new medal - department of defence · 2015. 3. 16. · new medal tthe operational service medal has...

NEW MEDALThe Operational Service Medal has been The Operational Service Medal has been announced and will ultimately replace the announced and will ultimately replace the ASM, AASM and campaign medals

Edition 1287 August 2, 2012

EXERCISE HAMELThe troops of 1 Bde are ready for operational deployment after a tough certification exercise

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Recognition: Although the design is not yet finalised, the Australian Operational Service Medal brings significant changes to the honours and awards system, including a different ribbon for each operation.

Army August 2, 2012NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews2

The Soldiers’ Newspaper

DirectorDavid Edlington: (02) 6265 4650EDITORIALEditorJohn Wellfare: (02) 6266 7609Production EditorSharon Palmer: (02) 6266 7612Deputy EditorAurora Daniels: (02) 6265 3119ReportersSgt Andrew Hetherington: (02) 6266 7614Cpl Max Bree: (02) 6266 7608Cpl Nick Wiseman: (02) 6265 4140 LS Paul Berry: (02) 6266 7606Cpl Mark Doran: (02) 6265 1304LAC Bill Solomou: (02) 6265 1355Andrew Stackpool: (02) 6266 7611Michael Brooke: (02) 8335 5231

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FAMILY and friends have said their goodbyes to SASR’s Sgt Blaine Flower Diddams at a military funer-al at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth.

Mourners watched Sgt Diddams’ life through a slideshow presentation to Eddie Vedder’s Hard Sun as part of the ceremony on July 14.

CO SASR Lt-Col J spoke at the service about Sgt Diddams’ two great-est passions: his family and being an SASR patrol commander.

“Didds died whilst pursuing one of his greatest passions, being a member of the Special Air Service Regiment deployed on operations,” Lt-Col J said.

“Didds was the epitome of the SASR soldier, he lived and breathed the ethos of the regiment. His pursuit of professional excellence, his devo-tion to his family, his dedication to his mates and to his country will always be remembered by an eternally grateful regiment, Defence Force and nation.

DEFENCE has completed an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Pte Matthew Lambert in Afghanistan on August 22 last year.

Pte Lambert, of 2RAR, was deployed to Afghanistan with MTF 3.

He was killed by an IED while on a mentored patrol with elements of the ANA and other coalition forces in the Khas Uruzgan region north-east of Tarin Kot.

Pte Lambert received immediate first aid from his patrol mates before an aero-medical team transferred him to the Role 2 Medical Facility in Tarin Kot, where he received further medical treatment. He died from his wounds shortly after his arrival at the Role 2 facility.

The Inquiry Officer made eight rec-ommendations, which were all accepted. The recommendations are in the process of being implemented.

Seven of the recommendations relate to refining and strengthening the ADF’s counter IED capabilities in recognition of the fact the IED threat in Afghanistan is enduring and adaptive.

Details of the recommendations will not be publicly released for operational security reasons.

The Inquiry Officer’s remaining rec-ommendation was that a Commission of Inquiry into the incident was not war-ranted.

Defence has briefed Pte Lambert’s family on the findings of the inquiry and provided them with a copy of the Inquiry Officer’s Report into the circum-stances surrounding his death.

After consutation with CDF Gen David Hurley, Defence Minister Stephen Smith decided not to publicly release the report into Pte Lambert’s death.

Inquiry into Pte Matthew Lambert’s death finalised

Inquiry complete: Pte Matthew Lambert was killed by an IED in Afghanistan in August, 2011. Photo by Lauren Black

Farewell to a beloved hero� Family and friends mourn the death of SASR’s Sgt Blaine Diddams

Sad goodbye: A bearer party made up of SASR members escorts the coffin of Sgt Blaine Diddams through Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth. Inset top, the bearer party carries the coffin through the cemetery. Inset bottom, troopers fire volleys in honour of Sgt Diddams at the service. Photos by Cpl Chris Moore

“For Sgt Blaine Diddams and his family, you are forever etched into the fabric of this fine unit and you are an enduring reminder to those of us that serve that we do so in honour and memory of the fallen.”

Special Operations Commander Australia Maj-Gen Gus Gilmore paid

tribute to a distinguished member of the Australian Army.

“The scale of our loss of Sgt Diddams is perhaps only surpassed by our recognition of his contribu-tion to Australia over so many years in so many places and at such a con-sistently high standard,” Maj-Gen Gilmore said.

“He was an elite soldier, a genu-ine individual of the highest person-al and professional standing, who held his family and friends close and will be sorely missed by so many.

“Blaine is forever engraved into the history of our nation and the proud history of the Special Air Service Regiment, and his leader-ship, courage and dedication to his mates will inspire generations of Australian soldiers to come.

“My deepest sympathies are extended to Blaine’s immediate family, but also to those in the wider Army family who came to know this remarkable, selfless and dedi-cated soldier.”

Sgt Diddams was on his seventh deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed in action by enemy small arms fire during an opera-tion to capture an insurgent leader responsible for improvised explo-sive device attacks in the Chora Valley region. He had also previous-ly deployed to Somalia, East Timor and Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Defence Minister Stephen Smith, CDF Gen David Hurley and CA Lt-Gen David Morrison were among the attendees at the service.

A private ceremony was held on the morning of the funeral at Guildford Grammar School, where mourners heard a touching eulogy from Sgt Diddams’ father Peter, a reading from his mother Cate and words of remembrance from his son Henry.

Sgt Diddams is survived by his wife, Toni-Ann, his daughter, Elle-Lou and son, Henry.

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Army August 2, 2012 NEWSwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 3

TRANSITION to Afghan-led security responsibility in Uruzgan province offi-cially started on July 17 with a ceremony in Tarin Kot.

Pictured here, Afghan Gen Abdul Raham Wardak inspects a parade of Afghan National Policemen dur-ing the ceremony at the Governor of Uruzgan’s compound in Tarin Kot.

Transition is expected to take the next 12-18 months, with Australian troops continuing to provide a mentoring role throughout this time.

For more on Afghan National Security Forces taking the lead in southern Afghanistan, go to Page 13.

Transition begins in Uruzgan

ALL future operations will be rec-ognised with the new Australian Operat ional Service Medal (OSM).

Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon and Chief of Navy VAdm Ray Griggs announced the new medal on July 19.

The OSM will recognise Defence personnel who work as part of a declared operation or within other spe-cific hazardous environments and cir-cumstances.

Retrospective recognition from 1997 will be granted for ADF personnel involved with border protection opera-tions.

The establishment of the medal means a shift in how ADF members are recognised.

The OSM wi l l r ep lace the Australian Service Medal, Australian Active Service Medal or campaign medals in future operations.

The Head of People Capability, Maj-Gen Gerard Fogarty, said the new medal would enable greater recognition of ADF members who deployed on dif-ferent operations.

“Learning from the past, it seeks to provide our people with the poten-tial to attain more visible recognition through the prospect of attaining multi-ple awards of the OSM through deploy-ments to different operations with unique ribbons,” Maj-Gen Fogarty said.

“Those who undertake additional periods of qualifying service on the same operation will, where appropri-ate, receive an accumulated service device, in the form of a numeral similar to those issued by the United Nations.”

He said the new award would “sim-plify the recognition process and its supporting administration”.

The 2007/08 Defence Honours, Awards and Commendations Policy Review recommended the establish-ment of the OSM.

Maj-Gen Fogarty said it was impor-tant to note the new medal had no bearing on ADF members currently deployed.

“They will continue to receive the same benefits and medals they current-ly do,” he said.

Separate recognition for Defence civilians will now be available through a civilian variant of the new medal, which will be available to those who are employed as part of a declared operation under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982.

Eligible civilian personnel will receive a medal of the same design but will receive a unique civilian service

New Operational Service Medal� Medal will replace the ASM and AASM and will be backdated for those in border protection operations from 1997

CRITERIA FOR BORDER PROTECTION OPERATIONSTHE border protection operations the OSM applies to are: Cranberry, Dirk, Stanhope, Mistral, Teebone, Celesta, Sutton, Gemsbok, Relex, Relex II and Resolute.

The basic qualifying criteria for the OSM – Border Protection require members of the ADF to have been

deployed or force assigned for duty as a member of a declared operation:

� for not less than an aggregate of 30 days; or

� + 30 sorties from a unit assigned to a declared operation, provided that those sorties were conducted over a period of not less than an aggregate

of 30 days at a rate of one sortie a day.

More detailed criteria are contained in the Governor-General’s Determination dated July 18, 2012. A copy is avail-able on the Honours and Awards website at www.defence.gov.au/medals

ribbon to differentiate it from the ADF variant.

The Directorate of Honours and Awards has requested that ADF person-nel or Defence civilians who believe they might be eligible for the medal not apply for recognition until eligibility criteria and administrative processes are finalised.

For updates on the OSM visit the Defence Honours and Awards website at www.defence.gov.au/medals.

New medal: The Australian Operational Service Medal will be retrospectively awarded to personnel who have served on border protection operations, such as Operation Resolute (pictured) since 1997. File photo by AB James Whittle

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THE government is calling for submissions to an inquiry into the care of ADF personnel wounded or injured on operations.

The inquiry committee will examine the handling of wounded and sick personnel in operational areas and on return to Australia, along with return-to-work arrange-ments for those who have recovered.

Management of those who can’t return to ADF service will also be examined, including the process for deeming someone medically unfit, the transition from ADF health care to Department of Veterans’ Affairs health services and ongoing support.

Personal details can be removed from published submissions at the submitter’s request.

Although grateful for all submis-sions, the inquiry can’t assist with individual personnel issues.

Email submissions to [email protected] before August 10.

For more details go to www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jfadt/wounded_injured/index.htm

Have a say on care for wounded troops

Cpl Mark Doran

FOLKLORE can mislead for years until the truth is finally told.

The truth of one such legendary tale came to light when a retired Army officer and his classmate visited his old “room within a room” at Duntroon on July 13.

No longer a secret, the unusual stor-age area built under the bed in Room 92 is known as the Cork Block Cavern and was constructed by a group of staff cadets in 1958 as a place to hide their Number 13s.

Number 13s are usually dirty equip-ment or items of contraband which need to be hidden from prying eyes during inspections.

The true instigator of the plan, Col Ross Thomas (retd) was living in the room at the time and said there were just over a dozen staff cadets involved in the scheme.

“All we had were entrenching tools and bayonets to dig through the hard soil,” he said.

“The dirt was removed in kit bags, up through the trapdoor, out the window and across the road where we would just tip it under the tree.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time and how we weren’t discovered I am buggered if I know – I really don’t.”

Most of the staff cadets’ clandestine activities, including the removal of a support pillar, were performed between lights out and reveille or on weekends.

Concrete was borrowed to seal the cavern floor along with an elaborate electric switchboard and alarm system, which was rigged to a master switch under the desk to turn off the lights and warn occupants below to be quiet.

The room was not discovered until

the next year when during a police rob-bery investigation it was mentioned Mr Ross had been in the building on the day in question.

Mr Ross had transferred to another building after a long stay in hospital and said although he had been visiting the room at the time in question, he was not going to be involved with a stealing charge.

“So I told the authorities about the room,” he said.

“The adjutant at the time, Capt ‘Blue’ Hodgkinson said ‘I hope for your sake lad there is a hole there’ and the local copper wanted to know if the hole was big enough to hide some money in.

“I said ‘Sir, you’re not going to be disappointed’.”

Peter Anderson was also a staff cadet involved in the construction of the room and said they had luxuries such as bor-rowed curtains, mattresses and blankets and brew-making equipment.

“The whole thing was a challenge. There were many ingenuous Number 13s in the ceilings and under mattresses at Duntroon,” he said.

“Most people knew about the room and junior staff cadets were invited to assist with the labour from time to time.

“I think the room added to the cama-raderie of the class.”

After the inspection the electrical wiring was removed and the missing pillar was replaced, but surprisingly nothing further was ever said about Room 92.

Perhaps this silence was acknowl-edgment of the staff cadets’ initiative and resourcefulness.

Room 92 along with the “room with-in a room” is now preserved as one of the Duntroon wonders.

Checking up on the room� Duntroon gets visit from secret room officer

Back in time: Ross Thomas (left) and Peter Anderson reminisce in the room within a room, which they helped build at Duntroon in 1958. Inset, Mr Thomas exits the room during his time at the college. Photos by Cpl Mark Doran

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Sgt Andrew Hetherington

INSPIRATIONAL 20-year-old ampu-tee Pte Nathan Whittington has been named Army’s 2012 Blood Challenge ambassador.

The driver from 10FSB lost his right foot and subsequently most of his lower right leg on November 27, 2010.

Life-saving donated blood supplies were on standby but ultimately not required during the operations on his leg, but Pte Whittington still understands bet-ter than most the importance of blood for people with critical injuries.

Pte Whittington fell off a jet ski when a water skiing tow rope caught around his ankle in the accident in Townsville.

“I remember being under water,” he said. “I remember the rope being pulled off, like it had loosened. I remember floating to the surface and thinking, ‘something’s not right here’.”

“My mate came over, and said ‘what’s wrong?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, my ankle’s a bit sore’, and lifted my foot out of the water. He realised before I did that my foot was gone.

“I remember waking up in the hospi-tal and my sergeant and lieutenant were there, and saying to them “do I still have a job in the Army?”

As early as nine days after his acci-dent in November 2010, Pte Whittington pushed himself well ahead of his pro-jected rehabilitation program and began his own method of recovery.

“I was doing leg-raises with five kilos of weight on my stump and I was also doing push-ups, dips and everything to try and keep fit,” he said.

“I wanted to maintain my fitness and people were telling me I had to slow down, but I was killing it – I just wanted to do my own thing.

“I looked at it thinking this is who I am now and I can’t change that.

“There was no point sitting around on the bed and I just didn’t want a setback, I wanted to keep going forward.”

Just over 20 months later, after one

Knowing every drop counts� Donating is close to the heart of Army’s 2012 Blood Challenge ambassador, after he lost a leg in a boating accident

Inspirational: Amputee Pte Nathan Whittington has been chosen as the Army’s 2012 Blood Challenge ambassador. Here he is taking a look around the Australian Red Cross Canberra Blood Donor Centre. Photo by LS Paul Berry

DEFENCE ORGANISATION BLOOD CHALLENGE

If you donate regularly or have received blood, we want to hear from you. Email Army at [email protected] and share your story.

TELL US YOUR STORY

IT’S ALMOST TIME

THE 2012 Defence Organisation Blood Challenge will be launched this month and will run from Sep-tember to November.

A partnership between Defence and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service has produced more than 5000 donations in the last three years and potentially saved more than 6000 lives.

Now in its fourth year, the Blood Challenge is Australia’s largest.

Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence public servants employees compete over a three-month period each year to make the highest number of blood donations.

of the best and fastest recoveries most of his doctors have seen, Pte Whittington has come a long way.

He’s gone from worrying about keep-ing his job after the accident to being nominated for a coming junior leader course and hoping to ultimately become a PTI.

After adapting to a prosthetic leg and meeting the high-performance man-ager from the Australian Paralympics Committee, he is now also in training for Australian international team sport selection in track and field. His special-ity event is the 100m sprint.

“Next year there’s the US Marine Corps games for the wounded, injured and ill and the Arafura Games in Darwin,” Pte Whittington said.

“Hopefully I’ll make it on to the Australian athletics team and to the world championships in France in August 2013.

“But my long-term goal is the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.”

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NINE Australian World War I soldiers are now buried in known graves after a headstone dedication ceremony at the Fromelles Military Cemetary to mark the 96th anniversary of the battle.

Attending the ceremony alongside relatives of the soldiers, Defence Parliamentary Secretary Senator David Feeney said the dedication marked another sig-nificant milestone in honouring the men who fought on the Western Front.

“These men died during the bloodiest 24 hours in Australia’s military history and almost a century on we can finally give them, and their families, the dignity of a known grave,” he said.

The latest nine Australian soldiers were identified by name in March. They are among 250 Australian and British soldiers who are buried in the Fromelles (Pheasant wood) Military Cemetery.

When added to the 110 Australians identified in 2010 and 2011, this brings the total named soldiers to 119, all of them Australian.

Another 92 have been identified as unnamed Australians and two soldiers have been identified as serving with the British Army. Thirty-seven more remain unknown.

“I am very pleased to be able to share this moment with family members of Australian soldiers. It is proof that no matter how many years have passed, Australians do not forget those who have sacrificed their lives in time of war,” Senator Feeney said.

The Army’s Fromelles project team will continue to work towards identifying all of the 250 soldiers discov-ered near Fromelles in 2009 until 2014.

Relatives of soldiers who died in the Battle of Fromelles are encouraged to contact Army to help identify the remaining 131 men.

For more information go to www.army.gov.au/fromelles or call 1800 019 090.

Marked graves for Fromelles’ fallen soldiers

NINE TO REMEMBER� Pte Leonard Broadhurst, 23, 55th Battalion.

� Pte Robert Forland, 19, 53rd Battalion.

� Pte John Forrest, 24, 54th Battalion.

� Pte John Goulding, 32, 31st Battalion.

� Pte William Jamieson, 18, 31st Battalion.

� Pte Arthur Johnson, 38, 29th Battalion.

� Cpl Alfred Tuck, 21, 29th Battalion.

� Pte Claude Ward, 23, 30th Battalion.

� Pte John Wynn, 19, 30th Battalion.

Time running out for uniform survey� Last chance to have a say on future ceremonial and general duties dress

RSM-A WO David Ashley is looking for more input to influence the future of ceremonial and gen-eral dress uniforms (polyesters).

A survey has been available online since May 28 seeking detailed feedback on the current uniform and future options and has been extended to allow for maxi-mum participation.

The survey is the first step in phase three of the Army uniform review, which has been running since 2009. Earlier phases resulted in a number of uniform changes, including making DPCU dress of the day.

For the phase three survey, WO Ashley is seeking responses from at least 20 per cent of the uniformed workforce to ensure members’ views are accurately represented.

“There have already been a high number of surveys completed, but we still need more to make sure deci-sions about ceremonial and general dress uniforms reflect the needs of soldiers,” he said.

“We’re particularly interested in the views of reserv-ists and diggers and we’re encouraging their chains of command to facilitate access to the online survey for these members. At the moment we have more respons-es from lieutenant colonels than lance corporals!”

WO Ashley said the survey asked detailed questions on accoutrements, placement of and design of rank, size range, comfort and fit. It also provides an opportu-nity to give feedback on the Army’s current uniforms.

“Although Army’s development of ceremonial and general dress uniforms must meet functionality and cost considerations, participation in the survey is a chance to have a direct input into our uniform identity,” he said.

Concept designs will be produced based on input from the survey and will be presented to soldiers in a road show next year.

To complete the survey, go to http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/asod/

Be heard: Personnel are being encouraged to have a say on future ceremonial and general duties dress (polyesters) through an intranet survey. File photo by Lauren Black

Correcting the recordTHE story Riding for fallen mates (Army #1286, July 19) referred to the secretary of the Commando Welfare Trust as Maj Steve Pilmore. Although Maj Pilmore is a reserv-ist, his role with the trust is as a civilian and he should have been referred to as Mr Steve Pilmore. Army apolo-gises for the editing error and any inconvenience it may have caused.

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Cpl Mark Doran

TROOPS from MTF 4 and Force Communication Unit (FCU) 6 were welcomed home by friends and fam-ily at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane on July 21.

Commanded by Lt-Col Kahlil Fegan, MTF 4 was predominantly made up of members of 8/9RAR, assisted by specialists from units in 7 Bde and other south-east Queensland units.

During the five-month deployment, MTF 4 was involved in more than 400 operational incidents, including the largest-recorded cache find in MTF and 4 Bde Afghan National Army history.

No task force members were killed during the deployment.

The men and women on parade were from all three services and had been a part of a joint commitment by the ADF to Australia’s longest war, CA Lt-Gen David Morrison reminded them.

“Their endeavours have contributed to our defence through the protection of our national interests and as part of this country’s role as a great democrat-ic nation whose influence among the global family of nations is strengthened through the courage and sacrifice of ADF personnel,” he said.

Lt-Gen Morrison advised those pre-sent that their return from active service was cause for celebration but also for sombre reflection.

“You have cause to celebrate because you have returned safely to your homes and families having served with courage and honour in a very dangerous environ-

Welcome home 7 Bde� After five months in Afghanistan, MTF 4 troops are glad to be home

GOODBYE GUNNERSTHE parade to welcome home MTF 4 also farewelled 27 members of the Artillery Mobile Training Team, predominantly made up from members of 1 Regt RAA, heading to Afghanistan.

The teams are an ISAF initiative to ensure a common standard of training, core skills and effectiveness across all ANA artillery battalion, or kandak.

Since early 2011 Artillery Mobile Training Teams have been deployed from a range of NATO countries, but this is the first time that Australia has been invited to provide a team.

CO 1 Regt RAA Lt-Col Nick Bolton said the task involved taking an ANA artillery kandak from the field and delivering an intensive pro-gram of focused, specialist artillery training.

“This process culminates in the certifica-tion of the kandak for operational service across the country, and ensures a consistent capability across all ANA artillery kandaks,” he said. “The preparation and deployment of this team is an example of Australia’s commitment to supporting a key element of the coalition strategy – the development of a professional, competent and capable ANA to provide endur-ing security for the Afghan people.”

ment where you fought a very danger-ous foe. Enjoy your reunions with loved ones – you have earned it,” he said.

FCU 6, commanded by Lt-Col James Murray, was predominantly made up of members of 1 Sig Regt as well as IT and communications special-ists from the Navy and Air Force.

FCU 6 deployed to the Middle East in November last year and returned in

May, providing the Australian National Command Communicat ions and Information Systems services through-out the MEAO.

Lt-Gen Morrison urged people to pause for sombre reflection to observe that what the soldiers had done had exacted a price – whether it was visible or not.

“There is the time with loved ones

that can never be recovered – first words uttered by kids in your absence, first steps taken by toddlers and a dozen other important milestones that you may have missed,” he said.

“Moreover, you have lived with the constant threat of danger. This changes you. It makes you older, more mature, less frivolous than many of your civil-ian peers.

“Be proud of what you have done without being arrogant. More impor-tantly, if you experience trauma and mental issues after the initial thrill of coming home wears off, know that the soldierly thing to do is to put your handup and ask for help.

“Likewise if you see one of your team-mates struggling, make sure you help and inform the chain of command.”

Greatly missed: Sgt Don Mander is happy to be reunited with his children after the welcome home parade. Photo by Cpl Casey Smith

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US ARMY Chief of Staff Gen Ray Odierno visited Australia to discuss areas of mutual concern in the Asia and Pacific regions, the reduction of Defence budgets and continuing a partnership into the future.

He addressed the 36th annual Pacific Armies Management Seminar and the Australian Defence College’s Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies and visited the Australian War Memorial to lay a wreath with CA Lt-Gen David Morrison during the visit.

“For many decades, and especially since the end of World War II, the US has depended on strong partnerships in the Pacific, built on mutual respect, trust and cooperation, to ensure the sta-bility, peace and prosperity of a region that is critical to the entire international community,” Gen Odierno said.

Gen Odierno praised the strong relationships built during support pro-vided in Iraq and Afghanistan, but said there were also new challenges fac-ing the international community that needed to be tackled together.

“Empowered by technology, indi-

vidual actors, whether soldiers, civil-ians or adversaries, can broadcast an image or message to a global audi-ence in an instant, and these tactical actions can and often will have strate-gic impacts,” Gen Odierno said.

“Technology allows like-minded individuals to come together virtually, not constrained by geography or for-mal borders, and this represents a new space we must embrace and integrate into our operations alongside the phys-ical terrain.”

After Gen Odierno’s address at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies Col Mick Ashleigh said “Gen Odierno clearly articulated the stra-tegic challenges facing the US as it must prepare for a myriad of emerging security threats in a period of reducing defence budgets”.

The US Army is bolstering its train-ing with “a better understanding of human behaviour and different cultural lenses”, and Gen Odierno suggested Australia’s and other nations’ armies should follow suit.

Col Georgeina Whelan, who also attended Gen Odierno’s presentation at the centre, found the talk particularly relevant in the current period of cul-tural change in the ADF.

“The major takeaway was Gen Odierno’s emphasis on the essen-tial requirement to lead, not manage, change,” she said.

As operations draw down in the Middle East, Gen Odierno said sol-diers would be returning to the Asian and Pacific regions and could take part in partnership-building operations.

“We want open, transparent rela-tionships with all nations for continued peace and security,” he said.

“Our gracious Aus t ra l i an hos t s have s t ead fas t ly been at our side for the past century and I look forward to an even brighter future built around strengthening ties with our long-time allies and closer rela-tionships with poten-tial partners.”

After his visit to Australia, Gen Odierno moved on to Thailand to meet with Gen Prayut Chan-O-Cha, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army.

Strengthening partnerships� General focuses on international ties and ever-changing threats

Strong ties: US Army Chief of Staff Gen Ray Odierno visits Army HQ in Canberra and, inset, pays his respects at the Australian War Memorial with CA Lt-Gen David Morrison. Photos by Lauren Black

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WE LIVE in a region highly prone to natural disasters and always facing new security chal-lenges, but these are issues that those at the 36th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) hope to battle together.

Co-hosted by DCA Maj-Gen Angus Campbell and the US Army’s Pacific Commanding General Lt-Gen Francis Wiercinski, PAMS was held in Canberra from July 16-20.

Senior land forces officers from 27 Asia-Pacific nations including New Zealand, Bangladesh, East Timor, Canada, Papua New Guinea, France, Vietnam and the Republic of Korea were dele-gates at the five-day seminar.

Members of 51FNQR C Coy performed a traditional

indigenous dance at the open-ing ceremony with support from Norforce’s Cpl Cedric John, who played the didg-

eridoo.The theme for PAMS 2012

was “Asia-Pacific land forces: new challenges, shared solu-tions”, with a focus on sharing experiences in responding to natural disasters and managing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.

PAMS provides senior-level

Army officers a multinational forum to exchange views and ideas and offers the future leaders of the region’s armies the means to establish and cultivate strong interpersonal relationships.

Lt-Gen Wiercinski said over the past 36 years PAMS had become a premiere forum in the Asia-Pacific for promoting secu-rity co-operation.

“It has proven itself as a strong contributor to the shared goals for regional stability,” he said.

“The relationship between nations in the Asia-Pacific serves as a model for prevailing peace, security and prosperity.

“Over the past two decades, the growing economic security and interdependence have set con-ditions for unprecedented growth and development. This is a very good thing. It has improved the lives of millions of people.”

The long-term objective of PAMS is to promote peace and stability in the region through mutual understanding, dialogue, and friendship.

CA Lt-Gen David Morrison welcomed the delegates and said he considered the seminar to be a key national engagement between the armies of the Asia-Pacific and was an important opportunity to share their collective experiences.

“The world and this region remain in a period of dynamic change,” he said.

“Security challenges are a feature of all the countries rep-resented here, but security is a means not an end in itself.

“What security provides is an environment of stability where the potential for prosperity can be realised.

“While all the nations here have a primary responsibility for self defence, the new security challenges that we all face are more usually cross border and transnational in nature.

“They extend from activities of criminal organisations through to the more traditional threats posed by regular or irregular armed forces.”

Lt-Gen Morrison said the common feature was that the response to such threats was often shared among nations in an alli-ance or coalition partnership.

“One of the most important and historically assured events in which we commonly engage and work beside each other is in humanitarian assistance and dis-aster relief,” he said.

“The Asia-Pacific is a region highly prone to disasters, some-times with many millions of peo-ple affected.

“The response to these disas-ters is commonly an international and cooperative one for land forces and they are often marked by outstanding multi-agency com-mand by our land force leaders.”

Building shared solutions � Senior Army officers from 27 Asia-Pacific nations unite at the 36th Pacific Armies Management Seminar

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New challenges: US Army Pacific Commander Lt-Gen Frank Wiercinski co-hosted PAMS in Canberra on July 16. Photo by US Army Sgt Kevin Bell

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WHEN members of 3 Pl, Anzac Coy, were kicking around a soccer ball with children in East Timor’s Bobonaro District in May, they didn’t realise they were making history.

It turned out the soldiers were on the last regional engagement patrol of Operation Astute

Connecting: Clockwise from top, from left, Pte James Appelhof, Cpl Michelle Rutland and Pte Stewart Lennie browse local produce in Maliana. Pte Stephen Bongiorno (left) and Pte Aaron Pipkorn kick a soccer ball with children during the patrol. Anzac Coy’s LCpl Ricky Ward (left), Pte George Coltman and Pte Aaron Pipkorn take in the view from the Balibo fort. Photos by Cpl Oliver Carter

Investing in a bright future� ADF role in East Timor is set to change

... the people of Bobonaro

District showed great pride in

their community and country ...– Lt Ted Guinea, Anzac Coy

Platoon commander Lt Ted Guinea and his team took great pride in contributing to the strong bonds Australian soldiers have formed with the East Timorese through similar patrols over more than 10 years.

“Ironically the con-fidence drawn from this successful partnership will mean the end of future regional engage-ment patrols, as our role in East Timor changes in the coming months,” he said.

“To know we are the last in a long line of similar patrols makes the experience an even greater honour for all involved.

“We will fondly remember the people of Bobonaro District and continue to wish them every success as East Timor emerges ever brighter among the nations of the world.”

The members of 3 Pl Anzac Coy visited the centres of Maliana, Bobonaro Village, Balibo and Aidabalaten during the eight day patrol.

Lt Guinea said East Timor’s rugged beauty was a highlight.

“We experienced mountain ranges cov-ered in fog, beautiful golden beaches and open farming plains,” he said.

“Despite the breathtaking scenery, it was

the warm response from locals that was the most humbling experience.”

During their time in the villages they interacted with the local communi-ties, making visits to the teachers and students at schools, cheering on local sporting competitions and playing soc-cer with the kids. A few people were

asked to attend family celebrations at the ChefeSuco’s house in Rairobo.

“Despite having few of the trappings of the Western world, the peo-ple of Bobonaro Districtshowed great pr ide in their community and country and made us feel welcome,” Lt Guinea said.

“They also showed us a thing or two about

how to play sport.”Maliana is one of East Timor’s larg-

est population centres, with hundreds from across the district travelling to its gymnasium and soccer field daily to play volleyball and soccer. These are the two biggest sports in the nation and provided an opportunity for Anzac Coy soldiers to play against local children and brush up on their Tetum.

“The children were thrilled to play and work on their English, although on more than one occasion charades helped cross the language barrier, much to the youngsters’ delight,” Lt Guinea said.

“Regardless of language barriers it also became clear that our soccer skillsneeded some more work too.”

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Capt Jesse Platz

AFGHAN police in Uruzgan province have been learning to dispose of life-threatening explosive devices on the Explosive Hazard Reduction Course (EHRC).

The EHRC, introduced in June 2010, is a highly successful education program designed to train local forces to clear IEDs and unexploded ordnance indepen-dently.

The 21-day course is run year-round by Australian and Singaporean explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts, and qualified Afghan instructors. It is often run for the Afghan National Police (ANP) whose freedom of movement is often hindered by IEDs near their checkpoints.

Course manager CPO Shaun Elliott said the EHRC helped the Afghans resolve these incidents independently.

“The ANP spend a lot of time at checkpoints and it’s very common that they find or have IEDs and suspicious items handed in to them,” CPO Elliott said.

“We are giving them the capability to deal with such hazards on site, rather than wait for coalition forces or Afghan National Army (ANA) EOD technicians to arrive and deal with the threat.”

A group of nine police and 18 ANA students graduated on July 18 with quali-fications that will eventually lead them to mentor their colleagues.

“Train the trainer is our end game,” CPO Elliott said. “If we can get them to a point where they are successfully train-ing their own personnel, we believe that

they can operate independently around the province.”

Local policeman Rafullah said the course was integral to enhancing the security situation and the transition pro-cess.

“I am very thankful of the instructors on this course. It is very important for the ANP and very important for our country,” he said.

“Before, when we came across an IED we had lots of problems with it and had to call in for help, but now the police and ANA have the ability to [dispose of] it.

“It is a very good feeling to make dan-gerous areas safe for local forces and my people.”

ANA instructor Sgt Abdul Rahmin, a former student of the EHRC, said the police were integrating well and learning the fundamentals very quickly.

“The work they are doing here is very good. They know how to find an IED on patrol, blast it and make the area safe,” he said.

“We are very proud of the Afghan police on this course. Our country needs the police and Army to be trained in this skill and practise it for many years in the future.”

The EHRC is run at a purpose-built counter-IED compound to provide a prac-tical and realistic training environment.

“We educate them on all types of explosive hazards, respective threat lev-els, ways to counter different charges and ideal courses of action for each sce-nario,” CPO Elliott said. “We do this in an environment similar to that outside the wire.”

The hazards of the job� Police in Uruzgan province are joining courses on explosive detection and disposal to work independently

Life skills: Explosive ordnance disposal technician Sgt Dave Wallace shows Afghan soldiers how an M81 firing initiator works during the Explosives Hazard Reduction Course at Multinational Base Tarin Kot. Photos by Cpl Hamish Paterson

Bang on: Instructors watch as charges laid by students are detonated on the range at Tarin Kot.

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Capt Jesse Platz

THESE cooks know how to feed an army, or part of an army in Afghanistan anyway.

LCpl Otis Hodge and Pte Jason Newmann are deployed with the 3RAR Task Group and are responsible for pro-viding meals for the soldiers of Patrol Base Sorkh Bed, in northern Kandahar.

The Townsville duo prepare 14 meals a week for anywhere between 30 and 150 soldiers.

“Depending on who is here and the

Putting on a good spread� Cooks keep a patrol base going

Master chefs: Cooks Pte Jason Newmann (left) and LCpl Otis Hodge, of 3RAR, run the mess at Patrol Base Sorkh Bed. Photos Cpl Hamish Paterson

... when they come in from

patrol the first thing they do is drop their kit, have a shower, walk in, have a nice feed and

recover for the next mission.

– LCpl Otis Hodge, 3RAR cook

operational tempo, the most common number would be around 70,” LCpl Hodge said.

“It’s our job to make sure there is a good spread on, so when they come in from a patrol they drop their kit, have a shower, walk in, have a nice feed and recover for the next mission.”

LCpl Hodge has previously deployed to East Timor and Papua New Guinea, but says his cur-rent job is the most rewarding.

“I really enjoy the experience of deploying overseas and doing my job in an operational role and meeting lots of people,” he said.

“Not many chefs get to cook out on the front line in Afghanistan so that’s pretty cool.

“The guys really appreciate fresh meals instead of ration packs.

“Their highlights of the day are going to the gym and eating, so they hang out for meals, always line up 10 minutes early and chat with us.

“It’s an awesome team and a privilege to be a part of it.”

Pte Newmann has been a cook for four-and-a-half years, and is on his sec-ond deployment to Afghanistan.

“I was over here last year for eight-and-a-half months so it’s good to be back and see how it’s all changed. I’m in a different area now but previously I spent my time between three patrol bases. It’s

good to see different sides of the coun-try and interact with people of different backgrounds.”

Although the Afghan National Army (ANA) partner force usually has its own cooks in patrol bases, the relationship between each culinary expert grows strong over time.

“Last year they’d come to me for their usual staples like rice, yeast, bread, tinned tomatoes if I could spare it and I’d help them out with different ideas and recipes,” Pte Newmann said.

“Through the use of an interpreter they returned the favour and gave me tips on how I could make their local favourites.

“It was a good experience profes-sionally and person-ally, and we will incorporate that this time round.”

The two cooks prepare food and keep kitchen and messing areas clean, but it’s the gratitude shown by their cus-tomers that drives them to excel.

“We feel like we are doing a service for the boys.

“They go out and train the ANA

and do the hard yards. When we make a good meal, we see the big smiles on their faces, they come up and tell you and pat you on the back, and that good constant work appreciation means a lot,” Pte Newmann said.

LCpl Hodge has two children, and a wife who used to serve in the Navy.

“With her experience in the Defence Force, she really understands what it’s like to be me,” he said.

“She likes being in Townsville – there’s a great support network.

“Our catering platoon has a good social life outside of work so she’s friends with the wives and other cooks, which makes it easy for her while I’m away.”

Pte Newmann is also married. Both cooks will be welcomed home by their wives after Christmas.

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Lt-Col Carla Watts

THE Afghan National Army’s (ANA) 205th Hero Corps assumed respon-sibility for security in southern Afghanistan with a ceremony at Camp Hero in Kandahar province on July 1.

The region which is the first in the nation to have Afghan security lead con-sists of Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan and Daykundi provinces.

The 205th Coalition Advisory Team (205CAT) has been focused on preparing the Afghan Corps leadership for the tran-sition over the past few years. The team is predominantly staffed by Australians and provides advice, assistance and training to the 205th Corps HQ.

Commander 205CAT Col Richard Parker said the handover was an historic event.

“This occasion is significant for the people of Afghanistan as it marks the moment their security forces stepped up to assume responsibility for their secu-rity,” he said.

“I have been impressed with the will-ingness of the Afghan Army to take the lead and I remain confident that they will succeed.”

Commander of the 205th Hero Corps, Maj-Gen Abdul Hamid, said his troops had come a long way in a short time.

“It wasn’t that long ago that we had no security forces,” he said. “We started with a small force and today we have over 20,000 soldiers and all the equip-ment we need – we are ready for this moment.”

Part of the ceremony involved the opening of a new Tactical Operations Centre from which future missions will be planned and monitored.

Principal plans mentor Maj Grant Coombe said the transition ceremony occurred one day after Maj-Gen Hamid received a back brief on the concept of operations for a multi-phased offensive operation involving two Afghan bri-gades.

“That was when I saw the headquar-

Afghan HQ takes the lead� Australians mentored the headquarters personnel taking the security lead in southern Afghanistan

ters staff effectively execute a deliberate planning process for a complex battle that I knew they were ready to take the lead,” Maj Coombe said.

The 205CAT includes 19 Australians ranging in rank from corporal through to colonel from a variety of corps and spe-cialist backgrounds.

With the assistance of locally employed interpreters, the team mem-bers interact daily with the principle staff officers of the corps HQ, accompany-ing them on battle field circulations and helping them carry out their daily duties.

Mentoring masters: Members of the 205CAT, pictured here in an abandoned tank yard near Forward Operating Base Lindsey in Kandahar, have helped the Afghan 205th Corps HQ develop the skills necessary to take the security lead in southern Afghanistan. Photos by Sgt Mick Davis

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DENTAL technician Cpl Rhiannon Farley has earned mouthfuls of praise for her work with Vietnamese civilians during Pacific Partnership 2012.

Cpl Farley, of 2GHB in Enoggera,

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When not working on the ship, Cpl Farley can be found work-ing on Medical Civic Action Projects in regional communities south of Vinh.

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“At home I normally see military members who get checked every year so they only need relatively minor dental work,” Cpl Farley said.

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awareness because the locals don’t have an understanding of the need to brush and floss.

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Open wide: Dental technician Cpl Rhiannon Farley assists with an examination of Vinh Nguyen in a medical clinic set up at the Hung Tien primary school in northern Vietnam as part of Pacific Partnership 2012.

Photos by Flt-Sgt Craig Sharp

Modern touch: Dental teams bring an array of modern equipment to their field clinics in remote villages where many have never seen a dentist before.

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Maj Cameron Jamieson

ENGINEERS serving on Pacific Partnership 2012 are getting a daily “good morning Vietnam” wake-up call as they work on construction projects in the country’s north.

Having completed tasks in Indonesia and the Philippines, the 12-man team is split across two worksites to the south of the city of Vinh, where they are refurbishing the medical clinics at Hung Tien and Hung

Good mornings in Vietnam� Construction engineers refurbish and expand medical centres for the Vietnamese leg of the aid mission

Lam, plus building a new four-room medical facility.

The sappers are staying in the towns and are working alongside US Navy con-struction battalion engineers and Vietnamese build-ers.

Carpenter Spr Lachlan Ford, of 21 Const Sqn, helped put up the form works for the roof of the Hung Lam clinic.

“The locals love the work we are doing,” he said.

“They keep coming around to have a look and some even try to put their input into the build.”

Spr Ford said the new building would give the clinic an increased capacity once it was completed.

“There’s not much room in the building out front that we’re refurbish-ing,” he said.

“Everybody was crammed into a small space, but soon they’ll have much more room for more patients and services.”

Fellow 21 Const Sqn carpenter Spr Jordan Fairholm said the Pacific Partnership experience had been a use-ful education in adapting to unusual workplaces.

“It’s been helpful in teaching me to work in circumstances where I might not have all the right materials I need, so I have to make do with what I’ve got,” he said.

“Likewise we don’t have all the tools we want but we still make do. You just have to use your brain a bit more to get

through what you are doing.“It makes you appreciate what we

have back in Australia, where you can have the right tools and the right mate-rials ordered to the right sizes.”

Once the engineers’ two-week stint in Vietnam is finished they will board the US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy for the final leg of the voyage to Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

... we don’t have all the tools we

want but we still make do. You just have to use your

brain a bit more ...– Spr Jordan Fairholm,

21 Const Sqn

Heavy lifting: Spr Brent Wetten helps Luu Thi Laen unload a truckload of bricks for the construction of a new building at the Hung Lam Medical Clinic in northen Vietnam. Photo by Flt-Sgt Craig Sharp

“

Army August 2, 2012 CENTREPIECEwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews16 17

Some bands just march and play instruments, but the ADF Band heading to Edinburgh does much more, Cpl Mark Doran reports.

SPECTATORS at th is year’s wor ld- famous E d i n bu rg h M i l i t a r y Tattoo will be treated to an unconventional perfor-mance by the ADF Band.

As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations for the Queen, more than 1000 musi-cians, pipers, drummers, singers and dancers from four continents will be part of the line up at the 62nd Tattoo at Edinburgh from August 3-25.

The invitation to Scotland will be the first time a per-manent forces ADF Band has performed at the event in Edinburgh.

Formed by 18 members from each service, the 54 tal-ented musicians of the ADF Band will play, sing and dance to music iconic to Australia from the colonial times through to pop songs and rock and roll by Kylie Minogue and AC/DC.

Training for the display, which was designed by Band Corps RSM WO1 Vaughan Grant, was held at HMAS Harman. The main challenge for the musicians from the three services was learning a unique new form of drill.

The musical arrangement has been skilfully crafted by Sgt Greg Peterson, Defence Force School of Music, to ensure the music maintains its integrity and flow throughout several transitions.

Contingent commander Lt-Col Gordon Lambie, Director of Music – Army, said music celebrating the 30th

anniversary of the film The Man from Snowy River would also feature during the six-minute 40-second performance.

“This is a major contribution from the ADF for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in one of the world’s most recognised pub-lic arenas,” he said.

“Performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is the pinnacle of a Defence musician’s career – something we all strive and hope for.”

For some musicians it is a dramatic start to their mili-tary careers. Talented Army vocalist Musn Mark Nivet finished training at Kapooka in early July and Navy’s AB Nathanael Maxwell, who plays the tenor horn, has only been with his band for two months.

Tuba player Musn Angus Charlton, of AAB, Brisbane, said being a part of the tattoo

was a childhood dream.“I never thought I would see the day

of getting this gig. The marching part of the performance is a lot of fun, especial-ly when we get the intricate bits right,” he said.

Trombone player Cpl Megan Dodds, of AAB, Brisbane, said it was a fantas-tic experience to be able to represent Australia at such a well-known event.

“My favourite part of the perfor-mance is singing and dancing with the rock band,” she said.

“I have been learning and memoris-ing my music for close to a month so the training at HMAS Harman was where it all came together.”

I never thought I would see

the day of getting this gig.

– Musn Angus Charlton,

AAB, Brisbane

In tune: Singer Musn Mark Nivet rehearses with the ADF Band ahead of its performance in the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo.

Drummer Musn Gavin Hodge Trumpeter Sgt Peter Bell Musn Angus Charlton and Cpl Megan Dodds

from the brass section.

On the march: Band Corps RSM WO1 Vaughan Grant rehearses with the

ADF Band at HMAS Harman in Canberra.

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Army August 2, 2012 LETTERSwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 19

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If you have an interesting story to tell, get in touch with Army and get it in print.

Contact the editorial team by email at

[email protected]

AN ISSUE that is near and dear to all Army personnel is career management, particularly post-ing locality, posting duration and the effect that remaining in location has on promotion com-petitiveness.

As the XO of a unit that has sub units in seven locations in five states (Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane, Canungra, Sydney, Watsonia and Adelaide), and as a member who has served 25 years, I have a good understanding of what people want in regard to both postings and career.

The often heard, and I believe overused, comment that Brisbane is the most sought-after posting may have been accurate 10-15 years ago, but feedback from per-sonnel in my current unit suggests this is not an accurate reflection on today’s Army.

The common want or desire from unit personnel is stabil-ity. Stability that is provided by remaining in location, stabil-ity for partners’ careers, stability for children’s schooling, stabil-ity for social life and the stabil-ity in career while hopefully, still remaining competitive for promo-tion.

The recently released budget has, as one of its aims, a reduction of 10 per cent in posting costs. A review of career management and the long-held practice of post-ing people from one location to another is, in my opinion, a para-digm that needs to be broken and an area where Army could realise substantial savings.

I acknowledge that there will always be cases where a particu-lar skill set is in short supply and service needs dictate that a person must be posted to meet the higher priority. The reality is that for the majority of personnel, this argu-ment does not apply. Discussions with numerous people have pro-vided empirical evidence that the default from career managers is that a person must be posted due to service needs if they have been in location for more than one posting.

I question the need to move people to another posting loca-tion in order to “develop” them. Who is a better or more devel-oped person, the member who did three (or more) postings within the same brigade (or location),

or the person who was posted, for example, to 3 Bde, 7 Bde and then 1 Bde?

Yes, for a select few, there may be a need to be posted regu-larly and I would suggest those people who are identified for the higher echelons (at both officer and warrant officer level) may need to be posted more often than others. The reality is that the majority of Army personnel will not reach the higher ranks, how-ever these people can still contrib-ute effectively to Army without the need to post them from loca-tion to location.

If a member selects to remain in location and acknowledges that by doing so they may reduce their competitiveness later in their career, why go to the expense of posting them to another location? Honest and open communication between the career manager and the member and a posting plot of more than five years (or two post-ings) will realise financial effi-ciencies and a much happier work force.

Over the past 10 to 15 years there have been a plethora of sur-veys from the regular Defence census, the attitude survey and most recently the survey on cer-emonial uniforms. I would like to suggest that a dedicated sur-vey that asks both the member and commanders what they want when it comes to postings, skill sets, professional develop-ment and family (personal) needs would provide answers that could be used to shape the next posting and career management model.Maj Des ScheidlWO&NCO Academy, Canungra

The Director General Career Management Army, Brig Damian Cantwell, responds:MAJ Scheidl’s letter raises a number of aspects of career man-agement and I agree with many of his sentiments.

What our officers and soldiers want in their careers is but one side of the equation. As you cor-rectly identify, service need must take precedence in some circum-stances.

We joined to serve and that often means doing things and going places we’d often not consider or prefer. We are also required to build capability in a relatively small Army. Therefore,

Reduce postings and save� There are options to avoid posting members over long distances every few years that can help boost the budget

we must develop our people through posting experiences, courses and promotion.

The key is in getting the bal-ance right, as you suggest in your letter. It has often been the case over the past 25 years, or more, that the career management agen-cies have taken into consideration the individual circumstances of officers and soldiers and accom-modated their needs, whether that be geographic stability or some other measure.

We don’t keep statistics on these decisions and we don’t pro-mote the fact that we often make decisions in the best interests of the individual when the circum-stances warrant it.

In all cases there are certain drivers that impact the career management agency making deci-sions. Availability of suitably qualified individuals, availability of positions to post to, changed personal circumstances of officers and soldiers at short notice and new establishment positions being raised at short notice are a few.

Overlay the personal and pro-fessional desires of the individu-als and you can appreciate how complex the endeavour becomes. That’s no reason not to improve and many of the issues you raise are being addressed through a number of initiatives in CM-A and DGPers-A.

Stepping up: The Army’s promotion system has traditionally been linked to the posting cycle, with a diverse range of postings and locations seen as a benefit. Photo by Cpl Mark Doran

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Army August 2, 2012FEATURES www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews20

SSgt Rene Dikkenberg

AFTER 45 years of service, SSgt Ian Wilson retired from the Army Reserve on May 29.

Looking for something different and having been impressed by 122nd Signal Squadron’s (now 144 Sig Sqn) advertisement in the Adelaide phone

directory, he enlisted in the Signals Corps in March 1967.

CO 144 Sig Sqn Maj Malcolm Haynes said SSgt Wilson, a recipient of the Federation Star, would leave a hole that would be hard to fill.

Maj Haynes explained he was a popular soldier who was held in the very highest regard and praised him for his exemplary service.

SSgt Wilson’s wife Bev and daugh-ter Sarah, along with the President of the RASIGS Association of South Australia, Bruce Long, were at the unit function held in his honour.

Commander 9 Bde Brig Craig McCarthy presented SSgt Wilson with a special certificate of service.

SSgt Wilson will continue to sol-dier on in the Australian Cadet Corps.

With thanks: SSgt Ian Wilson (left) receives a Certificate of Service from Commander 9 Bde Brig Craig McCarthy.

Recognition after

Giving the signal it’s time to go

Forty-five years of service is an impressive milestone to reach and these men have contributed greatly during their time in the job

WO2 Ian Dunlop was presented with his second Federation Star by CA Lt-Gen David Morrison on June 22 accompanied by his daughter Alison Jean Tough. WO2 Dunlop joined the Army on March 9, 1967, and is serving with Melbourne University Regiment in Victoria.

Dunlop’s second star

gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

Cpl Mark Doran

SGT Bryan Hateley, of the Army Financial Services Unit, will reach the milestone of 45 years’ effec-tive service as a reservist on August 3 and retire on August 10, his 65th birthday.

Sgt Hateley originally enlisted in Victoria with the Royal Australian Army Service Corps in 1967. He was driving and instructing when the Royal Australian Corps of Transport was formed in 1973.

In 1995, Sgt Hateley transferred to Army Pay Corps.

He had been a senior manager with the Commonwealth Bank previ-ously, a career with seemed a good match to his abilities as a reservist.

“Some of the skills I learnt through the Army I was able to

use in my civilian capacity and the expertise from my normal job helped me in my military career as well,” he said.

“My civilian job was my prior-ity, which limited my promotion, but there weren’t many vehicles I couldn’t drive in my younger days.”

Discharging from the Army as the Financial Services Manager at Simpson Barracks, and cur-rently working as a business manager fora dental practice, Sgt Hateley said the best thing about the Armywas the comradeship

he had enjoyed over the years.“I had some terrific trips tak-

ing vehicles to exercises in central Australia and other parts of the Northern Territory,” he said.

“One of the biggest changes I have seen in Army is with occupa-tional, health and safety. Some of the things we did in my day you couldn’t do today.”

“Army August 2, 2012 FEATURESwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 21

decades of service

Long service: Sgt Bryan Hateley, of the Army Financial Services Unit, seen here with his partner Gail Barassi, is retiring on August 10.

The expertise from my

normal job helped me in my military

career.– Sgt Bryan Hateley,

Financial Services Unit

Camaraderie will be missed in retirement

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THE double march out of Kapooka’s 25 Pl and 26 Pl was wet and cold, but not nearly wet enough to dampen the

enthusiasm, excitement and relief of the 98 graduating soldiers.

The Most Outstanding Recruit of 25 Pl, 24-year-old Pte Melissa Osmand, said the graduating parade was a high-light of her time at Kapooka, in more ways than one.

“Getting to the end of this really feels like an achievement after what seems like a long time with the parade as the focal point. It’s a great feeling,” she said.

“The parade today went a lot bet-ter than expected. We had a few issues during the week that we were a bit wor-ried about, but obviously we were pretty happy when we got the drill award.

“It was a lot easier with the band when we could feel the rhythm, and we could relax a bit more and concentrate on what we were doing. In the end, it just sort of happened as a natural thing.

“I did sort of listen to the reviewing officer’s speech, but the memory of it is very vague because I was standing there thinking ‘oh my gosh, I know there’s an attention coming. I can’t miss it, I can’t miss it’.

“And as for the rain – I could see drops of water falling off my hat, but all I was thinking was that I was going to hate cleaning my weapon after this.”

Tpr Andrew Harris said the 12 weeks leading up to the march out was “a pret-ty full-on, intense course from day one” when the NCOs jumped on the bus and gave the new recruits a nice big spiel.

“Then they hurried us into a lecture room and we’re all like “what the hell’s going on – what have I got into?” Tpr Harris said.

“The first few weeks were pretty full on. The NCOs were all over us like a rash, just making sure we could cope with a bit of pressure, I suppose.

“But the course itself was pretty well delivered throughout, from day one right up to today.

“I think most or all of us gathered up the information pretty well in the end.

“I came from a job where I had a lit-tle bit of responsibility and my age was probably an advantage because I think they left me alone a little bit.

“I was able to develop on the knowl-edge I already had of the Army from friends and family. So, in that respect yes, I did enjoy it.”

All the recruits interviewed nominated

The Challenge as the most memorable part of their time at Kapooka.

“Being out field for five days, being at the forward operating base for five days and then doing The Challenge was excellent, bringing everything we learnt over the previous weeks together,” Tpr Harris said.

“The Challenge was really hard in some places, but that’s what made it enjoyable – it was a real sense of achievement.

“But nothing tops our march out – not just the good parade, but knowing that now you are actually an Australian soldier.”

So what brings people to Kapooka? Of course the answer to that is as differ-ent as the number of people who enter the barracks’ gates.

For Spr Benjamin Blundell there was no family history in the military to follow.

“I was drawn to the Army for the mental and physical challenge,” he said.

“I’ve always said I could do it and I guess it was time to put up or shut up.

“I did also want to do my bit for the country too. I’ve heard a lot about the IED strikes in Afghanistan and I thought if I could bring my skills to the Army and help out with that as an engineer, I’m more than happy to do that.”

Of course, for all the new sol-diers, marching out of Kapooka is just the beginning. All are now on initial employment training in their fields – Tpr Harris in Puckapunyal on the cav-alry driver’s course, Pte Osmand in Bandianna for the clerk admin course and Spr Blundell in Moorebank “play-ing with really cool stuff”.

But the bonds of friendship, forged in the first hard-core life experience for many will last forever.

Spr Blundell said he thought he knew what mateship and friendship were before he went to Kapooka, but the friendships he made over those 12 weeks just didn’t compare.

“I definitely made life-long bonds with some of the guys here,” he said.

“It is a life-changing experience coming here. It’s a very big deal going through hard times like this together and it really defines friendships.”

All in all, the only difference this reporter could find between his experi-ence of Kapooka and today’s soldiers – they had access to their mobile phones during down time.

But, come to think of it, mobile phones weren’t invented in my day.

Catching up with KapookaSgt Brian Hartigan returns to 1RTB to see if anything has changed in the 22 years since he marched out.

Fresh faces: From left, Pte Melissa Osmand, Tpr Andrew Harris and Spr Benjamin Blundell recently graduated from 1RTB after completing the 12-week recruit course with 25 Pl. Photo by Sgt Brian Hartigan

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Army August 2, 2012 FEATURESwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 23

One engineer found working on a diorama helped him deal with deployment, Sgt Rachel Ingram and Cpl Mark Doran report.

The art of memories

Army August 2, 2012

Creative mind: 3CER’s Cpl Jared Martin puts the final touches on his diorama of a engineer search team clearing the route for a vehicle patrol in Afghanistan. Photos by Sgt Rachel Ingram

“I wanted to help people understand

what we do and the sacrifices which

have been made by individuals in

Afghanistan.– Cpl Jared Martin, 3CER

A MOMENT of war has been frozen in time and is now on display at 3CER’s Regimental HQ.

Inspired by the work he and his fellow engineers did in Afghanistan, Cpl Jared Martin, of 3CER, used his talent and knowledge to build a dio-rama depicting engineers conducting a route clearance for a convoy.

As a combat engineer section commander, Cpl Martin deployed to Afghanistan for nearly eight months as part of MTF 3. In his limited downtime he started to paint min-iatures of his section members and Australian and Afghan National Army vehicles.

On his return to Australia, his partner Samantha encouraged him to

build the diorama and suggested it would be therapeutic to continue to use his talent.

Cpl Martin said Samantha helped with the construction of the diora-ma, which also gave him a chance to speak about his experiences in Afghanistan.

“When she was building the corn-field I told her the story of how I was caught up in a trip wire,” he said.

“Samantha said I should put the trip wire back in the diorama’s corn-field, so now the boys and I can have a bit of a laugh about the whole situ-ation.”

Great care was taken with the dio-rama to establish the terrain, vehi-cles, aqueducts, soldiers and locals to scale. Hidden caches are included

to show an example of what engineer search teams can find.

Cpl Martin said he wanted to cre-ate something three-dimensional, dif-ferent from photos and videos.

“It needed to physically show the lay of the land and be interactive,” he said.

“I want to help people understand what we do and the sacrifices which have been made by individuals in Afghanistan.”

Along with his natural talent, Cpl Martin acknowledged the assistance of a fellow sapper who he said was good in the painting department and provided expertise in colour tech-niques.

“The internet had been really significant too, as I could YouTube

advice and techniques from all over the world.”

WO2 Chris Dabbs, of 3CER, said the diorama was an excellent depic-tion of an engineer search team in Afghanistan.

“When we saw it we realised it was something we definitely wanted and would be proud to display in the unit,” he said.

Cpl Martin also created a diorama before his initial employment train-ing depicting engineers in Vietnam, which is now housed at the School of Military Engineers Museum in Moorebank.

One of his long-term ambitions is to work for the Australian War Memorial to help preserve the Army’s current experiences for future generations.

TELL US YOUR STORYIf you have an interesting story to tell, get in touch with Army and get it in print.

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The Afghan National Army’s 4th Brigade gunners are preparing to reinforce security near patrol bases after live-fire training for Exercise Eagle’s Flight, Capt Jesse Platz reports.

Afghans get fired up

THE Afghan Nat ional Army’s 4th Brigade is a step closer to deploying gun detachments outside

coalition patrol bases after a suc-cessful live-fire artillery shoot.

Exercise Eagle’s Flight show-cased the improving capability of the 2nd Battery, or Canon Tolay, as the Afghan gunners fired high explosive, smoke and illumination rounds onto a designated target area near Patrol Base Sorkh Bed, northern Kandahar, in July.

Offensive support mentor Capt

Raj Chetty, of the 3RAR Task Group, said the live-fire training would prepare the ANA artillery capability for transition and even-tual independence.

“In supporting ANA activities, there will be a requirement to push their offensive support assets out to the patrol bases and enhance their force on the ground. We are aiming to gauge their current abil-ity and advance them to a level where they can conduct their job without support from Coalition forces,” he said.

“They definitely have the capa-

bility to progress further. We’re introducing them to new equip-ment and systems and we are try-ing to digitise them.

“The sky is the limit with them. Now it’s just a matter of time.”

Despite using a manual pre-diction method, the ANA gunners have become competent in sup-porting manoeuvre elements and helping defeat the insurgency.

The Sorkh Bed live-fire serial spanned two days and one night and followed successful validation using D-30 122mm Howitzers.

CO 3RAR Task Group Lt-Col

Trent Scott said his troops were striving to provide as much inte-grated instruction and training as possible to the 4th Brigade to build momentum and self sufficiency.

“We are trying to leave a last-ing legacy with the ANA where commanders can command the soldiers, where they can plan mis-sions and execute them effec-tively on the ground,” he said.

“We’ve only got a short time here and our aim is to get them as far along as possible.”

Fire power: An ANA soldier hammers the

leg of a D-30 artillery piece into the ground for live firing at Patrol Base Sorkh Bed. Above, ANA

gunners fire the D-30 during a night

mission. Photos by Cpl Hamish Paterson

Army August 2, 2012 FEATURESwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 25

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As the Olympic Games kick off in London, Cpl Nick Wiseman looks back 60 years to the extremes one Australian soldier endured in search of Olympic glory.

Chasing the Olympic dream

IT’S 1952 and 3RAR is deployed to the Korean front line. Despite the continuing threat of enemy fire and snipers, a lone figure could be

seen each day darting throughout the muddy and uneven terrain striving for Olympic greatness.

Shipped off for service in Korea the year before, signals officer Capt Claude Smeal had already proven himself as an elite athlete as the NSW marathon champion.

War correspondent at the time and Olympic historian Harry Gordon said Capt Smeal was in a ridiculous posi-tion.

“The Australians were rarely out of the front line in Korea,” he said.

“He wanted to run the way athletes run so he set about training despite being on the front line.”

Capt Smeal was even warned by his CO one day, who told him he could be shot by snipers, but despite the threat he continued to train and was eventually discovered by two war correspondents in the area.

Keen to assist in getting Capt Smeal into the Olympic team they measured out a makeshift track and timed his per-formance.

Although not to official Olympic conditions, he ran a good time and the correspondents then made contact back

to Australia to get Capt Smeal into the Australian Olympic team.

Based on his results and the help of some influential parties he was approved for the team and advised a fare was paid for him from Tokyo to London. There was only one small hitch – he was still in Korea.

Forced to find his own way to Tokyo, he managed to hitchhike on a flight out of Korea and made his pre-organ-ised fare, meeting up with the team in London.

In London he was given some limited team clothing and the team then made their way to the Games in Helsinki, where he finally got to experience the race for which he had trained so hard.

Although Capt Smeal did not take out the marathon, he finished 44 out of 68 and saw 13 rivals drop out along the way, which gave him a great sense of pride in what he had accomplished.

Unlike the other competitors par-ticipating at the Helsinki Games, Capt Smeal did not get to experience the cel-ebrations, nor did he get to enjoy the rest of the Games.

After completing his event, he packed up his belongings and returned to the unrelenting front line in Korea.

This story has been researched from Australia and the Olympic Games by Harry Gordon and other articles written by the same author.

Dedicated to running: Capt Claude Smeal takes part in a marathon relay race between Hiroshima and Kure in Japan in 1952 after returning from competing in the marathon event at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. Photo by Claude Holzheimer provided by the Australian War Memorial

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Army August 2, 2012PERSONNEL www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews26

THE approaching milestone 600th “supportive employer” has given the Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division (CRESD) reason to celebrate.

The successful campaign encourag-ing Australian employers to publicly declare their support for reservists was adapted by CRESD in 2009 from a similar program in the UK.

The UK program, coordinated by the Ministry of Defence’s Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) organisation, has attracted almost 1500 supportive employers. Australia is rapidly catching up, with more than 550 featured on the new Defence Reserves Support website.

Head CRESD Maj-Gen Paul Brereton said it was a case of “why reinvent the wheel?”

“Given the SaBRE program was helping encourage widespread support for reserve service in the UK, it was clear that Australia should follow suit,” he said.

“We regularly share ideas and initia-tives with our international counterparts and this is a perfect example of how this liaison benefits us.”

He said the program had come a long way since it began three years ago.

“Through the hard work of our state and territory staff, the Defence Reserves Support Council and its com-mittees, as well as a dedicated com-munication campaign, we have moved from 90 supportive employers to almost 600,” he said.

“Reservists rely on the support of their trio of stakeholders: Defence, their families and their civilian employers.

“As a reservist of 37 years I know that the support that I have enjoyed from my employers and the under-standing of my family have been

critical to my ability to serve in the reserves.”

The CEO of the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce, Jill Woods, is one of Australia’s most vocal business leaders in encouraging organisations to sign up as a supportive employer and publicly demonstrate their commitment to reservists.

Ms Woods was so impressed by the reservists she had “uncovered” working in chamber member businesses across the region that she had no hesitation in accepting the nomination to become the Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council Western Sydney Committee.

“It only takes a very short time when talking with and observing reservists in action to realise the poten-tial their continuing Defence program of training and up-skilling can offer their employers back in the workplace,” Ms Woods said. “They are focused and disciplined thinkers and leaders. They know teamwork is critical.

“I am totally committed to the cause of promoting the supportive employer concept at every opportunity to busi-ness people because the benefits are enormous to both parties. At every opportunity I am presented within the business and wider communities I will continue to encourage to employers to sign on.

“I am so proud of my role and want to ensure we keep these incred-ible reservists among us aware of how much we value them in their dual roles.”

For more information on the program contact CRESD on 1800 803 485. To see the list of Supportive Employers, visit the Defence Reserves Support website at www.defencereservessupport.gov.au

More bosses get on board� Hundreds of supportive employers sign up

Showing support: The supportive employers initiative nears 600 businesses as more civilian managers come to understand the value of their employees’ reserve service. Pictured here is Pte Josh Wale with his civilian employer Andrew Collett trying on combat body armour in East Timor during Exercise Boss Lift. File photo by Cpl Christopher Dickson

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Army August 2, 2012 PERSONNELwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 27

Insurance changes: If you have an insurance policy covering war-like service, make sure you’re still covered as some insurers have cancelled their policies covering military service. Photo by Cpl Hamish Paterson

ADF members may no longer be covered in all the circumstances that they once were under their personal insurance policies.

The ADF Financial Services Consumer Council has reminded per-sonnel to check their policies are the best for them and their families and has outlined important points.

How does Defence cover my family and me if I am injured or die?Defence covers ADF members and their families through the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme (MRCS). The military superannuation schemes also pro-vide spouse benefits on the death of a member and invalidity benefits payable to members who satisfy the requirements set out in the rules that apply to the military superannuation schemes.

How can personal insurance cover me?A good way of working out whether you need extra personal insurance is to have a look at what you would be entitled to under the MRCS and your superannuation scheme, and then work out what your dependants would need, each year, to maintain their cur-rent lifestyle.

What should I look out for when I buy personal insurance?You should make sure you under-stand the policy’s validity in a war zone or in war-like activity. These are called “war exclusions”, but they can apply more widely than just in war. Even if you are applying for a new insurance policy that does not con-tain these exclusions, the insurance company might not agree to accept you or might place conditions on you because of the nature of your ADF

Ensuring a bright future� Make sure you and your family are still covered under changes to some commercial personal insurance policies

DEPARTMENT of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) clients can now do business online with the launch of a new self-service portal.

MyAccount offers DVA clients a more immediate way of interacting with the department. With a registration num-ber, a computer and an internet connec-tion members can update contact details, view payments and card information,

view claims, apply for entitlements, book transport to medical appointments, lodge claims for travelling expenses on DVA medical visits, request replacement cards, and request forms, fact sheets and publications.

For more information contact DVA on 1800 173 858 or go to www.myaccount.dva.gov.au

duties, so ask questions about these issues before buying a policy.

According to the Australian Government Actuary, some insur-ers still offer policies which include options for military people deploying to high-risk areas, including Asteron’s Term Life policy and Chartis’ (for-merly AIG) D-Pax policy. The ADF Financial Services Consumer Council recommends researching any policy thoroughly before making a decision.

If you own (or are proposing to buy) a policy, the insurance company of your choice may cover you even if your policy contains conditions relating to war, war-like or hazardous activities.

But tell the insurer about your ADF duties and ask for written confir-mation that you will be covered while on duty. Otherwise the insurer may deny cover to you and your family when you need it most.

What is changing?Last year, Chartis made a com-mercial decision to discontinue the Services Security Policy, the Injury and Accident Insurance the Services Accident Insurance and On Guard policy, but allowed policyholders to keep their policies until August 2012. If this applies to you, consider alterna-tive insurance.

Zurich’s Ezicover Term Life policy

on life insurance, which was availa-ble through Navy Health, is no longer available to ADF members. However, if you are already a policyholder, cov-erage will continue as long as you continue to pay the premium.

The above information should not be treated as personal advice. Members should consider their specific needs and think about consult-ing an insurance company or a licensed finan-cial adviser before making any decisions.

Veterans’ services go online

Army August 2, 2012www.defence.gov.au/news/armynewsLIFESTYLE PEOPLE28

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New RSM takes the stickSgt Mick Davis

RSM Sgt Maj joint Task Force 633 WO1 Shane Moyle has taken over responsibilities as Regimental Sergeant Major of Joint Task

Force 633. On July 8, WO1 Mustafa Jesenkovic, seen here on the right, exchanged the pace stick in a low-key ceremony at Al Minhad Airbase in United Arab Emirates. Photo by Sgt Rob Mitchell

Dancing to their own tune

Coordination: From left, Flt-Lt Ivan Saunders and Maj Dale Cooper, of HQJOC’s Air Operations Command, discuss strategies for Exercise Pozieres Prospect with US Army plans officer Lt-Col Curby Scarborough at HQJOC. Photo by Lac Michael Green

TORRES Strait Island-based 51FNQR sol-diers performed their famous Steyr Dance during a visit to Duntroon on July 18.

The dance is a unique adaptation of a traditional bow and arrow dance and mili-tary drill movements by the soldiers from C Coy, 51FNQR.

They are known as the Thursday Island Sarpeye Dancers. Sarpeye is the Torres Strait word for sea eagle and is also C Coy’s motto. Photo by Cpl Mark Doran

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Your housing updateDefence Housing Australia

What are my housing options?

Defence provides you with subsidised housing in your posting locality.

If you own a suitable property in your posting location you will generally not be eligible for subsidised housing support from Defence. This includes if you purchase your own home while you’re in your posting location.

If you do not own a property in your posting location, DHA can offer you a range of housing options, depending on which category you fall into. These include:

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> Service Residence (SR) for Members WithDependants

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Army August 2, 2012 LIFESTYLE FUNwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynews 29

If you can think of a witty caption for the picture at left, email [email protected] with “caption comp August 2” as the subject. Try to keep entries under 25 words and include your name, rank and unit.

SAY AGAIN, OVER

Last edition’s winning entry“I’m in the Air Force and I can say for certain it is either a bird, plane or Superman up there.”

Terri PageDefence Support Randwick

We also liked“Used a putter you say ...that’s amazing!”

Sgt Rob TaylorDMO – Victoria

DIKKO By Bob DikkenbergNOTICESEngineer dinnerTHE Royal Australian Engineers Foundation will host the inaugural Reynolds Charity Dinner and auction at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra on September 7. The dinner will raise funds through a charity art auction, including artworks created and donated by current engineers. For more information go to www.raefoundation.org.au

Charity runningDISABILITY charity Sunnyfield is looking for dedicated runners to fill its exclusive Gold Charity Entry runner places in this year’s City2Surf on August 12. Entrants will receive a City2Surf race pack, but must maintain their own fundraising page

with an initial donation of $250 and a pledge to raise at least $1000 total. To express interest in running to support Sunnyfield, contact Julieri De Florio on (02) 9412 8653 or email [email protected]

Wall to wall rideDEFENCE members are invited to participate in this year’s Wall to Wall Remembrance Ride with police from throughout Australia. Members of state and territory police forces are gearing up for the annual charity ride from their state remembrance shrines to the National Police Memorial in Canberra and are invit-ing members of the Defence community to join them. For more information go to www.walltowallride.com

Telling the regiment’s story� New DVD series unveils the history of the SASR through interviews with unit membersLAC Bill Solomou

SIXTEEN years in the mak-ing and officially sanctioned by Socomd, a 10-part DVD series on the history of the SASR was launched by Maj-Gen Mike Jeffery (retd) at the Australian War Memorial on July 24.

The series, The Australian SAS – The Untold History, was pro-duced by former Special Forces sol-dier and award winning producer Professor Bruce Horsfield. It covers the history of the SASR, from 1957 to the current day.

Maj-Gen Jeffery said the DVDs

told the regiment’s story through interviews with former members explaining what they did, what they saw and what they felt.

“It explains what is special about SASR, on how an SAS sol-dier thinks,” he said.

“It analyses the creative and the unorthodox in the SAS mindset that has made the regiment consistently successful in operations.”

CO SASR Lt -Col J was impressed with the DVD series and on behalf of his men thanked Maj-Gen Jeffery and Professor Horsfield for the work they had done over many years in presenting the untold history of the SASR.

Lt-Col J said as the current CO he was responsible for maintaining the units’ customs traditions and capability and it was important that the unit reflected on all those that have contributed to the capability over many years.

“It is their efforts, their personal efforts and their collective efforts, that have made us what we are today, which allows us to continue to pursue excellence and deliver the operational capability to the Australian Government,” he said.

The Australian SAS – The Untold History can be purchased through the Australian War Memorial shop at www.awm.gov.au

Telling all: The producer of the the new DVD series, The Australian SAS – The Untold History, Professor Bruce Horsfield, speaks at the launch.Photo by LAC Bill Solomou

Army August 2, 2012www.defence.gov.au/news/armynewsLIFESTYLE HEALTH30

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HEALTHY teeth make you look and feel good, and excel-lent oral hygiene is one way of keeping a bright smile. It

means your teeth are clean, your gums are pink and you do not suffer from bad breath.

ADF members should also be vigi-lant with their dental health to ensure their operational readiness.

Personnel who are not dentally fit when they deploy are more likely to become non-battle casualties as a result of dental disease, which may require emergency treatment or evacuation.

Sioban Blaney-Brown, of the Russell Health Centre, recommends some sim-ple steps that can make a big difference to oral health and overall well-being.

“Firstly, make sure you have regular dental check-ups,” Dr Blaney-Brown said.

“Secondly, have a good oral hygiene regime, brush at least twice a day and f loss daily to remove plaque and help prevent dental decay.

“Thirdly, eat a well-balanced diet limiting high sugar foods and soft drinks.

“There is no doubt that preventive care can help stop problems developing and stop minor problems developing into major ones. Taking good care of your oral health can be seen as a long term investment.”

Flossing daily is an integral part of good oral hygiene practice.

It is the only way to remove debris from between the teeth where tooth-brushes cannot reach.

Without brushing and f lossing the plaque left on the teeth can produce tox-ins that ultimately cause decay and gum disease.

Left untreated, gum disease can lead to more severe problems. Untreated decay can lead to root fillings or even extraction of teeth.

If your gums hurt or bleed while brushing or f lossing, or you are expe-riencing persistent bad breath, see your dentist.

Early t reatment is less painful, expensive and worrying than treating conditions that have been allowed to progress.

Dental hygienist Sarah Musial said

she was an advocate of electric tooth-brushes.

“Electric brushes have a smaller, round head that you can manoeuvre to clean more effectively in those hard-to-reach areas,” Ms Musial said.

“They also encourage you to brush one tooth at a time without missing too many areas. Teeth should feel very smooth after brushing for at least two minutes.

“They really do make a huge differ-ence to the oral health of patients I see who are using them properly.”

If you experience sensitivity with your teeth, try toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

If the problem persists, see your den-tist, as it may be an indication of a more serious condition, such as a cavity or a cracked tooth.

Ms Musial said she also recommend-ed using toothpastes containing f luo-ride.

“It’s just a matter of finding a type of toothpaste which works for you and meets your requirements,” she said.

“Just check with your dentist to find out which is most appropriate for you.”

Eating a well-balanced diet gives your gums and teeth the important nutrients and minerals they need to stay strong and resist infections.

Dr Blaney-Brown advised limiting snacks between meals to reduce the fre-quency of acid attack on tooth structure.

“When you do snack, choose nutri-tious foods such as crackers, cheese, raw vegetables or plain yogurt,” she said.

“Remember to limit the amount of soft drinks and drink plenty of water.”

Expert care: As dental professionals, dentist Sioban Blaney-Brown, left, and hygienist Sarah Musial, of the Russell Health Centre in Canberra, are well qualified to offer advice about oral health.

Photo by Cpl Mark Doran

Cpl Mark Doran gets advice on taking care of those pearly whites.

Look after that smile

“Taking good care of your oral

health can be seen as a long

term investment.– Dr Sioban Blaney-Brown

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SPORTwww.defence.gov.au/news/armynewsArmy August 2, 2012 31

Remodelled ASRU fires up� Fifteen new caps impress coach as team dismantles Tasmanian state side in Hobart return game

TEN ADF skydivers launched them-selves from a plane at 14,000ft during a free-flying skills camp at Picton to gain their free-flying crests.

The Australian Defence Parachuting Association (ADPA) sky-divers gathered on June 9-10 to prac-tise their free flying – an expansion of traditional belly-to-earth skydiving, extending skills into vertical flight.

Parachutists fly their bodies verti-cally at about 250km/h in an upright position, falling feet first or inverted falling head first.

LCpl Roslyn Booker, of 176 AD Sqn, who did her first jump in 2007,

A NEW-LOOK Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) team ran in nine tries to one to beat the Tasmanian state side 57-8 in Hobart on July 14.

New captain Lt Tony Luxford, of 17 Sig Regt, led from the front, scor-ing two tries.

ASRU coach CPO Tony Doherty had reason to be pleased.

“It was an impressive perfor-mance, especially from our 15 new caps,” he said.

“We gained the ascendency early and never gave them the opportunity to get back in the contest.”

This was ASRU’s second victory

said achieving her free-fly crest was a highlight of the camp.

“It was such a great weekend,” she said. “I can’t believe so many of us got our crests signed off.”

A free-fly crest is the civilian

Australian parachuting regulatory authority qualification allowing sky-divers to free-fly with others who are not qualified vertical flight tutors, and the teams now hope to represent Defence in national and international

events and also the Defence National Sports Parachute Championships in December.

Sgt R, of 2 Cdo Regt, said it was fantastic ADPA was able to put on such an event to allow skydivers from around the country to come together and work on their skills.

“Being able to receive top quality coaching and jump with other experi-enced skydivers is invaluable to com-peting in the future,” he said.

Experienced free-flyers, ADPA President Capt Fransisca Molnar and Cpl Kyle Chick, of 6RAR, teamed up with three of Australia’s elite civilian

free-flyers to help the skydivers com-plete their 12 jumps.

Sgt Jason Lane, of 3/4 Cav Regt, also achieved both vertical and invert-ed competencies to get his head up and head down crest.

Australian free-flying skydiving tutor Erica Tadokoro coached at the camp and was pleased with the par-ticipants.

“I enjoyed watching everyone’s skills develop throughout the week-end,” Ms Tadokoro said.

To join the ADPA or for more information email [email protected]

Weekend fun: WO2 Ken Stone and LCpl Roslyn Booker take to the sky.

Free-flying at 250km/h, skydivers hone their skills at Picton camp

in two matches against Tasmania, having defeated the islanders in Wagga last year, 17-9.

The ASRU forwards dominated and the Tasmanian scrum was con-sistently out-muscled.

Cfn Adam Nixon, of ALTC, Maj Scott Davidson, of Army HQ, and Smn Alex Brown were prominent in the close contest.

ASRU’s two flankers, Lt Matt Hamill, of 2RAR, and OCdt Hudson Brown worked tirelessly on and off the ball to maintain and recycle pos-session.

Lt Hamill received ASRU’s best player award.

Not to be outdone by the for-

wards, the backline set about con-verting attacking pressure into points, resulting in five tries to backline play-ers and six conversions from nine attempts by Midn Chris Liszka.

Standout performances in the backline were Lt Luxford, AB Trevor Collett and Cpl Mick Wallace from Air Force.

ASRU men’s national operations manager, Lt-Col Adam Boyd, said Lt Luxford’s overall game control and speed and accuracy of ball delivery at half back were outstanding.

“Overall, it was a good outcome for a new ASRU outfit,” he said.

“The young guys coming through recognise the tremendous effort of

last year’s ASRU team and know they have big shoes to fill.

“We are all looking forward to next year’s Pacific Nations Military Cup in New Zealand, and the next In te rna t iona l Defence Rugby Competition, which will be hosted by the UK Combined Services in 2015.

“I was really surprised by how well we played and didn’t expect to win by that much with so many new players.

“The cohesion of the team was good considering the players only had two training sessions.”

Both teams observed a minute’s silence before the first whistle to pay tribute to fallen SASR member Sgt

Blaine Diddams, whose funeral was the same day as the match.

In the lead-up to the game in Hobart, ASRU ran a rugby skills clinic for the boys from the Hutchins School rugby program on July 11.

After the clinic, the two sides played a game of touch football. It did not go well for ASRU.

“The fact that they had about 50 players on the field during the friend-ly game of touch footy was probably the telling factor in their victory,” Lt-Col Boyd said.

Hutchins also played in the cur-tain-raiser at Rugby Park on July 14, and defeated an opposition it hadn’t beaten all season.

Game on: Front rowers Cfn Adam Nixon, left, AB Tait O’Sullivan and LAC Jarred Playford line up for a scrum (left) s Maj Scott Davidson takes up the ball (above). Photos by Richard Mitchell, Jump Shots Photography

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August 2, 2012

HANDS OFFHANDS OFFSporting 15 new players the Australian Services Rugby Union Sporting 15 new players the Australian Services Rugby Union team takes on the Tasmanian state team and comes up trumpsteam takes on the Tasmanian state team and comes up trumps

Hard hitter: Lt Matt Hamill, of 2RAR, takes the ball up in his best on-field performance for ASRU as (inset) Lt Tony Luxford has a chat to the referee. Photo by Richard Mitchell, Jump Shots Photography

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SPECIAL LIFTOUT

READY READY TO GOTO GO

Troops Troops from 1 Bde from 1 Bde prove they prove they have what have what it takes as it takes as thousands are thousands are certified for certified for operational operational deploymentdeployment

Out in force: ‘Enemy’ ASLAVs roll through Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Ex Hamel.Photo by AB Lee-Anne Mack

TANK, armoured vehi-cle, infantry and artil-lery fire exploded around Shoalwater Bay Training Area as Exercise Hamel drew to a close.

More than 6000 ADF personnel participated alongside about 150 US Marines and 25 New Zealand Army medics from June 21 to July 18.

The three-week exercise concluded with 1 Bde’s certification to deploy on future contingency operations.

The director of the end of exercise live-fire activity and commandant of the Combined Arms Training Centre in Victoria, Col Sean Ryan, said Ex Hamel provided one of the few opportunities to experience a brigade-level live-fire activity.

“This is a pretty spectacular activity which tests the firepower of a manoeu-vre brigade,” Col Ryan said. “For 1

Bde, this includes tanks, armoured vehicles, engi-neering support, dismounted infantry and artillery fire.”

Exercise director Brig Shane Caughey said he was pleased with the training outcomes.

“The live-fire activity added com-plexity to the battlefield and required the training audience to react and adapt their plans to the changing tactical situ-ation,” Brig Caughey said.

“We have seen some excellent train-ing conducted in some very trying con-ditions. Modern warfare is not simple and the Army must train and prepare for operations in a complex environment.”

Commander 1 Bde Brig Gus McLachlan praised his troops for their results during the training exercise.

“The brigade has spent sev-eral months training and preparing for Exercise Hamel and I am proud of what my soldiers have achieved in a complex

and demanding scenario,” he said. “This means 1 Bde will be ready

to take over the responsibilities as the online brigade later this year. We will return to Darwin and continue to main-tain our foundation skills that have been tested during Ex Hamel.”

Named after the Battle of Hamel in France in 1918, the month-long exer-cise is designed to ensure Australian forces are trained, equipped and ready to deploy for future operations by allowing them to develop and conduct tactical planning and operations in a warlike scenario.

“This is a pretty spectacular

activity which tests the

firepower of a manoeuvre

brigade.– Col Sean Ryan,

director of Ex Hamel’s final brigade live-fire practice

Army August 2, 2012 EXERCISE HAMEL 3SPECIAL LIFTOUT2

CERTIFIED TO DEPLOY

Keeping an Army on the roll

Keeping watch: A Bushmaster provides security outside the Urban Operations

Training Facility during Exercise Hamel 2012. Photo by AB Lee-Anne Mack

Lt Kerri Gray

THE long and proud history of Australians and New Zealanders work-ing together continued during Exercise Hamel, with 22 nurses, doctors, dentists and environmental health officers trav-elling across the Tasman Sea to be at Shoalwater Bay.

Medic Pte Laura McIntrye, of New Zealand’s 2nd Health Support Battalion, was part of the primary health care team at Camp Rocky.

“I joined the Defence Force three years ago as a medic to have an adven-ture, see the world and get paid to train,” Pte McIntrye said. “This is my second trip to Australia now – last year

I was here playing hockey. “I also had the chance to go to

Vanuatu, the UK and Antarctica.”Pte McIntrye enjoyed working with

Australians and having the chance to share skills and swap stories.

“Their procedures are similar to ours,” she said.

During Ex Hamel, the teams prac-tised working with other groups as preparation for humanitarian relief, disaster and operational situations in the future.

Cpl Regan Dranfield, of 3HSB based in Tasmania, said she enjoyed working with the New Zealand medics, finding out what equipment they used and how they operated.

“The New Zealand Defence Force is quite similar. It’s great to be able to work with and learn from other nations’ army personnel,” Cpl Dranfield said.

The OC of the New Zealand con-tingent, Maj Julia Fortune, said her team looked forward to Ex Hamel, as it allowed the defence forces to maintain their long-standing connection and tra-dition.

“When training together in exercises like Hamel, it lets us know how the other works and our capabilities, before we have to work together in a combined situation, be it a natural disaster or oper-ational deployment,” she said.

Lt Geoff Cremin

THEY flooded in on roads, across the sea and through the air – thou-sands of personnel, vehicles and

freight converged on Rockhampton and Shoalwater Bay for Exercise Hamel 2012. The Joint Movement Coordination Centre (JMCC) personnel were on hand to make sure they all arrive safe and sound.

Moving such numbers is a challenging task, requiring careful planning, coordina-tion, and flexibility, according to JMCC operator Sgt Cameron Wilson.

“For us, Hamel is the perfect training activity. It gives us exposure to all modes of transport – road, freight, sea and air,” he said.

The JMCC moved the bulk of 1 Bde from Darwin, as well as personnel from Brisbane, Townsville, Tasmania and Adelaide for the training exercise.

“It allows us to put into practice all the training we have done throughout the year,” Sgt Wilson said.

The JMCC is a deployed element of Joint Movements Group, which coordi-nates the travel of ADF elements for both exercises and operations. At the end of the exercise, JMCC movers also organised for all elements to return to their bases.

“When the exercise has finished, we plan the redeployment through chartered aircraft, service aircraft and road elements back to their home locations,” Sgt Wilson said.

For Ex Hamel and 1 Bde’s Exercise Predator’s Strike beforehand, troop and equipment movements began in April and the redeployment of the troops and equip-ment to their home locations will finish this month.

True to Anzac tradition

Thousands of ADF personnel, US Marines and New Zealand Army medics have battled it out over Shoalwater Bay in Exercise Hamel

MILITARY POLICE BEAMING WITH HIGH-TECH NEW EQUIPMENTLt Kerri Gray

DRIVERS around Rockhampton and Shoalwater Bay had to watch their speed, with military police breaking out their new speed guns.

The domestic policing unit (DPU) at Camp Rocky in Rockhampton was responsible for both general domes-tic policing on the base and in the exercise area for Ex Hamel, as well as maintaining a close liaison with Queensland Police.

The new speed gun is capable of detecting speeding vehicles up to 1.2km away using laser technology, offering an exciting upgrade from the previous devices, which were based on radio frequency. The new gun, known as a laser speed measuring device, is based on technology which can deliver a much faster reading – bringing MPs in line with their civilian counterparts.

MP Pte Samuel Cheeseman, of

the Bandiana DPU, was one of the first to use the new device.

He said the gun was calibrated using a “true speed lidar” at the beginning of each shift to ensure it was accurate each time it was used.

“We aim for the number plate or a flat surface that the laser can be bounced straight back off,” Pte Cheeseman said.

Sgt Che Hartley, of the Canberra DPU, was one of the MPs providing exercise support and liaison between the military and Queensland Police.

Part of the liaison process involved working alongside the local police to provide traffic control meas-ures around Rockhampton and the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

“The new speed camera was used on the base and on the roads in and out of the exercise space, to ensure military vehicles and drivers kept to the road transport limits,” Sgt Hartley said.

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I see you: Pte Samuel Cheeseman calibrates the laser speed gun. Photo by Spr Jared Goodwin-Wicks

Joining forces: New Zealand Army dental assistant Pte Matthew Loughnan monitors vehicles approaching the field hospital during Exercise Hamel. Photo by AB Lee-Anne Mack

On the exercise: Clockwise from top left, Spr Jaik Weston, of 3CER, attaches fuses to anti-vehicle mines while acting as enemy during Ex Hamel. JMCC operator Sgt Cameron Wilson coordinates truck movements. US marines patrol a simulated market. Army military police dog handler Cpl Reg Ramage trials a newly designed harness on a German shepherd. Photos by AB Lee-Anne Mack

and LS Andrew Dakin

ross hou-and and

012.entre

SSPECIAL LIFTOUT

PUMPING 2500 litres of fuel daily through three nozzles at a time that each let

180 litres a minute gush into tanks, Melbourne’s 1 Pet Coy was critical to keeping vehicles rolling along during Exercise Hamel.

Petroleum operator Cpl Keith Morris said the influx of military vehicles could deplete Rockhampton’s fuel supplies in a day if the Army didn’t bring its own.

“This service is critical for Exercise Hamel because we provide a capability essential to the continual movement of vehicles in and out of the exer-cise area,” he said.

The refuelling area consisted of a distribution point and a control section responsible for daily fuel quality control checks, maintaining statistics and stock

ledgers, pollution control plans and fire safety.

Safety and pollution control were a priority, with all fuel bladders and the pumping sys-tem contained in large flexible plastic containers that encase the equipment and catch any

spills. There were also multiple fire extinguishers, the largest of which contained enough foam to fill a fuel bladder.

Petroleum operator Pte Margaret Hawthorne said when a vehicle arrived to refuel, a six-member team would respond with one member on the pump, one completing the paperwork, and one directing traffic and supervising the driver feeding the nozzle.

The remaining members would stand on safety watch ready to respond to fires or spills.

“I feel privileged to be here with 1 Pet Coy because without us at Ex Hamel, Defence has to try and find another way of get-ting fuel,” she said.

Fuel was trucked into the area every three days by 15 Tpt Coy, which distributed 5000-10,000 litres each time.

Army August 2, 2012EXERCISE HAMEL4 SPECIAL LIFTOUT

Capt Thomas Dalton

TRAFFIC jams have been the bane of many drivers’ existence at some point, but the Battlefield Coordination and Control Centre (BCCC) worked 24/7 to ensure military vehi-cles travelling to training at Shoalwater Bay were not the cause of that commuter stress.

With 200-300 vehicles moving daily from Wide Bay, near Gympie, to Rockhampton and then on to the training area, the chances of con-gestion and disturbances on main roads could be high.

The small team running the BCCC made sure all travel was authorised and conducted in a safe and controlled manner.

Sgt Michael Watts was one of the team mem-bers responsible for coordinating and monitoring the traffic flow.

“When convoys travel from Wide Bay to Rockhampton there are three routes they can use and from Camp Rocky to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area there is only the Bruce Highway, but there are three different exit points, depend-ing on what training area the stores or equip-ment are required for,” he said.

One of the main roles for the BCCC was to provide a traffic control number to vehicles and convoys travelling. All drivers were required to have a number before departure, enabling the

BCCC operators to coordinate and limit military traffic during peak road times.

As a result, com-munity engagement with local councils and the Department of Main Roads was a vital part of the BCCC’s role.

Staying aware of the routes and local r o a d c o n d i t i o n s , B C C C p e r s o n n e l diverted military traffic to secondary or tertiary routes if the primary route became unavailable because of road work or other traffic delays. The staff worked to minimise disruption to civilian traffic by restricting travel during school-zone times.

“At any time our team could tell you exactly how many vehicles, personnel and convoys were on the road, as well as knowing their departure points, what time they departed, what time they were due to arrive and what route the vehicle would be taking,” Sgt Watts said.

If vehicles didn’t arrive at the anticipated time and contact couldn’t be made with the driv-er, Military Police were alerted and would work with the BCCC to locate the vehicle and driver.

Keeping the wheels turning on exercise

On the move: A Red Force convoy moves into position at Shoalwater Bay during Exercise Hamel 2012. Inset, a vehicle is checked upon entry to Camp Rocky. Main photo by AB Lee-Anne Mack

“This service is critical.

We provide a capability essential to

the movement of vehicles.

– Cpl Keith Morris, 1 Pet Coy

Fuel for thought

Powering up: Reservist Pte Margaret Hawthorne, of 1 Pet Coy, prepares to tap into a fuel bladder during Ex Hamel.

WITH more than 9000 people and 1000 vehicles moving around Rockhampton and 500-1000 people permanently based at Camp Rocky for Exercise Hamel there is potential for chaos. But the challenge of keeping it all running smoothly was eagerly taken on by Hobart’s local Army reserve unit, 2FSB.

This diverse group – which operated effec-tively, efficiently and safely as one organisation to support the exercise – is spread out across two states.

Camp commandant Maj Annette Wyatt was responsible for the everyday running of the bar-racks in Rockhampton and likened her role to the hospitality industry.

“It’s a little bit like being the manager of a very mobile international hotel,” she said. “We look after all the accommodation, make sure everyone is fed, make sure everyone in this particular case is briefed and look after their wellbeing.”

Organising the massive task was not an overnight development. In August last year, CO 2FSB Lt-Col Paul Grey was tasked with provid-ing the theatre gateway function for this year’s Exercise Hamel.

To confirm the reserve battalion was up to the task, 2012 started off with a planning con-

ference to identify the roles and tasks of the theatre gateway. It was assessed that 2FSB could provide the required functions over the two-month period.

The battalion deployed a headquarters element, including a commanding officer, regi-mental sergeant major, chaplain and a garrison orderly room able to provide administrative assistance to smaller units and individuals.

The key function for the theatre gateway was to provide garrison support services through the camp commandant cell.

The cell consisted of the garrison kitchen, wash point management and a general duties section that monitored maintenance and cleanliness. Another challenge of the camp commandant cell was the continual flow of per-sonnel through the temporary accommodation, which provided more than 100 14x28m tents.

The camp commandant also had to deliver a two-and-a-half hour reception, staging, onward movement and integration presentation each evening to soldiers arriving for the exer-cise, ensuring camp and exercise rules were understood.

With Ex Hamel finished, the unit has now entered the planning phase for similar support at Exercise Talisman Sabre 13.

MEET THE WELLBEING SPECIALISTSThousands of litres of fuel were pumped daily for Exercise Hamel to keep troops on the move, Lt Karen Lewis reports.

new medal - department of defence · 2015. 3. 16. · new medal tthe operational service medal has...

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