Our People in QLD
Ray Wintzloff - Bringing the past into the present
Pacific Pines man Ray Wintzloff, 43, decided it was time for a military comeback and now he’s on duty in East Timor.
Ray originally joined the Army Reserve soldier in 1990 along with some workmates, but he left after five years to spend more time with his young family.
By 2004 his children were older and independent so the process analyst re-enlisted.
“This has been a great opportunity for me,” he said. “I get to work with a good bunch of guys who work together as a great team.
“I’ve especially found it’s been good to work alongside younger guys and give them a bit of a hurry-up!”
A process analyst in his civilian career, Wintzloff’s job is very different from his usual business surroundings.
“In east Timor my job involves leading an infantry section of eight men,” he said.
“I run the section and deliver orders specific to our job, which can range from base security tasks to information-gathering patrols.
“It’s my responsibility to see the job gets done, however my team is a close-knit bunch and they work well together bound by the common goal of doing a good job.”
It’s not Ray’s first overseas deployment. In 2007 he was in the Solomon Islands, and he was keen to go overseas again when the call went out for volunteers.
“I enjoy being here because it gives me the opportunity to serve both my own country and one of the newest nations in the world,” he said.
“Serving your country overseas for an extended period is also a great way to forge life-long friendships with your team mates, some of whom weren’t even born when I finished high school.”