Our People in QLD
Chris Reeves - Kallungur Lad Supporting The Brits In Afghanistan
Chris Reeves has been away from home for more than a year now. He is part of the final deployment of Australian Artillery gunners supporting the British-led forces in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Chris, 30, joined the Army in 1999 and has served on two tours of East Timor. He has specialised in artillery and hold the rank of Bombardier, the artillery equivalent of Corporal.
The gunners first had six months’ training in the United Kingdom with the British 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, before deploying to Afghanistan in September 2010.
In Afghanistan Chris is the second-in-command (2IC) of a gun detachment. He understudies the detachment commander and manages all the administration.
The gunners’ job is to provide support to troops on the ground or in other forward bases when they come under attack.
Their days are spent conducting fire missions, maintaining the weapons, doing sentry duty and keeping fit through team sports and exercise.
“I have always wanted to test all the skills that I have learnt on exercise,” Chris said. “Deploying to Afghanistan has given me that opportunity.”
Chris is seeing for himself that the local community is starting to re-establish its confidence.
“You can see this happening every day, with the local markets, the farmers in the fields and the children playing, laughing and having fun, some even approaching and talking to us,” Chris said.
It has been a long time away from home for Chris and he is looking forward to getting home to his wife, Leonie, and three-year-old son, Blake.
“Leonie has done a great job looking after the home front and teaching our son the rules of the world. Mum and Dad have been really supportive through this time,” he said.
A member of the Brisbane Mariners Rifle Club, Chris is also keen to get back to his other passion as a competitive target rifle and pistol shooter at the Belmont Range Complex in Brisbane.