Image Gallery 2007
25 May 2007
Australian and Welsh soldiers go head to head
Soldiers from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Australian Reconstruction Task Force, based in Uruzgan Province, faced-off briefly before their countymen's Test match in Sydney.
Strong allies in their mission in Afghanistan, the two nations will become fierce opponents for the match on Saturday.
Unfortunately, operational commitments will prevent a surrogate match from taking place, but the soldiers found some time to test each other.
Australia has deployed an ADF Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), consisting of a combined arms team, to the Uruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan as part of Operation SLIPPER. The RTF is in partnership with the Netherlands Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and forms part of the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force.
The RTF has a clearly defined role to work on reconstruction, improvement of provincial infrastructure and community based projects. The RTF also provides trade training to the local population and military engineering training to the Afghan National Army. This type of assistance is designed to benefit the people of Uruzgan Province well into the future and form building blocks of a stable and prosperous community.
The RTF contains around 370 ADF personnel from predominately Queensland-based units. It includes elements to provide command, security, engineering, and administrative support and is equipped with Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV), Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) and armoured engineer plant equipment.
Australia's contribution to ISAF is an important component of the Australian Government's commitment to assist Afghanistan achieve a stable and secure future
| 20070523adf8161479_078 The Australian Red Kangaroo and the Welsh Dragon, two symbols adorning the uniforms of soldiers in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 23 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070523adf8161479_087 Sergeant Conrad Lewson from the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers challenges Warrant Officer Class 1 Nicholas Rees from the Australian Reconstruction Task Force to an arm wrestle. (Date taken: 23 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070523adf8161479_100 Australian Reconstruction Task Force and Welsh 1st Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers test their strength in a rugby scrum. (Date taken: 23 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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