Our People in SA
SGT Mandy Appleton
Mandy, a former student at Woodside Primary and Oakbank Area School , joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1995. Now promoted to Sergeant, Mandy is a military administrator.
SGT Appleton is part of a task group of 170 ADF aircrew and support staff operating two AP-3C Orion aircraft on patrol over Iraq and the Persian Gulf to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq and the international coalition operation against terrorism.
"I manage the clerical staff which provides pay, travel, postal services and honours entitlements for the task group, ensuring that all the administration requirements of the aircrew and supporting staff are taken care of ."
"The best part of the deployment is the life-long friends that I have made. I came over here knowing only a few people, but since then I have met over a 150 new friends, who'll be my mates for life," said Mandy.
Mandy is currently posted to RAAF Edinburgh and will return to work there as a medical orderly room Sergeant at the end of her current deployment.
"I plan to take a month off when I come back to catch up with my family and friends around Woodside and Lobethal. We work hard here to support the mission, so I am looking forward to sleeping in and having a weekend. I'm also looking forward to going for a drive in my car," added Mandy.
Mandy and the members of the AP-3C Orion task group are a key component of operation CATALYST which is Australia's contribution to the multinational force efforts to develop a secure and stable environment in Iraq and to assist with national recovery programs. Operation CATALYST comprises approximately 1575 personnel. The task group also supports operation SLIPPER, Australia 's contribution to the international effort against terrorism.
Mandy and her colleagues from the current detachment are scheduled to return to Australia in June.