Image Gallery 2009
27 May 2009
Operation Mani Ghar
The 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force concentrated on the West Dorafshan region of Uruzgan Province during its latest missions as part of Operation Mani Ghar (the name of a local mountain). The joint Operation involving Dutch, Australian and Afghan soldiers, saw the forces working together to cordon and search the area. All three nationalities made significant cache finds and put a serious dent in the weapons available to insurgents in that region.
Australian soldiers and their Afghan partners conducted patrols and missions throughout the areas east and north of their main base, not only conducting targeted searches, but vehicle check points and security patrols as the Dutch Battle Group worked to secure the area.
Whilst the mission was underway, Australian Engineers took the chance to improve the Baluchi Crossing, which is the crossing point for the Dorafshan Rud (River) at the entrance to the Baluchi Valley, where a number of the Australian Patrol Bases are situated.
| 20090514adf8185016_0024 Private Marcus Ryan carries an F89 Minimi machine gun on patrol through the Dorafshan region of southern Afghanistan during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 14 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090514adf8185016_0042 Private Michael Egan (right), the Platoon Signaller, keeps a close look out as Lieutenant Thomas Larter (left) radios his higher command during a patrol in support of Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 14 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090514adf8185016_0046 Lance Corporal Joseph Byrnes (right) and Private Adrian Titiriga (left), soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force’s Combat Team Tusk, scan their arcs as they secure a position in the Dorafshan region of Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 14 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090514adf8185016_0052 Private Marcus Ryan (front) from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force’s Combat Team Tusk scans his arcs from a covered position in the Dorafshan region of Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 14 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090514adf8185016_0055 An Australian Platoon from Combat Team Tusk takes cover, whilst they secure a position in support of Operation Mani Ghar in the Dorafshan region. (Date taken: 14 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090514adf8185016_0063 An Australian Platoon from Combat Team Tusk takes cover, whilst they secure a position in support of Operation Mani Ghar in the Dorafshan region. (Date taken: 14 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0041 Corporal Malcolm Richmond, a medic from the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team, watches for any threats as he prepares to push off during a joint Australian/Afghan patrol to establish a Vehicle Check Point as part of Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0064 Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force joins his men during a patrol in the Baluchi Valley during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0066 Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, joins his men during a patrol in the Baluchi Valley during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0079 Private David Bernia from the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team provides security during a joint Australian/Afghan patrol as part of Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0089 With the Patrol Base dog in tow, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team member, Private David Bernia, moves through a joint Australian and Afghan patrol as the pause in preparation for the commencement of a Vehicle Check Point in the Baluchi Valley, during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0106 Early morning, Baluchi Valley, Australian mentors and their Afghan partners establish a Vehicle Check Point as part of Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0146 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, discusses the mission’s progress with Sergeant Paul Dehnert, who is in charge of the Australian mentors, on patrol with their Afghan National Army partners during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0153 Private David Bernia and an Afghan National Army soldier record the details of locals who are passing through a Vehicle Check Point in the Baluchi Valley during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0168 Sergeant Paul Dehnert from the Australian Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team, checks on the progress of a Vehicle Check Point, conducted by Australian and Afghan soldiers as part of Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0177 An Afghan National Army soldier checks locals at a Vehicle Check Point as Sergeant Paul Dehnert checks on the progress of a vehicle search in the Baluchi Valley. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0198 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force moves through the verdant green zone of the Baluchi Valley during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0241 An Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle moves down a local Afghan road in support of Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090515adf8185016_0305 Private Nathan Gibbs, a soldier from Combat Team Tusk as part of 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, moves through a wheat field during a patrol in support of Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 15 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090517adf8185016_0008 An Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle, with dismounted soldiers in support patrols through the rural Baluchi Valley region of southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090517adf8185016_0017 An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle moves quickly through the Afghan countryside during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 17 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090517adf8185016_0062 With local children watching on, soldiers from Combat Team Tusk as part of 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force patrol through the Baluchi Valley, Uruzgan Province during Operation Mani Ghar. (Date taken: 17 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090517adf8185016_0073 Local children approach with excitement as Australian soldiers patrol through their village during Operation Mani Ghar in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090517adf8185016_0076 “Thumbs Up” Local children give Australian soldiers the thumbs up as they patrol through their village during Operation Mani Ghar in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 17 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090517adf8185016_0091 Australian Engineers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, use their armoured plant equipment to improve the Baluchi Crossing, the only southern entrance to the Baluchi Valley in Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 17 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090517adf8185016_0129 Australian Engineers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, use their armoured plant equipment to improve the Baluchi Crossing, the only southern entrance to the Baluchi Valley in Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 17 May 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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