Our People in TAS
PTE Jarrod Ingram - YOUNG SOLDIER HELPS PROTECT APEC 2007
The 19 year old from Launceston in Tasmania , who serves with the 12 th/40 th Royal Tasmanian Regiment, is involved in Operation DELUGE as a member of the Security Task Group who provide low risk searches and checkpoint security during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Sydney from the 2nd to the 9th of August.
“I’ve decided to join the Regular Army after I come back from Operation ANODE in the Solomons,” Jarrod said.
The Private, has a full-time job as a forestry worker, joined the Army Reserve in 2006 after being an Army Cadet to see whether he’d like to take up service in the Regular Army as career.
“The Army offers an enormous amount of opportunities for young people like me and since starting with the Reserves I’ve been able to get on a deployment and now I’ve got Operation DELUGE, it’s great,” he said.
Jarrod has also gone to New Zealand on exercise with his unit as well as travelled around Australia . He says that the Army Reserve has given him the opportunity to meet and work with a diverse group of people.
“We’ve got electrician’s and builders, even a hairdresser. It never ceases to amaze me just who decides to put on the uniform, ” Jarrod said.
After Operation DELUGE, Jarrod will go back to his civilian job for a couple of months before leaving for the Solomon’s.
“Forestry has been a great job, but it can’t offer me what the Army has,” the private said.
Jarrod is one of approximately 1500 Defence personnel deployed as part of Operation DELUGE, to support the security aspects of the APEC 07 Leaders’ Meetings in Sydney during September.
The Australian Defence Force will act in support of the NSW Police and other government agencies as part of the overall security arrangements for the APEC 07 Leaders’ meetings.
A range of capabilities will be in place throughout the period of the meetings in support of the New South Wales Police to ensure that Australia stages a safe, secure and successful event for the delegates.