Image Gallery 2009
25 February 2009
Snow patrol through Baluchi Valley
As the soldiers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force deployed for operations throughout Uruzgan Province in January and February 2009 where they experienced the winters for which Afghanistan is famous for.
Many soldiers woke in their shell scrapes to find their swags and vehicle blanketed in snow. The days were followed by sleet and rain turning the Afghan landscape into a boggy quagmire, further challenging man and machine.
| 20090111ara8502759_0006 Sergeant Donna Haigh of the 1st mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, puts on a smile in spite of the harsh Afghan winter conditions that she and her fellow soldiers find themselves operating in. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0016 As Operation Tura Ghar continued in the Baluchi Valley, soldiers of the 1st mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force found themselves faced not only with insurgents, but the harsh and inhospitable conditions of a high altitude Afghan Winter. For the largely Darwin based contingent, the snow was no deterrent to operations, as an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle and Bushmaster sat high above the alley in an over watch position. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0017 Its a long way from Darwin for the Territory based soldiers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force. An Australian soldier from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force dresses for the conditions whilst scanning the Baluchi Valley from his Australian Light Armoured Vehicle during Operation Tura Ghar in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 09 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0032 A "Winter Wonderland," was the scene that confronted Australian soldiers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, as they awoke for another days work, during Operation Tura Ghar in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan. In spite of the treacherous conditions, Australian, Afghan and Dutch soldiers continued their security operations in the area. (Date taken: 11 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0035 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle Ambulance sits in over watch. The vehicle from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force is participating in Operation Tura Ghar in the Baluchi Valley region of Uruzgan Province. Scanning the valley below is the vehicles medic, Corporal Regan Bryce. (Date taken: 11 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0036 A view of the Baluchi Valley in southern Afghanistan, surrounded by the snow which had recently fallen on Australian soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and reconstruction Task Force. Operation Tura Ghar, the mission which brought the soldiers to this region, continued and was a great success in spite of the weather. (Date taken: 11 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0060 A Bushmaster from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force splashes its way along the main road in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan. In spite of the wet and cold conditions, Australian soldiers worked throughout early 2009 to make Operation Tura Ghar a great success. (Date taken: 11 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0071 In a village in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan, a Bushmaster from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force passes locals gathered together for some small protection form the freezing Afghan winter. (Date taken: 11 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0081 Dwarfed by the snow capped mountains of southern Afghanistan, a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle moves through a village during 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force operations in the Baluchi Valley, Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 11 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090111ara8502759_0099 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle moves into a security over watch position in the Baluchi Valley. The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle is a part of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force contingent participating in Operation Tura Ghar. (Date taken: 11 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090113ara8502859_0003 Sergeant Bernie Maus controls the recovery of a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle. With heavy snow and rain, much of the Afghan landscape became a quagmire. The soldiers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, use the eight wheel drive capability of the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle to recover its counterpart during operations in the Baluchi valley. (Date taken: 13 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090113ara8502859_0005 As the Afghan winter closed in during Operation Tura Ghar, Australian soldiers had to contend with freezing conditions and mud. In spite of the weather conditions the soldiers continued their mission achieving significant results. (Date taken: 13 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090113ara8502859_0015 An Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle negotiates its way across the slippery Afghan landscape during 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force operations in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 13 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090113ara8502859_0017 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle moves through a 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force overwatch position during missions north of the Australian base at Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 13 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090113ara8502859_0029 With a tarp providing some overnight protection for its crew, an Australian Bushmaster sits in over watch during Operation Tura Ghar, which was conducted in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 13 January 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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