Our People in Tasmania

EXETER High School seems like a distant memory to Lebrina local and Army Reserve soldier Chris Croft.

Chris usually lives with his family on the farm property in Lebrina in the heart of farming community.  His younger brother Jack works as a farm hand on a number of properties in the area.

But now Chris, 22, is in the final weeks of a four-month deployment with the Australian contingent to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI for short).

In the Solomons Chris is the second-in-command of an infantry section of nine men.

 “My job is to take care of all the admin for the section,” he said. “I get them organised for any tasks we are given and get the rations, equipment and ammunition distributed and accounted for.

“This deployment has given me an opportunity to put all the skills I’ve learnt into place on a real operation — and to work with some really outstanding soldiers.”

Chris joined the Army Gap Year program in 2008, and has specialised as an artillery gunner with the specialist rank of Lance Bombardier – the artillery equivalent of Lance Corporal.

“I can’t understand why more young people don’t do the Gap Year program,” he said. “I enjoyed it so much I joined the Army Reserve when it was over.

“In the Army, every day is a learning experience and I think I’ve matured a significant amount since I enlisted.”

He has done a gunner’s course at the School of Artillery at Puckapunyal in Victoria and been promoted to Lance Bombardier.

When he gets home, Chris plans to spend some catch-up time with his family and partner Melanie, before going on a two-week cruise to the South Pacific with Melanie.

The ADF has been in the Solomon Islands at the invitation of the Solomon Islands Government since 2003 to assist with bringing stability to the country.

All reservists are volunteers and have to volunteer again to serve overseas. They can also contribute to security at major events within Australia. Their civilian bosses receive a financial contribution to offset their absence on military duty.

If you want to find out more about Australian Peacekeepers or would like to support the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project, please visit the following website: http://www.peacekeepingmemorial.org.au