One of the largest air mobile operations recently conducted in Uruzgan Province has been hailed a huge success. Involving the second rotation of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and other coalition forces, the air insertion was part of an overall operation to improve security in the province. The combined forces landed to the east of Tarin Kowt. Called Operation Baz Panje, meaning Falcon’s Talon, it's a critical step in spreading the coalition’s influence into the area and will involve building a new patrol base.
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, patrol in Sorkh Lez, Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, soldier negotiates an aqua-duct crossing on a dawn patrol in Sorkh Lez, Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Members of Bravo Company from the second rotation of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, assisted by members of the Netherlands PRT and Afghan interpreters, conduct checks of local nationals after the exploitation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found in the Sorkh Lez area.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Team 2 Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 2,(WO2) Andrew Egan on patrol with members of the 4th Kandak Brigade of the Afghanistan National Army in Sorkh Lez, Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 2 (MRTF-2) engineer Captain Rodney Davis (left) and interpreter Micheal (right), stop during a patrol to speak to local nationals in Sorkh Lez.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 2 (MRTF-2) soldiers patrol with the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Dutch through the "Green Zone" of Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 2,(WO2) Andrew Egan patrols through an aquaduct during a patrol l in Sorkh Lez, Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Private Kirby Finger, leads an Afghan National Army (ANA) patrol through Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Soldiers of the 4th Kandak Brigade of the Afghan National Army on patrol through Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier (right) and Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Corporal Brett Clarke (left) on patrol in Sorkh Lez, Mirabad Valley.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Private Joel Edwards takes a break in the shade, watch by a young Afghan boy at Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Corporal Brett Clarke on patrol with Afghan National Army soldiers through Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Corporal Brett Clarke (left) and Private Joel Edwards prepare to move out on patrol, through Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Lieutentant Dale Beattie from the second rotation of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, leads a patrol of Australians, Dutch and Afghan National Army soldiers through Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, Private Kirby Finger, prepares for a morning patrol with Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers through Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Get on! Australian troops board a US Black Hawk helicopter ferrying soldiers on an air mobile operation.
(Date taken: 26 September 2009)
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Seated and waiting. Australian and Afghan soldiers sit with their gear ready to board US Black Hawks.
(Date taken: 26 September 2009)
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Heading off. Australian soldiers are shown to their respective helicopters in allocated sticks.
(Date taken: 26 September 2009)
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All in a row. US Black Hawk helicopters - fully loaded with troops and equipment, are ready to depart on an air mobile operation.
(Date taken: 26 September 2009)
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Idle Banter. Australian soldiers pass the time near a flightline, while waiting for their helicopters to arrive and deploy them on an air mobile operation.
(Date taken: 26 September 2009)
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All aboard. Soldiers from MRTF-2 run through dust stirred up by a US Black Hawk helicopter picking them up during air insertion rehersals near Tarin Kowt.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Dust off. Soldiers from MRTF-2 get covered in dust and small stones after being stirred up by the landing of a US Black Hawk helicopter. The US aircrew picks up the Australian soldiers after a drop off during air insertion rehersals near Tarin Kowt.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Dust off. Soldiers from MRTF-2 get covered in dust and small stones after being stirred up by the landing of a US Black Hawk helicopter. The US aircrew picks up the Australian soldiers after a drop off during air insertion rehersals near Tarin Kowt.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Insertion completed - soldiers from MRTF-2 watch a US Black Hawk helicopter providing aerial security during air insertion rehersals near Tarin Kowt.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Touchdown. Sapper Zach Rodda (left) and Private Nicholas Baldwin (right) - soldiers from Combat Team Alpha, leap out of a US Black Hawk helicopter and go into all around defence during air insertion rehersals near Tarin Kowt.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Load up! Private Daniel Gilis from Combat Team Alpha, leads the way for a section of soldiers boarding a US Black Hawk helicopter during air insertion rehersals near Tarin Kowt.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Master and hound. Seated inside a US Black Hawk, Sapper Rueben Griggs and his dog Nova, participate in air insertion rehersals in Tarin Kowt, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Soldiers from MRTF-2 leap out of a US Black Hawk helicopter during air insertion rehersal training in Tarin Kowt.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Soldiers from Combat Team Alpha watch US helicopters on a flightline while waiting for their air insertion rehersal training to begin.
(Date taken: 23 September 2009)
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Special Operations Task Group soldiers return to base following a recent operation in Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 14 September 2009)
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Special Operations Task Group soldiers prepare to move out on a recent operation in Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 14 September 2009)
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Special Operations Task Group soldiers aboard a Dutch Chinook helicopter during a recent operation in Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 14 September 2009)
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An Australian Special Forces soldier awaits the landing of a Blackhawk helicopter during a recent operation in Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 11 September 2009)
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‘Australian Special Operations Task Group and Afghan National Security Force soldiers set up an irrigation pump recently provided to villagers in the Mirabad area of Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan.’
(Date taken: 27 August 2009)
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‘The Commanding Officer and soldiers of the Special Operations Task Group meet with a village council of elders, or ‘shura’, during a recent operation in the Mirabad area of Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan.’
(Date taken: 24 August 2009)
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‘A female Special Operations Task Group medic assesses an Afghan infant during a recent medical clinic established specifically for women and children in the Mirabad area of Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan.’
(Date taken: 24 August 2009)
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