Our People in QLD
Ryan Bellis - He can see clearly now
Sapper Ryan Bellis is serving with the Reconstruction Task Force in Southern Afghanistan, but the most important things are back in Australia. “The most important message I want to send home was that I can’t wait to seeing my fiancée Lisa. Lisa is definitely number one in my life. Riding my new motor-cross bike would be coming a distant second in order of importance!”
Ryan is an Army engineer who has specialized as plant equipment operator. He’s working on projects designed to improve the security and lives of Afghan people in the region. “I’d never left Australia before and I’ve lived most my life in the Sunshine State — so working in subzero temperatures in the wilds of Afghanistan is a very different experience.
“It was a good challenge for us to work through tough conditions and, in particular, to interact with the locals and to help get the message across that we’re here to help.”
Ryan has spent much of his deployment working in the Chora Valley which was formerly heavily contested by the Taliban. “The Aussie task force has been operating in the valley since November last year and we have built security infrastructure while forming a good relationship with the local population. They’re really responding well to us now”
Some 900 Australian Defence Force personnel are now in Afghanistan as part of Operation SLIPPER, Australia’s commitment to assist Afghanistan achieve a stable and secure future. Army engineers are focused on reconstruction and community-based projects while a Special Operations Task Group is operating to disrupt Taliban extremists' command and control and supply routes.
Note: Sapper is a specialist Army name for a Private soldier who has specialized as an engineer.