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Image Gallery 2009

17 February 2009
On the road to Kandahar

Australia’s 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-1), operates in Uruzgan Province, Southern Afghanistan.

At the request of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), the Australian soldiers moved from their normal area of operations to the neighbouring Zabol Province, to replace essential bridges on Afghanistan’s main supply route – Highway One.

Their journey began by making the dangerous road trip from Tarin Kowt to Kandahar Air Field, where the bridge components were waiting and the final preparations with their NATO Allies could commence.

Kandahar is some 160km south of the Australian Base at Tarin Kowt.

The journey would take the 200 soldiers and their 50 vehicles some 12 hours, traversing through the rural environment of Uruzgan, the inhospitable Southern Afghan countryside and the urban sprawl of Kandahar city.

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An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle from the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force negotiates the treachorous winter roads between Tarin Kowt and Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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Mud, dust and freezing temperatures are just a few of the challenges faced by Australian Army vehicles operating in Uruzgan Province.
An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle, operated by a crew from the 2nd Cavalry regiment, moves between the Australian base at Tarin Kowt and Kandahar Air Field.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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Dwarfed by the terrain, An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle negotiates the mountainous roads of Southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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As winter sets in, Australian soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-1) make their way south, to facilitate the repair of a number of vital bridges in Zabol Province.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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A huge convoy of Australian Army vehicles negotiates the Tarin Kowt to Kandahar road in Southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-1), Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel (left); Officer Commanding, Combat Team Tusk, Major Joshua Jardine (centre); and MRTF-1 Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1 Dave Allen (right) discuss their convoys progress during a pause at a Canadian Forward Operating Base in Kandahar Province, Southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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Kandahar City, Southern Afghanistan.
Elements of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-1) convoy get their first look at Kandahar city, a location worlds away from their normal area of operations in rural Tarin Kowt.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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An ASLAV from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force's convoy negotiates its way through the suburbs of Kandahar city, in Southern Afghanistan.
Corporal Aaron Molinari, from Darwin's 2nd Cavalry Regiment, watches the scene from his armoured turret.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), manned by personnel from the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment, moves through the bustle of Kandahar city, as Australian Forces travel from their Uruzgan base to conduct essential reconstruction work in the neighbouring Zabol Province.

(Date taken: 10 December 2008)
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