Our People in QLD
Lance Corporal Arrin Collins - KEEPING THE PEACE IN IRAQ
Lance Corporal Collins recently deployed with the Overwatch Battle Group (West) 3 to Tallil Air Base, in Dhi Qar province, which is about 350 km south of Baghdad.
Lance Corporal Collins, 23, is two months into his six month deployment, which marks his second tour of Iraq in as many years.
The veteran soldier lives in Darwin , where he is posted with the Army, but comes from Townsville, Far North Queensland.
His sacrifice for the country is that he will become a father for the first time while he is away helping with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.
"The birth of my first child is something I will be very sad to miss and my thoughts will be withy my fiancée Toni," he said.
Lance Corporal Collins is a member of the Battle Group Reserve which serves as the Quick Response Force (QRF) and consists of a dozen Australian Light Armoured Vehicles as well as Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles.
"I'm very proud to be doing such an important job," he said.
"Australian soldiers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things."
He said he is confident of doing Australia proud because of the extensive training the Battle Group did in the months before deploying to Iraq and because of the leadership skills of the officers.
His impressive service history includes a tour of East Timor in 2002, the Solomon Islands in 2004 and Iraq in 2006 and 2007.
"This is my second tour of Iraq and I continue to be surprised how very, very hot and dusty this place is," said Lance Corporal Collins, who is based in Darwin with the 5 th Royal Australian Regiment.
He said summer in Darwin is mild compared to summer in Iraq , where the temperature will peak at about 55 degrees celsius by mid August.
Lance Corporal Collins joined the Army in Jun 2001, soon after leaving the Cathedral School of St Anne and St James in Townsville, because he was looking for a challenge, adventure and an opportunity to help people less fortunate.
Although Lance Corporal Collins is enjoying his deployment, he is looking forward to the day when he returns to The Chase, in Darwin , to be reunited with his fiancée and meet his baby for the first time.
"I'm really looking forward to going home when I will try to make it up to my beautiful fiancee, Toni, who is currently seven month pregnant," he said.
"Obviously it will be a very exciting time for me when the baby is born and I'm hoping to get lost of pictures via the internet."
Lance Corporal Collins is also looking forward to visiting Townsville, where his parents, Greg and Trish, live.
"I'm looking forward to catching up with my parents and introducing them to their grand child," he said.
Lance Corporal Collins is one of the 515-members of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 that deployed to southern Iraq in late May, with the mission to provide security overwatch in Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces.
The majority of troops serving in the Battle Group are drawn from the 2 nd Calvary Regiment and the 5th Battalion which are based at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.
OBG(W)-3 is part of the ADF's contribution to Operation Catalyst which is the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.
Working with the Iraqi Government, the ADF continues to contribute to contribute to Multi-National Force efforts to develop a secure and stable environment in Iraq , assist national recovery programs and facilitate the transition to Iraqi self-government.
Operation Catalyst currently comprises up to 1575 ADF personnel.