Image Gallery 2009
18 June 2009
A Symbol of their Service
As the deployment of the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment Battle Group (the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) rapidly draws to a close, the officers and soldiers of the Battle Group gathered at their main base in Tarin Kowt to receive their medals.
The parade was an opportunity for the soldiers, the first to complete an eight-month tour in the Middle East Area of Operations, to receive their Australian Active Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, ISAF Medal and their Infantry or Army Combat Badges. The Deputy Commander of Australian Forces, Brigadier John Caligari, praised the 7th Battalion Battle Group and the first rate outcomes their tour had achieved.
In a poignant ceremony, Brigadier Caligari presented the Battle Group Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel with his medals, before Commanders at each level of the Task Force presented their subordinates with the symbols of their service, that, as Brigadier Caligari explained, they “can wear with pride, not only while serving in the Australian Defence Force, but for the rest of their lives.”
Even as the soldiers received their medals, other members of the Battle Group continued their vital mission, mentoring the Afghan National Army, on patrols throughout Uruzgan Province.
In a short time, the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force will be returning home for a well earned rest and transferring their responsibilities to 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment Battle Group.
| 20090607adf8185016_0027 Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel addresses his soldiers on the occasion of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force’s Medal Ceremony at Forward Operating Base Ripley in Tarin Kowt, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0035 The officers and soldiers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, stand at ease as they listen to their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, congratulates them on their efforts during a medal ceremony, conducted as their eight month tour draws to a close. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0059 Deputy Commander of Australian Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier John Caligari, addresses the soldiers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force as he joins their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel during a medals presentation ceremony in Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0066 Major Joshua Gillman, Operations Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, stands with his fellow Principle Staff Officers during the medal presentation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Ripley in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0098 Captain Craig Cunningham, of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, beams with pride after receiving his NATO Medal with International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) Clasp after eight months service in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0099 Major Joshua Jardine (left), Officer Commanding the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force’s Combat Team Tusk presents one of his Platoon Commanders, Lieutenant Bradley Freeman (right) with his medals during a presentation ceremony in Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0110 Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel (centre) presents Private Douglas Lynch (right) with his medals for service in Afghanistan. Flanking Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel is Lieutenant Alexander Block. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0116 Lieutenant Ashley Judd, a Platoon Commander with the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force congratulates one of his soldiers during a medals presentation ceremony in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0126 Deputy Commander of Australian Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier John Caligari (centre), flanked by the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, Warrant Officer Class One David Allen (left), present an Australian soldier with his campaign medals during a ceremony in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0158 Deputy Commander of Australian Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier John Caligari (left), congratulates the Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel (right), for the work he and his soldiers had achieved during their eight month deployment in Uruzgan Province. Brigadier Caligari took the opportunity to personally present Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel his medals during a ceremony at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0176 Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel (centre left) presents his Executive Officer, Major Glen Kuschert (centre right) with his campaign medals during a ceremony in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0184 Brigadier John Caligari and Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel present medals to the Principle Staff Officers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force on a hot sunny day in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0205 Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel (centre) prepares to present medals to his Combat Services and Support Team Officer Commanding, Captain Peter McKenzie (right), during a medals ceremony in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0216 Soldiers of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force receive their Australian Afghan Campaign Medal along with the NATO Medal with International Security and Assistance Force Clasp during a parade at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0220 Brigadier John Caligari (left), Deputy Commander of Australian Forces in Afghanistan presents Private Scott Osborne (right) with his medals recognising his services as a member of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0222 Soldiers from the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment stand at attention as Brigadier John Caligari (centre left), Deputy Commander of Australian Forces in Afghanistan, presents Private Scott Osborne (centre right) with his medals during a ceremony held at Forward Operating Base Ripley. Brigadier Caligari proudly commented to the soldiers that their Battalion was the one in which his own father had served many years previously. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0228 Deputy Commander of Australian Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier John Caligari congratulates an Australian Army Engineer from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force during a medal presentation ceremony at their base near Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090607adf8185016_0230 The majority of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force gather at their base in Uruzgan Province during a medal presentation ceremony. The ceremony marked the beginning of their handover, after eight months of operations in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 07 June 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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