menno Visscher (left) join metal trusses for the roof of a Dutch office. (Date taken: 16 September 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20060922adf8185016_0048 Dutch 1st Lieutenant Marlon Degroot (left) shares a joke with 1st Combat Engineer Regiment Warrant Officer Class 1 Chris Carroll (centre) at a meeting between Dutch and Australian vehicle maintainers in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 22 September 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20060922adf8185016_0071 Dutch 1st Lieutenant Marlon Degroot at a meeting between Dutch and Australian vehicle maintainers in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 22 September 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061007adf8095516_095 Captain Ad Oer'lemans, the Commanding Officer of Role 2E Dutch Hospital, speaks to the Senior Medical Officer of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force, Major Mark Wright and Captian Jennifer Egan. (Date taken: 07 October 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061008adf8095516_244 Warrant Officer Class 2 Hervey 'Jock' Douglas celebrated 35 years service whilst on deployment in southern Afghanistan. He is pictured with Captain Alastair Harbison from the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, on exchange with the Dutch Air Mobile Brigade. (Date taken: 08 October 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061022adf8185016_0097 Captain Clare O’Neil (left) and Dutch Captain Arno Bardok (centre) chat with the local doctor during a visit to deliver Australian aid to the nearby Tarin Kowt hospital in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 22 October 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061022adf8185016_0136 Dutch Captain Arno Bardok (right) checks the works plans as Corporal Mark Casey (left) completes his measurements for the redevelopment of the nearby Tarin Kowt hospital in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 22 October 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061107adf8185016_0046 Lance Corporal Jason Lefevre (centre) from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, confirms movement orders with two Dutch soldiers attached with an Australian patrol to secure the local Tarin Kowt boys school in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 November 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061116adf8185016_0048 1st Reconstruction Task Force, Commander Lindsay Irwin (left) and Dutch 2nd Lieutenant Leo Pottappel (right) prepare to board an Australian CH-47D Chinook helicopter in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 16 November 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061116adf8185016_0054 Australian and Dutch troops prepare to board an Australian CH-47D Chinook helicopter in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 16 November 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061118adf8185016_0017 A Dutch engineer explains what the Dutch reconstruction teams have been doing of late, during an engineer forum on current and future reconstruction tasks in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 18 November 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061202adf8502859_058 One of our Dutch coalition partners picks up some Taliban money during the markets at Kandahar Air Field. (Date taken: 02 December 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20061230adf8185016_0068 Local Afghan children look on with excitement as Dutch and Australian 1st Reconstruction Task Force soldiers provide a security screen for the engineers of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 30 December 2006) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070211adf8185016_0015 1st Reconstruction Task Force Lieutenant Daniel Le Breton (right) watches on as Dutch soldiers chat with the locals during a mission to conduct village assessments and quick impact projects in the Uruzgan Province Afghanistan. (Date taken: 30 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070223adf8502859_271 The Australians introduce their new Dutch friends to an old-fashioned Aussie barbecue whilst on deployment in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 23 February 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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