Cpll Mark Watso
C
Cp
Watson
on
Edition 1246
October 14, 2010
Assault tactics: LCpl Shaun
Harper, 3RAR, targets an enemy
position as a part of a micro
fire-team platoon attack during
Combined Arms Training Activity 10
at the Townsville Field Training Area.
Photo by LCpl Mark Doran
P3
PM
VISITS
P14-15
FIRE FOR
EFFECT
Impressive display of
firepower from 3 Bde
SEE
PAGES
22-23
MFO
PROFILE
P33
TRIBUTE
PLAYED
2 NEWS
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Face of Army
Old hand: Cpl Mark Watson is on his
fourth overseas operation, this time with
the Timor Leste Aviation Group as an
aircraft loadmaster.
Army October 14, 2010
Secdet comes home
SIXTY-FIVE soldiers from the ADF’s
Secdet 16 have returned home to
Brisbane after their successful rotation
to Iraq.
The soldiers from 2/14LHR (QMI)
were deployed as part of Operation
Kruger, the ADF’s contribution to the
provision of security and support for
the Australian embassy and its staff in
Baghdad.
The Enoggera-based soldiers were
welcomed home by family and friends.
Chief of Joint Operations Lt-Gen
Mark Evans commended OC Secdet
16 Maj Allan Hamley and his soldiers
who completed more than 1400 diplomatic tasks, more than 40,900 personnel
searches and about 2800 vehicle searches during their deployment.
“Secdet 16 has continued to demonstrate the professionalism, flexibility
and dedication to duty which Australian
soldiers are renowned for,” Lt-Gen
Evans said.
“I commend Maj Hamley and his
detachment for their tireless efforts providing effective security for Australia’s
diplomatic mission and their interaction
with Iraqi and Coalition forces, further
enhancing Australia’s reputation in the
international community.”
Maj Hamley said the strong relationships his soldiers had established with
the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) enabled
them to complete their mission with the
full support of the host nation.
“The ISF have made noticeable
improvements in Baghdad. Our soldiers’
adaptability enabled Secdet 16 to tailor
its procedures to not only comply with,
but fully support their vision,” Maj
Hamley said.
“The uncertain security situation surrounding the Iraqi elections provided a
good test of Secdet 16’s ability to undertake a demanding security task in a complex and dangerous environment.”
The next security detachment,
Secdet 17, drawn from Darwin-based
units, has deployed to Iraq and continues to provide security support to the
Australian embassy through protecting
government officials, visitors and other
staff.
Thirty-five ADF personnel will help
provide embassy security, as responsibility for this task is passed to private
contractors.
Well done: Commander JTF633 Maj-Gen John Cantwell presents troops from Secdet 16 with
medals and commendations in Baghdad.
Photo by Sgt Neil Ruskin
Welcome back: OC Secdet 16 Maj Allan
Hamley is greeted by his wife and son at
Brisbane Airport (above) as a US soldier
says goodbye to an Aussie friend before
departure (above right).
Photos by Cpl Kim Allen and Sgt Neil Ruskin.
All clear on new
vetting procedures
RECENTLY announced changes to vetting protocols will see all future ADF
recruits cleared to secret (negative vetting
1) during their recruit training.
rity clearance forms (e-packs) on the internet (AGSVA website) and intranet (DRN).
Previously these were only available from
the DRN,” Mr Sinfield said.
“We’re also developing systems so that
changes to personal details can be made
online.
“This means service personnel will have
the flexibility to complete their clearance
forms, update their personal details and
report any changes in personal circumstances 24/7 from home or work.
“In addition, you will now only be asked
to prove your identity once, instead of having to repeat the process every time your
clearance comes up for review.”
AGSVA, run out of the Defence Security
Authority is responsible for managing
personnel security clearances across the
Commonwealth.
It has a customer base of around 300
agencies – of which Defence is one – and
expects to process around 48,000 clearance
actions a year.
General vetting enquiries can be directed
to the AGSVA Client Service Centre on
1800 640 450 or by email to securityclearances@defence.gov.au
The changes were announced following
the October 1 launch of the Government’s
new centralised vetting agency, the
Australian Government Security Vetting
Agency (AGSVA), and aim to streamline
vetting processes for ADF members.
Head of AGSVA vetting Peter Sinfield
said the new procedures made life easier for
recruits.
“Previously, ADF recruits were cleared
to restricted and then later upgraded to meet
operational requirements,” Mr Sinfield said.
“The new protocol avoids the need for
them to undergo two clearance processes.”
“And for current ADF members not yet
cleared to secret, Defence intends to systematically upgrade all restricted clearances
over the coming years. This process will be
driven by AGSVA.”
The changes to recruit vetting protocols
are just one of the benefits arising from the
launch of the agency.
AGSVA will also use IT innovations to
speed up vetting processes, reducing much
of the existing paperwork.
Further information is available on the AGSVA
“We’re providing access to all the secu- website www.defence.gov.au/agsva
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The Soldiers’
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NEWS 3
Army October 14, 2010
PM offers
praise for
guts and
resolve
By Antony Underwood
A SMILING Prime Minister has
placed on record the Australian
community’s thanks for the work
Australian troops are doing in
Afghanistan.
On a visit to Multinational Base Tarin
Kot, Prime Minister Julia Gillard spoke
of the “guts, determination and bravery” needed to prosecute the mission on
Operation Slipper.
Her visit, which coincided with the
AFL grand final replay, follows a visit
by new Defence Minister Stephen Smith
last month.
“There’s really one word that I come
to say to you and that is thank you,” Ms
Gillard said during a lunchtime address.
“Thank you for everything that you are
doing here, thank you for the bravery
you’re showing while you do it, thank
you for the dedication that you’re showing while you do it.
“I know it has been a really hard period, a really hard year, a really hard few
months, and we very much value what
you are doing here.”
The Prime Minister said the mission in Afghanistan was important to
Australia’s national interest.
“The mission is critical to make sure
[Afghanistan] does not again become a
training ground, a place that sponsors
violence and terrorism that is visited on
innocent people around the world, but
particularly on innocent Australians,”
she said.
“We’ve lost too many lives in terrorist
attacks and what you are doing is making sure that this place does not continue
to be part of that cycle of terror that has
taken the lives of so many Australians.”
Ms Gillard acknowledged the critical task of training the Afghan National
Army to enable it to bring security and
stability to the country.
“It’s got difficult moments, it’s got
days when you can feel the success and
progress [and] it’s got its days when you
probably feel that progress seems a long
way away,” she said.
Referring to the dangerous nature of
the mission, the Prime Minister said: “I
know that it does take guts, determination and bravery, and it particularly takes
it after a period where you’ve seen so
many of your friends and comrades and
colleagues fall victim to death in the battlefield.”
As well as meeting soldiers, Ms
Gillard met military and political officials in Tarin Kot and Kabul.
While at Multinational Base
Tarin Kot she received briefings from
Australian commanders, viewed an engineer search demonstration and shared a
barbecue lunch with Australian servicemen and women.
After her address, Ms Gillard was
invited to attend a shura (meeting) with
key regional Afghanistan government
officials and Afghan National Security
Force commanders.
Meanwhile, on his first visit as
Defence Minister, Mr Smith met two
Afghan Government ministers – Interior
Minister Mohammadi and Defence
Minister Wardak.
“Both ministers underlined the great
gratitude of the Afghan Government
and Afghan people for the contribution Australia is making to security in
Afghanistan,” Mr Smith said.
“They particularly make the point
of acknowledging the sacrifice and pain
that Australian soldiers, Australian families and Australia has suffered in recent
times with 10 deaths in a few short
months.”
He said the Afghan ministers had also
told him they highly valued the way in
which Australian troops conducted themselves and believed Australian people
mixed well with the Afghan community
as they went out of their way to ensure
good relations.
“The regard with which our forces
are held is not just one of expertise and
quality, but of the way they carry themselves, the way they conduct themselves,
and go out of their way to ensure they
get on with the local people,” he said.
“That is consistent with the general
approach. This is not a conflict which
can be won by military force alone.”
Lunch chat: The Prime Minister talks with Capt Chris Johnston over lunch at
Multinational Base Tarin Kot.
Greetings: Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets members of Mentoring Task Force 1 during her visit to
Multinational Base Tarin Kot in southern Afghanistan.
Photos by Cpl Raymond Vance
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4 NEWS
Army October 14, 2010
Army helps with Vic floods
By Peter Johnson and
Lt Danielle Perkins
JUST 18 months after providing vital
support to emergency services during the Victorian bushfires, Defence
has helped battle floods in northern
Victoria.
Defence committed 55 soldiers
from 53 Fd Bty, School of Arty, and
10 specialist vehicles, including six
Unimogs, after a request from the State
Emergency Service on September 5.
Later, more than 50 reservists from
Victoria’s 4 Bde Ready Response Force
(RRF) took over and pitched in to fill
and lay thousands of sandbags when
rivers across much of Victoria burst
their banks and threatened to inundate
homes.
The initial troops were sent to
Shepparton to assist with preparing and
delivering sandbags, door-knocking
and using their vehicles for evacuations
if required.
“It was 16 hours between the first
phone call warning order on Sunday
and having guys on the ground at
0800hrs on Monday,” CO School of
Arty Lt-Col Brandon Wood said.
The initial commitment was 48
hours. Because of the expected delay
in floodwaters reaching Shepparton,
the gunners’ commitment was extended
for a further 24 hours until the water
levels peaked and an assessment could
be made of the extent of flood damage,
and subsequent tasks for the SES and
other emergency services.
“It was a pretty good turnaround
for
the School of Artillery, and
Watery challenge: Sand-bagging at BP Kialla with Gnr Peter Clarke, 53
t h e c o m m u n i t y h a s b e e n ve r y
Fld Bty, School of Arty, working with Justin Wilson of Nunnawading SES.
appreciative,” Lt-Col Wood said.
The gunners handed over to 4 Bde
RRF on September 9 in what BM 4
Bde Maj Philip Whitehead described as
“a seamless transition”.
The 4 Bde commitment is a
command-and-control element and
50 members from the RRF. Many of
them were involved with Op Vic Fires
Assist and helping with this task was
“very much within their capability”
Maj Whitehead said.
“As reservists a number of them
also work in the emergency services
field so they bring these skills with
them,” he said.
“It was 16 hours between
the first phone call warning
order on Sunday and having
guys on the ground at
0800hrs on Monday”
RRF OC Maj Paul Middleton said
two-thirds of the 54-strong group comprised RRF soldiers, with the rest coming from 4 Bde depots across Victoria.
He said the force spent four days in
the north-west of the state.
“We were basically tasked with
making 12,000 sandbags and laying
4000 of them around the Echuca side
of the Murray River,” he said.
“The council reserved about 3000
of the sandbags that we had packed
and they and the SES were going to use
them to move down the river, to chase
the flood as the peak moved further
downstream.”
Maj Middleton said the soldiers
were happy to lend a hand. “They were
stoked to be given the call and given
the chance to support the community.”
The flood peak passed through
Shepparton on September 8, with concern moving to towns further north.
Soldiers concentrated in Shepparton
on September 8 before spending the
following days travelling between
Echuca and Shepparton to assist the
emergency services where they could.
After days of concern, the flood
peak passed through the region with
only minor flooding of homes and
properties, although hundreds of people
were isolated by the rising water.
Commander of the 53 Bty troops
at Shepparton, Maj David Jones, said
tasks had included placing sandbags
around telecommunications substations
and service stations, shoring up a
Goulburn River levee bank, confirming
locations of residents should evacuation
be required, and providing vehicles to
help people cross flooded roads.
Tw o s o l d i e r s a s s i s t i n g a t
Shepparton, Bdr Paul Gardner and Gnr
Steven Field felt an affinity with those
affected by the floods.
“I come from a similar area, we
have had a lot of floods like this,” Bdr
Gardner said.
“It is good to come and support the
local community, they need a hand.
Everyone was happy to see us.”
Gnr Field said: “We had a few
floods when I was younger, I know
what people are like in those situations.
“It has been good, it was something
different, and it was good to see what
the SES and other people do.”
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NEWS 5
Army October 14, 2010
CA’s pledge to
support accused
THE CA has guaranteed three former Special Operations Task Group
members facing charges as a result of
Afghanistan operations will receive full
support from the ADF.
“I give the members facing these
charges a firm, personal undertaking that
I will ensure they are thoroughly supported throughout the legal process,” Lt-Gen
Gillespie said.
The charges were brought by the
Director of Military Prosecutions after an
investigation into a compound clearance
operation in Afghanistan on February 12
last year.
One soldier has been charged with
failing to comply with a lawful general
order and, in the alternative, prejudicial
conduct.
A second soldier has been charged
with manslaughter and, in the alternative,
dangerous conduct, and an additional
charge of dangerous conduct.
Charges against a third member, currently travelling overseas in a personal
capacity, will be brought when he returns
to Australia.
The matters will be heard before one
or more service tribunals that will be convened in due course. It’s expected the
trials will not begin until early next year.
CDF ACM Angus Houston said that,
consistent with the presumption of inno-
from the operation on February 12, 2009.
“As a result of that compound clearance operation, six people died and up
to four people sustained injuries,” she
said. “The operation was the subject of
an investigation by the ADF Investigative
Service and I received answers to my
requests for further information throughout 2010.”
Brig McDade said she had invited the
Vice CDF, a superior authority, on July
19 to represent to her under section 5A
of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
the ADF’s interest in relation to charges
she was considering.
“I received a response from the Vice
CDF on September 1, representing the
ADF’s interest in relation to charges
being considered by me,” she said.
“After careful, deliberate and
Firm support: CA Lt-Gen Ken informed consideration of the availGillespie has pledged his full support able evidence, some of which was only
to SOTG members.
received recently, and the representations to me made pursuant to s5A of
cence, the members will receive the full the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982,
support of the ADF. This includes medi- I have decided in accordance with my
cal, psychological, legal, chaplaincy and prosecution policy to charge three former
welfare support.
members of the Special Operations Task
The statement by ACM Houston and Group with service offences.
Lt-Gen Gillespie follows an announce“The accused will be charged with
ment by the Director of Military various service offences, including manProsecutions, Brig Lyn McDade, that she slaughter, dangerous conduct, failing to
had decided to charge the three SOTG comply with a lawful general order and
members with several offences arising prejudicial conduct.”
Slouch hat – tops
in clothing review
By Sgt Andrew Hetherington
THE perennial favourite, the slouch hat, has topped the list of
items of clothing soldiers are proud to wear.
The ‘hat, khaki, fur-felt’ came comfortably ahead of DPCUs and
berets in the just-completed phase two of the Army non-combat
clothing review.
More than 3500 personnel responded to an Army-wide survey.
It was sent to RSMs at more than 100 units, was then given to
personnel and filled out under test conditions in March.
Participants answered 57 questions relating to barracks working,
ceremonial, senior officer and mess forms of dress.
Clothing review report author WO1 Michael Kerr said the survey’s aim was to address the CA’s principles of driving down uniform costs while maintaining Army’s heritage.
“Seventy-two per cent of respondents said we don’t need to
change our current barracks dress – DPCU,” WO1 Kerr said.
“Of the 23 per cent who said we did need to make a change, 11
per cent said it should be for climate reasons.”
Participants were also asked which items of uniform they felt
proud to wear.
And the result will come as no surprise.
“The slouch hat came in on top gaining 44 per cent of responses,
with DPCU and berets coming in a distant second and third with 18
and 17 per cent respectively,” said WO1 Kerr.
Specific questions on maternity wear highlighted the need for a
change in current uniform.
Female responses were mixed, with civilian dress on top at 18 per
cent; coming in second was a maternity version of DPCU at 16 per
cent, followed by civilian-styled dress and an adjustable waist DPCU
uniform, both receiving 9 per cent of responses.
“A maternity style DPCU pant and shirt for females will be introduced soon. Work is also underway on a cut of DPCUs to give a better fit for females” WO1 Kerr said.
RSM-A WO Stephen Ward said work was also continuing in
AHQ into ways to improve the cut and fit of DPCUs.
“Before the end of the year the Army Clothing Review
Committee will decide what items of uniform Army will get rid of
and what the Service will retain and modernise,” WO1 Kerr said.
To view the non-combat clothing survey and the results visit http://www.army.gov.
au/docs/091110-story_for_website-army_clothing_review.pdf
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6 NEWS
Army October 14, 2010
Aftermath of
war dissected
By Graham McBean
THE payoff of victory and the
perils of defeat were under discussion at the 2010 Chief of
Army History Conference
in Canberra from September
30-October 1.
Victory or defeat: armies in
the aftermath of conflict brought
national and international speakers
together to investigate what happens to armies after conflict.
From the French Revolution to
Vietnam – better understanding the
impact on victor and vanquished
took centre stage at the National
Convention Centre.
CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie said it
was important to look to history as
a means of planning for the future.
He said governments needed
to make decisions and establish
national priorities after conflict – to
purchase a new military capability
or build a hospital or freeway.
“There is rarely a problem
attracting funding priority for the
Army when we are at war – especially a major war with national
survival at stake,” Lt-Gen Gillespie
said.
“Conversely, extended years of
peace in benign strategic environments makes attracting funding for
armies more difficult.”
He said the mood of the population also impacted on those decisions – especially when people
sought a peace dividend.
“That appealing concept of
a world free from war was most
in evidence in the 1920s – an era
which was not a good period for an
army leadership trying to maintain
a credible defensive capability,” he
said. “The reason, as we know well,
is that following a major conflict,
governments face intractable problems such as bankrupt treasuries,
national infrastructures in ruins, dislocated populations and vast numbers of demobilised soldiers to be
assimilated back into civilian life.”
Lt-Gen Gillespie said contemporary military planners needed
to understand the reasons governments and nations of the time
“signed up to this view of the
future world”.
Keynote speaker Prof Alan
Forrest, University of York, delivered the address A glorious defeat?
How the French remembered the
armies of the revolutionary and
Napoleonic wars.
He said the ideals of public
service and that an army should
reflect its society did live on when
hostilities ended and society faced
the problems of reintegration.
“I think the ideas [of the French
Revolution] did become permanent – they were embedded in the
French psyche,” Prof Forrest said.
“When future wars arose – most
notably World War I – the French
never thought about the possibility
of a non-citizen army – it was part
of the culture.”
After victory: CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie delivers the opening address at this year’s
CA history conference in Canberra.
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NEWS 7
Army October 14, 2010
A Fd Bty
gets ready
for move
By AB Melanie Schinkel
and Cpl Zenith King
AFTER more than a century of operating out of NSW, A Fd Bty is gearing
up to relocate from Sydney to Brisbane
at the end of the year.
Established in 1871, A Fd Bty is the
oldest continuous serving unit in the
ARA and has been based at Holsworthy
for most of its service.
Command and control of the battery
passed from 3 Bde’s 4 Fd Regt to 7 Bde’s
1 Fd Regt on September 30 as part of
the RAA’s Force Modernisation Review
(FMR).
Commander A Fd Bty Maj Nathan
Laughton said new equipment would be
introduced and the move would enable
1 Fd Regt to grow in accordance with the
FMR and allow 7 Bde to meet its operational readiness requirements.
“As part of 1 Fd Regt, A Fd Bty will
become a gun battery,” he said. “So once
the shift is complete it will no longer
maintain forward observers or joint-fire
teams. This capability will exist in other
batteries within 1 Fd Regt.”.
The Army is balancing its RAA capability across 3 and 7 Bdes and A Fd Bty’s
relocation is part of that.
Maj Laughton said the move would
ultimately improve Army’s overall artillery and indirect fire capability.
He said the battery would no longer
need to maintain a parachute capability
after the move.
“A Fd Bty hasn’t maintained a complete parachute capability for a few years
now and was only required recently to
ensure certain observer elements were
capable of conducting parachute operations,” he said.
“Next year, a parachute capability
will continue to be provided by a battery
within 4 Fd Regt.”
The unit’s equipment is to be relocated by next February and its personnel
will be posted to Brisbane, Townsville,
Darwin and Adelaide in accordance with
standard posting orders.
Although they were initially hesitant
about the move, a number of A Fd Bty’s
soldiers have asked to follow the unit to
Brisbane and been selected to do so.
Maj Laughton said it was important to
ensure the unit’s soldiers and their families were provided with timely information and help.
“Communication with the soldiers
about the shift began last year because
we wanted to provide as much information as early as possible,” he said.
“Career management agencies were
also engaged in advance to allow personnel the opportunity to submit their posting preferences.
“Personnel will stay in Sydney until
the end of the year and then march into
their respective units next year.”
He said the battery’s equipment
would be divided between 1 Fd Regt and
4 Fd Regt with surplus stores returned
to DNSDC and other depots around
Australia.
“Early interaction with HQ Forcomd
and 1 Fd Regt allowed us to work out
which pieces of the battery’s equipment
needed to go where.
“A Fd Bty is well-prepared for this
move and I believe it’s a positive step for
the Army’s RAA capability.”
Gunners’ dawn: A Fd
Bty soldiers (above)
bring a gun into action
during their final directfire practice for 2010.
Safe landing: A
Fd Bty and 3RAR
paratroopers prepare
to restow their
parachutes at dropzone Hinge, Singleton.
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8 NEWS
Army October 14, 2010
Honesty is
best policy
By Deanna Nott
THE conviction of an ARes soldier of
fraud has highlighted the importance
of ensuring claims to the Employer
Support Payment Scheme (ESP) are
legal and accurate.
The soldier, who claimed to be selfemployed but was actually a full-time
NT police officer, pleaded guilty to
obtaining a financial benefit by deception and making a false claim for ESP.
He received a suspended two-month
prison term and an 18-month good
behaviour bond.
He was required to pay back more
than $13,000, was sacked from his job
and now has a criminal record.
ESP Scheme Director Doug Stedman
said it was disappointing the soldier
abused ESP.
“It is concerning to our organisation
and certainly provides us with a good
reason to remind reservists they must
ensure their claims are genuine,” Mr
Stedman said.
“The intent of the ESP Scheme is to
enhance employer support for reserve
service and increase the availability of
reservists to undertake Defence service
by providing financial support to civilian
employers and self-employed reservists.”
Mr Stedman said the scheme had
been set up under a legislative instrument
(Defence determination) that details the
eligibility criteria for all ESP claims.
“Decision makers are responsible for
the approval or rejection of ESP claims.
These decision makers are vigilant
to ensure only genuine claimants are
rewarded by the scheme,” he said.
“Everyone must be aware that when
there is any suggestion or evidence a
claimant is trying to obtain a financial
advantage from the Commonwealth by
fraud or deception, these matters are
immediately forwarded to the appropriate Defence agency for investigation.”
Mr Stedman said if an investigation
reveals a claimant has committed fraud
or deception, the facts will be submitted
to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
“Reservists should remember this
may lead to criminal prosecution and
loss of employment,” he said.
Survey to assess attitudes
By Larissa Di Savia
IT’S time again for soldiers to participate in the Defence Attitude
Survey (DAS).
From October 15-31 members
will receive emails via their DRN
account inviting them to express
their opinions on a wide range of
ADF issues.
DGPers-A Brig Gerard Fogarty
said the survey was an important
feedback opportunity as it helped
Army’s senior leaders understand
what’s important to all Army personnel.
“This survey helps Army and
People Strategies and Policy Group
(PSP) develop new policies that
work for all personnel,” he said.
Since August 2009, the DAS has
been administered entirely online
to a 10 per cent sample three times
a year.
The DAS has been reviewed to
reduce the size of the survey, making
it quick and easy to complete.
“This review was also to ensure
the DAS was in alignment with
broader Defence research and personnel strategies,” Brig Fogarty said.
Army has been able to maintain a
high response rate to the DAS since
it went online. The February 2010
administration yielded a positive
response rate of 50 per cent.
Results from the 2009-10 DAS
Policy makers: Soldiers will be asked to again take part in the online
Photo by Tpr Michael Franchi
Defence Attitude Survey.
indicate a significant increase in
salary satisfaction – 54 per cent of
Army respondents were satisfied
with their current salary compared to
46 per cent in 2009.
The survey indicated that members of the Army showed higher levels of dedication to their service than
members of the Navy or Air Force.
According to the latest DAS
results, all ADF members regard
Defence-sponsored childcare, free
medical and dental, spouse employment assistance and subsidised housing to be the most important conditions of service.
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NEWS 9
Army October 14, 2010
Ideas worth up to $5000
By WO1 Martin Lenicka
Manager, Army Suggestion Scheme
THE Army Suggestion Scheme is
receiving a steady flow of ideas.
Protection: Cover up to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Photo by LS Paul Berry
Look out
for killer
By Sgt Andrew Hetherington
SKIN cancer appears in three main
forms in varying degrees of lethality.
kill you. It grows anywhere on the body,
not necessarily in sun-exposed areas.
“Protect yourself from the sun – prevention is better than cure,” Col Brennan
said. “The wearing of DPCUs with
sleeves down, sunscreen and appropriate
headdress, such as broad-brimmed bush
and slouch hats, complies with bestpractice sun protection.
“Keep an eye out for new skin spots
or changes to existing ones. Get your
partner or friend to inspect the parts of
your body you can’t see properly. If a
spot changes over time in size or colour,
go to the RAP and have it checked.”
Col Brennan said in 2009 four Army
cases of melanoma were reported to the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
In 2008-09 DVA accepted 864 claims
for non-melanotic skin cancer or BCC
and SCC. This number is more than half
that of 2002.
While the reduction is consistent with
the progressive adoption by Army of
safer and better sun practices, the fact
is almost 1000 personnel every year
require painful and sometimes disfiguring treatment.
Director of Army Health Col Leonard
Brennan said the locations where Army
operated could increase the chance of
soldiers developing the disease.
“We spend a lot of time outdoors
operating in northern Australia and places like Afghanistan where the ultraviolet
light exposure is higher than it is in the
southern states of Australia,” he said.
The most common and least dangerous skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma
(BCC). It grows slowly, often on the
head, neck and upper torso, and appears
as a lump or scaly area. It’s red, pale or
pearly in colour and when it grows it
might become ulcerated.
The second type, squamous cell
carcinoma (SCC), can spread if left
untreated. It usually appears on the most
sun-exposed areas including ears and
lips, and might bleed easily or ulcerate.
It grows over a number of months and
looks like a thick, red scaly spot.
The final type of skin cancer, melanoma, appears as a new or existing spot, For more information on skin cancer and melamole or freckle which changes in size, nomas, visit your RAP or http://www.cancer.org.
shape or colour. If left untreated it will au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/melanoma.htm
The scheme is open to soldiers
and public servants employed in
Army.
Good, commonsense suggestions
are being actioned at a high level
relatively quickly.
Any individual or group is welcome to submit an idea providing it
will help soldiers.
There is an opportunity for CA
to formally recognise excellent suggestions and reward people whose
good ideas have a substantial impact
on Army.
This recognition might include a
reward of up to $5000.
The scheme is closely linked to
the Strategic Reform Program so
suggestions that reduce costs and
waste are encouraged.
Getting your idea in is a relatively easy process; there’s no need
for an essay, it’s your ideas that are
important.
Some of the ideas that have sent
in so far are shown below. We are
working our way through them.
Some require subject matter expert
input and further research before
they can be accepted.
Information on how to submit your suggestion can be found in CA Directive 09/09 at
http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/
sites/CA/docs/CA_Directive_09_09_Army_
Suggestion_Scheme.pdf
RAISED BY
UNIT
DESCRIPTION
PROGRESS
RECOMMENDATION
Maj B.J.A Jones
DMO Land 75
Fuel-efficient climate
control mechanisms
Pending referral to subject matter adviser
All reviewers thought the idea had merit and
it was referred for further investigation
Cpl A.R. Boyd
C Coy 1 MP Bn
Modify MP motorcycle
safety equipment
Complete
All reviewers stated this was a workplace
practice that should be addressed at the
unit level through the RODUM system
Cpl Spain
6RAR
Modular Combat Vehicle
Crewman Helmet (HAVO
helmet)
Referred to sponsor
subject matter adviser
for further investigation
All reviewers thought the idea had merit
and referred for further investigation
Cpl D.S. Allen
School of Armour
Equip ASLAV personnel
carrier with a litter station
Pending committee
review
Mr L.L. Ellis
HQ 8 Bde
Implement a program in
Army to advertise the benefits of reporting dangerous occurrences
Complete
WO2 K.J.
Kennedy
Directorate
Military
Personnel – Army
Business reporting tool for Implemented –
PMKeys
awarded Certificate of
Commendation and
$2500
All reviewers thought the idea had significant merit
WO2 D.J. Martin
RAMS AAvan
TC – Army
Production of an annual
mandatory training DVD
Referred to sponsor
subject matter adviser
All reviewers thought the idea had merit
and referred for further investigation
WO2 D.J. Martin
RAMS AAvn
TC – Army
PDAT bar-coded stocktaking
Complete
All reviewers thought the idea had merit and
idea will be considered in future projects
Mr N.M. McLean
ITO1 (APS 4/5)
Men’s health issues –
education and support
mechanisms
Complete
All reviewers thought that the idea was
sound but met by current procedures
Use of compression
garments
Complete
All reviewers thought the idea sound and
idea will be considered in future projects
Capt C.N. Mayger Norforce
All reviewers thought that the idea was
sound but part of usual employment
10 NEWS
Army October 14, 2010
Help for families
US voluntary
award for
Aussie spouse
By Lt Carrie Miner
AUSTRALIAN Army spouse Natalie
Fletcher has done her country proud
by scoring a volunteer award at a
ceremony held in Texas recently.
BRISBANE-based spouses of partners away on deployment or recently returned home are benefiting
from practical financial help.
The Deployed Soldiers Welfare
Association (DSWA) recently provided cheques to several units who asked
for assistance.
The money is donated to families
in need, to give spouses practical help
around the house and to host unit welfare activities for families.
National Manager DSWA Jim
Shapcott recently presented the
cheques at Gallipoli Barracks.
Alison Carey (wife of CO 2CER
Lt-Col John Carey) and the network
of 2CER wives, had identified a need
for help around the house while their
partners were deployed on operations.
Mrs Carey said the need was particularly great for spouses who were
pregnant or had small children.
“I called Dial An Angel to see if
they could provide vouchers for three
hours house cleaning,” she said.
“I originally asked for four vouchers. Dial An Angel told me they would
match what we bought for the same
amount of vouchers. So, I approached
HQ 7 Bde for $421, and was told
more than four times that was raised.”
Mrs Carey described the support
from DSWA as “overwhelming”.
“It goes a long way to providing
the practical support spouses need at
home while their partners are away”,
she said.
Lt-Col Christopher Mills, 2/14
LHR (QMI), was provided financial
Helping hand: DSWA National President Jim Shapcott presents a cheque to Alison Carey (the wife of CO
2CER) and Maj Brad Skinner, 2CER, to help while partners are away on deployment.
Photo by Emily Taylor
assistance for an upcoming family day
welfare activity for spouses and their
families. The extra financial support
meant children got to enjoy special
activities like a jumping castle and a
petting zoo.
CO 20 STA Regt Lt-Col Nathan
Loynes was presented with a donation
to help a family in his unit with house
cleaning, lawn mowing and student
tutoring services.
DSWA remains committed to providing ongoing financial support to
units and families while they are on
deployment or post-deployment.
To date its support has been lim-
ited to 3 Bde and 7 Bde and has plans
to expand its coverage to all deployed
Army members and their families.
Soldiers or spouses who would like to apply
for help from the DSWA are advised to contact their chain of command with details of
their request.
Mrs Fletcher, wife of Army
exchange officer Lt-Col Shaun
Fletcher, received the Fort Sam
Houston installation volunteer award
at this year’s US Army Volunteer
Corps volunteer of the year recognition ceremony.
The award was presented to Mrs
Fletcher for the hundreds of hours of
dedication to the 950-child Fort Sam
Houston Elementary School since
2009.
In front of more than 300 people
in San Antonio, US Army Garrison
Commander Col Mary Garr made
special mention of Mrs Fletcher’s
achievements and highlighted the
many contributions the Fletcher
family had made to the local community.
During the event, a cheque for
almost $7500 was presented to Col
Garr by the US Army Volunteer
Corps, representing the dollar value of
the service provided by volunteers to
the 20,000-strong Fort Sam Houston
community.
Lt-Col and Mrs Fletcher are partway through a posting with the US
Army Medical Department, where
Lt-Col Fletcher works as the department’s stability operations desk
officer.
The RAAMC-US Army Medical
Department exchange program has
been going for more than 30 years.
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NEWS 11
Army October 14, 2010
Long wait to say farewell
By Graham Davis
HMAS Manoora’s Ship’s Army Detachment has helped
bring closure to families affected by the wartime sinking of
Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) Centaur.
For 67 years loved ones grieved and pondered the final
resting place of the 268 men and women who went down with
Centaur off the Queensland coast during World War II.
The hospital ship was torpedoed by Japanese submarine
I-177 early on the morning of May 14, 1943. Of the 332 on
board, only 64 survived the attack, the highest death toll of any
merchant vessel sunk by a submarine in the Pacific theatre.
Wreckage of the Centaur now lies in more than 2000m of
water, about 50km east of Moreton Island.
At 1pm on September 24, Manoora hove to above Centaur’s
final resting place, with 340 family members and friends of the
victims on board. One by one, or in groups, they moved to the
ship’s rail, said a prayer and threw wreaths into the sea.
One mourner simply threw a card.
Others moved to the stern to dispatch family ashes into the
ocean – some of those the remains of Centaur survivors. They
will now join those below.
It was a time of tears, hugs and questions: “Why did a
Japanese submarine attack a ship so clearly marked as a hospital ship, a ship of mercy?”
Army Chap Jim Cosgrove told the family and friends gathered on the flight deck for the memorial service, including
survivor Martin Pash, 88, it was a long time coming, but it was
time to say goodbye.
“This is the first opportunity to visit the grave of your loved
ones – today you will finally say goodbye to that person.”
Mr Pash is one of just two survivors alive to this day. He
was given VIP treatment for the trip aboard Manoora to the
Centaur.
With nearly 100 wreaths and floral tributes resting on
tables, and with the Army and Navy members at attention, Mr
Pash was escorted to his seat.
He was led to the rail to cast a wreath onto the water.
He said he would recite a prayer and say goodbye to his old
friends.
As she came to the site, Manoora’s bell tolled 268 times –
once for each of the victims.
The memorial service stemmed from the discovery of the
wreckage of HMAS Sydney (II) off the Western Australian
coast. A number of organisations, including the Centaur
Association, believed if they could find Sydney they could find
the Centaur.
The Queensland and Federal Governments provided funds
for the search and in December 2009 the hospital ship was
detected by sonar, and later filmed as she sat, largely intact, on
the seabed.
In March, an initial memorial service was held in Brisbane,
but it was felt loved ones needed an opportunity to pay final
respects at the site where the ship was lost.
The Queensland Government, Army, RAN and many other
groups became involved.
Lest we forget: CO HMAS Manoora Capt Steve Dryden and OC Ship’s Army
Detachment Maj Scott Lymbery throw a wreath over the site where the wreck of AHS
Centaur lies during an at-sea memorial service (above) and survivor Martin Pash
tells his story (inset).
Photo by Cpl Christopher Dickson
Survivor recalls sinking of Centaur
By Graham Davis
I was asleep in the bow when the attack ries and fractures, treated the wounded on
the rafts. Sister Savage subsequently was
awarded the George Medal, became the
matron of the Royal Newcastle Hospital and
has a nurse training facility in Queensland
nothing to hang on to so I swam the length named after her.
of the ship until I found a raft.
More recently in 2010, the newly reno“I was the first to climb on board … vated family centre at Gallipoli Barracks
three more people joined me later. Then now also bears her name.
three or four more rafts arrived and we tied
“We were adrift for 36 hours,” Mr Pash
them together.
said. “We could hear planes searching for
“Many of the survivors were badly burnt. us but there was a low cloud layer – they
One of them died so we had to bury him at couldn’t see us.
sea.”
“Then the destroyer the USS Mugford
He praised Army nurse Sister Ellen appeared. Her crew dropped nets over the
Savage (the only nurse of 12 on board to side and we scrambled up them.”
survive), who despite her own serious injuMr Pash now lives in Melbourne.
“WHEN Centaur began to sink she took came,” he said.
“I got out but the ship then began to sink.
me down with her, down into No 4 hatch,” It sucked me down with it … through the
survivor Martin Pash said.
hatch. When I reached the surface there was
“I think I was 120ft beneath the surface
when I kicked upwards; I could still see
some lights. I let some of the air out of my
lungs half way up and broke into the open.
“I was swallowing oil and water.”
Eighty-eight-year-old Mr Pash is one of
only 64 to survive the sinking, and one of
only two still alive.
Born in 1921, he told of how he went to
sea on Port Melbourne when he was just 13
and became a steward on the hospital ship
when he was 20.
“On the night [4:13am] of the sinking
ith a
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NEWS 13
Army October 14, 2010
Salute to fallen trooper
By Antony Underwood
JUDGES of the inaugural Army
Facebook Poetry Competition have
unanimously selected a poem saluting
fallen SASR soldier Tpr Jason Brown.
Final journey: Tpr Jason Brown (above left) is carried from the church after his funeral by his warrior
brothers from the SASR.
Main photo by PO Damian Pawlenko
INAUGURAL POETRY COMPETITION WINNER: A LIFE CUT SHORT
Well versed: Melissa Wood.
Mrs Wood believed calling for the
soldiers to be brought home was disrespectful to all soldiers, but in particular
to the memories of those we have lost.
“I'm not saying everyone has to agree
with what is happening but they should
maybe educate themselves about the military, and what it is exactly that is happening, before they disagree,” she said.
“Should they still disagree then do it
respectfully.”
She realised that the men and women
who served were not just soldiers but
real people with families and they had
lives outside of the Army.
“They just chose a career to help
make a difference in the world, no matter
how small, and so that we can continue
to live the privileged lives that we do
here in Australia,” she said.
Mrs Wood wins an Army memorabilia gift pack and her poem has been
posted on the Army Facebook page to be
read by the 60,000 people who regularly
follow Army activities on the page.
A childhood dream is realised
As he signs on the dotted line
To serve his country with honour
To protect what’s yours and mine
He fights for your right to freedom
He fights for your right to speak
Loyalty, courage and sacrifice
To a soldier is not unique
He doesn’t ask for thanks
He’s not interested in praise
What he does deserve is your respect
For the selflessness of his ways
There are countries full of people
Who can’t rest easily at night
They’re not strong enough to protect
themselves
They need our help to fight
So the call to arms is made
To the warriors of our land
All the training he has worked at
He’ll now experience firsthand
Weeks and months go by
He begins to fulfil his dreams
Of fighting against the Taliban
And terrorist regimes
Not every mission goes to plan,
Sad news is on its way.
He has made the ultimate sacrifice
We will never forget this day
Though this tragedy has happened
And our soldier’s life is lost
Don’t disrespect his memory
With protests of the cost
The bravest of the brave
He swore to protect and defend
Chose to do what many wouldn’t
To fight until the end
An amazing friend, protective brother
A deeply beloved son
Rest in peace brave soldier
Your duty is now done
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Army spouse Melissa Wood originally wrote the poem, titled A Life Cut
Short, for a university assignment.
Her submission was selected from 25
entries received during the month-long
competition.
The poignant poem was penned
about Tpr Brown, a friend of Melissa’s
husband, Sgt Steven Wood.
Tpr Brown died from gunshot
wounds in an engagement with insurgents in Afghanistan on August 13.
“Jason and Steven joined the Army
together in 2001, went through training
together at Singleton, and then posted to
1RAR together,” Mrs Wood said.
She explained that the poem was
written for an assignment for her multimedia class in a degree course in photography at Charles Sturt University.
“I had to make a one-minute video,
with the theme cut,” she said.
“Every opportunity I have had I have
done my assignments with an Army
theme.
“On the way home from Brownie's
funeral I decided to make the movie
about him, called A Life Cut Short.
“I wrote the poem specifically about
Brownie but also with my own personal
feelings towards our soldiers and what
they do, and the frustrations that I feel
towards people who start ranting about
bringing our soldiers home when one
is lost.
“Do they not realise that our soldiers, especially the infantry and special
forces soldiers, join the Army because
they want to do the job of protecting our
country and, should the need arise, the
country of others who are unable to do it
themselves?
“How would they feel if someone
told them they are not allowed to do the
job that they want?”
She said telling soldiers they could not
go to war was like telling concert pianists
they were not allowed to play the piano.
14 WORLD NEWS
Army October 14, 2010
Our soldiers in middle
Twenty-five Australians serving in one of the world’s
most volatile regions are making vital contributions
to a long-running peacekeeping mission.
He said threat levels and operational
tempo could change quickly.
“It can go from being relatively benign
to a high-tempo war-fighting environment in
a matter of hours,” he said.
Running from the northern tip of the
“The main risks are from terrorists treatSinai, extending to its most southern point,
ing us as opportune targets working in the
runs a man-made fence.
area trying to enter Israel.”
This is essentially a line drawn in the
The MFO also has to deal with illegal
sand indicating the international border
activities such as smuggling of weapons,
between two historically hostile nations,
people and drugs brought in to support the
Israel and Egypt.
Palestinian people.
This is the environment, 12km southThe MFO consists of two main camps,
west of Gaza, where 25 Australian solNorth and South, with a number of small
diers provide crucial support to Operation
remote observation and administration sites.
Mazurka.
North Camp is 10 minutes south of
This little-known peacekeeping operaAl Gorah and 40 minutes south-east of El
tion based in Egypt’s east was originally
Arish. South Camp is located five minutes
intended as a UN operation. However, an
from Sharm El Sheikh on the southern point
impasse in the UN Security Council saw
Egypt, Israel and the US negotiate their own of the Sinai Peninsula.
“What the MFO does greatly enhances
peacekeeping organisation.
the Middle East peace process,” Lt-Col
In 1981 the Protocol to the Treaty
Hampson said.
of Peace was signed to establish the
“Israel and Egypt are both happy the
Multinational Force and Observers (MFO).
Working with 11 nations, the Australian MFO is doing its job because they don’t
contingent is small but it makes a significant need to be concerned about major conflict
between them.
contribution.
“One day I can go across the border to
The Commander of Australia’s contalk to the Israelis about their security issues
tribution, Lt-Col Ian Hampson, said the
and the next I can be in Egypt discussing
Australians lived and worked at the Sinai
theirs. It’s the MFO who’s in the middle of
North Camp headquarters. They performed
it all.”
key roles in operations, security, communiThe organisation is bound by the Treaty
cations and logistics. The camp commandant is an Australian major.
of Peace.
THE Sinai is a seemingly endless, arid
and isolated desert. It’s a volatile landscape, swamped by cultural, political and
ideological conflict.
Border watch: Duty investigators Capt Craig Richardson and WO1 Jim Armstrong verify a potential
violation on the Israeli–Egyptian border.
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WORLD NEWS 15
Army October 14, 2010
of two former enemies
OPERATION
AT A GLANCE
OUR MAIN JOBS AT SINAI CAMP
DUTY INVESTIGATOR: A critical
job assumed by Australians on
a rotational basis is that of duty
investigator. All warrant officers
and officers are expected to fulfil
the responsibility. Duty investigators verify suspected breaches of
the treaty by Israel or Egypt. They
are required to brief a Cabinet of
key MFO personnel on their findings. If the Cabinet agrees that a
significant incident or breach of
the Treaty of Peace has occurred
it is reported to MFO HQ in Rome
for further resolution with Israel
or Egypt.
Op Mazurka is a sixmonth deployment for most
Australian personnel.
The contingent commander
and the North Camp commandant are deployed for 12
months.
Australia was one of the
original contributing nations
to the Multinational Force and
Observers. Australia and New
Zealand contributed the force’s
Rotary Wing Aviation Unit
from March 1982 until April
1986.
Australia renewed its commitment to the MFO in January
1993, with an Army contingent
of 25 personnel.
For more information on the
Australian MFO contingent and
the MFO visit http://www.mfo.
org/contingents-Australia.php
The peacekeeping force does not
act as a buffer between combatants nor
does it exist to uphold an interim truce
arrangement.
Rather, it works closely with Egypt
and Israel to support a permanent peace
that they had already struggled together
to forge and maintain.
The desire for peace on the part of
the former enemies, combined with the
effectiveness of the MFO, has resulted
in a durable and lasting state of peace
between the two nations.
Op Mazurka continues the proud tradition of Australian soldiers serving in
the region.
In World War I, Australian units
played key roles in the defence of the
Suez Canal and allied conquest of the
Sinai, advancing into Palestine and capturing Gaza and Jerusalem in 1917. In
World War II, diggers returned to tread
the same land, where they proved themselves at El Alamein in 1942.
As a large organisation, the MFO
employs local citizens. One of the principal functions of the Australian security
sergeant is checking these employees as
they arrive at camp.
This is challenging because of the
SECURITY SERGEANT: The primary role of the security sergeant is
controlling and administering the
Colombian soldiers who provide
physical security in North Camp.
The role is undertaken by four
Australian infantry sergeants who
operate on a continual 12-hour
shift system. They train the
Colombians in their operational
roles. They are also responsible
for responding to any security incident within North Camp.
Another principal function is
checking locally employed citizens
as they arrive for work.
Multinational mission: Sgt
Peter Mitchell briefs Colombian
soldiers on their base security role
at North Camp, which provides
facilities for the operational and
logistical needs of the MFO
(above). Members of the Australian
contingent pose for a group
photograph (right).
language barrier and the large number
that have to be processed in a timely
manner each day.
In conjunction with this is the vital
relationship that is maintained with the
MFO Force Protection and Security
Cell, which ensures an adequate level of
force protection is implemented for all
MFO personnel.
Op Mazurka is just one of several
examples throughout the world where
Australian soldiers are performing a
mission that is difficult, often repetitive
and marked by the sacrifice of home
comforts and family.
Unlike other missions, it offers
soldiers a rare opportunity to actively
contribute and bear witness to the collaboration, discipline and commitment
required to maintain peace.
Australian infantry wearing
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4th Division at Garter Point
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WORLD NEWS 17
Army October 14, 2010
Breaking
down the
barriers
By Cpl Zenith King
ADF linguists are working hard in
Pakistan to ensure the smooth running
of operations and the development of
relations with the Pakistan military and
local nationals.
Bedside help: WO2 Mohinder Singh, HQ Forcomd, talks to a family with a sick child at the Camp
Cockatoo Health Centre in Pakistan.
Photo by PO Damian Pawlenko
Two dedicated linguists and two multilingual ADF members performing the
role as their secondary duty are deployed
on Operation Pakistan Assist II.
WO2 Mohinder Singh, HQ Forcomd,
has been providing linguistic support to
the ADF for the past few years and, as
a result, was selected to deploy on this
operation.
“The language spoken in Pakistan is
mainly Saraki which is a combination of
Urdu and Punjabi,” WO2 Singh said.
“Punjabi is my native language and
Urdu is something I have learned.”
During his deployment WO2 Singh
communicates daily with local staff, and
translates in the medical facility and with
the Pakistan military.
“I am the face between the Australians
and the Pakistanis,” he said.
“I feel like an important cog in the
chain and really appreciate the difference
we are making to the lives of the people.”
WO2 Singh said seeing happy
patients made him feel special.
“When you listen to people’s plight
and see how they are clutching at straws
to survive, it really puts things into perspective.”
Pte Rasender Zeddy Bairu, 6Avn
Regt, also grew up in India and speaks
Urdu fluently.
“The locals are very happy to talk to
us and when they come across Australians
who speak Urdu they are really happy,”
Pte Bairu said.
“There are other dialects as well but
they are very similar, if you listen closely
you can pick up what they are saying
quite easily.”
Pte Bairu said he was enjoying his
time in Pakistan and was grateful for the
opportunity to help.
“I wanted to help the people and see
how they are recovering from the floods.”
Op Pakistan Assist II is the ADF’s
contribution to the government mission to
provide aid in response to the devastating
floods that occurred in Pakistan in July.
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20 WORLD NEWS
Army October 14, 2010
Cricket
lesson for
Aussies
By Cpl Zenith King
TWO great cricketing nations took
part in a backyard cricket match at Kot
Addu in Pakistan last month.
ond cricket match and said it was a great
experience.
“Playing against the Pakistan military
was brilliant.
“It was a good way to relax and interact with each other away from our normal
work environment,” he said
Air Force chaplain Wg-Cmdr Mark
Willis organised the event and said it had
been on the cards since AMTF deployed
in August.
“Ever since we got here there has been
a lot of interest from the Pakistan military
to have a game of cricket,” Wg-Cmdr
Willis said.
“It was something that the guys at
Camp Cockatoo were keen to do as well.
“We had a big response and ended up
with two teams and 22 players.”
Wg-Cmdr Willis said the match
allowed deployed personnel to do something a little different.
“We are doing it pretty tough out here.
We are working with people who are sick
and not doing so well and that can get
people down. This was a way to lift their
spirits.”
Spr Sola said he was not concerned
about losing. “Regardless of the result I
felt like we won anyway.”
About 20 Australian personnel
deployed on Operation Pakistan Assist
II were given a lesson in cricket by
the Pakistan military when it beat the
Australian Medical Task Force (AMTF)
2-0 in their first competitive match on
September 25.
Pakistan batted first and made 79 runs
off eight overs with a loss of four wickets.
Australia battled it out in an attempt to
take the lead but fell short in only making
71 runs.
Spr Branko Sola, 2CER, said although
it was a close first match, it took a while
to understand the rules.
“The first match was a little confusing because we didn’t establish the rules
before we started,” Spr Sola said.
“By the second one we knew what
was going on and did everything we
could to try and even the score.”
There were more than 40 spectators by the second match, eager to see if
Australia could level the playing field.
But after only 30 minutes, Pakistan
took the lead winning by two overs and
five runs.
Results: A 5/71 off eight overs; P 4/79 off eight
Spr Sola, 2CER, played in the sec- overs; A 3/59 off seven overs; P 5/64 off five overs
Spinning out: Spr Mick Gardener shows
his style with the ball (above).
Photo by Cpl Zenith King
Well played: Col Salman Rafique of
the Pakistan Army shakes hands with
Wg-Cmdr Ross Wadsworth, Commander
JTF 636, at the end of the match (left).
Photo by PO Damian Pawlenko
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WORLD NEWS 21
Army October 14, 2010
Put it on the slab
By Maj John McPherson
SOLDIERS in Afghanistan are
about to get new “digs” with
construction beginning on hardened accommodation facilities at
Multinational Base Tarin Kot.
Teamwork: The four members of the Joint Movers Coordination Centre Team
– Cpl Josh Hampson, WO2 Jamie Montgomery, Sgt Angie Jennison and SqnLdr Dean Bruce.
Photo by PO Damian Pawlenko
Keeping
aid effort
on move
By Cpl Zenith King
FOUR logistics personnel are
deployed to Pakistan to provide movement support to Operation Pakistan
Assist II.
The team includes three movers and
a logistics officer.
They have been coordinating the
entire movement of personnel and cargo
from Multan to Kot Addu and back as
well as from the MEAO and Australia.
Logistics officer Sqn-Ldr Dean
Bruce, 381 ECSS, deployed on Op
Pakistan Assist II as part of the advance
party.
“Our responsibility was to coordinate
the movement of stores and personnel
coming into the APOD at Multan airbase
and the Kot Addu area,” Sqn-Ldr Bruce
said.
“We came with a mobile air-load
team who were responsible for the loading and unloading of aircraft.
“It worked well because the UAE
and Japanese came here with no capabil-
ity to unload, so our team were heavily
involved in unloading their aircraft.”
Mover Cpl Josh Hampson, JMCC,
said the team worked closely with the
UAE Air Force, the Japanese Ground
Self Defence Force and the Pakistan
military to ensure personnel and cargo
were transported efficiently throughout
the region.
“The Japanese and the UAE Air
Force were more than happy to work
with us and are extremely willing to
move us around,” Cpl Hampson said.
He said he had found it easy working
with other nations and was enjoying the
opportunity to work with the Japanese
again.
“I worked with the Japanese in Iraq
with their C-130 and this time I get to
work with their rotary wing. It’s always
a pleasure to work with them as they are
easy to get along with and are always
willing to help us.”
The team will continue to provide
logistics support through Multan.
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The concrete buildings will
provide more than 1350 additional
hardened bed spaces for Australian
personnel and will include two chalets of German-designed Drehtainer
modular accommodation.
They will offer greater protection from insurgent indirect rocket
attacks.
The buildings are expected to be
completed by April 2011.
Maj Glen Billington, Senior
P r o j e c t E n g i n e e r, P r o j e c t
Management Team – Afghanistan
(which delivers all major construction works for Australian elements),
said the US$42-million project was
coming together smoothly.
“The concrete slabs for the hardened accommodation already are
being poured and we’re receiving
deliveries of the new Drehtainer
modules from Germany,” he said.
Maj Billington said most of the
material required for the hardened
concrete accommodation was manufactured on site.
The Drehtainer modules, which
are similar in outside appearance to
shipping containers, are being delivered using a combination of road
and air freight.
“Site construction will be undertaken by contractors and RAAF and
Good foundation: Concrete is poured for the new reinforced
accommodation buildings at Multinational Base Tarin Kot.
Photo by Maj John McPherson
Army tradesmen,” Maj Billington
said.
Other projects under way,
or in the planning stages, include
upgraded base services, a replacement kitchen and additional logistic
facilities. There was also a multitude
of minor works to provide immedi-
ate infrastructure solutions for the
respective bases.
The projects are in addition to
the recently completed new Force
Communications building.
Sqn-Ldr Danny Cusack and
WO2 Brendan Johnson are supervising the accommodation projects.
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22 CENTREPIECE
23
Army October 14, 2010
Bird’s eye view: A Chinook flies past the firepower demonstration during 3 Bde’s combined arms training activity at the Townsville Field Training Area.
On the move: Pte Joshua Phillips, 2RAR, provides cover for a simulated casualty.
Lookout: Members of Combat Team Bravo 2RAR man their defensive position.
Bombs away: Bombs from a RAAF Hornet hit the target in a fire power demonstration
(above) as Gnr Leigh Farrow, 4 Fd Regt, checks the dial sight of the 105mm Howitzer at
the fire power demonstration (below).
Firepower capabilities were on display as units from 3 Bde took to Townsville Field Training Area for
a combined arms training activity.
On target: Pte Leigh Beazley, 2RAR, mans his .50cal heavy machine gun.
Photos and report: LCpl Mark Doran
A
CONCENTRATION of 3 Bde units with with logistics. For our reset and reintegration year as a
supporting Army and RAAF elements brigade following operational commitments last year –
conducted adaptive campaign training at we are now ready to go on Exercise Hamel.”
the Townsville Field Training Area from Firepower demonstration
August 29 to September 21.
Some of the Army’s most advanced weapon sysThe aim of the Combined Arms Training Activity
(CATA 10) was to practise the planning and execution
of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in preparation for contingency operations and Exercise Hamel.
Highlights of the exercise included an airborne
insertion by 3RAR, live-fire assaults by combat teams
from 2RAR and 3RAR and a firepower demonstration
using all assets available to the brigade.
CO 3RAR Lt-Col Trent Scott said CATA 10 was
an excellent opportunity for Battle Group Kapyong
to confirm their collective training skills in blank and
live-fire exercise scenarios.
“The live-fire component of the combined-arms
activity was outstanding and fully tested all of the soldiers in their ability to command, control and execute
combined arms on the battlefield,” Lt-Col Scott said.
“It was challenging and raised the standards of the
battle group.”
Comd 3 Bde Brig Stuart Smith said CATA 10 was
a challenging and complex exercise, which took all of
the brigade’s soldiers across the different lines of adaptive campaigning.
“They had to deal with the protection and support
of a civilian population and then move to joint land
combat against an aggressive and adaptable threat
force,” Brig Smith said.
“I am also particularly grateful for the assistance
we received from other parts of the ADF.
“The RAAF provided close-air support and strategic lift and 5 Avn Regt provided us with vital helicopter support for the exercise, and all of our training was
underwritten by support from 17CSS Bde who assisted
tems were displayed in a firepower demonstration during the activity.
A combined-arms battle group engaged targets by
day and night with mortars, artillery, cavalry, helicopters and RAAF fighter aircraft at the Townsville Field
Training Area on September 9.
Combat Team Bravo 2RAR manned the defensive
position for the display and was supported by B Sqn
3/4 Cav Regt in protected mobility vehicles.
Brig Smith said the soldiers demonstrated the
weapons to paint a picture of the way battles may be
fought.
“Combined arms is about mutual support – air
supporting ground forces, aviation supporting combat
forces and armour, cavalry and artillery combining
with infantry to fight the land battle,” Brig Smith said.
“All this is underpinned by a strong combat services
support element, in particular, to preserve our force
with casualty evacuation.
“There is one lesson that I would like the soldiers to
take back and that is the lesson of mutual support.”
Artillery support was provided by 4 Fd Regt and a
Chinook from 5 Avn Regt was used to display rotary
wing capabilities.
Javelin missiles successfully destroyed targets more
than 2km away and one was fired as night fell, which
gave a spectacular display of light and sound when
combined with the effects from tracer rounds and illumination.
LCpl Dirk Thompson, Combat Team Bravo, said
the company had been working closely with engineers
from 3CER as well as gunners from 4 Fd Regt.
“We also incorporated our support elements of mortars and direct-fire support weapons including MAG58 machine guns and .50cal heavy machine-guns,”
LCpl Thompson said.
“This exercise also helped bring junior soldiers up
to speed for fighting in places like Afghanistan.”
Combat team live-fire activity
Critical to training was participation in a micro
combat team live-fire activity.
Platoons were expanded to an almost 80-man
organisation that included a recon patrol, a surveillance
detachment and up to two sniper pairs.
Also added was a DFSW section in the .50cal
machine-gun role, an organic assault pioneer team, a
mortar section and an artillery troop.
Attached to each platoon headquarters was a jointfires officer, a mortar-fire controller, a gun-fire controller, advanced medical assistance and a role-playing
interpreter.
Maj Ben McLennan, 2RAR, said the aim of the
activity was to enable the rifle platoons to achieve a
key training step in preparation for Exercise Hamel and
establish the foundation for follow-on combat-team
live-fire training.
“This activity demonstrated the enhanced lethality, responsiveness and flexibility of the micro combat
team in close combat on a complex objective,” Maj
McLennan said.
“It also validated the relevance of the assault pioneer capability within infantry battalions in the execution of urban explosive breaching and the destruction
of caches.”
The village style objective was constructed by pioneers from 2RAR with buildings made of mud and
straw, and old cars were used as targets to increase the
realism of the training.
Fireworks: The sky comes to life during night firing at 3 Bde’s combined arms training activity at the Townsville Field Training Area.
24 LETTERS AND VIEWPOINTS
Key site
helps us
retain
an edge
RSM-A’s FAQs
Q: What are we doing
about knowledge management and the lessons
we are learning from
current operations?
A: Success in battle is
largely dependent on an
army’s ability to learn,
adapt and act faster than
its adversary.
The Australian
Army’s adversaries will
be smart and adaptive;
recent experiences in the
MEAO testify to this.
However, through effectively managing what it
knows and understands,
the Army has the ability
to learn the lessons of the
day and apply them to
retain its edge on the contemporary battlefield.
As Army heads down
the path to a more flexible, adaptable and continuous learning culture,
the role of knowledge and
its management becomes
crucial. The ability of
the Army to get the most
from the technology and
information available will
assist all commanders to
succeed in combat.
Superiority in the battle space is as much about
the transfer and flow of
knowledge and expertise
as any weapons platform.
At its simplest level,
knowledge management
is about getting the right
information to the right
people at the right time.
Knowledge management
helps personnel to create and share knowledge
and act in ways that will
measurably improve individual and organisational
learning, thus improving
performance.
To help with knowledge management, iArmy
has been developed.
iArmy is a key initiative in Adaptive Army's
plans to better manage its
knowledge.
It is a single point
of entry to Army's key
sources of information
and knowledge and enables the user to locate
specific information
through smart searches.
iArmy is a work in progress. Its current links
and searches are restricted to doctrine, lessons,
e-learning, training videos and the Army wiki, but
this will change as new
features and databases
are brought online.
Forums and digital
images will be incorporated as iArmy grows.
The site aims to facilitate
the free flow of knowledge within Army.
iArmy can be found at http://
teamweb/sites/ahq/mspdivision/doctrine/default.aspx
Army October 14, 2010
Class action sought
WHILE flicking through Army, I saw
the advertisement calling for privates,
lance corporals or corporals who
wish to take their career in a new
direction and apply for officer training at RMC Duntroon.
Having considered this option on
and off during my time in service, and
reached the rank of corporal, I am left
with a question that no-one has been
able to answer.
Why are soldiers unable to submit
RPL and commence officer training at
the beginning of second class given the
qualifications and experience they have
gained during their career?
For example, completing Subject 2
for infantry operations qualifies infantrymen to lead and conduct sectionlevel operations.
From what I am told this is the same
level of operations achieved during the
first six months in third class. Contrary
to this, a graduate from ADFA, after
three years in the Army in a university
environment, commences training at
RMC at second class.
What experience, qualifications or
competencies do they achieve in three
years at ADFA compared to nine years
in the infantry with three operational
deployments, reaching the rank of corporal and even being employed as a
recruit instructor?
Is it that I have not made the transition to adulthood during the three-year
program, or made the lifelong friends in
other services that Commandant ADFA
used as some of the reasons we keep
ADFA open, Army August 5?
The Army requires high-quality
officers and there is no better way of
finding them than within the ranks we
already have. The experience they have
is invaluable.
However, the biggest turnoff to
going through RMC for an alreadyserving soldier is the prospect of being
treated like a recruit coming in off the
street and having your previous experience thrown aside and disregarded.
Is there any chance of the current
process being changed so ex-serving
soldiers and corporals can start their
officer training at RMC at the same
stage as ADFA officer cadets?
Cpl Damien Roberts
1RTB
Kapooka, NSW
Brig Michael Moon, Commandant RMC,
responds:
OUR Army has a very proud record
of soldiers undertaking officer training, all of whom (to my knowledge)
have undertaken the full course of
their respective training institution.
I will outline why we take soldiers
into the junior class (III Class) at
Duntroon and not II Class.
The good
oil on our
fuel cards
AS THE Director JFLA, I am responsible for delivering fuel-card services
to Defence.
Full of cheer: RMC cadets celebrate their graduation.
RMC is an intensive, albeit
18-month, training course. Having
serving soldiers in III Class better enables the training take up of the civilian
entrants.
The knowledge and experience of
the serving soldier is transferred, informally, within the section and across the
class to produce a better standard of
cadet in a shorter period of time.
The capacity for the serving soldier to lead, mentor, guide and develop
civilian entrants cannot be underestimated.
Many a direct-entry officer would
owe their successful completion of
officer training to the example or wise
words of an ex-serving soldier in their
section or platoon early in their training.
The establishment in a peer group is
essential for success at RMC. Coming
into a class that is already formed after
six months of intensive training resulting in substantial small-team and peergroup development is very difficult and
puts the new class member at a distinct
disadvantage.
The class is also standardised in its
training. This is important as the college teaches doctrine and not the TTP
that one serving soldier may have and
another not.
Also, many soldiers have been out
of formal training and education environments for a long period of time.
The first six months at RMC assists in
returning to that environment before the
much more demanding II Class period
of instruction commences.
Another important reason is that the
college does not just teach individual
and section skills in the first six months.
A range of other subjects are
introduced in III Class that continue
throughout officer training as well as
inculcating the junior class into the college’s routine, requirements and ethos.
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In terms of the academy cadets, during their three years at ADFA the Army
cadets are provided their single-service
training (SST) by RMC.
They achieve the equivalent of the
first six months, albeit in blocks, using
the RMC curriculum. The final III Class
exercise is combined with ADFA SST
in mixed sections to integrate the two
groups for the start of II Class.
Bringing soldiers into III Class
RMC is not a sign of disregard for their
service, qualifications and skills. In
fact, it is just the opposite.
We rely upon that experience to
achieve the training standards this college is renowned for across the world.
Nor is it a rehash of recruit training.
A number of 1RTB instructors that
have assisted the college in recent years
have commented to me that while they
expected it to be like Kapooka, RMC
was in fact different.
For those that are considering
a long-term career as an officer, six
months in III Class is a sound investment.
If Cpl Roberts remains interested
then I would encourage him to submit
an application. I would encourage him
to speak to a recent graduate or the
SNCO or WO staff here at the college
should he require more advice on soldiers training at RMC.
I noted an article in Army (September
16, page 9) that contained inaccurate
information.
This information has led to a number
of calls from Army units concerned that
the policy/process issue identified in the
article would result in extra work at the
unit level.
This is not the case as the reported
facts are incorrect. The points of clarification are as follows:
1. The unit CO has total control of
how many cards are issued per vehicle.
JFLA neither directs nor advocates that
each vehicle has four fuel cards.
2. Fuel cards are cancelled after six
months of inactivity and not the one
month identified in the article (note this
is being increased to 12 months).
3. The average time taken to replace
fuel cards is 10 days.
JFLA has been working with the
services over the past 12 months on the
development of detailed policy and procedural instructions.
The services endorsed the final version of these documents on September
22 with an effective date of October 30,
2010.
A Defgram on the new policy will be
released by the end of September.
More information relating to fuel
cards can be found on the JFLA site at
http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dmoweb/
sites/JFLA.
Capt Steven Sparks (RAN)
DJFLA
Sydney, NSW
HAVE YOUR SAY
■ Letters under 300 words are preferred.
■ All letter writers must include their name,
unit, location and contact number for verification.
■ Email letters to armynews@defencenews.
gov.au
TRAINING 25
Army October 14, 2010
Bombs away with mortars
By AB Melanie Schinkel
THE CONVERSION from 105mm M2A2 guns to
the 81mm mortar system for 2 Div units is well under
way with a number of soldiers undertaking a mortar
operator course in Western Australia.
Sixteen soldiers from 7 Fd Bty, 16 Fd Bty and 48 Fd
Bty completed the nine-day course that culminated with
a live-fire mortar activity at Lancelin Defence Training
Area on September 5.
Bty Commander 7 Fd Bty Maj Steve Mathers said it
was 7 Fd Bty’s first live-fire activity since firing 105mm
M2A2 howitzers in June last year, and the first time an
ARes artillery unit had fired mortars in WA.
“Live firing always gets a gunner’s blood boiling,
so I think the soldiers were grateful for the opportunity
because they hadn’t fired for some time,” Maj Mathers
said.
“We set up the mortar base plate position and fired
Saturday afternoon until all the trainees were qualified.
“In order to meet capability requirements, we need to
convert the entire battery to mortars by mid-2011.”
Comd Forcomd Maj-Gen David Morrison directed
the conversion in 2009 to maintain an indirect-fire capability within the ARes by providing a skills base for the
training of high readiness reserve joint fires teams.
Maj Mathers said the course taught soldiers how to
bring a mortar into action and handle ammunition, as
well as how to fire and maintain the weapon.
“We also need to qualify a number of personnel as
command post operators and mortar line commanders so
they can supervise the mortar line – this process is ongoing,” he said.
“Initially, some gunners were hesitant about leaving
their guns because they thought the mortar was a bit of
a ‘pop-gun’, but during the live-fire activity they were
impressed with its capability.”
Range safety and the careful carriage of ammunition
were particularly important during the activity.
“Normally, if the drills are carried out correctly there
are no problems,” Maj Mathers said.
“It’s all about doing your job accurately and operating safely as a three-man team.”
Lift-off: Gnr Mathew Carter, left, and Bdr Tim
Knappstein fire the 81mm mortar at Lancelin Defnce
Training Area (above) as 2 Div soldiers take cover
after firing the mortar during training (inset).
Photos by Sgt Tracy Tillman
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TRAINING 27
Army October 14, 2010
800 new grunts on agenda
By AB Melanie Schinkel
IN RESPONSE to the Infantry 2012
capability review, changes have
been implemented to the infantry
IET course that will instruct, mentor
and develop more than 800 rifleman
trainees this financial year.
The 13-week Regimental Infantry
Operations Platoon Course (RIOPC)
at Singleton has undergone substantial
modifications since October last year.
OC Rifleman Wing School of Inf
Maj Jeff Frisby said the RIOPC was
Army’s foundation training for infantrymen.
He said the course had transitioned
from its previous structures to adhere
to the infantry-battalion modernisation plan and align with evolving tactics, techniques and procedures.
“The course concentrates on foundation war-fighting skills trainees
need in an infantry battalion going to
war,” Maj Frisby said.
Training reflects the new rifle section from nine to eight soldiers in two
teams of four.
A separate manoeuvre-support
section comprises three teams of four
soldiers.
Twenty-five courses have been
completed since the alterations were
made and a further six are under way.
He said the revised RIOPC had
also reintroduced training on the
Mag 58 7.62mm machine gun, which
hadn’t been taught at the School of Inf
for about 15 years.
“All soldiers will now leave this
course qualified on the GSMG Mag
58 and 84mm MDFSW weapons,” he
said. “To my knowledge the 84mm
MDFSW has never been taught on
this course before.
“We had to rely on the knowledge
of senior soldiers to teach our instructors how to train their soldiers on
these crew-served weapons systems.”
During the RIOPC, trainees learn
the fundamentals including navigation
in a rural environment, maintaining
battle readiness, platoon and section
patrolling and contact drills, offensive and defensive operations, weapon
handling and fire and movement.
“Input from the section commanders on training is highly valued
because they provide information
about the contemporary operating
environment based on their experiences within a battalion,” Maj Frisby
said.
“So, while we teach doctrine, our
section commanders also incorporate
their real-life experiences into the lessons.”
He said the RIOPC was one of
the harder IET courses in the Army
because it was mentally and physically
demanding on trainees.
“Each soldier marches out of
here qualified on every weapon system they may encounter during their
career in a rifle platoon,” he said.
“They also leave as exponents of
military self-defence and qualified in
basic combat communications, which
hasn’t occurred in the past.
“This course produces robust,
well-trained soldiers, who are prepared to undertake their responsibilities and duties within an infantry battalion.”
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L plates: Infantry IETs learn their trade at Singleton.
Photo by AB Melanie Schinkel
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28 TRAINING
Army October 14, 2010
New data system a blast
By Sgt Andrew Hetherington
GUNNERS from 8/12 Mdm Regt
trialled a new joint fire-control and
battlespace management system during Ex Predators Run in July.
More than 150 personnel from 8/12
Mdm Regt deployed to the Mount
Bundey Training Area on July 19 to
qualify soldiers on the 155mm M198
howitzer and JNCOs as detachment
commanders.
For the first five days of the exercise a dry-fire period was conducted, designed to teach the basics at
detachment and command post (CP)
level and concluded with full battery
deployments and movements.
Personnel also trialled the new
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data
System (AFATDS) for the first time.
Gun Position Officer (GPO) 101
Mdm Bty Lt Matthew Seabrook said
CP staff and other personnel worked
with AFATDS field support representative Bill Rundell from Raytheon to
develop mission procedures for the
new system.
“They focused on using the system in the CP, regimental and observer
roles and it was used for the first time
during a live-fire mission on July 24,”
Lt Seabrook said.
“AFATDS was used in the battery
CP to engage the targets given by the
regimental command post.
“Then, after the target was accepted, the information was sent to the
guns.”
The new system cuts several minutes off the current method of tasking
artillery, which is highly dependent on
voice commands over radio networks.
AFATDS is fully digitised and
under ideal conditions will be able to
provide firing solutions to gun detachments in less than two minutes from
the time the forward observer inputs
target information.
It will also give commanders at
all levels situational awareness of the
battlespace, providing the location of
friendly and enemy forces on digitised
maps from systems such as blue-force
tracker.
Gnr Ryan Harden, an artillery command systems operator at 101 Mdm
Bty, used AFATDS during the exercise.
“Working out of a Bushmaster I
used the system to orientate the guns,”
Gnr Harden said.
“With help from the GPO I gave
firing data to the detachments so they
could get rounds onto their targets.”
Gnr Harden said AFATDS was a lot
more than just a gunnery computer.
“It has interoperability with other
systems, giving us a greater situational awareness [of the battle field],” he
said.
“It’s easier to use and more
advanced than the indirect fire-control
computer [currently in service], as
you can input weather and weapons
data, can see the status of units on the
battlefield and can also control their
movements.”
CO 8/12 Mdm Regt Lt-Col Neil
Sweeney said one of the key lessons
to come out of the exercise was the
importance of soldiers, such as Gnr
Harden, working in the new ECN 254
artillery command systems operator
stream.
“Operators performed to a very
high standard and contributed to
the success of the exercise,” Lt-Col
Sweeney said.
“With AFATDS there’s a lot of
capability within it we still don’t know
about, which we will learn how to use
effectively mostly by using the system
in our training and exercises.
“Work done inside the unit, particularly by our junior officers and
soldiers, has been excellent and positioned the RAA well for introduction
into service of Land 17 capabilities
and our networked future.”
As a part of the Land 17 artillery
modernisation project, AFATDS will
be fully introduced into service at 8/12
Mdm Regt and other gun regiments
from next year.
As the RAA starts to receive its
new M777 lightweight 155mm howitzers, Army will move closer to achieving a fully digitised joint fire support
and coordination system for the complex battlespace of the future.
WHAT IS
AFATDS?
AFATDS is an automated
fire support command and
control (C2) system and was
specially designed for digital
communications in order to
minimise fratricide and allow
seamless dynamic joint firing
of many different weapons
systems
It’s capable of operating
with 70 military systems
including command and
control, sensors, counterfire radars, observers, meteorological, artillery howitzers, rockets and missiles,
mortar-fire control, blueforce tracking, intelligence,
naval-fire control, air force
planning and coalition-fire
control, coordination and
targeting systems.
It can be used for many
purposes including battlespace planning and situational awareness, battlespace management, joint
fire planning and tactical and
technical target analysis.
It has the ability to
process hundreds of fire
support requests per hour
for engagement by multiple
firing units and or joint-fire
support platforms.
- source DMO
Fired up: Gunners let rip with the big guns (above) as Gnr Ryan Harden, 101 Mdm
Bty, computes the fire mission on an AFATDS terminal with Lt Matthew Seabrook
checking the map within the Bushmaster PMV command post.
Photos by Gnr Shane Bowden.
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TRAINING 29
Army October 14, 2010
Medics hit
mark with
casualties
On the lookout: Pte Leah Mossman, 13CSSB, handles the F89 Minimi during 13 Bde’s recent
command-post exercise.
13 Bde takes to the battlefield
By Maj John Liston
REALISTIC feedback of mission
planning was one of the major
benefits for participants during
the recent 13 Bde command-post
exercise (CPX).
Battle care: Cpl Matt Anderson, 3CER, is readied for evacuation under fire by
medic Cpl Adam Santucc, 2RAR, and infantry section commander Cpl Josh
Rayward, 1RAR.
Photo by Maj Al Green
By Maj Al Green
CASUALTIES needed resuscitation
and evacuation drills were performed
as part of 3CSSB’s care of the battle
casualty exercise at Lavarack Barracks
from August 16-20.
Medics and infantrymen from 3 Bde
took part in realistic scenario-based
training with simulated casualties for Ex
Duffy Warrior.
In the training scenarios, infantry fire
teams with the support of attached medics were engaged by enemy and the medics provided treatment to injured members of the team.
Lt Hollie Cahill, Close Health
Platoon (CHP), said Duffy Warrior started with training for evacuation crews and
resuscitation teams.
“The first two days of the exercise
gave medics valuable face time with several medical officers – a rare opportunity
with the current RAP rhythm,” Lt Cahill
said.
“1RAR soldiers assisted in basic
patrolling and clearance training which
led into care-under-fire scenarios.
“These were real-time scenarios and
placed the medics under extreme pressure in the presence of gunfire, adrenaline and battle noise which all tested the
medics’ instinctive medical and military
training.”
OC Health Coy Maj Elisabeth Barnett
said Duffy Warrior was designed to test
and develop the medical staff of CHP in
the 3 Bde pilot of Close Health Spt Coy.
“The participants were involved in a
week-long package of skills revision and
enhancement with competency assessments,” Maj Barnett said.
‘It was combined with AME familiarisation and communications training and
was a great training activity as a prelude
to CATA and Exercise Hamel.
“The additional support from 1RAR
and 5 Avn Regt increased the training
value and added to a unique experience
“We hope to boost and continue similar training opportunities in the future.”
“You get to see the outcome
of your appreciation and planning
through a wargame,” SO1 Training
Lt-Col Murray Drover said.
The CPX, held during the first
week of the brigade combined-arms
training activity (CATA), practised
the HRR combat team’s planning
and command and control.
Army Simulation Wing (ASW)
provided the feedback through computer-processed results.
Lt-Col Drover said the combat
team and other participants benefitted from the exercise because they
could see how the battle unfolded.
“The simulation proved whether
a plan required modification or was
robust enough to win the fight,” he
said.
The combat team HQ used the
CPX week of the CATA to establish
its procedures and routines, with
particular focus on disseminating
timely information for battle procedures.
They kept the same scenario deploying into phase 2, which
a c c o r d i n g t o L t - C o l D r ove r
enhanced the field training during
the second week near Collie.
“The company headquarters
didn’t have to go through a test and
adjust period because it was already
operating smoothly by the time it
deployed to the field,” he said.
An ASW team travelled from
Puckapunyal to run the simulation
for the CPX.
“The cost of getting the simulation wing over to Perth was
clearly worth the commitment,”
Lt-Col Drover said. “The skills
developed were greatly superior to
those gained from a similar duration tactical exercise without troops
(TEWT).”
He said the realism provided by
the use of simulation allowed the
CPX to become more free-flowing.
“This type of training was unanimously voted as the way of the
future by the brigade’s officers.”
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE
If you have any training stories you would like
to see in Army, send them to the editor by
emailing armynews@defencenews.gov.au or,
for more information, call (02) 6266 7609.
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Are you
relocating over the
coming months?
Some things have changed since you last moved.
Toll
Toll Transitions
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yourrelocation
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requirements including:
requirements including:
s Processing relocation allowances and entitlements.
s Arranging travel and temporary accommodation.
s Arranging removal and storage services.
s Notifying DHA of a Member’s relocation so that they can assist
with Housing.
Handy hints for your upcoming relocation
Do’s
s The sooner you lodge your Pre-AFR and AFR the sooner you will
be able to get the house you want.
s Lodge your Pre-AFR and AFR online
www.tolltransitions.com.au/defence
s Read the Defence Relocation Guide before you complete your AFR.
The guide contains hard copy forms to be completed if you can’t
lodge online.
s Once your AFR is approved you will be given a Case Manager.
s Your Case Manager is there to assist you. Call them if you need advice.
s Advise your Case Manager of any special requirements that may affect
your relocation.
s Provide Toll Transitions with current and alternate contact details throughout
the relocation.
s For general assistance or after hours assistance call our Customer Service
Centre on 1800 819 167.
Don’t
s Wait till the last minute to lodge your Pre-AFR or AFR.
s Get stressed if you are lodging online. Call us if you need assistance.
s Forget to call your Case Managers if you need advice.
s Lodge your AFR in hard copy unless you can’t lodge online. Remember
online lodgement is Defence’s preferred lodgement method.
Remember
Your Case Manager is able to assist with any questions about the relocation
process or contact our Customer Service Centre on 1800 819 167
or visit www.tolltransitions.com.au
www.tolltranstions.com.au
Your key relocation contacts
Australian Capital Territory
Ground Floor, 18-20 Brindabella Circuit
Brindabella Business Park ACT 2609
New South Wales, Sydney
Level 12, 32 Walker St
North Sydney NSW 2060
Queensland, Ipswich
Unit 3, Level 1, 8 Gordon St
Ipswich QLD 4305
Victoria, Melbourne
Level 8, 380 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004
Victoria, Riverina
Level 2, Trotman Building, 111-113 Hume St
Wodonga VIC 3690
New South Wales, Wagga Wagga
Suite B Morrow Court, 12-14 Morrow St
Wagga Wagga 2650
Northern Territory, Darwin
Lot 1, 450 Winnellie Road
Winnellie NT 0820
Queensland, Toowoomba
NQX, Tenancy 6, 1st Floor, 462 Ruthven St
Toowoomba QLD 4350
Victoria, Cerberus
Building 192, Phillip Road
HMAS Cerberus VIC 3920
Western Australia, Fremantle
Level 1, Suite 15, 39 Adelaide St
Fremantle WA 6160
New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Unit 7, 1 Jacaranda Avenue
Raymond Terrace NSW, 2324
Northern Territory, Katherine
Building 255, Newham circ.
RAAF Base Tindal
Queensland, Townsville
Unit 3, 24 Ross River Road
Mundingburra QLD 4812
New South Wales, Nowra
Suite 12, 55-57 Berry St
Nowra NSW 2541
Queensland, Brisbane
Level 6, 369 Ann St
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NQX Building, 74 Lyons St
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41 Evans St
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Toll Transitions: Freecall 1800 819 167
FEATURES 31
Army October 14, 2010
Hamel
on track
By LCpl Mark Doran
MILITARY personnel and units from
across Australia, US marines and the
New Zealand Army have deployed to
Townsville for the build up to Exercise
Hamel 2010.
The exercise will be held in northern
Queensland – Townsville Field Training
Area and the Tully Training Area – from
October 10 to November 11.
Ex Hamel is the first for the newly
created Forcomd and will involve about
87 per cent of the Army and more than
6000 personnel from Army, Navy and Air
Force.
The Navy will conduct beach landings at Cowley Beach as part of the exercise, and Air Force aircraft and personnel
will conduct operations from RAAF Base
Townsville.
Exercise director Brig John Frewen,
Forcomd, said Hamel would be a highly
demanding and realistic training activity that would see 3 Bde well prepared to
face any challenge on the modern, com-
plex battlefield. “This exercise is a vital
one for the Australian Army and in many
ways is an historic event in the way we
prepare troops for combat operations,”
Brig Frewen said.
“It will enhance the Army’s ability
to undertake operations in Australia and
overseas.”
He said it would ensure every soldier
of 3 Bde was as well prepared as they
could be for any future contingencies.
“It represents our commitment to
world-class training and making sure we
stand ready to defend Australia and its
national interests.”
Designed to certify the foundation
war-fighting skills of HQ 3 Bde and
assigned force elements, Ex Hamel will
combine live-fire exercise with support
from the Avn Task Gp and RAAF assets.
It will include the development
of operational capabilities such as
ISTAREW and the role of 6 Bde, the
employment of multi-role aviation combat teams and close health support.
Ready: Troops (above) prepare for the Army’s biggest
exercise of the year.
Prepared: Comd 3 Bde Brig Stuart Smith, left, and
Brig John Frewen, Forcomd (inset) oversee the build
up to Ex Hamel at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville.
Photos by LCpl Mark Doran
Defence Housing
Australia – your
housing solution.
DHA was established in 1988
with the aim of improving
the quality and selection of
housing for Defence members
and their families.
Now, over 20 years on, DHA manages
approximately 17, 300 residences around
Australia and provides a range of services
to help ease the pressure on Defence
families – we will support you and your family
throughout your tenancy, from moving in, to
living in, and then moving out of your home.
While our level of support for you and
your family will not change, you will see
some changes to the Defence relocations
process. Where DHA managed relocations
administration in the past, Toll Transitions will
now be your relocations service provider.
To help you understand how this may impact
you and your family, we’ve put together a
reference guide for you and your family.
DHA will assist you with:
Toll Transitions will assist you with:
Defence will assist you with:
Finding and securing your future
Defence home – using DHA’s online
HomeFind tool
Notifying DHA of your relocation, so that
we can commence the HomeFind process
All of your pay matters
Your housing entitlements, including
Rent Allowance or Living In
Accommodation
Organising your relocation requirements
Making and managing any policy which affects
your housing and relocation entitlements
Arranging all your DHA housing
maintenance requirements
Arranging all your uplift and delivery
requirements
Determining your Conditions of Service
Rent Band Choice Housing – this provides
you with a range of housing choices to
suit your lifestyle
Approving and organising any
long-term or short-term storage
of your possessions
Managing the contractors who provide
your relocation services and housing,
such as Toll Transitions and DHA
Fast Connect – a free service for the
connection or disconnection of major
utilities and telecommunication services
Booking travel and temporary
accommodation for your relocation
Your relocation allowances and entitlements
DHA information line 139 DHA (139 342)
www.dha.gov.au
Toll Transitions freecall 1800 819 167
www.tolltransitions.com.au/defence
FEATURES 33
Army October 14, 2010
NT remembers lost sons
Football was the sideline act as the Katherine community came out in force to support
the families of Ptes Scott Palmer, Tim Aplin and Ben Chuck, Leonie Gall reports.
Time out: Musn Robin Kidney, AAB-Darwin, plays the Last Post at the rugby union tribute match
(above) and (inset above) Pte Ben Chuck and (inset below) Pte Tim Aplin with his children Josie, 9,
and Daniel, 8.
Main photo by AB James Whittle
ACCORDING to his parents, Pte
Scott Palmer would have said
“don’t make a fuss” to the thousands who honoured him and
mates Ptes Tim Aplin and Ben
Chuck at a recent Katherine rugby
tribute match and fundraiser day.
Pte Palmer’s parents, Pam and
Ray, and brother Adam, joined
2 Cdo Regt, family and friends on
September 11 to see the Katherine
Brahmans invitational side draw
with the University Pirates in memory of the three soldiers.
The Katherine community banded together to celebrate and remember the lives of Ptes Palmer, Aplin
and Chuck, who died in a helicopter
crash in Afghanistan with the Special
Operations Task Group on June 21.
The match was personal for
many as Pte Palmer had played
for both the Brahmans and Pirates
teams.
Mrs Palmer described watching
the game as “emotional and tender”
and said her son would have been
deeply honoured.
“Scott loved his football with a
passion – it didn’t matter what it
was, he loved it,” Mrs Palmer said.
“He was a team person, a fair
person. A lot of Scott’s friends he
grew up with played the game for
him and the guys so it was very
moving.”
Pte Daniel Thomlinson flew up
for the tribute, taking the opportunity to spend some time with the
Palmer family. Pte Thomlinson has
credited Pte Palmer with saving his
life after losing his legs in a mine
incident in Afghanistan.
Hosted by the Katherine Sport
and Recreation Club, the marathon
tribute day also included a golden
oldies rugby match, tributes, a charity
auction, barbecue and face painting.
The highly successful event
raised about $45,000 to support the
Commando Trust Fund,which cares
for families of killed and injured
2 Cdo Regt members.
Mrs Palmer spoke highly of
the support she received from Pte
Palmer’s unit and the Katherine
community after losing her son.
“When we first lost Scott we
didn’t know where to turn, but the
community backed us,” she said.
“ Wi t h o u t t h e D a r w i n a n d
Katherine communities during that
time we would have been helpless
and buckling at the knees at times.
“I can’t fault the commando unit
at all.”
TRIBUTE FROM A MOTHER
What can I say about Scott that no one knows already.
He was my baby.
At times he was my strength, we saw him grow
from a chubby child into a young man full of strength
and compassion and with a mind of his own.
Scott always believed in what he wanted to do and
was determined to achieve his goals at all times.
The mother in me was alarmed when he decided to
join the Army and then the commandos, but he was,
once again, determined to achieve his goal and we
stood by his decision.
It was a joy to see how much he loved his new life
and cherished his new lifestyle and his new friends and
comrades, who also became our friends and family.
Scott was always
there to help when I
needed it – he would
listen to my complaints
and my silly little problems, never questioning
me but just listening.
I will miss that and,
at the end of it, he would
just say “sweet mum”
– words that mean so
much now.
He was always worried about the family.
He was proud of his
niece Gabrielle and his
nephew Preston, and
he wanted to hear what
Pte Scott Palmer
they were up to and he
was always asking after
his brother, Adam, and his dad, Ray.
He liked to know what all the family members were
up to as well, and then give his input (so to speak) – he
just couldn’t help himself.
Scott and Ray shared a love of sport, even though
at times they had different opinions, but they both loved
their rugby league and union, AFL, and cricket.
They would chat on the phone for ages, discussing
who should be out of the test matches and, of course,
the origin games. My son was not only our youngest,
he was our mate, friend and someone who would stand
by us, his mates and friends at any time. In our hearts
he will always be our hero and warrior.
He loved life, and I know he will be with us always.
That is the wonderful thing about memories – you simply have them in your hearts forever.
Pam Palmer, mother of Pte Scott Palmer
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34 FEATURES
Intrepid travellers: Maj Gary Melling (team leader), left, Louis Cadorin (team mechanic), Lt-Col Mike Grey, Lt-Col Dennis Littame,
Ben Campbell (wandering tourist), Matt Maloney (wandering tourist) and Maj Mark Dominick pause for a happy snap at the midway
point between Vladivostok in the Russian far east and Moscow during their 24,000km trek.
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Army October 14, 2010
Russia
tests
‘easy’
riders
Snowstorms, permafrost and
the vast expanses of Russia
couldn’t stop five Aussies on the
adventure of a lifetime.
IT WAS a once-in-a-lifetime trip for four officers
and a civilian mechanic who took a road trip to
London – via the vast expanses of Russia.
Team leader Maj Gary Melling, Lt-Col Dennis
Littame, Lt-Col Mike Grey, Maj Mark Dominick and
Louis Cadorin set off from Australia on April 27.
Three months and 24,000km later through 10 time
zones the riders finished in London.
But the quest was almost over before it started.
Originally, the riders were to be reunited with their
bikes in Vladivostok a week after the bikes arrived by
ship. But a two-week delay at Russian customs, shipping and quarantine was the first snag in the plan.
Maj Melling said the bikes were delayed due to
rough seas and further complicated by two major
Russian holidays.
But the setbacks were never going to deter them
from the dream of riding across Russia and Europe.
“We were lucky to stay with a local bike club member in Vladivostok,” Maj Melling said. “We found
ourselves engaged in the Russian tradition of drinking
vodka while waiting for the paperwork to be stamped.”
Unfortunately, their troubles weren’t over.
On the first day, two of the bikes developed unexpected oil-seal failures and then the lead rider fell onto
train tracks fracturing a rib.
A quality patch-up on the bikes – and the rider –
and the five were on their way again inside 24 hours.
“Our team mechanic was able to perform miracles
and our luck held for the remainder of the trip.
“We were planning to go though Mongolia but this
was cancelled because of the unseen time delays at the
start and the time left on our visas. That was really the
only bad part of the trip,” Maj Melling said.
The original plan to camp out wherever possible
was also cancelled after locals warned them about the
potentially fatal tick encephalitis prevalent in Siberia
during spring.
“The first time we left the roads the entire group
fell off their bikes in the permafrost as well. After the
first week we ended up sleeping mostly in small guest
houses along the road that are there for the truckies.”
Even in spring the freezing temperatures meant battling snowstorms. Instead of swimming in Lake Baikal
(the world’s biggest freshwater lake) they stood on
frozen ice and hoped to finish without further setbacks.
The best part was negotiating the language barrier.
“The challenge of asking for something to eat was
great fun. Whenever we thought we had it worked out
we ended up with something totally different.
“Some of our better communicators would make
animal noises so the Russians could understand.”
Mr Cadorin said not everything was as difficult as
the task of eating.
“It was no issue when it came to mechanical
things,” he said. “Some sign language and a common
goal was enough to get the job done.”
Maj Melling said the lengths the Russians went to
help the group was surprising. The thing that most surprised was the mobile phone service.
“Some of the villages we went through were so
primitive it looked like they hadn’t caught up with the
rest of the world, but the one thing they all had was a
mobile phone service,” he said. “We took all this technology over there thinking it would be impossible to
get any service but it was absolutely no problem at all.
We had better service in Siberia then what is available
in Canberra.”
He said despite “many challenges, freezing temperatures, absolutely horrible roads and the language
barrier he’d do it again in a heartbeat”. He is already
thinking of the next trip. “I’d like to go to Mongolia as
I consider it unfinished business and also Alaska and
Canada. I think the next trip will be definitely with my
wife though and not quite so remote or long.”
FEATURES 35
Army October 14, 2010
Building up security
Coalition presence in the
Mirabad Valley is putting
insurgents on the back foot,
Maj John McPherson reports.
Direction: Spr Jarrod
Mickan supervises the
unloading of a bobcat
at the patrol base
construction site in
Afghanistan’s Mirabad
Valley (above left).
AUSTRALIAN mentors and their Afghan partners
have a new patrol base to live and operate from in
Uruzgan province’s dangerous Mirabad Valley.
The patrol base was constructed from the ground
up over a three-week period by engineers from the
1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF 1) and the Afghan
National Army (ANA).
CO MTF 1 Lt-Col Mark Jennings said the insurgency was threatened by the impact of the patrol base.
He said insurgents had unsuccessfully attacked
the base a number of times over the course of its construction.
“Obviously, the insurgents did not want this base
to proceed and tried their hardest to slow down its
construction,” Lt-Col Jennings said.
“The Mirabad Valley is a strategically important
region with a history of violence in recent years.
“Combined with two nearby outposts, the base
will have a significant and enduring impact on security in the Mirabad Valley and will empower the
Afghan security forces to protect their communities
long into the future.”
Project manager Maj Carl Miller said the local
community was consulted throughout the construction
process, along with key government stakeholders in
Tarin Kot.
“From its inception back in April the plan was to
build a ‘patrol house’ that could accommodate the
ANA and coalition force presence in the Mirabad
Valley,” Maj Miller said.
“And that’s what we’ve done – it’s like a big, significantly fortified house.”
The base can accommodate more than 50 people
and is strengthened by a ringed perimeter fence, two
guard towers and an overwatch position. It includes
air-conditioning and kitchen facilities.
The base is now occupied by Australian and
Afghan soldiers who are responsible for securing the
Mirabad Valley.
Looking for Photos and Information on:
Imre George (Bob / Robert) Apathy
Dad died 07 August 2007
RANR SNo. F6579 enlisted Sep ‘58
Army SNo. 5/38029 Pte enlisted 30 April ‘59.
Commissioned June ‘67 SNo. 5/3772 DoD 18 June ‘79
Vietnam July ‘71 assuming time in Canungra. Served 5
Psych Corps and worked for many years after leaving
the army helping Vietnam Veterans.
Any information or photos greatly appreciated.
Contact Mike Apathy 0459 172236, mapathy@y7mail.com
Hold it: Cpl Brett Wade
directs a forklift to pick
up a load of Hesco
barriers as construction
work begins (top).
Getting there: A convoy
carrying construction
equipment from
Multinational Base Tarin
Kot through the Mirabad
Valley (above).
Positive steps: An
Afghan soldier crosses
an aqueduct as the
Australian convoy rolls
through the valley (left).
Photos by LS Paul Berry
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PERSONNEL 37
Army October 14, 2010
Changes
to JLC
criteria
Reward
for keen
searcher
By Sgt Dave Morley
YEARS of dedicated and difficult work locating and recovering the remains of missing
Australian soldiers and airmen
from Vietnam and Borneo have
received official recognition.
Army historian Maj
Jack Thurgar received a CA
Commendation in front of his
family and AHQ staff at a ceremony at Russell Offices on August
19.
CA Lt-Gen Gillespie said Maj
Thurgar had done a wonderful
thing for the nation with his work.
“I know the families have
already thanked you, but we are
now thanking you today,” he said.
Maj Thurgar said he was humbled by the unexpected award.
“I’ve done this work as a
labour of love and thank the CA
for giving me the opportunity to
carry out these important investigations,” he said.
“In my wildest dreams I never
thought I’d get the chance to carry
out these inquiries in my lifetime,
and that’s what helped drive me to
be successful in all these cases.”
Maj Thurgar said his previous
Australian Federal Police experience had helped with his investigations.
“I conducted all the inquiries
along normal police investigative
lines,” he said.
“I was cognisant of the fact
that all the evidence I collected
had to be of the highest standard
for the coroners in the respective
jurisdictions where the returned
members were being buried in
Australia.”
All six of Australia’s Vietnam
MIAs have now been returned
to Australia as well as the two
MIAs from the confrontation with
Indonesia.
Maj Thurgar served in PNG
and Vietnam with SASR and
completed four tours of Cyprus
as a federal police officer with
UNCIVPOL.
By Capt Christian
Thurecht
UNITS panelling soldiers for JLC from
January 1, 2011, will
need to ensure that
soldiers are Private
Proficient and AIRN
compliant before
attending on the course.
This requirement will
affect units nominating soldiers this year
for course sessions that
occur in 2011.
For all soldiers, JLC
is the foundation training experience for their
careers as an NCO.
For this reason Army
has formalised the JLC
training entry level to
further improve the
already high standard of
our junior leaders.
The JLC Training
Management Package
is being amended to formally reflect these prerequisites.
Well deserved: Maj Jack Thurgar receives his CA Commendation from Lt-Gen Ken
Gillespie in recognition of his efforts at finding and recovering MIAs.
Further information on the JLC
prerequisites and the guide to
the JLC panelling process is at
http://intranet.defence.gov.au/
armyweb/Sites/WONCOWing.
Select the link entitled JLC.
Happy cadet campers In the box seat
at removal time
By LCpl Mark Doran
NORTH Queensland’s
Australian Army Cadets
gathered at Lavarack
Barracks in Townsville
for their annual camp
from September 18-26.
By Tony Job
More than 400 cadets
from Gladstone in the
south, Cairns in the north
and as far west as Mt Isa
spent their school holidays in camouflage and
webbing.
Daily routine included
Reveille at 6am followed
by a barracks inspection,
before continuing on for
a full day of activities and
training before lights out
at 10pm.
Lt-Col Paul Ellems,
CO NQAAC Bde, said
the annual camp gave the
cadets a range of experiences that developed their
individual confidence and
leadership potential.
“The cadets learnt
how to organise their
days, time-management Learning the ropes: Sgt Steve Berry, 11CSSB PTI, shows North Queensland
a n d s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e ,” cadets how to traverse a rope during the annual camp at Lavarack Barracks.
Photo by LCpl Mark Doran
Lt-Col Ellems said.
“A t t h e e n d t h ey
walked away with a
whole new range of
friends and experiences
that they will keep and
benefit from for the rest
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The cadets enjoyed the
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and were able to visit a
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variety of units and faciliwww.ImmersiveOT.com
ties at Lavarack Barracks.
Resettlement Training
ARMY members can expect to see
improvements in the removal process under a new contract with Toll
Transitions.
packing paper, a roll of tape and a black
marker.
“This will make the quantity of packing materials more realistic with the
actual needs of the members and reduce
the amount of waste that has been evident under past practices,” he said.
Other improvements include an
increased presence by Toll officers at the
removal uplift and delivery to provide
greater supervision of the contractor’s
performance.
Mr McClelland said there were no
changes to the existing standard carton
kits and mini-carton kits used by ADF
members undertaking a removal.
Improvements include the introduction of a smaller carton kit for removals
by recruits and trainees.
The new contract began on July 1.
“The new micro-carton kit is to be
used primarily for single recruits and
students to pack their clothing and other
personal items,” said Relocations and
Housing Director Alan McClelland.
He said the new micro-carton kit
would include one port-a-robe, four tea- Contact Toll Transitions on 1800 819 167 for
chests, two book cartons, 25 sheets of more information on entitlements to carton kits.
38 LIFESTYLE
Army October 14, 2010
PEOPLE
Driving force: Pte Drew Abbott,
Op Astute, (left) drives home the
point that his job as a ‘truckie’
with 8/9RAR is taking him places
in his Army career.
Photo by AB Jo Dilorenzo
In the weeds: LCpl Dirk
Thompson, 2RAR, prepares
for the 3 Bde firepower
demonstration at the Townsville
Field Training Area during CATA
10.
Photo by LCpl Mark Doran
Your tour
On guard: Tpr Ross Spencer, Op Anode,
conducts a routine perimeter patrol of the Rove
Central Correctional Centre in Solomon Islands.
Photo by AB Jo Dilorenzo
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Hard yards: Pte James McDermott evacuates
Cpl Matt Anderson during Exercise Duffy Warrior
conducted by Health Coy 3 CSSB.
Photo by Maj Al Green
LIFESTYLE 39
Army October 14, 2010
BOOKS
New Guinea features
in Army history series
To Salamaua
invasion and then followed the campaign to the final advance to close
and destroy the Japanese.
Cambridge University Press
“It is a book that reinforces the
384 pages
Australian Army’s proud history and
RRP AUD$59.95
the quality of the troops who fought
the Japanese on Australia’s doorstep,
AUTHOR and historian Phillip even if that campaign was a sideline
Bradley’s To Salamaua marks to a more decisive action at Lae,”
the fifth instalment of the official Lt-Gen Gillespie said.
Phillip Bradley
Australian Army History Series
and follows the author’s acclaimed
book, The Battle for Wau.
It is the first in the series to cover
the northern New Guinea battles.
Launched by CA Lt-Gen Ken
Gillespie on September 30 during
the Army History Conference, To
Salamaua covers the entire campaign in one volume for the first
time.
From the strategic background
of the campaign and the heated conflicts to the mud and blood of the
front lines, the book documents what
effectively became a diversionary
campaign.
L t - G e n G i l l e s p i e s a i d To
Salamaua catalogued an “extraordinary campaign” to keep enemy
forces at Salamaua until the Lae
The author himself argued that
the strategy was maintained by
keeping many of the lower levels of
command ignorant that they were
engaged in what was only a feint.
“There can be few examples in
military history of a campaign that
went as long as the Salamaua campaign where the overriding objective
was not to be victorious but only
to hold the main enemy forces in
place,” Mr Bradley said.
The author was not available to
launch his book personally due to a
commitment trekking with ADFA
cadets to the battlefield at Wau.
The CA applauded Mr Bradley’s
passion as proof that the history and
the stories of the New Guinea battlefields were not forgotten.
“Phillip Bradley’s description of
the Salamaua campaign is written
with the sensitivity and understanding of an historian who has extensively trekked the area to view the
locations he writes about,” Lt-Gen
Gillespie said.
To Salamaua continues the partnership between the Australian
Army and publishers Cambridge
University Press. The series is edited
by Prof David Horner.
DIKKO
By Bob Dikkenberg
TRANSITION SUPPORT
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www.nextjobnow.com.au
Call 1300 112 114
If you can think of a clever, witty caption for this picture, email captioncomp@defencenews.gov.au with “caption competition October 14”
in the subject line. Keep entries under 25 words. Entries MUST include
sender’s name, rank and unit.
The September 30
winner is ...
“Corporal, I think I have flooded
the engine.”
Capt Paul Jacobsen
ADF Dental School
We also liked ...
“Not again, Timo, you only just got
your licence back!”
Pte Mark Bryant
9FSB
“But the fording depth marker is
still above the marker.”
WO2 Darrin Neale
6 Avn Regt
“Unfortunately, sidestroke proved
to be the weakest stroke in the
new amphibious trials conducted as
part of Land 121 trials for Unimogs
this week.”
Sgt Royce Allen
School of Arty
“Well you did say the Unimog
could go anywhere.”
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and
“RAEME are going to be annoyed
now.”
Const Jason Noreen
Bankstown Police Station
40 LIFESTYLE
Army October 14, 2010
HEALTH
Get a grip on injuries
Let’s face it, the military is a high-risk job. Long
hours and hard physical work can take their
toll, Don Stevenson reports.
make sure your shoes are suitable
WHILE some injuries can’t be prefor your foot type.
vented, the risk of developing common overuse injuries can be reduced Run mostly on soft surfaces. The
with proper physical training.
human body wasn’t designed to
Here are three injuries common to
run long distances on concrete.
ADF personnel and tips on how to
You
don’t have to run to develop good
avoid them.
fitness and, if you have feet issues, old
injuries or are heavier than average,
Shin splints
Shin splints normally occur when you should limit your weekly running
someone who hasn’t run much for a and develop your fitness through
while begins to pound the pavement. It metabolic conditioning workouts or
is actually a blanket term for a number alternatives such as rowing.
of conditions and you should always
get your condition properly diagnosed. Lower back pain
A strong and fatigue-resistant back
However, from a fitness perspective
the recommendations are all pretty is your best defence against acute
lower back injuries and chronic pain.
much the same.
To strengthen your back, incorTo avoid shin splints:
porate deadlifting into your fitness
Build up slowly: If you haven’t
program. The deadlift is the numberrun for a while, don’t start running one exercise for developing all of your
10km every day. Run 3-5km two
back side and core strength, and its
or three times a week and steadily
benefits extend well beyond the lower
increase your volume.
back, to the legs, arms and grip. Add
three sets of five reps of deadlifts to
Get new shoes: Even if your
your weights workouts and your lower
runners look fine, if they are more
back will thank you.
than 12 months old or you wear
For developing endurance, kettlethem all the time, the cushioning
bell swings are my first choice. Like
will have compressed and they
the deadlift, they give you a great
won’t be absorbing the shock as
return on your time as they develop
well as they used to.
lower-back endurance, leg power and
cardio fitness all in one hit.
If you have flat feet or orthotics,
No worries: Warming up before any sport will help reduce the risk of common injuries.
Throw them into your circuits or
perform multiple sets of 20 to 50 reps
with short breaks between sets.
Add some odd-object lifting for
all-round core strength, and some ab
work, and chances are you’ll avoid
chronic lower-back pain.
chest work or poor shoulder flexibility.
To develop strong, stable and healthy
shoulders, try the following:
Turkish getup: This is an ideal
prehabilitation exercise that
strengthens all the small muscles
that stabilise the shoulder during
pushing and pulling exercises.
Shoulder injuries
Shoulder injuries are often a result Balance pushing with pulling:
of an overemphasis on chest training,
If you are working on your bench
press or pushup numbers, that’s
a lack of back work to balance the
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SPORT 41
Army October 14, 2010
I think I can: Sig Anna Canisius, 3CSR, leaps to victory in the women’s
high jump with a jump of 148cm.
Photos by LCpl Mark Doran
RESULTS
Champion female: 1. Sgt Nicola
Turner, 3CSSB, 25; 2. Pte Natalie
Whyte, 10FSB, 23; 3. LCpl Jessica
Antonovich, CMU, 23; 4. Cpl Natalie
Parsons, 10FSB, 21.
Champion male: 1. Capt Rory Hale,
10FSB, 31; 2. Pte Stephen Brown,
CMU, 20; LBdr Jon Anu, 4 Fd Regt,
19; 4. Pte Damien Moyle, 1RAR, 18.
Champion unit – female: 1. 10FSB,
95; 2. 3CSSB, 88; 3. CMU, 83; 4.
3CSR, 83; 5. 2RAR, 44; 6. 3CER, 41;
7. 4 Fd Regt, 25; 8. 1RAR, 14.
Champion unit – male: 1. 4 Fd Regt,
104; 2. 1RAR, 79; 3. CMU, 76; 4.
3CSSB, 74; 5, 10FSB 73; 6. 2RAR,
69; 7. 3CER, 67; 8. 3CSR 47.
Big throw: Sgt Clancy Fallon, 5 Avn Regt, takes a throw in the
B
men’s discus.
m
3 Bde takes
to the track
By LCpl Mark Doran
COMPETING in the 3 Bde athletics carnival, held on September 23
at the Townsville Sports Reserve,
gave soldiers a chance to down
tools.
Events were eagerly contested
and spectators engaged in some
vocal support with the traditional
inter-unit banter.
The 4 Fd Regt cheer squad was
in full swing, being the loudest unit
on the night.
4 Fd Regt took out the trophy
for the champion men’s team with
10FSB winning the champion women’s team.
The champion male was Capt
Hard yards: Pte Natalie Cessford, Rory Hale, 10FSB, with Sgt Nicola
3CSSB, crosses the line to win the Turner, 3CSSB, crowned the chamwomens’ 400m.
pion female.
3 Bde sports officer Maj Gary
Jiear said the athletes had little chance to train for the events
let alone conduct trials to choose a
team, though each unit fielded members in all events and the standard of
competition was high.
“The tempo of 3 Bde continues with most of the personnel just
returning from the combined arms
training activity and getting ready
to once again head field for Exercise
Hamel,” Maj Jiear said.
The night was crowned with the
running of the chain-of-command
6x100m relay and provided maximum entertainment with some
glimpses of sporting prowess.
Not a lot of rules were present
and no points were involved in this
race.
Initially it was a close-fought battle between 4 Fd Regt and 1RAR
with the team from 3CER eventually
taking out the chain-of-command
relay, CO ‘Twinkle-toes Hoskin’
who was the anchor man, bringing
the race home.
Maj Jiear made special mention
of 3CSSB men and women who not
only competed strongly but organised and coordinated the event.
“With 2010 still not over the last
of the sporting events for the year
will be the obstacle course challenge
to be contested on November 29,”
he said
“Being the last of the annual
commander’s trophy events, it will
surely be very keenly contested,
with the trophy up for grabs by up to Hang time: Pte Damien Moyle, 1RAR,
leaps 6.06m to win the long jump.
four units.”
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42 SPORT
Army October 14, 2010
Bowlers roll
on towards
resurgence
ARMY’S NSW lawn bowlers have begun their
resurgence to wrestle back the mantle of state
champions with a sound performance at the NSW
Interservice Lawn Bowls Championships.
Conducted at Raymond Terrace Bowls Club from
August 16-20, the team approached the championships as an opportunity to rebuild and came away with
some encouraging results.
The first match looked a difficult assignment with
Army up against a Navy team comprising many players in the ADF national squad. However, Army displayed magnificent fighting spirit only to be edged out
in two of the three rinks.
Dave Martin, Michael Morris and Tony McGregor
were skippered by 2004 national championship player
of the series Dennis Roff and went down 21-18.
The rink of Paul Dowlan, Arron Ryan, Tony
Finneran and skipped by Murray Lott had a tough battle only to lose the last end, and the game 19-17, with
some excellent bowling by the Navy skipper.
The third rink of Rick Beer, Brian Harris, Scott
Beaumont and Brian Tisdell met strong opposition
and finally went down 23-11. The overall scoreboard
showed a Navy win of by 17 shots; however, Army’s
fight back and rebuilding campaign were evident and
a vast improvement on last year’s effort.
RAAF won comfortably against Navy in the next
match and were expected to make it a clean sweep
against Army. However, Dennis Roff’s team played
superbly to defeat their opponents 19-11.
The other two rinks weren’t successful with the
total scores favouring RAAF by 24 shots and securing
them the NSW interservice trophy. Tony Finneran was
judged Army skipper’s choice for most outstanding
Player of the tournament.
The margin wasn’t a true indication of Army’s
performance; however, it did confirm their regrouping
plan was working with the team eagerly anticipating
the 2011 playoffs.
Best shot: ADF cyclists turn in
“the best championships” in
ADF club history.
Cyclists hit Adelaide
Mixed results for Army
By Phil Mayne
Flt-Lt Abbott said all participants
SEVENTY of the ADF’s best road were dreading the hill climb known
as Whispering Wall.
cyclists travelled to South Australia last
“It is a short, but steep climb which the
month to contest the ADF National Road A-graders had to ascend seven times.”
Cycling Championships.
After 87 tough kilometres the race
The annual carnival comprised three
events – a 40km time trial, 87.5km road
race and 40-minute criterium – in A-, Band C-grade men and a women’s category.
Results were pretty well split among the
three services.
Organiser Flt-Lt Drew Abbott described
it as the best championships held in the
ADF club’s history.
“Adelaide was a great location to hold
the championships. Times and average
speeds were comparable to that of the
South Australian state time trial held earlier this year on the same course,” he said.
The men’s A-grade field was very competitive and Capt Gary Kristensen, Army
Aviation Training Centre, was anxious to
defend his 2009 time-trial title.
A third in the Queensland state time
trial gave him confidence he had form
leading up to the event. As it turned out, he
left numerous competitors in his wake to
claim his second title.
In B- and C-grades there was a close
battle for placings. Cpl Peter Smith, 110
Bty, won by just seconds in B-grade while
LCdr Michael Devine had the same close
win in C-grade.
As she ended up doing in all three
races, RAAF Cpl Fiona Parslow dominated the women’s race.
The following day saw the 87.5km road
race.
NSW Army lawn bowls team is still seeking permanent or active
part-time members and public servants working for an Army unit
in NSW to join their team. Contact WO1 Ian Groves by email ian.
groves@defence.gov.au.
Resurgence: Sgt Arron Ryan, A Fd Bty, is part of
the regrowth of Army lawn bowls.
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ended in a sprint to the finish. Flt-Lt
Damon Stefani took line honours with PO
Dion Blair second and RAAF Cpl Chris
Holbert third.
Pte Andrew Cochrane, 6RAR, flew the
flag for Army, winning the men’s B-grade.
On the third and final day the leg-weary
riders tackled the Criterium.
“It didn’t help matters that there was
a constant drizzle over the course when
riders arrived to prepare, but luckily the
course dried out before the start,” Flt-Lt
Abbott said.
“Immediately after the A-graders
crossed the start line, Sgt Michael Rand
(RAAF) broke off from the pack, but he
was reeled in after 12 laps.
“When the final lap bell was rung the
pack was together. Sgt Rand dug deep
once again and pushed off the front to
form a five-second lead.”
Sgt Rand held off the sprinters to claim
the Criterium, ahead of Flt-Lt Damon
Stefani and APS rider Nathan Herrmann.
Capt Kristensen finished second in
men’s A-grade for the championships overall, while Cpl Peter Smith and Pte Andrew
Cochrane placed second and third in men’s
B-grade.
Sig Nicole Merritt, 16 AD Regt, and
Capt Julie Venning, LWC, rode strongly,
placing behind the dominant Cpl Parslow.
Winning style: Capt Gary Kristensen, Army Avn
Trg Centre, works for his silver medal.
RESULTS
MEN’S A-GRADE
st
MEN’S B-GRADE
1 Flt-Lt Damon Stefani
1st LCdr Simon Moore
2nd Capt Gary Kristensen
2nd Cpl Peter Smith
3rd Cpl Chris Holbert
3rd Pte Andrew Cochrane
MEN’S C-GRADE
WOMEN
1st LCdr Daniel Crocker
1st Cpl Fiona Parslow
2nd LCdr Michael Devine
2nd Sig Nicole Merritt
3rd AC Joel Anderson
3rd Capt Julie Venning
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SPORT 43
Army October 14, 2010
Offload: Spr Mitchell Kaminski gets a pass away (above) in the game against Air Force Jets at the
Combined Australian Services Rugby League Carnival while Pte Mahn Darley takes a high ball with
some help from his teammates (right).
Photos by LAC Aaron Curran
Army thunders
to six in a row
By Michael Brooke
ARMY Thunder defeated rival
Navy and Air Force teams, plus
two rugby league legends to win
the Combined Australian Services
Rugby League Carnival (CASRL)
at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, from
September 7-October 1.
The Thunder crushed the Navy
Tridents 52-36 and shot down the
high-flying Air Force Jets 32-18 to
notch their sixth successive title.
The Thunder opened its campaign with a victory over the Navy
Tridents, who played with great
pride and passion after motivational
speeches from league legends Max
Krilich from Manly and ‘Blocker’
Roach from Balmain.
Both forward packs battered
each other relentlessly, but it was
out wide, through wily halfback Cpl
Chad Gill and five-eighth Pte Keith
Eshman where, the Thunder cut the
Navy to pieces.
As a former Balmain Tiger premier league and NRL player in
2006, Pte Eshman played superbly
throughout the CASRL.
The Army backline ran riot
thanks to Pte Eshman’s kicking
and passing game, which saw him
continually break the defensive line
with dummy passes or cut-out passes to his outside backs.
Team captain Cpl Gill was also
on song with his goal kicking to
help the Thunder turn a 28-6 halftime lead into a 52-36 win.
However, Navy scored five quick
tries after a ‘rev up’ from Krilich
and Roach and appeared close to
springing an upset when Army
scored in the dying minutes to put
the game beyond doubt.
Army endured another close call
against the Air Force Jets, who led
6-4 for most of the first half until
Cpl Gill and Pte Eshman clicked
into gear to engineer a 16-6 lead.
A half-time pep talk from Comd
Forcomd Lt-Gen David Morrison,
helped the Thunder’s forwards lift
another gear, which gave Cpl Gill
and Pte Eshman the opportunities
they needed to create three more
tries for a 32-18 fulltime score.
However, the turning point came
early in the second half when Army
fullback Pte Mahn Darley scored a
98m intercept try, when Air Force
appeared likely to score, which
would have made the score 16-12.
Army team manager Capt Kieran
Sullivan said the Thunder’s triumph
was impressive because of the number of new faces in the team.
“The boys really dug deep
to defeat the Navy and Air Force,
which have both shown a lot of
improvement in the last couple of
years,” he said.
Capt Sullivan said the unsung
hero of the team was coach Maj Al
Lynch while the best players were
Pte Eshman, back-rowers LCpl Dan
Halliday, Gnr Chad Jansen, Cpl Pat
Inskip and Pte Mahn Darley.
Capt Sullivan said Army was on
the lookout for additional players
for upcoming matches.
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October 14, 2010
LCpl Daniel Halliday
tries to bust through
the Navy defence as
Thunder makes it six
titles in a row at the
combined services
rugby league carnival.
See page 43
THUNDER
ON FIRE