British recognition for 8/12 Mdm Regt members

Edition 1234 April 29, 2010

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PART OF HISTORY

British recognition for 8/12 Mdm Regt members

BACK AFTER 44 YEARS P4-5 BASE SECURITY FOCUS P6 TOWNSVILLE PARADE P18-19

A contingent of gunners has been

recognised for its role in large-

scale operations in Afghanistan with

the British. Here Bdr Byron Bushell, 8/12 Mdm Regt, receives

his Operation Herrick Medal from Gen Sir Timothy Granville-

Chapman. Report: Page 3Photo by Cpl Steve Wood

2 NEWS Army April 29, 2010

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The Soldiers’ Newspaper

Face of Army

On ops: Cpl Mathew Griinke, Mentoring Task Force 1, at Camp Holland, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt Mick Davis

By Barry Rollings

CDF ACM Angus Houston will watch the Strategic Reform Program (SRP) closely to ensure it does not have a negative impact on Defence’s capabilities and its ability to deliver what the Government requires.

ACM Houston and Defence Secretary Ian Watt held an SRP media roundtable presentation at Russell Offices in Canberra on April 16.

“We have a hard-earned reputation for excel-lence on operations and it is not one that I’m about to let slip,” ACM Houston said.

“Our people are first-class and deserve to be supported in the best possible way.

“I’m very satisfied that we have developed a robust and comprehensive performance-monitor-ing system which has a very strong emphasis not only on ensuring the reforms have been imple-mented but capability is not being adversely affected.

“The cultural dimension of the SRP is, of course, the key to its success. We have a number of organisational change programs running, such as Adaptive Army, which are all complementary programs to the goals of the SRP.”

Under the SRP, Defence must save $20 billion over the next 10 years to reinvest in capability.

ACM Houston said if Defence did not reform the organisation through the SRP, it would not be able to deliver on the Force 2030 plan identi-fied in the Defence White Paper to build up the military capabilities needed for national security in the future.

“We know it’s going to be hard, which is why we need to make everything we do count – every minute of our time, every dollar we spend and every round we fire. That is the reality of this program,” he said.

“Force 2030 is a more capable, muscular and hard-hitting Defence Force ... a truly joint force which can excel on joint operations, inter-agency operations and make meaningful contri-butions to coalition operations.”

He said many of the SRP reforms – in which there were more than 300 separate initiatives – had a direct link with Force 2030, including strategic planning, capability development and procurement reforms to ensure Defence acquired the components of Force 2030 in a way that was as efficient and as effective as possible.

“The cost reduction is important, indeed it is

REPORTS that reserve training days are being cut because of the Strategic Reform Program (SRP) are inaccurate, according to CDF ACM Angus Houston.

At the SRP media roundtable presentation on April 16, ACM Houston said reservists “are a vital part of our ADF and I can’t speak highly enough of them”.

“Reserve pay has increased over the past three financial years to better align with that of the regular forces,” he said.

“Previous increases in the use of reservists have been accommodated within the overall military workforce budget.

“However, due to our strong full-time ADF recruiting and retention results in recent times, our ability to supplement reserve salaries from within the overall military workforce budget has diminished. This has required the serv-ices to prioritise reserve training salaries to ensure that the reserve continues to meet its operational commitments and critical training requirements.”

He said in some cases the need to prioritise salaries for an increased number of reservists, had reduced the days available for discretion-ary training.

“However, I can confirm that all of the services are continuing to allocate their respec-tive mandated minimum number of days to active reserve members,” he said.

ACM Houston said that the SRP would result in a more mission-focused reserve force, including “a greater transfer of knowledge between our permanent and reserve forces”.

“The SRP is implementing a reform agen-da for reserves that will reduce costs, create efficiencies in initial training and more effec-tively utilise the High Readiness Reserve.

“The Army Reserve – because of its size – will undertake the majority of the reform to the reserve under the SRP. Savings will be achieved through efficiency reforms, not cutbacks.”

He said the Army’s Force Structure Review was examining its internal mix of full-time and part time capabilities.

“This review is known as Rebalancing Army. It seeks to increase the capability of the Army Reserve,” he said.

“The Rebalancing Army changes are not related to the SRP savings targets. The chang-es are happening in parallel and are designed to achieve the Defence White Paper direction on increasing the utility of the reserve.”

See letters section – 0

PROGRAM’S KEY INITIATIVES� Cut waste, reform culture, boost effi-ciency to achieve $20 billion in savings over a decade.� Civilianising 500-600 uniform military support positions between 2010 and 2014.� Greater use of Defence Travel Card, more use of restricted airfares, better use of accommodation and services contract. � Greater centralised shared services in Defence, converting around 700 contractor positions – such as those in IT – to Public Service jobs (245 already converted).

Reserve days not hit by SRP

Capability a priority

critical, but the cost reduction has to be reform-led which means fundamental change to the way we do business,” ACM Houston said.

He was impressed with the commitment to the SRP.

“I’ve been around here for a long time, I’ve never seen a more orderly and planned approach to doing business than the way we have approached this reform,” he said.

“The Defence Budget Audit, which was conducted over about nine months, finished early last year. Since then we’ve been analysing the whole reform program and we’ve invested money up front and we have an implementation plan that covers the 10 years. I think it’s com-prehensive, complete and in marked contrast to some of the reform projects we had in the past.”

Reform agenda: Defence Secretary Ian Watt and CDF ACM Angus Houston at the SRP presentation. Photo by Steve Dent

SOTG aids Afghan uprising

Partnership: SOTG troops and Provincial Police Reserve members work closely together. Photo by Lt Aaron Oldaker

SPECIAL Operations Task Group (SOTG) troops and Afghan police went to the aid of Afghans who staged an uprising against the Taliban in the Gizab region of Oruzgan province on April 21.

SOTG and its Afghan partner unit, the Provincial Police Reserve, used close air support to effectively neutralise insurgents who engaged them with small-arms fire and RPGs.

Chief of Joint Operations Lt-Gen Mark Evans said the SOTG and the Afghan force “fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Gizab locals against the Taliban insurgents well into the night until they were sound-ly defeated”.

“The decisive battle has since set the conditions for the remaining resi-dents of Gizab to stand up and resist the Taliban,” Lt-Gen Evans said.

He said the action of the Gizab people was a strong indicator that the current International Security Assistance Force strategy of popula-tion protection was showing positive results.

“Our policy of protecting the peo-ple and targeting insurgent networks

is having the effect of building confi-dence in local communities,” he said.

“This action has demonstrated the adaptability and flexibility of our forces. We were able to quickly react to the needs of the local nationals and support them in their actions against the insurgents.

“This recent action also shows that there is very good partnering and a high degree of cooperation with the Afghan National Security Forces in Oruzgan province.”

A middle level Taliban leader, Mullah Rahmattulah, and a number of other insurgents were believed to have been killed in the engagement.

The SOTG CO said a significant proportion of his unit spent Anzac Day in Gizab on the battlefield, like their forefathers 95 years ago.

In other SOTG operations in recent weeks, 400kg of ammonium nitrate – a key component of IEDs – was found and destroyed, and insurgent leader Mullah Faqir and three other insurgents were captured and detained during a joint clear-ance operation in the Mirabad Valley region.

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NEWS 3Army April 29, 2010

Eyes right: Soldiers from 8/12 Mdm Regt attend a farewell medal parade for Operation Herrick (above). Honoured: Gen Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman presents Bdr Brad Stapleton with his Op Herrick medal (left).Gunners: LBdr Brad Stapleton, left, LBdr Adam Ratcliffe, centre, and Bdr Byron Bushell pose for a photo after the parade (right).Photos by Cpl Steve Wood, British Army

GUNNERS from Darwin-based 8/12 Mdm Regt have been recognised for their part in “a scale of operations not seen since World War II”.

The 15 men of ‘Brumby Troop’ com-pleted a six-month tour of Afghanistan manning guns alongside British soldiers from the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (1 RHA).

Gen Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, honorary colonel of 1 RHA and the British Army’s Master Gunner, honoured the Aussies at a farewell parade at 1 RHA’s base at Tidworth, Wiltshire on April 16.

“When the pages of history are writ-ten about Afghanistan, these past six months will prove to have been the turning point of the campaign,” Gen Granville-Chapman said.

“You have seen remarkable and pio-neering achievements on the ground and have taken part in a scale of operations not seen since WWII.

“You have done spectacularly well and I congratulate you.”

Brumby Troop was responsible for two 105mm light guns working out of FOB Armadillo in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. It was the fourth Australian artillery contingent to deploy with the British Army.

Before deploying last October the troop trained for six months in the UK with 1 RHA on training areas such as Otterburn and Salisbury Plain.

Contingent Commander Capt Scott Calvert said the training was intense but rewarding.

“The training included converting from our 155mm medium guns to the British digitalised light guns,” he said. “That prepared the boys well and rein-forced the training we had back home.”

While Brumby Troop was work-ing out on the ground in Afghanistan, Capt Calvert was playing a key role in the planning of Operation Moshtarak in Camp Bastion, working alongside British, Estonian, French, American and Afghan commanders.

“To be at the forefront of that plan-ning and shaping the operation with the Battle Group was definitely the high point of my career, and an amazing and professionally challenging experience,” he said.

Bdr Byron Bushell, 2IC of one of the gun teams, said it had been a trip of a lifetime – “absolutely fantastic”.

“Our regiments are very similar so there was no real change in the way we had to behave. We all got along fine and made some really good friends – although there was quite a bit of banter over the Ashes,” Bdr Bushell said.

Two soldiers, LBdr Brad Stapleton and LBdr Adam Ratcliffe, who had played cricket for the Army, were ecstatic to be invited to Lords to watch the one-day international between England and Australia just before they deployed.

History making gunners

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Australian sons home

It had been raining hard the night a patrol from E Troop, 2 Sqn, SASR, were tasked to move to a different position behind the enemy camp they had been observing on the island of Borneo. Raining so hard, in fact, that when Lt Ken Hudson, Pte Bruce Gabriel, Pte Frank Ayling and Pte Bob Moncrieff attempted to cross the Sekayam River in the early hours of March 21, 1966, they were all washed away by a surge of ferocious water that had rushed down from the surrounding mountains. While Pte Gabriel and Pte Ayling struggled to shore, Lt Hudson and Pte Moncrieff did not. Their bodies were not seen again by Australians until 2009 when an Army war dead recovery team, along with Dayak locals, uncovered them not far from where they were washed away. Alisha Welch reports on their repatriation.

AFTER more than 44 years buried in unmarked graves in foreign soil, two Australian sons have made their final

journey home and, in doing so, closed the door on one of the Army’s most unknown conflicts.

In a poignant ceremony at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on April 12, Indonesian soldiers involved in the recovery from Borneo of SASR sol-diers Lt Kenneth Hudson and Pte Robert Moncrieff presented the remains, con-tained in small black boxes, to Special Operations Commander Australia Maj-Gen Tim McOwan.

Maj-Gen McOwan said it was with deep gratitude he accepted the remains.

“This is a sorrowful but joyous occa-sion,” he said. “It is important for the families of the men lost, the wider mili-tary family and, in particular, members of the patrol who were regrettably una-ble to bring their comrades home with them all those years ago, to finally rest assured these men are given the dignity in death all fallen servicemen and women deserve.”

Lt Hudson and Pte Moncrieff drowned while crossing the Sekayam River in West Kalimantan, Borneo in the early hours of March 21, 1966. Their bodies were

swept away and discovered by Dayak tribesmen and buried the same year. Both men were part of a four-man SASR patrol that had established an observation post at Entanbang two days earlier, operating in support of the Malaysian Army during the Indonesian Confrontation – an unde-clared war fought between Malaysia and Indonesia over the island of Borneo from 1963 until 1966.

Confrontation ended when a peace agreement was reached on August 11. However, it wasn’t until 2009 the remains of Lt Hudson and Pte Moncrieff were discov-ered alongside the river that claimed their lives, thanks to the tireless work of many former and serving members of the SASR family and an official Army investigation.

Maj-Gen McOwan said the way in which this important task was carried out reflected the co-operation expressedbetween the Indonesian military and ADF and illustrated the mutual respect betweenboth nations. “I would especially like to thank the Indonesian soldiers involved withthe recovery, the Indonesian Governmentand, especially, the Dayak tribesmen whotreated our fallen comrades with such respect after discovering their bodies.”

He said being able to recover and repatriate missing service personnel was an important morale-boosting factor for soldiers on operations today.

Final march: The bearer party carries the coffin of Pte Bob Moncrieff from the gun carriage to the funeral service held in Perth. Photo by Cpl Melina Mancuso

Lt Ken Hudson Pte Bob Moncrieff

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after 44-year wait“Repatriating these soldiers, lost

here in Indonesia for 44 years, sends an important message to soldiers serving Australia proudly overseas today – no matter how long it takes, or how hard it is, if anything happens to you we will find you and bring you home.”

He has a special link with Lt Hudson and Pte Moncrieff. As the adjutant at SASR “many years ago”, he was the keeper of many secret files, one of which dealt with the disappearance of the two men.

“I recall the regret and sorrow every time I saw that file,” he said.

“In all honesty I never actually thought we’d find them.”

Later on April 12 an emotional ramp ceremony was held on the tarmac at Jakarta’s international airport where family members and the bearer party comprising the dead soldiers’ former SASR comrades were joined by Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin, Maj-Gen McOwan and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer.

SASR padre Maj Stephen Brooks presided over the ceremony and said the soldiers’ long journey home also rep-resented the beginning of a journey of hope.

“The healing begins today,” Maj Brooks said.

Mr Griffin said it had not just been a long journey for Lt Hudson and Pte Moncrieff, but also for those they left behind. “Without their work, these soldiers would still be buried in Kalimantan.”

Former Pte Wallace Gabriel, one of the two patrolmen who survived the river crossing, said he was happy the families could finally get some closure.

“The frustrating thing was we knew roughly where they were,” Mr Gabriel said. “Unfortunately, at the time, we couldn’t do a lot about it because, really, we were in an area no-one knew we were in and where we probably shouldn’t have been.

“There are times when the emotions hit hard – you really feel it. Then there are times when you don’t – you just

have to keep your emotions in. But it’s not about me; it’s about the families being able to bring their father, husband, brother and uncle home.”

John Hudson, the son of Lt Hudson, said his family was pleased with the way in which the recovery and repatriation ceremonies were conducted.

“We have been waiting a very, very long time for this,” Mr Hudson said.

“We are all very relieved and extreme-ly grateful to the SASR Association and the Indonesian Government for help-ing facilitate the process that enabled my father to finally be brought home to Australia.”

With emotions running high, the elder brother of Pte Moncrieff, William, also said his family was relieved the repatriation had finally come to fruition.

“Bringing Bob home provides some peace of mind; closure,” Mr Moncrieff said. “Bob loved the Army and loved his unit. He loved Australia and we are very proud of him.”

Arriving at RAAF Base Pearce on April 13, current SASR soldiers formed the bearer party that slowly carried their predecessors’ caskets off the Hercules that transported them home. The looks on the faces of the SASR troopers involved said it all.

“Lt Hudson and Pte Moncrieff are the last SASR soldiers missing in action to be brought home,” Maj-Gen McOwan said. “It touches the nerve centre of our regiment – the troopers all feel connect-ed to these men, respect their service and sacrifice.

Pte Moncrieff and Lt Hudson were honoured by their families, friends and former comrades at private funerals in Perth and Brisbane on April 14 and 16 respectively.

While only those intimately involved in the life and death of these men will ever know the true extent of suffering and anguish experienced during the 44 years they were missing, their discov-ery sends the message that, regardless of how many years Australian soldiers missing in action are away, their cour-age, tenacity and service will forever be revered.

By Brian Manns

THE Lt Hudson/Pte Moncrieff investigation began in response to a request from the Special Operations Commander Australia.

SOCAust had received the mounting instruction for fieldwork in Vietnam for an investigation into another SASR soldier MIA from the Vietnam War. He approached me and formally requested UWC-A conduct an investigation. The investigation began in late 2008 with an exhaustive search of all available Army records, including some files still classi-fied as secret.

Individuals who served in theatre and within the SASR Sqn were inter-viewed (including surviving patrol members) and the investigation start-ed to build a clear picture of what had occurred. The next step was to con-tinue the investigation in Indonesia.

Approval was obtained from TNI in January 2009 and the first field-work in West Kalimantan took place in May 2009. This field work enjoyed the support of TNI through the inclu-sion of TNI officers in the team.

TNI facilitated comprehensive cov-erage of the area in which Lt Hudson and Pte Moncrieff had gone missing.

The team covered all of the Sekayam River from the village of Entabang where they were lost, to Entikong and Sekunyit where they were recovered from the river and buried.

The investigation found local Dayak people who had buried each of the men and who were able to take the team to the two locations (they were about 6km apart) where the men had been bur-ied (Entikong for Pte Moncrieff and Sekunyit for Lt Hudson).

Brian Manns is manager of the Unrecovered War Casualties – Army (UWC-A) team.

Behind the investigation

Home-bound: Padre Stephen Brooks, SASR, delivers the departing blessing in the C-130 for the repatriation of Lt Ken Hudson and Pte Bob Moncrieff at Halim Airport, Jakarta. Photo by Cpl Melina Mancuso

Final goodbyes: Family members of Lt Ken Hudson lay roses at his burial service while William Moncrieff and Jannette Jackson, brother and sister of Pte Bob Moncrieff, lay a wreath on his coffin at Halim Airport, Jakarta.

By Barry Rollings

A RANGE of measures to enhance base security, including planning to deal with terrorist attack and a greater focus on protecting personnel, will flow from the Review of Defence Protective Security Arrangements.

Chief Security Officer Frank Roberts said the review, submitted to the National Security Committee of Cabinet last August, resulted in the Government directing Defence to implement the review’s recommendations.

“We have a funded program of work to enhance base security, which will take a number of years to complete,” Mr Roberts said.

“People will notice the difference at the larger Defence bases. The challenge is to maintain a focus on delivering this important work. We have begun imple-menting the recommendations but the physical security aspects will take some time to complete.”

CDF and the Secretary commis-sioned the review after the arrest of four people in Melbourne in August 29 for allegedly planning a terrorist attack against Holsworthy Barracks.

Mr Roberts said the review encom-passed all Defence’s establishments and resulted in 33 recommendations covering security policy, physical security, con-tracting, response arrangements on bases in the event of attack, and changes to the Defence Act.

The review led to the Base Security Improvement Program, which involves a range of measures, predominantly at the larger bases, over about five years.

“The Defence Support Group has completed 34 base security risk assess-ments, including Holsworthy, and people will soon start to see security enhance-ments on our bases,” Mr Roberts said.

“Our planning needs to be intelli-gence-led and risk-based. This means identifying those bases that may be attractive as a terrorist target and ensur-ing that we address any security risks.

“Additionally, we hope to sub-mit changes to the Defence Act to the Parliament this year and security staff on our bases are discussing response

plans with their local police commands for dealing with a terrorist attack.”

Mr Roberts said the review found that Defence’s security policy was appropriate to the task but in the past had focused largely on protecting Defence capability.

“Protection of people was certainly part of the protective security mission, but what had changed since the arrests in Melbourne is the notion that Defence people may constitute a terrorist target in their own right,” Mr Roberts said.

He said a whole-of-base alert system was required in the event of a serious incident such as a terrorist attack to initi-ate base emergency response plans, such as base lockdown. “We have to have a way of alerting the whole base, so that if armed people are on the base, residents can activate pre-arranged response drills and avoid danger.”

He said penalties for trespassing needed to be updated.

“Some are quite dated and not really a deterrent. We are also working to give service police appropriate powers to deal with trespassers until the civilian police arrive,” Mr Roberts said.

“As long as our security precautions are appropriate to the threat and sensible I don’t think too many will criticise us for taking steps to enhance our security, including through more effectively con-trolling access to our bases.”

For more information on the program, includ-ing security initiatives and policy changes, visit http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/BSIP/

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PROPOSED ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES� Tighter security and access control at base entry and exit points.� Electronic access control and biomet-rics at selected sites.� A possible broadening of police pres-ence at Defence establishments. � Vehicle inspections depending on the Safebase level, including provision of vehicle parking/inspection bays.� Inspection of carried items, depending on the Safebase level.� Base alert systems and base lockdown and incident response plans.

Greater focus on people

Security measures: Commandos conduct an urban assault demonstration at Holsworthy, the base that four people – who were arrested in Melbourne last year – were allegedly planning to attack.Photo by Cpl Chris Moore

Implications of security reviewDEFENCE will check the legal implications of ADF members using force to defend themselves if a base came under terrorist attack.

Chief Security Officer Frank Roberts said CDF “wants to be sure that if members acted appro-priately in genuine self defence

in these circumstances then they would not find themselves in trou-ble legally”.

“In response to a terrorist attack on a Defence base, the starting premise is that civilian police have responsibility for any armed response. But, depend-ing on where the base is, it could

take specialist police some time to arrive,” Mr Roberts said. “We need to ensure we have the legal authority for ADF members to defend themselves in the event of terrorist attack, to carry out vehi-cle and carried item inspections on entry to our bases and, when necessary, personal searches.”

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TWO members of the Force Support Unit 2 (FSU 2) were, if possible, more pleased than any of their companions to return to Australia from Afghanistan on April 17.

LCpl Brad Rhind and Cpl Nic Rodway saw the newest additions to their families for the first time.

LCpl Rhind was welcomed home by new daughter Sophie and Cpl Rodway by new son Quinn.

“It was unreal,” Cpl Rodway said. “So good to see him – I’d seen photos and some video of him, but it was noth-ing like meeting him and holding him for the first time,” he said.

“My wife and I had discussed names before I deployed but I had pretty much chosen our first son, Nathaniel’s name, so in the end, it was Holly’s decision.

“I’m on post-deployment leave and it’s great having time with the family.”

An elated LCpl Brad Rhind said he’d also discussed names with his wife before he deployed.

“We didn’t make a final decision until about a week before she was due,” he said. “It was all done long-distance from Afghanistan. It was awesome arriving home and seeing her and holding her.”

Australian Forces Commander in the Middle East Maj-Gen John Cantwell speaking at the unit’s change of com-mand parade, said FSU 2 did an out-standing job.

“I want to thank you for a thoroughly professional and excellent period of serv-ice,” Maj-Gen Cantwell said.

“Every sailor, soldier and airman can go home proud with their heads held high.”

FSU 2 comprised about 140 defence personnel from a multitude of bases around Australia. The majority of the force was an Army contingent from 10FSB in Townsville.

Commander FSU 2 Lt-Col Craig Dobson said as the unit was a joint unit, it was able to utilise the combined skills and experience of Navy, Army and Air Force personnel to deliver the right sup-port at the right time.

“Having members from all of the services working together provided my unit with a wealth of experience in ground, air and naval support,” Lt-Col Dobson said.

“I could not have asked for a better group of men and women to achieve that commitment to those we supported.”

CHAU Pha Lines at Lavarack Barracks will be the scene of great celebration on May 4 as 4 Fd Regt oficially celebrates 50 years of distin-guished service.

A regimental march and drinks on Anzac Day will be the first of a series of events marking the occasion, includ-

ing an open day, a rugby union match against Townsville District at Hugh St, the exercising of freedom of entry to Townsville on May 1 and a regimental ball at Jupiters Casino.

Point of contact is Maj Matt Finnerty regimental XO at: [email protected] or (07) 4411 7322 or visit: www.army.gov.au/4fd/ click on public relations and go to events.

Nice to meet you

Regiment marks 50 years

Back safe: Cpl Nic Rodway welcomed home by his wife Holly and sons Nathaniel, left, and Quinn (above). LCpl Brad Rhind was met by his wife Natasha and his children Lukas, right, and Sophie (inset).

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By Cpl Jane Ashby-Cliffe

EXCHANGING his war-rant for a trade, WO2 Scott Taylor will embark on a new career.

WO2 Taylor will relin-quish his rank and pay in May when he completes two years of trade training as a Technician Electrical at the Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

“Now that D-day is com-ing I have started to think ‘oh s***’ but in the long run it’s for the best and I’m past the point of no return,” WO2 Taylor said.

“It’s the unknown which concerns me, how much grief I am going to cop because of what I have done and where I have come from.

“I am not going to have my badge of responsibility to protect me any more, so I am going to have to be care-ful about what I say and not walk into the CSM and call him mate.”

WO2 Taylor enlisted on April 6, 1988, and was allo-cated to the infantry corps.

He has served with 1RAR, 6RAR, 8/9RAR and 2RAR and deployed to Somalia, East Timor and Iraq. As a CSM in 1RAR, WO2 Taylor decided it was time for a change.

“Some might call it a mid-life-crisis,” he laughed, “but I was looking for some-thing different and was keen to continue serving. I wanted a new challenge and a career which would help me post Army.”

After leaving school, WO2 Taylor enrolled in a w engi-neer and construction course which he did not complete due to enlisting in the Army.

“This was always a career that interested me so I made the necessary enquiries,” he said.

“I turned to my RSM and said ‘either talk me into this, or talk me out of it.’ He told me to go for it.”

With the end of course in sight, he looks forward to joining his family in Brisbane where he will complete 12 months of on-the-job train-ing.

“I have enjoyed all aspects of the course especially the technical side which has been extremely challenging and rewarding, and I look forward to what lies ahead,” he said.

“It is scary, but I do encourage others to give up the rank and money to pursue something that will help in the long run. A lot more peo-ple could and should do it.”

ARMY personnel living in tropical regions can look forward to better Defence housing over the next two years.

The first tropical demonstration home commis-sioned by DHA was unveiled in Darwin on March 30. It is one of 185 energy-efficient Defence houses being built in Darwin over the next two years,”

Federal Member for Solomon Damien Hall said DHA had designed a home that was cost-effective, energy-efficient and suitable for Darwin’s climate.

For more information on DHA housing in tropi-cal regions visit http://www.dha.gov.au.

THE RSL has established an online sub-branch to make membership, support and advice services more accessible to ADF members.

CDF ACM Angus Houston joined National RSL President RAdm Ken Doolan (retd) in launching the initiative.

ACM Houston said that the RSL continued to play an important role in supporting past and present ADF members.

“The RSL exists to ensure that programs are in place for the well-being, care, compensation and com-memoration of serving and ex-service members and their dependants. The ADF is also committed to these outcomes,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring that when you join the ADF you have access to a comprehensive range of benefits and support services across all aspects of your life. This online sub-branch is an excellent resource which I encourage you to utilise.”

The RSL online sub-branch is available at www.rsldefencesubbranch.com.au.

Trade ranks highly

Seachange: A new challenge sees WO2 Scott Taylor become a Cfn after training as a Technician Electrical.

RSL online for members

Tropics turn green

A SURVIVOR of the Centaur sinking, Matt Morris, died at Ringwood nursing home in the early hours of April 12.

Mr Morris was an engine greaser on board the World War II hospital ship when the Japanese submarine I-177 tor-pedoed it at 4.10am on May 14, 1943.

The death toll was the highest of any merchant vessel sunk by a submarine

in the Pacific. Of the 332 personnel on board, only 64 survived.

A memorial service for Mr Morris will be held at sea next month.

His life-long friend, Martin Pash, and shipmate Robert Westwood are the only remaining survivors.

Search teams discovered the wreck of the Centaur on December 20, 2009.

Centaur survivor dies

NEWS 9 Army April 29, 2010

By AB Melanie Schinkel

SUITABLY timed for Anzac Day, the Australian War Memorial in Canberra received two significant loans to expand its Victoria Cross collection.

Tpr Mark Donaldson presented his origi-nal VC citation on loan on April 16 and Pte Edward (Ted) Kenna’s VC – on loan from his family – was unveiled in the Hall of Valour on April 9.

The Memorial’s Assistant Director, Head of National Collections, Nola Anderson, accepted Tpr Donaldson’s citation.

“Tpr Donaldson’s extraordinary act of bravery in Afghanistan in 2008 put him in the ranks of our most courageous. The Australian War Memorial is delighted to accept this cita-tion for loan to further tell the story of this important action,” Ms Anderson said.

The first Australian soldier in almost 40 years to be awarded the VC, Tpr Donaldson received the award for his actions when his patrol was ambushed in Oruzgan province in Afghanistan on September 2, 2008. He has already loaned the Australian War Memorial his VC, which is on display in the Conflicts 1945 to Today galleries.

Ted Kenna was Australia’s last surviving World War II VC winner until his death at the age of 90 in Geelong on July 8, 2009. He

received the decoration for his actions in cap-turing a Japanese bunker on May 15, 1945, near Wewak, New Guinea.

His daughter, Marlene, looked on as his son, Rob, and Australian War Memorial Director Steve Gower unveiled the VC. Mr Gower said he was grateful to the Kenna fam-ily for the significant loan.

“As a VC winner, Ted Kenna showed remarkable and unselfish courage in the serv-ice of others. With his award now publicly displayed at the Memorial, it can be viewed by all Australians and visitors who can reflect on his gallantry,” Mr Gower said.

Mr Kenna said his father, like many VC recipients, was a modest man who did his duty.

“VC winners are humble because they know they left many good men behind, many brave men that were not recognised for valour,” he said.

“Whenever Dad spoke of the war, he spoke about the men who saved his life, not the lives he saved.”

Two loans tell stories

Above and beyond the call: Tpr Mark Donaldson VC with the citation for his award at the Australian War Memorial (above). Pte Ted Kenna’s (left) family has also handed his VC on loan to the AWM. Photos by AB Melanie Schinkel and AWM

Motorbike safety coursesARMY motorcyclists are encouraged to express their interest to undertake free rider safety courses under a devel-oping Army initiative similar to the former RideSmart scheme.

The training aims to teach riders techniques to ensure incident-free riding. Two courses will run before June at the Mt Cotton driver training

facility in Brisbane. Courses will also be available in Darwin, Townsville, Sydney and Canberra.

The courses are available to Army personnel who hold a current open or provisional licence.

Positions are limited. Enquiries to Ken Purbrick on [email protected] or (02) 6266 6341.

National security rests in the hands of the brightest mindsLeaders earn their stripes from UNSW@ADFA. You can upgrade your skills in the following short courses.

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Most of these courses can be tailored for in-house delivery.

A number of our courses can also be used as credit for eligible postgraduate programs.

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www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/bsu/coursesCricos Provider Code: 00100G


By Capt Marianne Phillips

FORTY-FIVE years ago and with four years of cadet experience as a drum major, John Balfour took what seemed to be the next logical step in his life and enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery.

As the son of a World War II search-light lieutenant mother and artillery ser-geant father, it seemed the Army was destined to play a big part of his life.

In recognition of his valuable serv-ice, Commander 2 Div Maj-Gen Craig Williams presented WO1 Balfour with the Artillery Pennant – a replica of the one that flies at the School of Artillery, Puckapunyal.

WO1 Balfour has many fond memo-ries and has made countless friends since joining 7 Fd Regt at Willoughby Depot in February 1965.

“As a reservist, most of my years were spent around Holsworthy and Singleton, but on one occasion I remem-ber sitting on top of a rocky hill on a range in Cultana, South Australia, acting as a forward observer while listening to the America’s Cup being won,” he said.

He started as a bombadier beforebecoming a signaller, a battery guide anda battery sergeant major.

As BSM he enjoyed numerous cer-emonial salutes – organising digni-tary arrivals at Mascot and on Queen’sBirthday parades.

After 20 years of service, WO1Balfour was posted to the 7 Fd Regtrecruiting officer’s position for a 10-yearperiod before being promoted to WO1 atthe ARes Recruiting Unit in Randwick.

“Recruiting has changed dramaticallyover my time, from unit processing andtesting to the current arrangement withDefence Force Recruiting and the bri-gade recruiting cells that were introducedthroughout Australia when the new con-tractors came on board in 2003,” he said.

He has thoroughly enjoyed his 25years in recruiting.

“Pulling this all together now at HQ 2Div and operating on a national basis isrewarding as it draws on all my previousrecruiting experience,” he said.

“Communication is the key to recruit-ment – Defence Force Recruiting, ArmyPersonnel Agency and the brigades mustcommunicate to work most efficiently.”

STAFF at Canungra went head-to-head on March 31 in the annual Kokoda Barracks challenge.

It came down to the wire for first place, with the tug-of-war deciding the eventual winner of the day. WO & NCO Academy took out the title with HQ LWC a close second.

The Kokoda Barracks Challenge involved teams from all local units and tested their teamwork, persever-ance and initiative in a friendly and competitive environment.

Defence Intelligence Training Centre (DIntTC) education officer Capt Brett Powell said the challenge was important as it was the only event that brought the members of all four units together.

“It’s used to demonstrate the nine core behaviours in an enjoyable way, keeping in mind that DIntTC is a tri-service unit,” Capt Powell said.

“Due to the relay nature of the event, there was only one team per unit. Each unit would have had

around 20-30 members representing their unit in the activities.”

For DIntTC’s Navy and Air Force members, the event introduced them to the lighter side of Army life, and they soon threw themselves into the activities.

Commander LWC Col Mark Frendin said the aim was to conduct a range of physically and mentally demanding events for all age groups to foster esprit de corps within Kokoda Barracks.

45 years’ service specially marked

Clash stirs passionsCliffhanger: The Kokoda Barracks challenge goes down to the wire with a tug-of-war resolving it.

Photo by WO2 Wayne Ryan

Special occasion: Commander 2 Div Maj-Gen Craig Williams, left, presents WO1 John Balfour with the Artillery Pennant. Photo by Capt Marianne Phillips

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NEWS 11 Army April 29, 2010

By Lt Carrie Miner

A MAJOR has combined his 17 years of Army experience with opportunities provided by the 2008 Chief of Army Scholarship to produce a cutting-edge quick decision exercise handbook for the contemporary battlespace.

Having already deployed to East Timor, Solomon Islands and Iraq, Maj Drew Shum, of the Land Combat Readiness Centre at Gallipoli Barracks, was exposed to operations in Afghanistan, primarily at the US counter-insurgency training centre.

With the intent of developing a new JNCO aide memoir, Maj Shum spent time with a US Brigade Combat Team, Australian Operational Mentoring Liaison Teams and Mentoring Reconstruction Task Force 1. He soon identified a requirement for a new training tool to help improve the Army’s counter-insurgency ability.

“Any training out of contact will assist in a contact. Understanding counter-insurgency isn’t enough, you need to be immersed in it and train for it,” he said.

The result was a comprehensive quick decision exercise handbook relating to

counter-insurgency and stability operations within the contemporary battlespace.

He took elements from the Army’s four main operating environments in recent years – Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and Solomon Islands – and created a new “arti-ficial province”.

“I devised a series of section, platoon and combat team-level quick-decision exercises with opportunities for broader planning at battalion and battle-group level. Each scenario provides a standard template consisting of background, topography, sit-uation and task. The training value is to make a decision, devise your own course of action, back-brief it and then take the perspective of another JNCO on how they approached the task,” he said.

The situations are relevant, having been based on the experiences of US and Australian junior leaders in a variety of operations – including the US offensive at Fallujah – and range from humanitarian tasks to open hostilities.

The handbook is invaluable reading for JNCOs and junior officers. Click on the ‘useful links’ banner on the LCRC website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/lcrc

New tool for leaders

Artificial province: Brig Peter Clay, Commander Land Combat Readiness Centre, left, congratulates Maj Drew Shum on producing the exercise handbook. Photo by LCpl Chad Anderson

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THE Australian Army Band Darwin (AAB-D) has played in concert with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra to raise $8000 for the Red Cross.

More than 100 musicians performed for an audience of 600 people at the Darwin Entertainment Centre on March 27 to raise funds for victims of the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

Bass guitarist Sgt David Miles said the concert was “a brilliant

night and knowing the profits were going to assist those in need made it that much better”.

“Playing alongside the Darwin Symphony Orchestra was a won-derful experience and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Their string sec-tion and extra percussionists are just a few of the elements which added a whole new dimension to our sound and sent shivers up my spine,” Sgt Miles said.

The performance ranged from Argentinian tangos to brass fan-fares, the 1812 Overture and orig-

inal compositions by band corps members.

Conductor AAB-D Capt Matt Chilmaid said he could not “be more proud of the band and the work they put into making this concert as good as it was”.

The AAB-D will also per-form for the Starlight Foundation in May, Government House Foundation in June and the Kununurra Hospital in October.

To make a donation visit the Red Cross website www.redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700.

By AB Melanie Schinkel

PROFESSIONAL artists, sculptors, architects, engineers and surveyors have been challenged to design a memorial that commemorates a war that occurred more than a century ago yet appeals to generations today.

The National Boer War Memorial Association officially launched the National Boer War Memorial Design Competition on April 7 at the Duntroon Officers’ Mess in Canberra.

Boer War Memorial Commit tee Chairman Col John Hayes (retd) said the memorial would acknowledge the first war Australians fought as a nation.

“The Boer War is important for all Australians, past, present and future. It is our heritage and our history,” Col Hayes said.

VCDF Lt-Gen David Hurley, Col Hayes and Dr Craig Wilcox, author of Australia’s Boer War, opened the competition and announced $74,000 would be distributed among the winning designs.

The design competition is a two-stage process, which will lead to the winning design being built on Anzac Parade between the New Zealand Memorial and Desert Mounted Corps Memorial in Canberra.

Lt-Gen Hurley said the competition would push designers to express the roots of Australia’s formation to both modern Australian and foreign audiences.

“Designers who enter this competition

are in for a challenge as they need to cap-ture the realities and myths of the war cam-paign and the thinking of the Australian people at the time,” he said.

“The design also needs to speak to mod-ern generations, 110 years after the war.”

The Boer War, fought in South Africa between 1899 and 1902, was Australia’s third costliest war. Up to 1000 Australian troops died from combat, disease or acci-dents, and thousands more were wound-ed. The Victoria Cross was awarded to six Australians and an additional 161 bravery medals were earned.

In 1901, halfway through the fighting, Australia was federated. More than 20,000 Australians fought overseas and 26,000 oth-ers joined the militia and rifle club, just in case the conflict expanded. Almost 50,000 horses left Australia to assist the Army. Two out of every three of those horses died from disease or overwork and the rest never returned home.

Lt-Gen Hurley said the Boer War Memorial would cost about $3 million to complete.

“Members of the ADF have already donated about $10,000 towards the memo-rial’s construction, which indicates a lot of interest among the military and young peo-ple in particular,” Lt-Gen Hurley said.

Support is being sought Australia-wide and internationally to assist with funding the memorial.

To donate towards the memorial’s creation or to enter the design competition visit www.bmw.org.au

Our history in memorial

Symphonic sounds: Sgt Adam McNeill, Musn Iiona Retallack and WO2 Geoff Carter during a rehearsal with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra at Charles Darwin University. Photo by AB James Whittle

Blowing big for charity

Master of Psychology (Occupational Mental Health)

The Australian Defence Force in conjunction with the University of Adelaide is offering a unique new University program that has been developed to enhance professional skills in the fi eld of Defence Force Psychology.

Successful graduates will gain a broad understanding of Defence psychology and as well as develop the relevant skills and training relating to mental health promotion and clinical practice.

The application form and details of the course can be found at www.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/programs/post/momh

For additional information regarding the course contact

Mr Shane Latimer, National Training Coordinator,ADF Centre for Mental Health

[email protected]

14 WORLD NEWS Army April 29, 2010

By Capt Al McPherson

AN AUSTRALIAN-run Trade Training School (TTS) teaching young Afghan men valuable carpentry skills in Tarin Kowt is set to expand.

T h e s c h o o l , e s t a b l i s h e d b y Reconstruction Task Force 1 in 2006, is now run by personnel from Mentoring Task Force 1.

Cpl Brett Corrigan said the school was making a tangible difference to the lives of many young Afghan men in Tarin Kowt and would expand when a portable facility was set up in the Chora region..

“This is my second rotation at the TTS. I was here on RTF 4 and the school has grown with new wood-work-ing machinery provided by AusAID and tool kits for graduates also provided by

AusAID,” Cpl Corrigan said. “The aim is for locals to take over teaching locals.”

Since 2006 the TTS has graduated around 200 young men. One of those graduates, Najib Bulah, now holds quali-fications similar to that of a fourth-year apprentice in carpentry with trainer qual-ifications in plumbing.

He is teaching other Afghans and will instruct at the new facility. He has been with the TTS since its inception.

“Before, there wasn’t any local work but now it is changing and there are local jobs. The school is good for us and the community benefits from it,” Najib said.

Many TTS graduates now maintain jobs with international construction con-tractors in Tarin Kowt and elsewhere. A number of graduates have also been employed by local construction firms.

Building on better lives

Do it like this mate: LCpl Warren Stevens, MTF 1, tutors Afghan trainees at the Trade Training School. Photo by Sgt Mick Davis

By Flt-Lt Michael McGirr

EVER since Sgt Peter Dougherty followed in his older brother WO2 Vince Dougherty’s footsteps and joined the Army in 1998, the two have frequently been posted to the same unit shortly after the other has posted out.

They’ve even completed the same deployment only rotations apart but they had not managed to spend much time with each other – until now.

In the most unlikely of places, the two brothers, WO2 Dougherty, 7CSSB, and Sgt Dougherty, 10FSB, have crossed paths in the United Arab Emirates at the Australian support base for operations in Afghanistan, the Gulf and Iraq.

WO2 Dougherty said the brief catch up was probably the longest time they’ve seen each other in 12 years.

“We’ve generally been catching up here every night when we can,” WO2 Dougherty said.

Born seven years apart, the brothers were keen sportsmen and attracted the same nickname, ‘Dog’, for their intensity when chasing the ball.

WO2 Dougherty joined the Army in 1986 and after watching his brother go through the ranks, Sgt Dougherty decided the lifestyle was also for him.

“I saw that my brother was having a good life, being paid to keep fit and looking after his kids well,” he said.

Sgt Dougherty has just finished an eight-month deployment as a warehouse supervisor with Force Support Unit 2. His brother is just beginning a deploy-ment as the Operations warrant officer with the unit’s next rotation, Force Support Unit 3.

WO2 Dougherty said the accommodation cell knew they were brothers and they allocated him to take over the same room as his brother when he left.

“He didn’t even make the bed,” he said of his brother, with a laugh. “I left him a lot of Broncos stuff in the room because he hates the Broncos,” added Sgt Dougherty.

Dogs have their day

Double trouble: Sgt Peter Dougherty, left, and big brother WO2 Vince Dougherty catch up in the United Arab Emirates. Photo by Sgt Brent Tero

NSW Branch (02) 9682 1788 [email protected]

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WORLD NEWS 15 Army April 29, 2010

By LAC Aaron Curran

AFTER four years, the ADF’s home in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul has moved to a new location at Kabul International Airport (KAIA).

Affectionately known as Aussie House, the former HQ in the Green Zone served the ADF well. However, the new HQ was needed to accom-modate an expanding number of per-sonnel.

The new HQ, located at a multi-national facility at the KAIA North, is more traditional in its set-up than its predecessor.

Aussie House served as a HQ, accommodation, mess, recreation area and a car park all rolled into one. Personnel of all ranks worked and lived within a very small area.

D e p u t y C o m m a n d e r J T F 633 – Afghanistan Brig Wayne Budd said the move to KAIA North was administratively beneficial.

“The movements staff will actually be where they work the whole time,” he said.

“They previously had to convoy to

the airport to meet aircraft and then come back to Aussie House because all their admin was done there.

“Also the move means we are going to be where the bulk of our peo-ple are, therefore reducing some of the administrative burdens on everyone.”

The decis ion to move was made a few years ago because the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) HQ plans to shift to KAIA from its present location in the Green Zone.

“There is a multi-national building program that Australia signed up to so as to secure a footprint in KAIA North,” Brig Budd said.

“ISAF Joint Command is the HQ that ‘fights the war’ and was already established at KAIA North. We are now very close to them and that ben-efits us because what they do directly relates to the fight in Oruzgan.”

At KAIA North, the ADF has 26 rooms in the new 120-room office building with accommoda-tion for all personnel of HQ JTF 633 – Afghanistan in another building.

Up to 70 ADF personnel will be

permanently stationed at KAIA North. The new facilities will also accommo-date visiting VIPs, delegations, sup-port staff and aircrew.

“We had that extra capacity fac-tored into the plans,” Brig Budd said.

“It is a shame to be leaving Aussie House but the fact is we have simply outgrown it.”

Aussie House was originally two adjoining houses with a wall demolished to make it into one area. This also allowed two up-armoured Landcruisers to fit into the compound.

“Since 2006 we have been a tight-knit 20-odd person community with our own cook and local national staff. Considering how close we work and live together, it has been rewarding. This helped create the personality of the HQ and with the move to a new location we will have to work hard to try and retain that,” Brig Budd said.

Asked what he would most remem-ber about Aussie House, he said with a smile: “Every time a large bomb went off nearby I judged the size and distance of it by checking whether the kitchen window had fallen out again.”

ADF outgrows its HQ

Nostalgic: Deputy Commander JTF 633-A Brig Wayne Budd stands at the front gate of Aussie House in Kabul (above). His driver, LCpl Laura Fitzgerald, views their new accommodation through the bottom of a new chair (right).

Photos by LAC Aaron Curran



Career opportunityBecome a Military ReporterArmy newspaper is taking applications from soldiers interested in becoming a Cpl Military Reporter.

Army reporters cover a range of ADF activities from peace-keeping and humanitarian operations to exercises and war-fighting operations.

Applicants must have completed the Junior Leaders’ Course as a minimum requirement and be AIRN compliant.For more information contact:

The Editor, David EdlingtonPhone (02) 6266 7609 or email [email protected].

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16 WORLD NEWS Army April 29, 2010

Mine-blowing experienceBy Sharon Palmer

AUSSIE rules is an explosive sport and none more so than for the players in the inaugural Afghan Hawks Cup match played on a former minefield at Bagram Airfield (BAF) in Afghanistan. Fortunately, it went off without a bang.

Maj Damien Cox, match organ-iser and then OC of the Mine Action Centre (MAC) at the airfield, said organising the game played on March 22 was no easy feat.

“The southern boundary of the ‘football oval’ was part of an active fenced minefield so it was lucky Hawthorn donated three footballs so had a ball ended up in the minefield, there was a contingency to continue with the game,” he said.

“We gave a 99.6 per cent guarantee that our clearing job on what had been a minefield up until November last year, had been suc-cessful.

“With the help of some US engi-neers we managed to level the site and turn it into some sort of field with camouflage net poles set up as goal posts.”

Embedded to lead the MAC for six months, Maj Cox said the game was a long time in the making.

“I was always going to have to introduce the Yanks to the game,” he said.

“So we started having a kick around on a Sunday afternoon and I started scouting around for jumpers late last year with the intention of playing the game around Christmas time.

“But things got a bit topsy-turvy here around then with the American surge in Afghanistan so it just kept getting delayed.

“The field we cleared to play on was also about 7km from where we were on the other side of the air-field and not everyone had access to vehicles so it was difficult getting everyone there and back.”

With the help of his broth-er, Kevin, who knew Hawthorn’s operations manager Mark Evans, Maj Cox managed to secure enough guernseys for two teams, a few foot-balls and some promotional material from the Hawks.

� BAF is a US militarised airport and housing complex next to the ancient city of Bagram, 11km SE of Charikar in Parwan province.� It played a key role dur-ing the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979-1989) serv-ing as the initial staging point for invading Soviet forces. � Afghanistan was heavily mined by Soviet forces dur-ing its 10-year occupation, ending in February 1989.� Then, as the Taliban and Northern Alliance fought, they continued to lay mines to protect their supply routes, airfields and front lines.� In 2002 a Mine Action Centre (MAC) was estab-lished to remove the mines.� Since its establishment, the MAC has been led by Australian Army engineer officers.

Quick hands: Maj Damien Cox shoots off a handball in the Afghan Hawks Cup played at Bagram Airfield, above. The fenced area behind him is still a live minefield.Wrapped up: Maj Cox lays a tackle on LAC Owen, 82nd Airborne Division, right.

“The ironic part is that at the time we approached the Hawthorn Football Club they were about to undertake the Kokoda track as part of their pre-season training and bonding,” he said.

And, while he said wearing a Hawthorn guernsey did not sit well on an avid Tigers supporter, he wore the Hawks colours with pride on the day.

“The Hawks have now got a significant new supporter base span-ning from New Zealand to the US,” Maj Cox said.

The game was played on the day he handed over authority for his position before returning to Australia. He was the only one who knew the game and the rules.

“I was getting desperate and run-ning out of time and really wanted to be involved in the game so when we gathered for my last day I said ‘I’d like one more favour’ and then quickly explained the rules to those present and the game got under way,” he said.

“There are 28,000 personnel based at BAF and only about six ADF personnel, so finding anoth-er Aussie was not easy as we all worked in different areas and were a long way away from each other.”

The teams consisted of person-

nel from US 82 Airborne Division, 372 Engineers Brigade (Alabama National Guard) and the New Zealand Defence Force.

The teams were divided into the 82 Airborne Division, who wore brown guernseys, and the Barbarians, who wore the yellow guernseys.

“After a physical first half, the 82

Airborne Division edged in front by two goals with the Barbarians fight-ing back to get within seven points in the second half, but the 82s ran out winners by eight points,” Maj Cox said.

Each member received promo-tional gifts from Hawthorn Football Club and man of the match Maj Rik Anderson from NZDF won the Hawthorn barbecue utensil set.

Maj Cox said he got the players from both teams to sign a jumper which was on its way back from Afghanistan along with a mine sign and a certificate of apprecia-tion, which he would present to the Hawthorn Football Club.

“They did a great thing and I stressed to the lads what a good thing it was for us and it really lifted morale. So this is our way of saying thanks for thinking of us.”

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18 CENTREPIECE Army April 29, 2010 19

Photos: LCpl Mark Doran

Townsville came out in force to herald the home-coming of ADF personnel from eight contingents.

All smiles: CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie happy to be at the welcome home parade.

Mascot dedication: Sgt Septimus Quartus, 1RAR’s mascot, is led onto the parade ground by Pte Daniel Halliday. Sgt Quartus is bearing a wreath in honour of Pte Benjamin Renaudo who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009.

PRIDE ON PARADEWell done: Col Peter Connolly, the first Commander of MRTF 2, watches the parade.

Line-up: Inspecting the parade’s honor guard are, left to right, CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie, Capt Andrew Bassingthwaighte, B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt, Commander of the Honour Guard, and Veterans’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin.

Family ties: LCpl Kurt Thompson, B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt, joins his wife Erica and children, left to right, Isla, Kalani and Johanna after the Townsville welcome home parade. LCpl Thompson missed the birth of Isla while serving with MRTF 2 in Afghanistan.

FAMILY, friends a n d s u p -p o r t e r s f r o m t h e

Townsvil le com-m u n i t y a t t e n d e d Lavarack Barracks in droves on April 10 to for-mally welcome home ADF per-sonnel from operations all over the world.

More than 2000 peo-ple attended the parade to welcome and thank the soldiers who had served in eight separate contingents from East Timor to the Middle East.

CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie said the Townsville community’s pride in its Defence Force personnel set an example for the entire nation.

“I think the Townsville community is leading the way in the country when it comes to community engagement with the ADF,” Lt-Gen Gillespie said.

“The Townsville community is outstand-ing and the support they provide is really treasured.”

Commander 3 Bde Brig Stuart Smith, said he was touched to see so many people turn out to pay tribute to the extraordinary contribution made by the Townsville-based ADF personnel.

“Like anyone who has done a difficult job, it’s nice to be told that you’ve done the job well and that people appreciate the serv-ice you’ve provided – and that’s the purpose of this parade,” Brig Smith said.

“It’s also important to say thank you to the families who have been patient while their loved ones have been away.”

LCpl Kurt Thompson, B Sqn, 3/4 Cav Regt, missed the birth of his third child Isla, now eight months old, while he was on deployment in Afghanistan with Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 2. He said he loved soldiering, but nothing could replace coming home to family.

“Today is a tribute to our families as much as it is for us,” LCpl Thompson said.

Townsville’s welcome home parade hon-oured soldiers from eight contingents:

� Security Detachment 16 (Baghdad). � Force Communication Unit II (MEAO).� Force Communication Element II

(East Timor).� Timor Leste Battle Group 6 (East

Timor).� Mentoring and Reconstruction Task

Force 2 (Afghanistan).� Operation Herrick (Afghanistan).� Timor Leste Aviation Group

(East Timor).� Rotary Wing Group (Afghanistan).

WHO’S HOME?

The parade also paid tribute to Pte Benjamin Ranaudo, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009, with 1RAR’s mascot Sgt Septimus Quartus carrying a wreath on parade in his honour.

Following the parade, family and guests were invited to look at a range of vehicles and equipment used by the soldiers on their tours – including samples of Bushmasters that were credited with saving many lives in Afghanistan.Welcome home: ADF personnel stand at ease as a Black Hawk and Chinook conduct a fly past over Lavarack Barracks during the welcome home parade.

Honoured: LCpl Ryan Macnamara, B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt, salutes from a Bushmaster at the parade.

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THERE has been no change to relevant ASODs regard-ing rank indicators used on protective dress. I have been unable to get the older DPCU-style rank patches for my protective dress uni-forms.

My Q-store has told me that the old ones are no long-er manufactured and they are using up old stock.

The Q-store has run out of patches of corporal rank and have been unable to source any from other units.

To comply with ASODs, what should I use in their

place, and is there a long-term solution in the mill? Cpl John Stripsky20 STA RegtGallipoli Barracks, Brisbane

Maj Rebecca Talbot, SO2 Clothing and Personal Equipment, AHQ, responds: UNFORTUNATELY i t seems your Q-store has received and passed on incorrect advice wi th regard to the DPCU rank patches you requested.

These items have not been superseded or removed from service, they are still

being manufactured and are available in large quantities through the system.

I suggest you speak with your Q-store staff again and request the following to be ordered: insignia, grade, enlisted personnel, corporal, two-bar, field service, disrup-tive pattern using the stock code 66-130-3679.

If you continue to receive information contrary to what I have provided here, please staff this through the logis-tic chain of command who should provide clarification to the Q-store.

I ACCEPT that the Strategic Reform Program requires belt tightening and fiscal responsibility by Army, and if the chosen vehicle for savings at this time is cuts to ARes training days so be it.

That said, given these cuts, does Army intend to also proportionally cut members’ obligations to qualify for High Readiness Reserve (HRR) completion bonuses?

Reduced parade card activities (Tuesday night and weekend training) for my unit means that, to satisfy 32 days required by my HRR service agreement, I will need to complete two periods of 16 days continu-ous military training, which is above and beyond the requirements of the ARes in general and the HRR service agreement. That is provided I can find and be panelled on two suitable periods of block training.

This is an interesting conundrum and the failing I predict is that if 32 days is not achieved the financial detriment will lie with the member with little avenue for recourse.Pte Ian Layzell4/3RNSWRCanberra

Brig Iain Spence, DGRes-A, responds: YOUR letter raises two issues: a reduction in the ARes training days (ARTD) available to you, and the effect on your ability to meet your HRR obliga-tions and qualify for the completion bonus.

First, any reduction you have experienced in ARTD within financial year 09/10 is not linked to the SRP. The total Army budget for ARTD was in fact larger for training year (TY) 09/10 than for 08/09, but several factors have caused a reduction of ARTD in parts of the reserve.

As part of the wider Defence White Paper require-ment and to fix imbalances within Army, Army has reviewed its priorities to ensure a greater emphasis on operational and capability outputs. This has meant that resources have been moved within the ARes, with some units getting less money than last year and others getting more. In addition, there are around 1000 more reservists than there were a year ago – all drawing on the same pool of pay. The effects of these two main factors were unfortunately initially compounded by a delay in compensating formations for the effects of the pay rises under the Graded Officers Pay Structure and the Graded Other Ranks Pay Structure.

Because the ARA was under-strength in previous years, pressures like these could have been overcome by topping up the ARTD budget from the full-time sal-ary vote. This was not possible in TY 09/10 as the ARA is now over-strength (and will be for several years).

Finally, pressures this year have revealed deficien-cies in the way Army allocates and manages ARTD. Army has recognised that there is a lack of responsive-ness and flexibility in some areas and is actively work-ing to improve the system for future training years. The VCDF has also set up a review of reserve salary management across the three services. However, the simple fact is that increased numbers in the reserve and a full- or over-strength ARA means that the days of almost unlimited ARTD are over and Army is going to have to get better at living within its means.

In respect to the second issue, there is good news. As you know, HRR members have an annual mandatory training obligation of a minimum of 32 days’ service a year, divided into continuous and non-continuous military training (CMT and NCMT). Forces Command advise that the current 4/3RNSWR parade card pro-vides for one 16-day CMT plus NCMT of six two-day weekends (total 12 days) and 20 half-day Tuesday nights (total 10 days). You therefore have 38 days of CMT and NCMT in which to meet your minimum 32-day HRR obligation, with no changes expected for the TY 10-11.

While on the surface this doesn’t appear to give you much flexibility, in addition to the training opportuni-ties available at 4/3RNSWR, all HRR members should have been advised of training/parade opportunities outside of their unit/brigade directed activities. Those opportunities include support to 5 Bde Combined Arms Training Activity; SUR and UNSWR IET courses (ongoing throughout the training year with a five-day minimum/28-day maximum commitment); RMC First Appointment Course training; and a range of indi-vidual training and qualification courses available for ECN 343.

I suggest you speak with your chain of command on how best to tailor the available opportunities to suit your particular circumstances and meet your obliga-tions. Any other HRR members who are concerned about meeting their obligations should also speak to their units – the earlier a problem is raised in this area the better the chance of solving it.

20 LETTERS AND VIEWPOINTS Army April 29, 2010

No catch with patch Shift of resources in ARes

■ Preference is given to letters under 300 words.

■ All letter writers must include their name, unit, location and contact number for purposes of verification.

■ Letters might be rejected if they are too long, abusive or can be answered by the author’s unit.

■ Efforts will be made to seek offi-cial responses, where appropriate, but responses are not guaranteed.

■ Email letters to [email protected] or via mail to Army newspaper, R8-LG-038, Russell Offices, ACT 2600.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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The Commanding Offi cer, LTCOL James Murray, cordially invites friends and family both past and present to celebrate the 50th Birthday of the 1st Signal Regiment.

To mark this auspicious occasion, the following events will take place on 05 June 2010 at Gallipoli Barracks:

0900h – 1000h Regimental Parade with the Princess Anne Banner

1100h – 1400h Regimental Open Day

1930h – 0100h Regimental Ball (Entry by ticket only)

1st SIGNAL REGIMENT 50th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

05 JUNE 2010There will be plenty of entertainment for children and adults alike including a bouncy castle, face painting, BBQ, kid’s assault course and much more throughout the day.

Mark out your diary for 05 June 2010 and come along and have a great day! I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, for further details or information on any of the events listed above please contact either;

CAPT Mike Armstrong on 07 3332 6463 ([email protected]) or

WO1 (RSM) Danny Smith on 07 3332 6260([email protected]) Many thanks.

I WISH to comment on the decision of the Personnel Steering Group in reference to the latest adjustments to casual meal charges as advised by Defgram 175/2010 and signal.

The reason given for the rounding up to whole dollars in order to make the handling of money and purchase simpler for members and mess staff is a farce.

I’m sure Defence members would not agree on this reason. The mess is a service pro-vider with cash able to give change, even if 5c. Imagine the uproar if the price of a beer was rounded up.

The new charges range from 25c to 80c and I realise perhaps the new charges may also have been higher.

I also believe this decision has set a prec-edent whereby this process is being done instead of the normal annual adjustment.

Can we now expect the decision-makers to continue rounding up and make a two-line statement each year. Will this now be applied to LIA charges, meals and other charges based on external factors and influence?WO2 James Waller7RARRobertson Barracks, Darwin

Maj Sharon Purcell, SO2 Personnel Policy, DGPers-A, responds:FOLLOWING a series of internal reviews, the casual meal debit process in messes was acknowledged as highly inefficient and the manual effort through the process came at a high transactional cost.

In the interest of efficiency and to reduce the incidence of fraud within the messes, a new method of payment for casual meals was introduced in February for messes run by the Defence Support Group (DSG).

The changes meant the method of payment for casual meals within DSG administered messes is now limited to ongoing salary deduc-tions for those who are paying the fortnightly meal charge (for example living-in members) or cash payments at the point of sale.

In the interest of improving overall efficien-cies with regard to casual meals, the Personnel Steering Group (on which the three services are represented) decided that with effect from April 12, casual meal charges will be rounded up to the next whole dollar.

The review analysis determined that man-ual handling and processing costs for casual meals far outweighed the value of the indi-vidual meal charges, which ranged from $3.75 to $6.20.

Rounding of the charges to whole dollars will make the handling of money and purchase of meals in messes simpler for both members and mess staff.

The rounding up or down to the nearest dollar is the only adjustment that will occur in respect of casual meal charges in 2010.

Furthermore, these adjustments to casual meal charges in 2010 are being made in isola-tion of adjustments to fortnightly meal charges. Fortnightly meal charges will be adjusted as normal in mid-2010 and based on the move-ment in the food component of the Consumer Price Index.

Rounding down of all casual meal charges was not considered as it is forecast that the fortnightly charge will increase at the mid-year adjustment, and it would not be equitable to increase meal charges for members eat-ing in the mess for most of their meals, while decreasing the charge for those who dine-in on a casual basis.

Consideration was given to applying stand-

22 LETTERS AND VIEWPOINTS Army April 29, 2010

RSM-A’s FAQs

I READ Defgram 800/2009 – Change to Process for Payment of Casual Meals with a mix of disbe-lief and disappointment.

The bottom line is that most members who previ-ously swiped their Defence ID card for meals will now have to pay cash at the point of sale. I am at a loss as to how a change from an automated system back to a man-power reliant system could provide a net saving to Defence.

There is an attempt at justifying the change in the Defgram, stating that “there was considerable manual handling of documentation and high processing effort required to action casual meal charges”.

Are we sure we are not just pushing the cost of the money handling on to contracted mess staff, which will in turn show up in an increased cost of the support contract when it is next reviewed? Surely the Strategic Reform Program is better than pushing budget responsibilities around?

More importantly, however, I am concerned for the young and sometimes irresponsible soldiers who split their rations and quarters. I command a wing at ALTC and some soldiers here regularly run out of money during the week leading up to pay day.

I am advised that I cannot order the soldiers not to split their full rations and quarters. So I am left scratching my head wondering how a minority of trainees will feed themselves in the days leading up to pay day. Are we overlooking our duty of care in an attempt to save some dollars?

If there is a “high processing effort” in collecting the payment for casual meals, perhaps it would be better to review and improve the process rather than turn off a good automated system and go back a tech-nological step.Maj Benjamin HaringtonASEMELatchford Barracks, Bonegilla

This next step in the casual meal charges process serves to meet the requirements of review recommendations regarding casual meals.

These include: simple to administer proc-esses, improved audit compliance and a reduced potential for fraud.

This will also provide the ability to col-lect and report on revenue more easily. There will be minimal implementation costs and the change is able to be implemented immediately.

Charges hard to swalloward mathematical rounding (i.e down from 49c and up from 50c), however, a number of vari-ables were considered and rounding up was the most equitable for all ranks.

Members should note that these meal charges remain heavily subsidised by Defence.

What does this mean in the future? In future, annual adjustments will be rounded up, however, the calculation will be applied to the base charge and not the rounded figure. The new base figure will then be rounded. The CPI indexation will be absorbed until the next dol-lar is reached.

1. a) a CPL or lower b) a trainee 4.00 5.00 5.00

2. a) a SGT or higher non-commissioned rank b) a WO 5.00 6.00 6.00

3. an officer (other than trainee) 5.00 7.00 7.00

Item Rank Charges

NEW CASUAL MEAL CHARGES

Swipe taken at changes

Q: What is the Army providing for me in addressing assistance or advice on compensation and wel-fare issues?A: Compensation: A recent Army casualty administration support ini-tiative has been put in place by CA and is outlined in DI(A) Pers 33-11 – Army Casualty Administration and Support Framework. A key focus of CAS-A is to promote the submis-sion of claims for compensation as soon as practicable. In the initial roll-out of this framework and to achieve the compensation submis-sion outcome, CAS-A has engaged in most capital cities an initial 10 ARes soldiers, known as Regional Casualty Administration Support Officers (RCASO). They assist sol-diers suffering an acute Defence-caused injury/illness or serious battle casualty to lodge with the Military

Rehabili tation Compensation C o m m i s s i o n delegate a com-pensation claim for early deter-mination. The RCASOs are an AHQ resource a n d c a n b e t a s k e d b y a

casualty’s CO requesting CAS-A in Canberra to provide assistance. There is nothing preventing an injured soldier from engaging with an ex-service community organi-sation claims advocate to provide assistance. Please ensure the advo-cate has completed the relevant training provided by the Returned Service League on behalf of the Veteran’s Affairs Department.

Welfare: DI(A) Pers 33-6

– Welfare Responsibilities in the Army gives the framework neces-sary for the ultimate responsibility to be exercised by the CA. At unit level, CO/OCs exercise the CA’s responsibility in relation to per-sonal, domestic, economic or social problems affecting the morale and effectiveness ultimately impacting on Army’s capability. When dealing with a soldier who presents with administrative issues, a CO chairs a Personal Review Board. However, if a soldier’s efficiency is related to a presenting medical issue, the CO should appoint a unit welfare officer to work closely with the affected soldier and then chair an Individual or Unit Welfare Board. Key stake-holders should attend this forum to provide medical, psychological, rehabilitation or administrative sup-port to the injured or ill soldier.

Compo and welfare support

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TRAINING 23Army April 29, 2010

By Lt Jesse Platz

A GRUELLING warfighter exer-cise for 3RAR’s C Coy has served to sharpen jungle tactics and certify the new Ready Combat Team.

During the exercise in Townsville and Tully from March 15-26, Combat Team Charlie came in for scrutiny from the Combat Training Centre (CTC) and more than 20 observer trainers (OTs).

The missions at Mt Stuart, High Range and Tully, included securing enemy strongholds, undertaking key leadership engagements, interacting with civilians, catering for the media, detaining suspect targets and perfect-ing casualty evacuations.

Charlie Company OC Maj Travis Gordon said the exercise was a perfect way to posture the online team.

“It was an excellent training oppor-tunity,” he said. “The learning out-comes my soldiers and I have received have been unbelievable,” he said.

His men achieved the objectives amid embedded enemy, civilian and allied security force role players.

Conditions in Tully didn’t stray from their notorious nature, raining for almost three days.

“The soldiers didn’t get a lot of sleep, there wasn’t a lot of time to eat, but they worked hard,” Maj Gordon said.

Traditionally, Exercise Warfighter is used only as a training experience, but this was the first time it contributed to the online status of an armed con-tingent.

CTC-Live CO Lt-Col Scott Tatnell praised the success of the exercise and its participants.

“I think the company has done well, especially considering the conditions. They were well-weighted with tripods and mortars which they carried through

the jungle. Given the conditions and the tempo of operations we thought there was a chance of fratricide but it didn’t occur which was also good,” he said.

CTC used state-of-the-art technol-ogy to facilitate the review process and the realism of the event. Rifles and armour were equipped with laser devices as part of the Live Simulation, Range Instrumentation and Information System (LIS),” Lt-Col Tatnell said.

“We are able to track every soldier on the battlefield, we can track every time a soldier fires, every time that reg-isters as a hit on the opposing force, a missed shot or even fratricide.”

After the High Range phase, CTC went through the after action review process to identify areas to sustain and improve on.

Significant improvements were seen in areas of command and control, infantry minor tactics, rehearsals and casevac procedures.

“We then came to Tully, a more complex environment and the Combat Team improved its command and con-trol processes, the orders given were more timely, we conducted more detailed rehearsals and realised the importance of doing tasks efficiently,” Lt-Col Tatnell said.

Maj Gordon has been fine tun-ing his men since taking command in January this year.

“It’s quite a new command and the company as a whole had a significant amount of turnover last year, so there are some new bricks and teams that are forming and this exercise has solidified some of those relationships so that we can have a good start point,” he said.

The exercise consisted of members from Charlie and Bravo Company, Support Company, engineers, military police, logistics personnel and medics.

Sharpening online tactics

Guidance: Combat Training Centre observer trainer Capt Levon Lambert instructs Pte Joshua Sheehan, 3RAR, during Exercise Warfighter.Preparation: Pte Shannon Fuller, left, and Pte Nicholas Kavanagh prepare their weapon for action during the Tully phase of Exercise Warfighter. Photos by LAC Leigh Cameron

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24 TRAINING Army April 29, 2010

By Cpl Zenith King

SMOKE and white phosphorus filled the air as soldiers from A Fd Bty provided indirect-fire support to the field phase of a Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) course at Singleton.

The four-week course, run by the RAAF’s No. 4 Sqn, trains members who, from a forward posi-tion, direct combat aircraft engaged in offensive air operations.

Members of A Fd Bty deployed to Singleton from March 21-26 to provide artillery support to the field phase of the activity – part of the evalua-tion and certification phase of the JTAC course.

Battery captain, A Fd Bty, Capt Peter Watkins said it was important for the battery, and the RAA in general, to have people trained as JTACs.

“Fast air is the most readily-available offen-sive support asset in theatres of war right now,” Capt Watkins said.

“Without JTAC’s, our combat teams overseas wouldn’t be able to take full advantage of that asset or have the protection that fast air affords.”

He said the qualities JTACs required were a higher-than-average aptitude, the ability to rap-idly absorb information and make split-second decisions.

To help the jet pilots see the target, trainees, assisted by a forward observer, called for smoke or white phosphorous rounds from a gun, ena-bling the jets to rapidly identify and engage a target.

During the field component, trainees com-pleted between 25 to 35 live controls to gain their course competencies. A Fd Bty provided a gun line and joint fire teams.

British soldier Bdr Wayne Fotherby, in Australia on Exercise Long Look for four months, performed the role of 2IC for the No. 1 gun during the live-fire activity.

“While we do perform similar training in the UK, we never get to use live jets, so this was dif-ferent for me,” Bdr Fotherby said.

Capt Watkins said the training was successful as “there are now seven more JTACs in the ADF, which is a great result”.

The JTAC course, which covered aspects of controlling close-air-support aircraft in all aspects of war fighting, is open to members of both the Army and Air Force. To be considered, soldiers must first perform well during the joint-fires observer module on their forward observers’ course at the School of Artillery.

High fliers hit the spot

Artillery support: Bdr Wayne Fotherby, from England, assists A Fd Bty members on the gun line (above).

Fast mover: An F-111 on a bomb run at Singleton (below).

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A HOSTILE force posing as members of the local community breached the security of a forward operating base during RMC’s Battle Block 1A from March 5-29.

Senior instructor Maj James Kidd said the staff cadets quickly recovered their position after being caught off guard during the train-ing in Tin Can Bay and Cooloola Cove in Queensland.

“The results could not have been better if they were planned. The staff cadets learned many valuable lessons on what could happen on operations,” Maj Kidd said.

Battle Block 1A included a series of practical assessments on stability activities such as crowd control, vehicle checkpoints, urban patrolling and vital-asset protection. It also tested staff cadets on their command and leadership skills at platoon level.

“We were able to create a realistic train-ing environment through the exercise sce-narios which were based on lessons learnt by Army on current operations,” Maj Kidd said.

“The local community were extremely helpful and very supportive of the exercise and not afraid to get involved.”

The exercise included about 90 staff cadets and 100 support staff. It was heavily supported by Queensland-based units.

Breach a test of skills

Simulation: RMC staff cadets (top right) move in with riot gear as they prepare to disperse an angry mob of protesters as part of their Battle Block Exercise. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

Alert: SCdt Ashley Jones (right) provides security during cordon and search training. Photo by Cpl Raymond Vance

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ACCIDENTS often attract onlookers but not too many medics would have a general watching their life-saving efforts.

That was the case for medics and support staff of Health Coy, 3CSSB, who took part in a simulated cas-ualty exercise under the watchful eyes of Commander Forcomd Maj-Gen David Morrison, Commander 3 Bde Brig Stuart Smith, as well as many interested sol-diers at Lavarack Barracks on April 19.

In the scenario, the driver of a car with three pas-sengers loses control and hits a bystander, who is crushed between the car and a tree.

The medical personnel are required to provide the emergency response before evacuating the casualties.

Training sergeant Nicola Turner said the exercise was a small demonstration of how Health Coy oper-ated using external sources including an Emergency Response Service (ERS) capability.

“The coordination between the different agencies is always a vital asset to our training,” Sgt Turner said.

The ERS Tp from 25 Spt Sqn, 3CER, worked quickly to dismantle the vehicle and allow access to the casualties.

“With the appropriate cries of distress and agony, the casualties played their roles well and brought a sense of realism to the training,” Sgt Turner said.

The casualties were moved to a resuscitation bay for further treatment and prepared for evacuation.

“The resus team training enables all members to work in cohesion especially when push comes to shove,” Sgt Turner said. “Everybody knows their role and that is to save lives.”

Lavarack’s life savers

Emergency: Spr Jackson Harris attends to Pte Bianca Pihodnya, 3CSSB, (top left) while (above) Pte Laura Sedgwick, 3 Bde, left, SMO Lt-Col Robert Likeman, Lt Jessica Palling and LCpl Chris Brownley attend to casualty, Pte Aliesha King. Photos by LCpl Mark Doran

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By Capt Cam Ward

A GLITTERING prize was foremost in the minds of 100 enterprising Australian Army

Cadets (AAC) and Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) over the Easter holidays.

The cadets’ focus had nothing to do with foil-covered chocolate but something more sig-nificant – the highest accolade they could wear on their uniform.

The occas ion was the national Adventure Training Award (ATA) and their goal was the prized ATA “Boomerang and

Torch” badge.This year’s ATA was signifi-

cant – for the first time in more than a decade, members of the AAFC joined their AAC coun-terparts. For six days and five nights their home was the bush-land of the Buckland Military Training Area north of Hobart.

As was the case in 2009, the ATA was conducted by Victoria Aus t r a l i an Army Cade t s Brigade, under the command of Lt-Col (AAC) Don Shearman, himself a previous recipient of the ATA.

“The ATA is not an event to be taken lightly or underesti-mated. Just to get here required each cadet to be nominated by their home unit and then pass a

barrier test,” Lt-Col Shearman said.

“It says something about the regard they hold the ATA in that so many young people from around Australia would willing-ly give up such a large part of their holidays to test themselves in such a demanding fashion.”

The cadets’ endurance, ini-tiative, decision-making, team-work and field skills including navigation, communication, first aid and marksmanship were tested in a variety of scenarios.

Among the activities under-taken were abseiling, night patrols, canoeing, 50km of hik-ing over the course and prob-lem-solving.

“It was very challenging, definitely a task to be under-taken by people who are confi-dent in their skills but one that should be undertaken,” Cdt Sgt Matthew Hines said.

“I’ve already recommended it to three other cadets in my unit.”

The 88 successful cadets were presented with their ATA badges and certificates by Deputy Chief of Army Maj-Gen Paul Symon.

This year’s Candidate of Merit was Cdt Jessica Roberts from Melbourne High School Army Cadet Unit. Cdt WO1 Joshua Vogel, the Regional RSM from NSW AAC Brigade, was awarded the Deputy Commander’s Commendation.


Cadets in skills challenge

On the mark: Cdt WO2 Zakariah Martin-Taylor (above) takes aim while Sqn-Ldr Heath Fulton supervises the shoot. Cadets Angelika Schuck, 401 Sqn, Caillin Millar, 47 ACU, and Sarah Axon, 201 ACU, give the exercise the thumbs up (inset).

Photos by Sub-Leut Carolyn Docking

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Concealment: Vietnam veteran and Defence Indigenous Development Program liaison officer Capt Jure Roncevich gives a thumbs-up to the first application of cam cream after a field lesson at the Norforce Tindal Depot in the Northern Territory. Photo by Gnr Shannon Joyce

All terrain: Pte Carl Brodie, MTF 1, on security watch at Patrol Base Qudus in the Baluchi Valley, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt Mick Davis

Housekeeping: Pte Roger Ryan, operator supply FSU, part of the team in the MEAO. Photo by Sgt Brent Tero

Vigilant: Lt Matthew Grantham, Secdet 16, on duty in Baghdad. Photo by LAC Aaron Curran

Greetings: VCDF, Lt-Gen David Hurley, right, meets WO2 Charles Cartwright in the naval stores building at HMAS Stirling. Photo by AB Lincoln Commane

Mission minded: Pte Shann Tanaskovic, mover HQ JTF 633-A, in Kabul. Photo by LAC Aaron Curran

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LIFESTYLE 31Army April 29, 2010

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“There really is a price war on at the moment.”Pte Daryl Arnold11/28RWAR

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Legacy relayTHE 2010 Legacy eight-hour event will be held on September 3. Relay teams made up of two to four members will run, moun-tain bike or walk as many laps as possible in eight hours. The individual cate-gory will consist of running up to 50km in a 5km loop, mountain biking a 6km loop and walking a 4km loop. All money raised will go to Legacy. Contact Cpl Brett Elleman on (02) 6055 2539 or email [email protected]

New websiteDEFENCE Reserves Support has launched its new website at www.defence.gov.au/reserves. The new site, which aims to make all areas of inter-est more accessible, will be updated regularly.

RAEME reunionTHE Annual RAEME Res/CMF Reunion will be held at the Sherwood/Indooroopilly RSL Sub-Branch, Queensland on August 15. All serving and ex-members of RAEME and associated corps, including ARA, ARes/CMF and Nashos are welcome. Enquiries to John Parfitt on (07) 3376 1778 or email [email protected]. RSVP by August 7.

BULLETIN BOARD

DIKKO By Bob Dikkenberg

MalayaBrian Farrell and Garth PrattenArmy History Unit

By Sgt Brian Hartigan

A SERIES of books pro-duced by the Army History Unit (AHU) and intended for free distribution to junior leaders has grown by one with the recent release of Malaya.

The campaign series is written for members of the Army with a focus on leadership, com-mand, strategy, tactics, lessons and per-sonal experiences of war, but written in a non-academic, accessible tone.

Malaya covers the campaign of 8 Div to defend Malaya and Singapore in World War II.

AHU historian roger Lee said a book on Malaya came about because of the ongoing commitment to Rifle Company Butterworth and a lack of knowledge among the diggers posted there about the significance of why they were there in the first place.

“Not a lot has been told about this campaign apart from the official history,

which is now about 40 years old and is densely written,” Mr Lee said.

“So you can’t blame the younger genera-tion in particular for not knowing about what hap-pened there during WWII.

“When you say ‘Malaya’, most people will think of 1955 and the Malayan emergency, but we did actually fight a fairly nasty little war there for a

few months in 1942.“This is a really good book that tells

the story in a very readable, very acces-sible way – and it’s a story that is really well worth telling.

“And there’s so much to tell that it’s about 20,000 words longer than we real-ly wanted it to be, but we were prepared to pay that price in the interests of doing the story justice.”

Malaya and other books in the Australian Army campaigns series are available free to all serving soldiers in the Australian Army and can be requested via www.defence.gov.au/ARMY/AHU/Campaign_Series.asp or email [email protected]

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HEALTH

‘‘I WAS having cold showers every night for four months, because I didn’t pay my gas bill as I was spending all my money on alco-

hol. But I kept paying the electricity bill to keep the fridge running just so my beer would be cold.”

These are some of the lengths a client of the ADF Alcohol Rehabilitation and Education Program (AREP) went to so he could continue to fuel his dependency.

The 29-day live-in program is held at a purpose-built unit at 3 Expeditionary Health Squadron (3EHS) at RAAF Base Richmond, and can accommodate up to 12 clients at a time.

AREP is run by RAAF and civilian personnel and treats members of all three services.

Acting OIC and alcohol and drug counsellor Flt-Lt Warwick Chate says it is a myth that only a certain type of person can be an alcoholic.

“We see a variety of personality types, ranks and jobs represented on the pro-

gram,” Flt-Lt Chate says. “Any type of person can volunteer for AREP once they are diagnosed as being alcohol depend-ent.”

Personnel become clients of AREP usually as a result of a string of alco-hol-related incidents, including drunken fights, driving under the influence, turning up late for work or failing breath tests.

“This attracts the attention of the indi-vidual’s chain of command where ini-tially, colleagues commonly cover for the member, thinking they are doing the right thing by their mates,” Flt-Lt Chate says.

“But this only delays treatment, the incidents continue, their cover disappears and then they eventually get referred to the medical sections of their units.”

Self-referrers, on the other hand, often don’t have trouble at work – they have problems outside the ADF before seeking help.

“I self-referred to AREP after a big night on the town following a unit func-tion,” a client says.

“I woke up the next morning at the

AREP AT A GLANCE

Compassion: Flt-Lt Warwick Chate in a one-on-one session with an Army member on AREP. Photo by Sgt Andrew Hetherington

Program can save your lifeAre you alcohol dependent? Sgt Andrew Hetherington spent time with members brave enough to answer ‘yes’.

airport not knowing how I got there, and went to work in the clothes I wore the night before – covered in dirt, spew and blood.

“I talked to my boss and told him I wanted to get help.”

After arriving at AREP, clients are assessed in a ward at 3EHS by medical staff.

“They are admitted to the inpa-tient ward for two days and are fully assessed by medical staff, includ-ing assessment for alcohol with-drawal,” Flt-Lt Chate says. Clients also undergo pathology and physical health tests to determine the extent that alcohol has affected their health and they all speak to a doctor to con-firm the need for rehabilitation in an inpatient setting.

“After they leave the hospital cli-ents are allotted a room and a search for banned items such as alcohol is conducted.

Clients are then introduced and inducted into the program and an individual treatment plan is drawn up.

They must also sign and abide by a contract, which says they agree to the rules of AREP.

They do have some freedom dur-ing their stay.

“Clients are allowed off site to go to AA meetings at nights and on weekends, to eat at the mess at RAAF Base Richmond, see a movie at the base movie theatre or visit

local shopping centres for short, supervised trips,” Flt-Lt Chate says.

Family members are allowed to visit clients twice a week and, in the last 10 days of the course, ADF-rec-ognised spouses are invited to partic-ipate in group counselling and other activities to assist with the recovery of their partners.

During the course, clients keep a daily journal where they enter their feelings and thoughts. Flt-Lt Chate and the other counsellors use this journal as an indicator of clients’ progress.

“If we see through their daily journal any additional things we think need to be addressed, we might increase the number of individual counselling sessions.”

Most clients want a good out-come and report from their stay at AREP.

“Some want to use the report in court to mitigate a harsh penalty,” Flt-Lt Chate says.

“Many clients just want to do something for themselves to change their lives.”

One client says drinking caused him to start slacking off in his life.

“I couldn’t clean my house prop-erly, my uniform wasn’t clean and my priorities weren’t right,” he says.

“Drinking came first and every-thing else came second.

“But this program made me real-

ise there’s so much more to life than just drinking and there is a whole world to explore instead of sitting around the pub drinking beer.

“I’ll now be able to look after myself properly, cope with reality and live like a normal person.”

Most clients find the treatment life-changing and leave AREP with a new outlook on their lives and careers.

“I’d recommend the AREP course to anyone,” one says.

“If you feel you have a problem, what have you got to lose? But you have everything to gain.”

Flt-Lt Chate says the greatest difficulty ADF personnel have with alcohol is admitting they have a problem.

“They need to ask for help. I’d encourage them to do so and view it as a positive sign, that they are strong enough to make a change in their lives to be healthier and have better careers,” he says.

“Go and see your unit doctor or CO if you have a problem and ask for help.”

The next AREP program is sched-uled to start on May 24, with four other programs to be run this year.

For more information on AREP visit http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/AREP/comweb.asp?page=Home

32 LIFESTYLE Army April 29, 2010

➤ Began in 1979, with a trial alcohol-dependence rehabilitation program at Northside Clinic, a private psychiatric hospital in Sydney.

➤ In 1980 AREP was devel-oped as a clinical flight of No 3 RAAF Hospital at RAAF Base Richmond.

➤ AREP includes individual and group counselling sessions, compulsory and optional Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, guest speakers who have been through AREP, PT, anger management classes, grief and loss counselling sessions, development of an indi-vidual treatment program, spiritual counselling and creative arts activities.

➤ At least eight AREP courses are run each year.

➤ AREP is run by the RAAF but open to all ADF members.

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SPORT 33 Army April 29, 2010

By Sharon Palmer

THE Australian Defence Vipers women sunk their teeth into a sil-ver medal at the Australian Country Water Polo Championships held in Albury from March 31-April 5.

After finishing third at the end of the round games and accounting for Queensland 9-7 in the semi-final, the women managed to achieve what no other defence team has achieved in the championships before, making it to the final, against NSW.

The Vipers had convincing wins in the pool matches against Western Australia 9-3, Queensland B 9-3, and Victoria 11-4 and lost narrowly to Queensland 5-4 and to NSW 9-5.

Going into the final as underdogs, the Vipers started strongly to be 4-4 at quarter-time and trailed by just one goal at half-time 6-5.

Player and president of the Australian Defence Water Polo Association WO2 Megan Webber, 10FSB, said they let themselves down in the second half.

“We started getting into foul trou-ble which meant players were being ejected from the game,” she said.

“The third quarter was telling and we managed to only score once, while they put five goals away to be leading 11-6 at three-quarter time.”

With two players out of the pool at the end of the game, the Vipers failed to add to the score and went down 14-6.

Coach Sgt Luke Woodland, ALTC, said the team had come a long way.

“It was an enormous effort by the Australian Defence women to be in the gold medal match,” he said.

“They are getting stronger each year and have become a force to be reckoned with.”

OCdt Emma Polkinghorne (RAAF)

was awarded most valuable team play-er with OCdt Carrie Fettes (RAAF) selected in the Australian country water polo team to tour Hawaii in August. Cpl Camille Woodland, ALTC and Pte Kim Waterhouse, 8CER, were selected as reserves for the Australian country water polo team to tour Hawaii.

Based on umpires’ votes over the course of the championships, three ADF players made the All Star Team: Pte Waterhouse, OCdt Polkinghorne and OCdt Fettes.

The men’s team finished sixth after the round games, losing to NSW 11-6, WA 4-3, Victoria 10-3, Queensland 9-3 and ACT 11-6.

However, they got some redemp-tion in the final game (5v6) against WA with the score locked at 4-4 at full time.

The Vipers scored twice in extra time to take the game 6-4. Tpr Brad Woodland scored four of the six goals and was awarded man of the match by coach WO2 Adrian Luke, 6 Avn Regt.

Most valuable player for the cham-pionships was awarded to Sgt Luke Woodland who was also selected in the Australian country water polo team to tour Hawaii in August. Leut Daniel Lister made the All Star team.

The ADF has been competing in the championships for more than 20 years and this year, for only the sec-ond time, hosted the event. Men’s and women’s teams from ACT, WA, SA, Queensland, Victoria, NSW and the ADF competed at the championships.

The best the ADF had done in pre-vious championships was a bronze medal to the men in 2006 and women in 2002.

Anyone interested in playing water polo should contact WO2 Megan Webber at [email protected] or call (07) 4411 8727.

Vipers strike for the silver

Closing in: Pte Jemma Osmand, 20STA Regt, looks to pass the ball during a match at the Australian Country Water Polo Championships (above) while Sgt Luke Woodland, ALTC, powers towards goal (right).



34 SPORT Army April 29, 2010

By LS Paul McCallum

THE MEN of Army football used four words inscribed in stone on the Kokoda track to help them overcome a strong starting Navy team and reclaim the Jimmy Smail Perpetual Trophy at the Australian Services Australian Football Association (ASAFA) championships at Whitten Oval in Melbourne on March 18.

Courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifice are the four words team captain Sgt Lindsay Black used to inspire his charges to fight back from a 15-point deficit at quar-ter time.

“I needed something to focus the guys in the team and the struggles our forefathers went through meant something to all of us,” Sgt Black said.

“We knew the other teams would keep coming at us and no matter what happened to us, no matter how much we were hurting, it wasn’t as bad as what they had fought through.”

The four words worked and the team began the second quarter with quick goals to Cpl Benjamin

Langham, Capt Rodney Davis and Sgt Brad Percy.

A six-goal term turned the match around and Navy could only man-age two goals in reply, ending the first half with Army ahead 10.7.67 to 8.7.55.

Inaccuracy was the story of the second half, with both sides add-ing five goals each but the mount-ing points allowed Navy to close to within nine points when the final siren sounded.

The final tally read Army 15.13.103 to 13.16.94 but not before Cpl Simon Blizzard was carried from the ground after a serious knee injury in the back line.

“We had a fitter list of players this year with a greater understand-ing of the game and there was a great sense of team spirit in the camp,” Sgt Black said.

“We just needed to get the Army spirit around the boys and they took the challenge with ease.”

Coach WO2 Adrian Wilson devised a clear game plan for the team and the players stuck to it, concentrating on clean possession from kick-outs and owning the cen-tre corridor which opened up the

forward line for Cpl Langham (fourgoals) and Capt Davis (three goals)to operate.

While forwards Cpl Langhamand Spr Christopher Burdon max-imised their opportunities up for-ward, men’s player of the series SgtPercy in the midfield and wingerLCpl Luke Sypott provided a targetfor the backline to rebound out ofdefence and get the ball forward.

“We identified a couple of theNavy players as key forwards andreally relied on the guys in the back-line to shut them down,” Sgt Blacksaid.

“The guys did a great job andreally gave us a good base to run outof the backline and move the ballforward, they all did a great job.”

Twelve of the Army squad joinedtheir Navy and RAAF opponents inan ASAFA All Stars team to playthe Emergency Services All Starsteam in an Anzac Day match atAAMI Stadium in Adelaide.

All stars: Pte John Brazendale, Spr Christopher Burdon, Pte Jae Butler-Evans, Cfn Andrew Diggens, Gnr Sean Dupont, Cpl Robert Frankland, Pte Jess Hall, Cpl Sean Kilsby, Gnr Sean Osip, Pte Keith Roberts, LCpl Luke Sypott and Pte Chris Tucci.

Report and photos by LS Paul McCallum

A SNAP in front of goal by team cap-tain Pte Rhiannon Busch sparked the Army women’s team to a stunning win over last year’s champions, Navy, to take home the Geoff Ledger Cup in the Australian Services Australian Football Association (ASAFA) championships at Whitten Oval.

Having dispensed with RAAF in the opening match of the championship to the tune of 10.10.70 to 0.0.0, a faster, stronger Army side was always going to be the favourite going into the grand final against the reigning champion.

Wearing black armbands in honour of traithlete Cpl Renee Nicolls (who played football in 2002) who was killed in a road cycling accident on the Gold Coast on February 28, the Kangaroos played with pride and dedication

While Navy got away to an early lead, the hardness and determination of both sides, along with inaccurate kicking, meant scores were close throughout the first three quarters until Pte Busch’s snap shot in front of goal signalled the start of something special for the final term.

Trailing by just one point (2.8.20 to 2.7.19) at the final break, the girls in red and white put on four unanswered goals including two to emergency player Sgt Jorja Jones, to avenge last year’s loss and run away 25-point winners. In the proc-

ess they kept Navy scoreless in the final quarter.

Pte Busch said she couldn’t be more proud of the effort her charges put in against a formidable Navy side to win 6.9.45 to 2.8.20. “The team we had this year really showed their experience under pressure,” she said.

“Our first game against Air Force allowed us to see where everyone fitted into the game plan and see where our strengths and weaknesses were.”

Alongside seasoned players from pre-vious years, Army fielded some promising new talent including best and fairest mid-fielder Pte Eliza Oates and forward Pte Kristy Davey.

Pte Oates showed great determination in the mid-field along with Sig Casey Tinker, Cpl Margarita Obien and Cpl Aimee Isbister who supported Cpl Sandii Rixon in the ruck.

Army coach WO1 Ashley Heywood was named as women’s All Stars coach along with players Pte Busch, Cpl Rixon, Pte Lucy Edwards , Cpl Fi Rose, Cpl Kristy Stroop, Spr Emma Murphy, Pte Oates, Lt Elly Poyntz and Sig Casey Tinker.

Kangaroos’ clean sweepSnap goal sets scene for success

Team jubilation: Army women and men celebrate after winning the interservice championships.

Men dig deep for victory

On top: Sig Casey Tinker evades a tackle by Navy captain LS Candice Freeman.

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SPORT 35Army April 29, 2010

By Cpl Zenith King

THE Riverina ADF Rugby Club (RARC) dominated the Wagga 15s pre-season tournament at Kapooka Army Base on March 27.

Despite playing in sweltering conditions the team cleaned up, win-ning three pool matches and the cup final without conceding a point.

As part of the Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) pre-season tournament, the RARC competed against local Wagga Wagga teams and surrounding country areas.

RARC’s five-eighth Cpl Chad Gill, ARTC, said the tournament was a huge success.

“Determination and fitness in the line of defence proved to be too much for the Griffith side,” he said.

“This result holds RARC in very good stead for the coming season in the SIRU comp.”

Defence was key to RARC’s 12-0 cup final win against Griffith.

RARC were tested early in the first half after they gave away a few penalties on their line. The defence worked overtime and did not let the Griffith team cross.

Griffith, playing solid and dis-ciplined rugby, spent the majority of the first half camped within the

RARC defensive zone. The RARC players rallied to repel the offensive pressure taking a 5-0 half-time lead.

In the second half, RARC’s defence remained resilient leading to further scoring opportunities. Off the back of some good forward play Cpl Gill’s kick and chase resulted in a try. The defence did the rest and held Griffith out for the game.

Player of the day went to the RARC teams lock and skipper Sgt Shaun Jolley.

Sgt Jolley first played for RARC in 2008 and said the team performed well for a pre-season competition.

“We had a few issues with ball control but as the day went on we sorted these small issues out and I thought discipline was well main-tained for all of our games,” Sgt Jolley said.

“Defensively the team performed very well and hopefully this is a good sign for the season ahead.”

Sgt Jolley said the plan was to play a basic, well-disciplined game not only at the breakdown but also in general play.

“The aim was to not give away penalties in vulnerable positions and to give some good attacking phase play in the opposition half,” he said.

“It’s a good indication of what

we will have to work on before the commencement of the season.”

The pre-season games gave coaches WO2 Simon Thompson and WO2 Mark Fisher the chance to take risks they would not be inclined to take during the season, such as play-ing personnel out of position and looking at combinations.

WO2 Simon Thompson said he was happy with the team’s perform-ance over the competition.

“To have gone through the tour-nament without conceding a point has been the highlight well beyond our offensive success,” he said.

“Success during this tournament aids in building the team dynamic from a club level. Given the combi-nation of service personnel and civil-ians it is critical the team bonds.”

The pool match results were: RARC 28 beat Rivcoll 2s 0; RARC 7 beat Wagga City 0; RARC 22 beat Rivcoll 1s 0.

RARC continued its impressive early season form with a solid 33-20 win over Cootamundra at Kapooka in the first round of the SIRU on April 10, but failed to capitalise on its chances in the second round going down to Tumut 26-22 on April 17 at Jarrah Park, Tumut.

RARC cleans up at Wagga

THE sounds of a Maori Haka and the smell of liniment will form the background for the upcoming clash between New Zealand Army Rugby Union and the Australian Army Rugby Union team at Portsea Oval RMC on May 15 at 3pm. The New Zealand team will also play a training match against the Tuggeranong Vikings at the Vikings home ground on May 11 at 7pm. Admittance to both games is free.

By Mark Elliott

IT IS interesting to note history remembers great battles, epic chal-lenges and even sporting events by location rather than the units or par-ticipants.

So too will the weekend of March 27-28 be remembered – not for those who competed but for the terrain itself –‘Sparrow Hill’.

On an unexpectedly warm autumn day in Canberra more than 50 ADF mountain bikers rode alongside more than 3600 other riders in the Mont 24-hour enduro race.

In an unprecedented show of sup-port by the mountain biking commu-nity, Defence riders joined the rest of the field for the first hour of the race in an ‘honour roll’ paying tribute to World Champion Canberra local James Williamson who died while competing in the Cape Epic ride in South Africa on March 23.

Starting on Saturday at 1pm riders threw themselves around a 19km single track course at speeds that would make some road cyclists cringe in fear for the next 23 hours.

A newcomer to the sport, Lt-Col Mike Harris, HQJOC, at the close of his fourth and final lap said, “it was a great experience and the courtesy shown by the professionals was exemplary”.

Both he and Lt-Col Geoff Thompson, HQJOC, competed in the Honest 40s mixed fours category.

Army mountain-bikers were at it again in the Australian Solo 24-hour mountain biking championships in Canberra over the Easter long weekend.

Cpl Michael Hernan, 1HSB, and Sgt Timothy Grover, RMC, battled a hilly, technical course and more than 120 other male riders at Majura Pines.

Cpl Hernan finished 21st outright and was sixth in the 30-34 age group. Sgt Grover was 46th outright and 17th in the 30-34 age group.

Cast of thousands battles Sparrows

Night rider: Lt-Col Mick Harris, HQJOC, in action at the Mont 24-hour enduro mountain bike race. Photo courtesy of Auroa Images

Kiwis to take on AARU

April 29, 2010

FINAL FINAL SAYSAYClean sweep for Kangaroos at interservice championships

Page 34

Flying high: Army team captain Sgt Lindsay Black contests the ruck against AB Phillip Howell in the Australian Services AFL championship final. Army won the men’s title by nine points and the women’s by 25 points. Photo by LS Paul McCallum

STIRLING SILVERVipers tough it out at country champs

P33

British recognition for 8/12 Mdm Regt members

Documents

Transcript of British recognition for 8/12 Mdm Regt members