1. law, govt and politics
2. armed forces
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Sgt Donna Haigh
Edition 1208
FIRE
AND
ICE
March 19, 2009
WHAT WE’RE DOING TO IMPROVE
SECURITY IN AFGHANISTAN P12
Winter’s grip: MRTF 1
soldiers go through their
morning routine in the
snow-cloaked Baluchi
Valley in southern
Afghanistan as they
undertake security
operations in the area
along with Afghan and
Dutch soldiers.
Photo by Capt Lachlan Simond
WHY WE
NEED A
GOOD
BUDDY P3
ROAD TO RECOVERY
P14
&15
2 NEWS
Army March 19, 2009
Search teams
withdrawn
By WO2 Graham McBean
VICTORIA Police has stood down
ADF search teams in the state’s bushfire-stricken areas.
The last Search Task Group (STG)
– whose members were from NSWbased 5 and 8 Bdes and the SA-based
9 Bde (including Tasmanian soldiers)
– finished its work on March 13.
JTF 662 will maintain its headquarters and small assistance tasks will continue. However, the large contributions
of ADF personnel ended with the police
advice to Emergency Management
Australia that ADF search teams were
no longer required.
Commander JTF 662 Brig Michael
Arnold said the taskforce would remain
ready to support the Victorian community.
“I’d like to thank all those interstate
members of 2 Div for their outstanding efforts in the last two weeks,” Brig
Arnold said.
“Our focus now turns to post operational administration and the continued
capture of the lessons learnt.”
The last STG was relocated to
Marysville on March 10 and was scheduled to rotate out of the area of operations last weekend.
Marysville community, including
police and other emergency services
farewelled the soldiers on March 13.
See the Centrepiece for a full account of the
last STG deployment to Op Vic Fires Assist.
Ex-corporal’s tragic loss
A FORMER corporal whose family
perished in the recent Victorian fires
is out of a medically-induced coma.
Darren Gibson suffered severe burns
trying to save his wife and three young
children, who died in the family home
at Kinglake.
CO 17 Sig Regt Lt-Col Susan Coyle
said Mr Gibson was receiving extensive
treatment.
“All our thoughts and prayers are
with him and his family,” Lt-Col Coyle
said.
Mr Gibson joined the Army in 1990
as a gunner in RAA. In 1997 he joined
RASigs as a radio operator and served
in JTS, DFSS, ARTC and 1CSR.
He showed his love of woodworking
when he built an honour roll for 104 Sig
Sqn Vietnam veterans. He commenced
his carpentry and joiners apprenticeship at ALTC and discharged in May
2008. He deployed to Cambodia,
Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Iraq
during his Army career.
“Darren’s family have requested privacy for the loss of his wife and their
children,” Lt-Col Coyle said. “They
have passed on that they are extremely
grateful for the support being offered to
Darren by past and present members.”
To assist Mr Gibson’s recovery,
an account has been established with
Defcredit. The details are: BSB: 803205,
Mbr No 16773, Acct No: 20780757,
ITF for Darren Gibson.
Messages of support, photos or memories
can be passed on to WO1 Michelle Griffith on
[email protected]. An alternative
point of contact is Lt-Col Susan Coyle on susan.
[email protected].
Died helping a friend
SOLDIERS across 4 Bde have paid
their respects to Cpl Rocelyn Freeman
who died lending a mate a hand in the
Black Saturday fires.
Cpl Freeman was a signaller with
108 Sig Sqn and had been an important member of the brigade’s recruiting
team.
OC 108 Sig Sqn Maj Margaret Sorial
said Cpl Freeman’s attempt to assist a
friend threatened by the fires typified
her approach to life and Army service.
Maj Sorial said Cpl Freeman was an
experienced radio operator known for
her thorough and methodical running of
a radio detachment, who took no short
cuts and achieved excellent results.
“She had the capacity to guide and
mentor peers and subordinates to get the
best from a team,” Maj Sorial said.
“She also developed a passion for
recruiting. She was
proactive in her
approach, engaging
with the community
and promoting the
squadron and the
Army.
“However, she is
best remembered as
Sadly missed: a bubbly, outgoing,
considerate junior
Cpl Freeman.
leader, who focused
on soldier welfare, both on deployments
and in barracks.”
Maj Sorial said Cpl Freeman was
instrumental in reviving the Simpson
Club at 108 Sig Sqn and developing
esprit de Corps in social settings.
“She will be sadly missed by the
officers, warrant officers and soldiers of
108 Sig Sqn.”
Pause for reflection: Soldiers form a catafalque party at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Australian
War Memorial in Canberra as Iraqi Prime Minister Mr Nouri Kamil al-Maliki pays his respects.
Photo by Sgt Rob Nyffenegger
Iraqi PM offers
thanks to ADF
By Barry Rollings
THE ADF’s role in the reconstruction of Iraq was recognised on
March 12 at the Australian War
Memorial with a visit by Iraqi
Prime Minister Mr Nouri Kamil
al-Maliki.
In a moving and dignified ceremony in the Hall of Memory,
where ADF personnel mounted a
catafalque party, Mr al-Maliki laid a
wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier as those in his entourage,
ADF members and the media looked
on, to the strains of the Last Post
and Rouse.
After signing the visitors’ book
in front of the Pool of Reflection, he
made a brief visit to the Memorial’s
gallery, which commemorates conflicts from 1945 to the present in
which Australia has been involved.
At an afternoon tea address in
the courtyard gallery, where a representative gathering was attended
by Army, Navy and Air Force personnel who had served in Iraq, Mr
al-Maliki was warmly welcomed by
CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie.
“We have enjoyed being able to
work alongside the people of Iraq as
they rebuilt their communities,” LtGen Gillespie said.
“It is remarkable to witness the
dramatic improvements in the security situation in Iraq since the dark
days of 2006. Australia and Iraq’s
normalising relations are testament
to these advances in security and
stability.
“The increasing stability and
security in Iraq is a direct result of
the courage of Iraq’s people, its government and its security forces.”
In forecasting a bright future for
Iraq, he said Australia looked forward to maintaining “our defence
cooperation program with Iraq”,
with a focus on capacity-building
assistance for Iraqi security forces
in key areas such as logistics and
junior officer training.
Mr al-Maliki thanked Australia
for its assistance in Iraq to counter
terrorism and aggression and also
extended his sympathy to “the families and loved ones of those who
lost their lives in helping Iraq”.
“I applaud the decision of the
Australian Government to stand by
Iraq to send Australian troops to
Face of Army
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David Edlington: (02) 6266 7609
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Reporters:
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Email: [email protected]
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Mail: The Editor, Army, R8-LG-038, Department
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support Iraq against a regime that
has not only done injustice to its
own people but to the whole world,”
he said.
“Australian forces have left a
good memory and still continue to
do so.”
Maj Donna Manton, AHQ,
served in Iraq in 2006 when “things
were not going as well as would
have been liked at that stage”.
“But the progress that has been
made in the past few years is really
quite heartening,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed
by Maj Crispin Boxhall, formerly of the British Army. He joined
the Australian Army in 2006 and is
now with the Army Directorate of
Logistics. He has had three tours to
Iraq, returning from the most recent
in October.
“Every time I go there, I do see
progress, certainly from the initial
warfighting through to the peacekeeping of today,” Maj Boxhall
said. “I think we have a long way to
go but it is definitely on the up and
definitely worthwhile. You can see
results.”
Subscriptions
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Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer
Army is published fortnightly by Defence Newspapers. It is
printed under contract by Capital Fine Print. The material
published is selected for its interest. The views expressed
in published articles are not necessarily those of Defence
or Army. Every advertisement is subject to the Directorate
of Defence Newspapers approval and the Directorate of
Defence Newspapers may, at its discretion, refuse to accept
an advertisement for publication. The Directorate of Defence
Newspapers accepts no responsibility or liability in relation
to any loss due to the failure of an advertisement to appear
or if it appears in a form which is not in accordance with
the instructions received by the Directorate of Defence
Newspapers. The fact that an advertisement is accepted for
publication does not mean that the product or service has the
endorsement of the Department of Defence or Army.
Rugged up: Sgt Donna Haigh, MRTF 1,
can still smile despite the harsh winter
conditions in Afghanistan.
Photo by Capt Lachlan Simond
NEWS 3
Army March 19, 2009
Firing up
buddies to
keep safe
By WO2 Graham McBean
ADF weapon and range safety authorities are urging soldiers to remember
the buddy system and correct range
procedures as the new training year
gets underway.
More than 750 negligent discharges
were reported between January 1, 2006,
and December 31, 2008 – with about
60 per cent occurring with the unload
drill and 20 per cent during the finalfunction test.
Safety authorities said these occurrences were due to personnel leaving
the magazine on during the unload or
placing it on during the final function
test.
Meanwhile, 56 incidents of ball-inblank ammunition contamination had
occurred since August 2000.
Maj Leon Helmrich, SO2 Small
Arms Policy and Safety, said a key
message was to use a buddy.
He said negligent discharges had
dropped since the introduction of the
buddy system but weapon operators
needed to be constantly alert to safety.
“One negligent discharge is too
many and using a buddy during safety
precautions, unloading and final function test could reduce up to 80 per cent
of negligent discharges immediately,”
Maj Helmrich said.
“Each one of them is a potentially
life-ending event and we can certainly
reduce the numbers substantially.”
CDF ACM Angus Houston introduced the buddy system after the Kovco
Inquiry in 2006 specifically to prevent
negligent discharges during weapon
clearances and final-function testing.
BE A GOOD BUDDY
If unloading weapons, final-function test
or weapon clearances are not collectively
supervised, then the operator must take
reasonable steps to obtain assistance from
another qualified person to act as a buddy.
A person asked to be a buddy must do
so (regardless of rank) unless: they are not
qualified on the weapon; there are reasonable grounds to refuse, though being a senior
rank is not itself a ground for refusal.
Buddies must directly observe and when
necessary correct the operator’s drills or
handling of the weapon.
Buddies must ensure a magazine is not
fitted before the working parts are allowed
forward.
When unloading and on the individual
safety precautions, the buddy must clear the
weapon as an inspecting officer would during collective safety precautions (with white
light or manual check at night).
Maj Helmrich said the buddy system worked by providing an additional
level of safety.
Another main safety issue highlighted by ADF occupational health and
safety was ammunition contamination.
Of the 56 incidents since 2000, 12
had resulted in the firing of ball ammunition through blank firing attachments,
with two personnel wounded.
Maj Helmrich said the main cause
of contamination incidents was poor
clearance of weapons and equipment.
He said ADF personnel needed to
understand the necessity for comprehensive inspections of weapons, webbing and magazines before and after
range practices and immediately
before conducting training with blank
ammunition.
Smart Soldier
Smart Soldier is a Restricted publication
that comes out three times a year. It is
produced by the Centre for Army Lessons
and is sent free to your unit. Smart
Soldier is full of operational, training
and general lessons, observations and
tips.
All soldiers should read Smart Soldier.
If you don’t have easy access to Smart
Soldier, ask your chain-of-command
for a copy or call 03 5735 7102 to see
if it is being delivered to your unit.
Inside your latest issue of Smart Soldier
Caching
CTC Training Trends
Caching tips for soldiers seeking enemy This information has been extracted
from a much larger report, and
caches or for those that want to use a
summarises the most frequently
cache.
recorded observations by CTC
RTF3 Tactical Observations
Observer/ Trainers.
An article by CAPT Watson, providing
CA Lessons Seminar
tips on the enemy, country and general
A recent CA Lessons Seminar provided
TTP.
terrific observations on a wide range of
Battling Complacency
topics.
US soldiers contributing tips to
Shoot and Scoot Letters
Company Command are reproduced in
Two JNCOs have contributed letters.
this article.
Operating in the Jungle
Combat Tactical Challenge
Go to the CAL website, and click on
Part 2 of an article written by
the Combat Tactical Challenge link to
MAJ Tracey. This article provides
participate, and help develop an Army
TTP. Get together with some mates and
information on flora, fauna, clothing,
do a group submission.
shelter and other equipment.
CAL intranet website: http://lwdc.sor.defence.gov.au/cal/
Discharges
serious
business
EVERY negligent discharge is taken seriously by
Defence.
However, ADF authorities highlight that negligent
discharges represent a low
number of incidents compared to the hundreds of
thousands of safe weapon
handling procedures conducted in training and on
operations.
It is mandatory for all
unauthorised and negligent
firearm discharges to be
reported and investigated as
quickly as possible. Incidents
are collated through dangerous occurrence reports,
ammunition incident reports
and the discipline system.
Investigations analyse each
incident to identity any deficiencies in training or equipment. The findings inform
and improve upon existing
Defence policy on weapons
handling and training.
This reinforces the very
high standard of weapons
training within the ADF.
All personnel who have
an unauthorised discharge
are required to undertake
further training to confirm
and improve their skills and
knowledge of Defence’s safe
Safety in numbers: Pte Greg Harris and Pte Peter Hallin, 5RAR, practise weapons handling requirePhoto by Cpl Chris Moore ments.
room entry drills in Dili, East Timor.
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4 NEWS
Army March 19, 2009
Brave new
world for
soldiers
By WO2 Graham McBean
Pulling their weight: Gnr Flex Toutygine (left), Gnr Damien Mott (middle) and LBdr Phil Rowlings form
part of the team that claimed victory over the Varangian Guard.
Photo by LCpl Glenn Power
Gunners take high ground
THE gloves came off when airdefence gunners took on the
clans during the Mount Barker
Caledonian Society’s Highland
Gathering at tug-of-war.
South Australia’s 16 AD Regt’s
111 Bty claimed victory over
their medieval counterparts, the
Varangian Guard, after first taking
out the unit competition.
Fiercely contested – these things
are there to be taken seriously after
all – 111 Bty then issued the challenge and threw open the competition to one and all.
RSM 16 AD Regt WO1 Glynn
Potter said the event, held on
February 15, was a great day of
traditional entertainment.
“The Clans’ strong men always
draw huge crowds to witness their
feats of strength,” WO1 Potter said.
“The multiple laps, of the 60m
circuit, carrying at least 150kg per
arm is always impressive.”
The 48th annual Mount Barker
Highland Gathering is the largest
of its type in South Australia and
has been held continuously since
its inception.
The gathering also marks the
beginning of the South Australian
piping competition year and this
year it had six competing bands
including Victorian bands from
Ringwood and Frankston RSL.
WO1 Potter also competed on
the day as a member of the Mount
Barker Pipe Band, which took out
fourth place in the Pipe Band competition.
Other events on the program
included the traditional Highland
dancing, the Australian Muscle
strongman competition and demonstrations of medieval combat by the
New Varangian Guard re-enactors.
The day featured other traditional highland strength competitions such as caber tossing and haggis hurling.
web: www.armyshop.com.au
ARMYSHOP
ARMYSHOP
e-mail: [email protected]
ph: 02 6123 2960
Meda l l i ons
AN international cast of military and
civilian minds will meet on March 31
to discuss the Army’s next generation
of new information technologies to
support the Adaptive Army initiative.
The ambitious project aims to have
the Army Knowledge System (AKS) up
and running by July 1 this year.
Blue Sky Day will bring Telstra
executives, US generals and key military stakeholders together to debate how
social-networking and emerging technologies can support and complement
the chain of command.
Deputy Chief of Army Maj-Gen
Paul Symon said the concept was to
harness the knowledge and attitudes of
our younger generation using the modern digital communications they have
grown up with to augment the chain of
command.
He said the project was not without
its risks, but the age of instant communications had rendered manual chains
of command ineffective when rigidly
applied on their own.
“There is a sweet spot out there
somewhere that doesn’t destroy our culture or the importance of the chain of
command,” Maj-Gen Symon said.
“Using knowledge technologies and
social-networking tools now available
can give voice to our soldiers and NCOs
and give them an opportunity to help us
build the best possible Army we can.”
The AKS will introduce four streams
of computer networking models to
produce realtime Army systems similar
to chatting with friends in Antarctica on
MSN-type technologies.
More information on what the DCA
means by knowledge streams can be
found in his intent statement on the
Army home page.
US commander Maj-Gen Mike Oates
created Task Force Mountain blog in
Iraq with impressive results, and will be
a key speaker on March 31.
Posts on Task Force Mountain
include everything from changes in
enemy techniques posted by soldiers to
posts from families back in mainland
US.
Information passes through moderators similar to Wikipedia-type knowledge databases where realtime decisions can be made and friendly TTPs
adjusted to meet new enemy threats.
Maj-Gen Symon said the knowledge
streams introduced on July 1 would not
be sophisticated or final but would take
the important first step.
In addition, a personal page (Soldiers
Career Log) is being explored by
RSM-A and SCMA that will provide
career pathway and management advice,
as well as personnel policy and developments.
“We are going to embark on this
journey to see where it takes us,” MajGen Symons said.
Existing software and architecture
would be used where possible, with Beta
testing of the four knowledge streams to
begin on June 1.
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Registration closes 10 March 2009
ENQUIRIES
Telephone: 0419 341 063
Email: [email protected]
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Corps & Unit products Many more badges and products on the website
Brand Your Own Want something different? Choose and brand your own unique product. Just
visit www.armyshop.com.au and click on Brand Your Own or call 02 6123 2960 to get instant quotes.
Other products available:
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Owned & Endorsed by Army to benefit service men & women
See the website for fantastic specials.
The Southern Region Health
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Defence Reserves Support.
For further information:
Call 1800 803 485 or visit
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Australia’s Reserve Forces
NEWS 5
Army March 19, 2009
Paws for
reflection
By Capt Alastair McPherson
THE explosive detection dogs
(EDDs) of 2CER have been recognised for their dedicated service on operations.
Dogs’ day: Explosive detection dog Mandy shakes hands with with handler Spr
David Brown after being awarded her medals.
Photo by Capt Alastair McPherson
Four serving dogs and one that
was killed in Afghanistan were
awarded ADF Trackers and War
Dogs Association (ADF TWDA)
medals at Gallipoli Barracks on
March 5 for war dog operational
service and four-year service.
This was the inaugural award
of medals to explosive detection dogs from the ADF TWDA,
which received permission in
2008 to design and issue medals
for dogs that have served their
country overseas.
CO 2CER Lt-Col Joel Dooley
awarded the medals in a regimental parade near the 2CER
Regimental HQ.
“This is a significant occasion
recognising the service these dogs
provide to the nation. Their service is a reflection of the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by their handlers,” Lt-Col
Dooley said.
The handlers proudly stood
by their dogs as Lt-Col Dooley
awarded the medals before about
20 members of the ADF TWDA,
all ex-serving dog handlers from
previous conflicts, and a throng of
Brisbane media.
Handler LCpl Craig Turnbull
accepted the medals for Razz,
who was killed on September
1, 2007. After the parade LCpl
Turnbull reflected on the times he
had with Razz and said that she
was part of his family.
“She was a wonderful dog. A
top EDD that was very intelligent.
She was a family member to me
and I’ll never forget her,” he said.
Without doubt the star of the
day was EDD Mandy, who raised
her paw to shake hands with the
CO after the award. Mandy retires
shortly after six years of service
including operations in Solomon
Islands.
ADF TWDA President LtCol George Hulse (retd) said the
EDDs did an exceptional job.
“These dogs are superbly
trained, so are their handlers. We
need to recognise their service
and these medals from the association are part of that recognition,” he said.
The EDDs provide support to
the ADF and government agencies in the detection of improvised
explosive devices, explosives,
ammunition and weapons.
Military working dogs have
been used for centuries as messengers, combatants, for security,
and more recently as mine and
explosive detection dogs.
EDDs are trained to locate
bombs, weapons and explosives.
They have supported almost
every major event in Australia
including Expo 88, Sydney
2000 Olympics, CHOGM,
Rugby League World Cup 2003,
Melbourne Commonwealth
Games and other, smaller, policing operations.
EDDs and their predecessors,
the tracker dogs, have deployed
overseas to Vietnam, Somalia,
Bougainville, East Timor and to
Afghanistan.
Three EDDs have lost
their lives on active service in
Afghanistan in recent times.
Good ideas earn big bucks
IT WILL pay to put forward good
ideas to improve Army’s effectiveness,
efficiency, productivity, quality and
safety in the work environment.
Chief of Army Lt-Gen Ken
Gillespie will soon issue details of the
Army Suggestion Scheme. Financial
rewards of up to $5000 are available
for individuals or groups that raise
suggestions that are either imple-
mented or considered worthy of recognition.
The Army Suggestion Scheme has
been designed to be an ongoing productivity improvement program and
is part of fostering a more adaptive
and innovative army.
Further information will be
detailed in Army and a CA directive,
with the official launch this month.
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6 NEWS
Army March 19, 2009
Rediscovering
lost art form
By Barry Rollings
WHEN it comes to his area
of expertise, 2009 Chief of
Defence Force Scholarship
winner Lt-Col Trent Scott is
taking a strategic and practical
approach to removing the oftheard lament “it’s a lost art”
from the lexicon.
After receiving his award
from CDF ACM Angus Houston,
Lt-Col Scott will devote his year
of study at the Land Warfare
Studies Centre at RMC-Duntroon
and ADFA to complete his
research for a paper on The Lost
Operational Art: Reinvigorating
Campaigning into the ADF.
In presenting the award, ACM
Houston said he looked forward
to Lt-Col Scott’s finished product
in what was important and necessary work required by the ADF.
Surprised and excited at the
prospect, Lt-Col Scott said: “I
am looking forward to the opportunity of engaging with a wide
range of stakeholders both within the ADF and overseas and to
contribute towards enhancing the
ADF’s capability to effectively
plan and execute comprehensive,
whole-of -government campaigns
that meet our strategic intent.”
The scholarship has been in
place for several years and applicants must apply formally each
March/April. Candidate applications are reviewed by a selection board which makes recommendations to the CDF for final
approval.
It is open to any permanent
member of the ADF who has not
previously been awarded a CDF
Scholarship.
It may be used to complete or
progress a research program that
has already begun, but its aim
is to provide support to an individual in a designated research
project that will be of relevance
and benefit to Defence.
Posted to the Land Warfare
Studies Centre as a Visiting
Military Fellow in order to complete research for his paper,
Lt-Col Scott also has Visiting
Fellow rights at ADFA.
“Effective, comprehensive,
holistic and whole-of-government campaign planning is
essential for successful ADF
involvement in any of the current
and future complex actions the
ADF is or will be involved in,”
Lt-Col Scott said.
“This year of study will
ensure I can value-add in some
small way to developing the
ADF’s capability to effectively
plan and execute actions that
meet our strategic goals.”
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It’s academic: CDF ACM Angus Houston, presents the CDF Scholarship for 2009 to
Lt-Col Trent Scott.
Photo by Bryan Doherty
PNG Minister visits 3 Bde
TOWNSVILLE was the destination of choice for the Defence
Minister of Papua New Guinea
(PNG) when he conducted a
familiarisation visit to key ADF
facilities.
Mr Bob Dadae, in Australia to
discuss bilateral defence relations,
and the continued support to the
PNG Defence Force (PNGDF)
through the Defence Cooperation
Program with Defence Minister
Joel Fitzgibbon, took the opportunity to visit 3 Bde, a formation that prides itself on its strong
relationship with the PNGDF.
It’s an association that
has developed through regular
exchanges and exercises.
In 2009 combined training
activities with the PNGDF will
include Exercise Wantok Warrior
– an infantry company exchange
with the Pacific Islands Regiment
Familiarisation: Cpl Todd Young, Sniper
Team Leader, 2RAR, shows sniper
equipment to PNG Defence Minister
Bob Dadae.
Photo by Capt Al Green
– assistance by 3CER sappers with infrastructure development and engineer training
in PNG during Exercise Puk Puk. PNGDF
logistics specialists will also be embedded
Call to arms at Pucka
By Tpr Michael Franchi
SOLDIERS will be gunning for
championship status at the 2009
Australian Army Skill at Arms
Meeting (AASAM).
The competition will take place
May 9-22 at Puckapunyal. It will
consist of three major components;
the Champion Shot of the Army,
the Australian Army Individual and
Team Events and the International
Competition.
CO AASAM Lt-Col David Hoey
said there was a lot of interest from
within and outside of the ADF.
“We already have nominations
from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Canada, New Zealand, and Britain. We
are expecting more teams to respond in
the near future,” Lt-Col Hoey said.
“Soldiers can expect a demanding
combat-focused shooting competition.
It will be physically challenging, but
the core focus is on marksmanship.”
He said it would be an opportunity
6%()#,%3!,!290!#+!').'!4 for soldiers to see how they performed
against the rest of the ADF and international competitors.
“We are looking at getting Navy
and Air Force teams involved too, to
create friendly interservice rivalry,”
he said.
“It will be a great chance to meet
soldiers from other formations within
the ADF and international forces.”
The competition identifies the best
combat marksmen for selection in the
Australian Army Combat Shooting
Team to represent Army at overseas
international skill at arms competitions. It also allows for assessment of
current in-service small-arms system
capabilities, equipment and targetry,
training analysis of combat shooting
techniques, weapon training doctrine
and small-arms practices.
ADF teams have until April 3 to register for
the competition. For more information visit
www.army.gov.au/AASAM or http://intranet.
defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/AASAM.
with various 3 Bde units on
Exercise Logitura.
Mr Dadae’s visit was highlighted by a Ready Combat
Team demonstration of an
assault on a method-of-entry
facility.
Speaking to the soldiers, Mr
Dadae thanked them and talked
about the positive role volunteer
soldiers have in society.
“The noblest service a
citizen can provide his or her
country is through service in
the Defence Force,” Mr Dadae
said.
Commander 3 Bde Brig
Stuart Smith thanked Mr Dadae
for his visit.
“You should leave here with
the message that our brigade
comprises smart, tough and
adaptable soldiers who value
their defence relationship with
the PNGDF,” Brig Smith said.
Chance to
nominate
for awards
A P P L I C AT I O N S a re
invited for the 2009 Chief
of the Defence Force/
Secretary Environment
and Heritage Awards.
The initiative seeks to
highlight and acknowledge achievements of
individuals or units in
managing environmental
risks. The awards recognise and promote leadership in environmental
and heritage management in Defence.
Applications may be
submitted by individuals,
units or groups.
Further information is
available at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/environment.
WWWmEETNETWORKCOMAU
NEWS 7
Army March 19, 2009
Salty sip good drop
By WO2 Graham McBean
SAPPERS from 1CER tested their
new water purification system during
Exercise Salty Sip held at Fort Hill
Wharf in Darwin from March 2-4.
The exercise confirmed the desalination capabilities of the new reverse
osmosis water purification units
received by the unit mid-2008.
Commander 4 Tp Lt Tim Rowe said
the new system lived up to the manufacturer’s guarantee of producing 100,000lt
of desalinated water a day.
He said the new $3 million system
could be run continuously for three days
without resupply or for 500 hours supplied with chemicals and diesel.
“No-one has had it out and put salt
water through it – we had been told
what the machine was supposed to do,
but no-one had seen it happen on the
ground,” Lt Rowe said.
“We had a shake out of the equipment and made sure we could desalinate
salt water to a drinkable quality at the
rate the machine was supposed to.”
Environmental health officers did
onsite testing of the water quality and
gave the machine the thumbs up.
Lt Rowe said while the old systems
were capable of desalinating water the
new units were impressive and cut the
number of people required to operate
the system from 10 to three.
“The new system is fully automated
and controlled by a programmable logic
controller,” Lt Rowe said.
“If anything starts going wrong or
the quality of the water is too low, then
it automatically shuts down and tells us
what’s wrong and we can rectify it.”
Jumble in
jungle over
cyclone
TRADING a self-made bed in the wet jungle
for a soft one back in Townsville was probably
a happy outcome for eight Army pilots and
aircrew on an Aircrew Environmental Survival
Course – but it came at the end of a dramatic
night thanks to Cyclone Hamish.
Pure drop: Spr Blake Cameron checks out the brew from 1CER’s new $3 million reverse
osmosis water purification unit in Darwin.
Photo by Spr Aaron Karlsen
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Coming from Oakey and 5 Avn Regt,
Townsville, they were among 33 ADF personnel on the second night of the jungle phase of the
course held in mountains about an hour’s drive
from Townsville.
Combat Survival Training School (CSTS) CO
Sqn-Ldr Colin Evers got word late on March 6 a
cyclone warning had been declared for the area.
“It was a toss-up whether to leave staff and
students up there until morning because of the late
hour of night and long duty day already worked,
but Chief Instructor Flt-Lt Ben Kurylowicz made
the call that with conditions getting a bit wet and
windy up there and dirt roads getting slippery, it
was only going to get worse so it was time to move
everyone out,” he said.
The students, in groups over an area of about
3 sq km, were gathered together in the darkness,
loaded on to Unimogs, and driven out of the jungle
to rendezvous with buses driven by CSTS HQ staff
for the drive back to base. The students finally got
to bed about 3.30am.
When the cyclone danger had passed, the students returned to the jungle on March 9.
Meanwhile Joint Operations Support Staff in
North and South Queensland closely monitored the
path of the cyclone. Several units were on standby
to assist the community including a Forward
Command Element from HQ 7 Bde, an Emergency
Support Force from 2CER and a Domestic Incident
Security Force from 8/9RAR.
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8 NEWS
Army March 19, 2009
IN BRIEF
Gulf War Syndrome revisited
THE Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) has decided
to re-examine Gulf War Syndrome following the release
of findings from a study of US Gulf War One veterans by
the US Veterans’ Affairs Department. The study found
evidence that confirmed the disease is real, and could be
associated with the use of Pyridostidmine Bromide pills,
a drug issued to the 1873 Australian personnel serving
in the Gulf at the time to combat the effects of exposure
to nerve agents. The RMA has invited interested people
and organisations to make submissions on the matter
after obtaining a copy of the RMA Submission Guidelines
from www.rma.gov.au. Submissions close on May 29.
Fromelles contract awarded
OXFORD Archaeology will excavate the mass burial
site of Australian and British World War I soldiers at
Fromelles in France. Defence Science and Personnel
Minister Warren Snowdon said the Australian and British
Governments would share the cost of the Pheasant
Wood excavation, which is expected to begin in May
and take up to six months. The Army is developing a
list of 1st AIF soldiers it believes might be buried at the
site and is encouraging potential relatives to register on
Army’s Fromelles Relatives database. Visit www.defence.
gov.au/fromelles or contact 1800 019 090.
Car hire trial ceases
TWO days’ free car hire will no longer be available to
ADF members when they arrive on relocation to Darwin
or Tindal. The Directorate of Housing and Removal Policy
advises that the change will take effect from April 1.
Under the trial, two days’ car hire – excluding fuel costs
– was available to members posted to Darwin and Tindal
while they were awaiting the transportation of their private vehicle. Due to the low take up rate, the Personnel
Steering Group decided to terminate the trial.
$21m memorials
promote identity
THE winning design for the national World War
I and II memorials has been announced by Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd in Canberra.
Mr Rudd said the design produced by Richard Kirk
Architect Pty Ltd and chosen from 43 others, represented not only those who served and died in both conflicts, but those on the home front as well.
“The monuments’ design will communicate the
inspirational and timeless messages to reflect the spirit,
sacrifice and commitment of the Australian nation during the World Wars,” he said.
“The thoughtful design will further promote understanding and a sense of national identity while also
providing an enduring point of focus and reflection for
all Australians and international visitors alike.”
The black and grey granite memorials, which will
be situated on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin at the
bottom of Anzac Parade, are expected to cost $21m to
complete.
The Federal Government has donated $250,000
towards the project which will rely on public donation
to fund.
Correction
THE article entitled “Hard slog rewarded” on Page 9 of
the February 19 edition stated that Lt Simon O’Brien was
awarded the Sword of Honour and the Queen’s Medal at
the RMC Graduation in December. In fact, the Queen’s
Medal was presented to Lt Hailey Smith. Army apologies
for the error.
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THE WINNING DESIGN
The memorials are designed with special cuts in
the stone and will be built aligned to the altitude and
azimuth of the sun.
Visitors to both memorials will witness lighting
effects which will appear at dawn on Anzac Day, at
11am on Remembrance Day and on the anniversary of the end of the Battle for Kokoda.
The memorials will be surrounded by poppies
planted in terraces denoting the battlefields of both
World Wars.
Every community in Australia that lost members
to the wars will be represented including the number
of those who died.
The plan: Architect Richard Kirk explains his winning design for the national
World Wars I and II memorials to PM Kevin Rudd.
Photo by Lt Kris Gardiner
Simulation to aid safe lifting
By Edwina Callus
THE task of transporting slung
loads from Chinooks is likely
to become significantly safer
thanks to Defence Science
and Technology Organisation
(DSTO) research.
DSTO researcher Dr Rami
Reddy instigated the research
program after being struck by
the level of risk associated with
carrying multiple slung loads of
mixed density.
“It was clear to me that stability and control problems would
present significant challenges to
Chinook operators carrying slung
loads,” Dr Reddy said.
Currently the safe operating envelope for loads is established through flight testing over
a range of increasing airspeeds,
which is a costly exercise and
not without some risk.
The goal of the slung loads
research is to build a simulation
capability to predict the flight
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conditions under which a particular load becomes unstable. This
can allow the flight testing to be
safer and more targeted.
Current research efforts are
focusing on a Chinook carrying a disabled Tiger Armed
Reconnaissance Helicopter
(ARH) as a slung load and future
efforts are expected to include
investigation of a Chinook carrying an MRH 90.
For such slung loads, flight
trials present far too great a risk
of airframe loss. Computational
modelling of ARH and MRH
behaviour as helicopter external
loads is considered the best prediction and risk mitigation available if the need arises to recover an ARH or MRH 90 with a
Chinook.
The simulation tool developed
by DSTO will be able to provide Chinook operators with an
invaluable insight into the flight
conditions under which a load
becomes unstable.
NEWS 9
Army March 19, 2009
Birthday party: The Army’s birthday parade at Blamey Square in Canberra.
Photo by Cpl Corinne Boer
Birthday cheers
By Cpl Corinne Boer
DEPUTY Chief of Army Maj-Gen
Paul Symon fostered a sense of
history among soldiers who gathered to celebrate the Army’s 108th
birthday in Canberra.
In his address in Blamey Square,
Maj-Gen Symon asked the audience
to strike a balance between sombre
reflection and celebration.
He said Australian soldiers were
in harm’s way in 1901 and remained
in harm’s way in 2009.
“Let’s be honest, there is no such
thing as a safe operational deployment,” Maj-Gen Symon said.
“That is why it’s not appropriate to view today as an occasion for
unrestrained festivity in the manner
of an individual’s birthday celebration.”
He added we were custodians of
the slouch hat and the badge of the
rising sun.
“Just as our forebears stared
squarely at danger in South Africa
108 years ago, so too we are justifiably proud of the way our mates
perform with great courage and distinction as I speak.”
The ceremony gave young soldiers like LCpl Nathan Hobbs,
DOCM, the opportunity to reflect
on the past and focus on those who
continue to serve.
“It’s a time of gathering and getting together of all ranks,” he said.
Lt-Col Malcolm MacGregor,
Land Warfare Studies Centre, said
the day provided a greater focus on
what the soldiers were doing.
“I think there is always a perspective on the past, which is impor-
tant, but I think that what we are
doing today is also important and
we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact
that we are losing soldiers.”
Birthday celebrations by soldiers
on Op Astute included a few games
of sport with New Zealand counterparts, and two cans of beer.
The ISF HQ played cricket at
Camp Phoenix while members of
the battle group mixed skills with
ultimate frisbee and cricket games.
The soldiers were permitted two
beers during the cutting of the Army
birthday cake.
Making wishes: Deputy Chief of Army Maj-Gen Paul Symon and Pte Stephen
March 1 is also 5RAR’s birthday King cut the birthday cake in Canberra.
Photo by AC Luke Morris
so the Tigers had more to celebrate;
with a unit dinner and an appearance of their mascot.
Members of FSU Afghanistan
also took time out to celebrate with
a cake at Camp Baker, Kandahar.
Shared celebrations: FSU members in Afghanistan enjoy a cake at Camp
Howzat: Op Astute personnel celebrate the Army’s birthday with a game of cricket. Photograph by LS Paul Berry Baker, Kandahar.
Photo by Sgt Brent Tero
You make the tactical decisions...
Then click on this button,
To participate, read the scenario provided and come up with your own
solution. Enter in your rank and name, whether you wish to remain
elp Army to develop its TTP by contributing a response to the Combat
anonymous or not, and then type in your solution. CAL will then transfer
Tactical Challenge on the Centre for Army Lessons (CAL) Discussion
your entry onto the Combat Tactical Challenge Discussion Forum.
Forum.
To view other submissions, just click on the link provided below the
In the next Challenge, a member of your section is attacked by a dog. How Combat Tactical Challenge button to be taken to the Discussion Forum.
would you deal with the situation?
The idea of the Challenge is to share ideas, not to judge responses. Also,
Access to the Challenge is easy. All you have to do is go to our intranet
the best couple of solutions will win a military history book.
website, http://lwdc.sor.defence.gov.au/cal/
Email [email protected] if you have any queries.
H
10 NEWS
Army March 19, 2009
Loyalty, service rewarded
By Cpl Jane Ashby-Cliffe
A SPECIAL tribute to the late
Maj Peter Badcoe, VC, allowed
family, old mates and the local
community to reflect on his
extraordinary acts of heroism.
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By Tpr Michael Franchi
FAMILIES and friends of
the 16 Vietnam-era servicemen from Tasmania who died
during that war now have a
memorial to their memory.
TPR Mark Donaldson’s VC has attracted a
lot of attention since it went on display in
the Conflicts 1945 to Today gallery at the
Australian War Memorial.
The VC joined the gallery on February 13
after Tpr Donaldson loaned it to the war memorial so everyone could enjoy it.
Memorial visitor Kingsley Southwell said it
was a fitting award given what Tpr Donaldson
VC had done to earn it.
“He is now one of 97 great guys who well
deserved it,” Mr Southwell said. “They’ve got to
deserve it, they just don’t give out a 100 of them
for the sake of it, they are special.”
Another visitor Dallas Jackson said 80m was
a long way to run under fire, especially when
you are carrying someone.
“Going out there and doing something above
and beyond a direct order is something else, it
wouldn’t be easy.” he said.
Another visitor Renee Seidel couldn’t imagine what was going through Tpr Donaldson’s
mind at the time he performed the act.
“I am thankful for soldiers just like him, who
do it day-in day-out,” she said.
Tpr Donaldson’s VC will eventually join
the 59 VCs currently on display in the Hall of
Honour, which is the largest public collection of
VCs in the world.
On loan: Tpr Mark Donaldson’s VC on display with
the rest of his service medals.
Photos by Tpr Michael Franchi
Admirers: Dee Blanshard and Ian Lang of Mission
Beach Qld check out Tpr Mark Donaldson’s VC.
A service was held in
Tasmania late last year where
the Lindisfarne RSL opened
the Tasmanian Vietnam
Veterans Memorial at Anzac
Park in Hobart.
Premier of Tasmania David
Bartlett unveiled the memorial
at a ceremony in front of 200
VIPs, Vietnam veterans and
family members. The memorial
comprises a central stone and
plaque, surrounded by 16 individual plaques – one for each
of the men.
Fourteen of the 16 men were Army
personnel: Pte David Banfield 5RAR; Pte
Kevin Brewer 4RAR; Pte Garry Cashion
7RAR; Spr Geoffrey Coombs RAE; Pte Guy
Godden 3RAR; Cpl Thomas Grose 2RAR;
Pte Francis Hyland 2RAR; Pte Barry Kelly
6RAR; 2Lt Geoffrey Locke 9RAR; Pte Albert
McCormack 6RAR; Cpl John Needs 6RAR;
Spr Peter Penneyston RAE; Pte Carry West
RAE; Cpl Alan Wilkinson 4RAR.
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Unit Plaques
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heritage within the community
and our family is very proud to be
a part of it.”
The framed tribute is mounted in Badcoe Hall and displays
a photo of Maj Badcoe, replicas
of his medals and uniform, and
the VC citation from The London
Gazette on October 17, 1967.
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emony and meet so many people who had known her father
throughout his career.
“It was absolutely wonderful
to share this experience with so
many of his friends and members
of the local community,” she said.
“The tribute to my father is
only a small element of the Army
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Reflection: Carey Badcoe and Vern Bechaz who designed the
framed tribute to Maj Peter Badcoe, VC.
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Man of honour: Maj Peter Badcoe, VC.
Point Nepean Community
Trust held a formal ceremony
in Badcoe Hall on February 7 to
honour Maj Badcoe and pay tribute to the significant history of
the Officer Cadet School (OCS)
Portsea, Victoria.
Fellow Portsea graduate CA
Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie was unable
to attend the ceremony but was
eager to commemorate the life
and sacrifice of a brave and inspirational soldier.
“This was truly a very moving
occasion for me and I am sure
for all who returned to Portsea to
honour Peter Badcoe, who represents so impressively the ethos of
OCS Portsea,” Lt-Gen Gillespie
said. “Peter Badcoe lived the OCS
motto of ‘Loyalty and Service’ as
his personal creed and made the
ultimate sacrifice.
“A man of few words he preferred to let his actions speak for
him. He led from the front and
was willing to risk his own life to
save his friends.”
Maj Badcoe’s VC was awarded posthumously for outstanding bravery against the enemy
between February and April
1967 while serving as Sector
Operations Officer in Thua Thien
province, South Vietnam.
“His VC was awarded not for
a single act of unselfish bravery
but rather for a series of actions
over a couple of months,” Lt-Gen
Gillespie said.
“He very deliberately exposed
himself to extreme risks on every
occasion he was in combat, and
seemed to be almost impervious
to danger. Peter Badcoe was an
authentic Australian hero.”
Carey Badcoe, the eldest of
Maj Badcoe’s three daughters,
was delighted to attend the cer-
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12 WORLD NEWS
Army March 19, 2009
No stone unturned: Soldiers from MRTF 1 patrol through a green zone in the Baluchi Valley, southern Afghanistan.
Photos by Capt Lachlan Simond
Marathon a
team effort
By Capt Lachlan Simond
IN A farewell address, the outgoing Commander of Australian
forces in the Middle East, MajGen Mike Hindmarsh, told the
soldiers of MRTF 1 that they
were running a marathon but were
Close alliance: Cpl Michael Cole, RAE, discusses operations with an Afghan achieving phenomenal results.
National Army engineer that he and his team have trained.
As the 7RAR battle group passes the halfway point in its eightmonth deployment, its operations
show just how far it has come since
it took responsibility for the mission in October 2008.
The new and essential line of
operations that MRTF 1 has established is the responsibility of the
Operational Mentoring and Liaison
Teams (OMLT).
Since October these soldiers
have lived, worked and fought
alongside soldiers from the Afghan
National Army (ANA) at a number
of patrol bases and combat outposts
throughout the province.
These small teams mentor their
Afghan partners in every facet of
operations from planning and logistics through to patrols and tactics.
The mentoring teams and
Combat Team Tusk, the manoeuvre
element of MRTF 1, have conducted numerous missions and patrols
culminating in ANA planned and
led operations.
These shared experiences create a situation where all operations
for the remainder of the deployment will be entirely focused on
the ANA and their continued development, according to CO MRTF 1
Lt-Col Shane Gabriel.
“In the first half of our deployment, we have established the
Australian approach to ANA mentoring – an approach that is based
on respect for the ANA as equal
partners in this fight and the provision of our example as central to
the mentoring role,” he said.
“We have seen the results of this
approach provide our partners with
enhanced capability and potential.”
In January and February,
MRTF 1 personnel deployed to
the troubled Baluchi Valley dur-
ing Operation Tura Ghar, involving 800 soldiers from Australia,
Afghanistan and the Netherlands.
The combat team, OMLT and ANA
worked hand-in-hand in the dangerous and wintry conditions to great
effect.
“Operation Tura Ghar is an
important benchmark for a couple
of key outcomes. First, we closed
down the Baluchi Valley as an
insurgent sanctuary, which has put
a big hole in their plans,” Lt-Col
Gabriel said.
“Next, we demonstrated that
Australian mentored and reinforced
ANA led operations work, even in
the most complex of operations,
and directly enable the ANA to lead
the fight against the insurgency in
their country.”
With half their race run,
MRTF 1 is now well placed to harness their experiences to forge an
even closer alliance with the ANA
and make further progress on both
the mentoring and development
lines of operation.
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Number 1. Where you want to be
WORLD NEWS 13
Army March 19, 2009
Specialist centre opens
By Capt Simone Heyer
DEFENCE Minister Joel
Fitzgibbon and East Timor Prime
Minister Xanana Gusmao opened
the new Specialist Training Wing
at the East Timor Defence Force
training base in Metinaro on
March 6.
Mr Fitzgibbon said the $6 million project was delivered under the
auspices of the Defence Cooperation
Program (DCP) between the ADF
and East Timor Defence Force.
“The Specialist Training Wing
will provide high quality training
for the East Timor Defence Force
in areas such as communications,
logistics, engineering and medical
skills delivered by DCP personnel,”
Mr Fitzgibbon said.
He and CDF ACM Angus
Houston were welcomed to the
base with an honour guard of East
Timor Defence Force members,
before moving on to speeches and
the plaque unveiling. The Minister,
CDF, Mr Gusmao and East Timor
Defence Force Commander BrigGen Taur Matan Ruak were shown
around the complex, fitted out with a
large lecture theatre, medical clinic,
classrooms, computer rooms and an
engineering workshop.
The Specialist Training Wing will
be run by a DCP contingent comprising infantry, signals, engineer
and medical personnel. The wing
will provide training to all levels of
East Timor service men and women.
The facility is staffed by DCP
instructors, but will gradually be
taken over by East Timor Defence
Force staff.
OC DCP Metinaro Maj Barry
Rhodes said the facility took six
months to build.
At the opening, ACM Houston
presented a CDF Commendation to
WO2 Brendan Creer for his role in
the Specialist Training Wing’s delivery.
Maj Rhodes said fundamental to
the success of the Specialist Training
Wing was an English language program run by Maj James Rogers.
“East Timor Defence Force members get many offers to attend courses run by overseas militaries and the
courses are all run in English. It’s
important the soldiers are as well
prepared as possible,” he said.
Site inspection: Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon, East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and CDF ACM
Angus Houston are given a tour of the new Specialist Training Wing by Maj Barry Rhodes.
Photo by LS Paul Berry
School’s in: Cpl Mark Everingham and entertainer Maxine Harman visit
the children of Gifu Primary School during the Forces Entertainment Tour to
Solomon Islands.
Photo by Kloe Croker
Entertainers rock
Solomon Islands
By Kloe Croker
SOLDIERS in Solomon Islands were
treated to two concerts and a trivia
night with Australian entertainers on
the first Tour De Force for 2009.
The lineup included Renee Brack, an
MC and television personality, comedian
Dave Jory, singer and song writer Mark
Wilkinson and Melbourne rock band
Asleep in the Park.
Ms Brack said her last tour to
Solomon Islands was so incredible that
she decided to volunteer again.
“The forces entertainment tour to
Solomon Islands was unforgettable,” Ms
Brack said.
“We got to experience the front line
of the Regional Assistance Mission to
Solomon Islands and see the good work
the ADF and Australian Federal Police
do to help another nation on its way to
full independence … and the local children were too cute for words.”
The troops took time out to appreciate new Australian talents and become
involved in the atmosphere of live concerts. Pte Mark Routledge said it was
good to get a break from work.
“The entertainers have brought a little piece of home to us and gave us the
chance to listen to live music and to
meet some more Aussies,” he said.
“The tour definitely boosted morale
within the troops.”
Dave Jory said the tour opened his
eyes to a different cultural environment.
“I would find it so hard to be away from
home for so long but the troops were so
good natured about it,” Mr Jory said.
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14 CENTREPIECE
As the Army starts to draw down its bushfire assistance to the Victorian Government WO2 Graham McBean and
Michael Brooke report on our last rotation of searchers. Photos by AB Jo Dilorenzo
T
PR John Hallett recalls the
evening meals he spent with
ash drifting on to his plate. It’s
a compelling reminder to the
young soldier of the job he has
been doing for the past two weeks.
Thorough search: Soldiers from 5/6RVR joined Victoria Police in a more detailed search for victims in the Kinglake area after the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.
New dawn: Burnt trees near Kinglake, Victoria.
15
Army March 19, 2009
Hosing down: Soldiers are decontaminated after searches on bushfire-affected properties.
As the 3/19 LH (SAMR) trooper leaves
Victoria for his home base in Elizabeth,
South Australia, his memories are typical of
the many young soldiers who experienced
first hand the devastation in Victoria.
But there is one small distinction from
previous contingents.
Tpr Hallett and his mates talk in equal
proportions of a community getting stronger
as each day goes by.
The new search teams deployed after
requests from the Victorian Coroner and
Victoria Police and the soldiers now have
first-hand experience of the worst-affected
areas.
Now, as the last search rotation, they say
more and more Australian flags are pitched
next to burnt houses and signs declare they
will rebuild.
The soldiers are genuinely struck by
the resilience of the human spirit and the
strength of this community.
“It has rained on and off for the last five
days and it is beginning to rejuvenate,” Tpr
Hallett says.
“There is a lot less dust and it has started
to bring out some green. Perhaps the rain is
lifting people.
“I have seen a lot of real community
spirit among the locals and the volunteers
No stone unturned: Searching for bushfire victims in the Kinglake area.
and there is a real willingness to share.
“When we got to Flowerdale early on we
went to assemble a tent at the community
centre. The woman running it and organising charity throughout the area was trying
to offer us tea and you kind of feel a little
guilty because the people here were left with
nothing and they are the ones being generous.”
Both Tpr Hallett and Cpl Sean Flanagan
from the 8CER Dundas depot near Sydney,
highlight the volunteers from across Victoria
providing free massages to the Army, emergency services and local community
members.
Cpl Flanagan agrees the shared experience is serving to unite the community and
make it stronger. The Sydney policeman in
civilian life says it is impressive.
The taskforce soldiers from NSW-based
5 and 8 Bdes and the SA-based 9 Bde
(including Tasmanian soldiers) were redeployed last week to Kinglake and Marysville
to continue the thorough searches in one of
the worst-affected areas.
While JTF 662 will maintain its headquarters and direct small assistance tasks,
the large contributions of ADF personnel
ends with the police advice to Emergency
Management Australia that the search task is
complete.
It ends the relief response, but highlights
the training and the effectiveness of the
Army Reserve in the those initial first days.
It is no surprise to Cpl Flanagan. He says
as a member of the RRF in NSW the contin-
gent was briefed and prepared to deploy to a
situation like the Victorian fires.
However, he says the devastation is still
confronting. “We were taken aback by what
we were faced with, but we were able to
pick up the task and go forward.”
Ironically, the NSW contribution to the
rotation recently practised a response situation similar to the Victoria fires. OC Search
Task Group Maj Ian Hart says the joint
exercise with NSW Rural Fire Service had
prepared his soldiers for this task.
“Exercise Ainsley Leap was primarily
a consequence-management exercise for
5RRF and was based on the 1994 Sydney
fires that surrounded most of the Sydney
metropolitan area at the time,” Maj Hart
says. “As a result of the lessons learned from
this activity we were very well prepared for
this challenge and I know my soldiers were
very keen to prove themselves by making a
meaningful contribution to the relief operation.”
Since arriving in Victoria on March 1, the
new Search Task Group has cleared more
than 776 premises.
Initially, the rotation deployed to the
Kinglake area and included searches in the
Castella, Toolangi, Steels Creek, Chum
Creek and Dixons Creek areas.
Searches included the Narbethong and
Buxton communities along with Marysville.
JTF 662 forward headquarters and the
Quick Response Force also relocated from
Kinglake to Marysville to better support the
search effort.
Commander JTF 662 Brig Michael
Arnold has thanked the interstate soldiers who provided much-needed relief to
Victorian reservists and other ADF personnel. “I am truly grateful for the magnificent
response by soldiers of 5, 8, and 9 Bdes to
our call for support,” Brig Arnold says.
“They have had a difficult task for the
past two weeks both emotionally and physically. Their performance has been first class
and deeply appreciated by the Victorian
community.
“I would also like to acknowledge the
excellent performance of staff officers,
warrant officers and senior NCOs from the
previous formations and 13 Bde. They have
played a critical role in sustaining the operation of HQ JTF 662.”
As the interstate rotation conducts postoperation administration thing, they finally
have time to pause and reflect.
It is hard to come away from the fire
areas neutral about the experience. But for
many it is an extension of what they joined
the Army to do.
Cpl Flanagan says as a member of the
RRF back in NSW, he was ideally situated
to assist and it was the experience of using
his skills to help other Australians he will
remember.
“The nature of the disaster captured the
minds and hearts of most Australians. Most
people felt the need to contribute in some
way whether it was donating money, clothing, food or just their time. I believe this was
the best way I could contribute,” he says.
Planning station: Maj Garry Ward briefs police officers at the command post on the searches completed.
16 LETTERS
Army March 19, 2009
Revved up over
transport issue
I HAVE recently been posted to
Canberra, which involved initially flying to Canberra and then returning to
old station for the relocation.
tunity to find accommodation in their
gaining posting location by providing
house hunting trips while members are
still in their losing posting location.
DHA arranged accommodation at
HMAS Harman with my work location
being Campbell Park offices.
As I was posted unaccompanied,
I also needed to find accommodation.
I was informed by DHA there was no
entitlement for allowances towards
the hire of a car for the period. I had
no transport to commute to and from
HMAS Harman or to look for accommodation. As a result I had to hire a car
for a week to travel between HMAS
Harman and Campbell Park daily and
to look for accommodation, which cost
$450 including petrol.
All I received was an allowance
to travel by taxi to and from HMAS
Harman ($60).
When I questioned DHA they
informed me it was not their responsibility and that it was a common complaint
by members posted to Canberra.
Could you please advise why there
is no allowance to cover the hire of a car
or other allowances for transport in these
situations?
A member eligible for a service residence or rent allowance, and/or an adult
dependant if required, may be provided
limited assistance with travel, accommodation, car hire and telephone expenses
for a maximum of three days to enable
the member to find accommodation in
the gaining posting location.
These provisions are contained in
Pacman Ch 7, Pt 1, Div 4. While these
provisions are available to members
before they move from their losing posting location, there is currently no provision to provide car hire once a member has arrived in their gaining posting
location.
As is the case with the general
Australian population, it is normally a
member’s individual responsibility to
arrange their own transportation to and
from their place of duty.
In cases where public transport is
not available to members, service transportation may be provided, at a cost to
members, to enable members to perform
their duties. In Maj Schulz’s case, public
transport is available at HMAS Harman
to enable members to readily get to their
place of duty. It is not intended to introduce policy to provide members with
car hire to get to and from their place
of duty.
Maj Gary Schulz
Defence Catering Policy Cell
Campbell Park, ACT
Mr Robert McKellar, Director Housing and
Removals Policy, responds:
N GR
EW E
AT
Li
m
ite R
d
Of A
fe
r* T
E
DEFENCE offers members the oppor-
Tiger passion: Working on the ARH Tiger is a delight for the writer of the letter below, though he is
unhappy that his family situation has led to him being re-categorised as MWOD.
Separated but
still a provider
UNTIL January, I was categorised
as a Member With Dependants
(Unaccompanied), as I am located at 1 Avn Regt in Darwin and
my wife and children are living
in Townsville.
Unfortunately the marriage has
broken down and we have separated. I provide financial support to
my children through an agreement
with my estranged wife.
In accordance with Pacman
Ch 8, Pt 1, I have been re-categorised to MWOD. This is because I
am unable to look after my children
for more than 90 days a year. I am
unable to do this because they live
in Townsville and I live in Darwin,
and I do not get 90 days’ leave a
year and they have schooling commitments.
Can someone therefore please
explain why the Army has decided
my children are no longer dependants? As a result of the Army
deciding I do not have children
any more, I have lost entitlement
to reunion travel. Aside from two
entitlements to RLLT, I am now in
the position where I have to pay to
travel to see my children, or pay for
them to visit me. How is that fair?
For those who think I am using
this forum to search for a compassionate posting, then you are
wrong. I love my current job with
1 Avn Regt working on the ARH
Tiger and would like to remain
here.
What I would like is an answer
to my question. I would prefer
an answer that doesn’t constitute
“refer to Pacman”. I have done
that and from what I can see it is
flawed. Furthermore, although
my estranged wife is no longer a
dependant, my children are still my
children and always will be.
Sgt David Ferguson
1 Avn Regt
Robertson Barracks
Ms Colleen Goth, Director Service
Conditions, responds:
WHILE I understand that you are
now separated by distance and
time from your children, you are
correct that under the current
Pacman rules you are classified
as a Member Without Dependants
(MWOD).
There are many government
classifications regarding dependency, such as Family Assistance
Classifications, and the interpretation of dependency differs, particularly when Commonwealth funding
is concerned.
I understand that the MWOD
classification may offend when
taken literally, particularly when
under the Shared Parenting
Amendments to the Family Law Act
you know that you are the parent
of your children in law. Your stated
position that your children are still
yours is correct.
You are also correct that you
will lose your status of MWD(U)
due to the breakdown of your marriage and the fact that you are
posted to Darwin and your family
resides in Townsville.
The reason that this will occur
is that you are no longer in a relationship which makes you eligible
for that entitlement. Once again
this may seem unfair to you, but
the intent of the entitlement is not
to inform you that your children
are not your responsibility. As you
clearly identify they are your children and always will be.
You have stated that you are
unable to meet the 90 nights’
requirement to qualify as a Member
with Dependants for entitlement
purposes. This is a situation many
ADF members find themselves in
after a marriage breakdown.
The principle behind MWD is
that your dependants normally live
with you or that they are precluded
from doing so due to service reasons (the underlying assumption
here being that if you were located
with them you would be resident
with them). While it may be difficult
to accept you do not fall into either
of these categories, this is the case.
The Army is not saying that
you are no longer a father, or that
you are not responsible for your
children. Defence is saying that it
will provide you with two Remote
Location Leave Travel trips and
one Recreation Leave Travel trip
per annum and provide you with
rental assistance.
The Department, through this
action, is recognising that your
service does attract benefits that
most other Australian employees
do not enjoy.
Part of your service means you
are mobile. This mobility may mean
you are able to obtain a posting
which enables you to meet the criteria for MWD again. I understand
you enjoy life in Darwin and you
are to be commended for your service. Likewise, your family circumstances have changed dramatically
and that too is a challenge that
must be difficult to adjust to.
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ECN 229 VEHICLE MECHANIC
TRADE TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY
Return of Service Obligation (ROSO)
Training undertaken under the Army
Technical and Trade Scheme (ATTS) incurs
an initial obligation of six years service from
the commencement of initial trade training.
Course Commencement Dates
22 JUL 09 - 15 MAY 11
26 AUG 09 - 17 JUN 11
7 OCT 09 - 22 JUL 11
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vehicle types including cars, trucks, primemovers, trailers, plant equipment and
armoured vehicles.
Education Requirements
Completion of Australian year 10 education
(or equivalent) with passes in English,
Mathematics and Science and one other
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Defence Assisted Study Scheme (DASS)
DI(G)PERS 05-1 may be available to assist
interested soldiers who do not meet the
educational requirements.
Application to be submitted via unit orderly
rooms.
Trade Transfer Bonus
Successful trade transfers to ECN 229
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50%
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completion of 12 months of service, either
in training for the technical trade or as a
combination of training and work in that
trade.
Employment Training
Vehicle mechanics course: 18 months
On the job training: 12 months
Civil Accreditation
On successful completion of employment
training and the on the job training
program, you are awarded the certificate
III in Automotive – Heavy Road Transport
or equivalent.
For Further Information:
http://intranet.defence.gov.au/ArmyWeb/sites/STAYARMY/
http://www.army.gov.au/stayarmy/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 02 62657795
Or contact the Regional Trade Transfer and Retention Warrant Officer:
Enoggera Barracks 07 3332 5165
Lavarack Barracks 07 4771 7819
Robertson Barracks 08 8935 2980
18 LETTERS
Army March 19, 2009
Too costly
Thanks for
support
and care
ON JANUARY 11 our son, Pte
Stephen Andrew Wilson, tragically took his own life.
At the time of this tragic
event, the support given to us by
the Army and the wider Defence
Organisation was greatly appreciated and we now write to thank
a number of people – Capt Chris
Osborn and Ms Rachel Roberts
of the Defence Community
Organisation, who could not
have been more caring, supportive or helpful; Lt-Col Ben
James, Stephen’s former CO in
2RAR, for his much appreciated
role as official mourner; the current CO of 2RAR, Lt-Col David
Smith, for providing the firing
party at extremely short notice;
the members of the bearer party
(Stephen’s mates and his brother,
Tpr Raymond Wilson); the members of the firing party; WO1
Bill Degenaro, RSM Ceremonial
(and personal friend) who took
control of the ceremonial side;
Monsignor Greg Flynn, Senior
Chaplain (RC), who conducted
a moving and dignified funeral
mass and service; Chap (Ang)
Owen Davies, RANR, who
assisted at the funeral service
and was also a supportive friend;
Musn Steven Carter from the
RMC Band, the bugler who did
an excellent job; Musn Adam
Cameron-Taylor from AABCNewcastle who was provided
at very short notice as a piper
and also did a superb job; all of
the staff in the background, the
clerks, movers etc, who arranged
for people to get to Canberra
from all over the country at very
short notice; finally, although
no longer serving, former WO2
Wendy Eve, late-RACT and now
with White Lady Funerals, for
combining total professionalism
with deep compassion.
IN RESPONSE to Pte Michael
Kreminski’s letter (“Webbing issue”,
Army, March 5): while the SO2 Clothing
does an admirable job highlighting the
obvious flaw in the author’s argument, I
must also point out an additional error.
Namely, that I must don my gear twice a
year for my qualifying shoot at the WTSS.
Graham and Sharon Wilson
Banks, ACT
Capt Trent Groves
ADFA
Striding out: Soldiers hit the track to ensure they keep up fitness levels.
Photo by Cpl Corinne Boer
Running out of time
ONE of my 61-year-old soldiers
recently attempted the BFA and
completed the run in 14:53.
With the AIRN standard for a 51+
male being 14:30, this resulted in a fail
by 23 seconds. Normally he completes
the walk and passes it, however, he has
been training lately, was feeling fit and
decided to give the run a go.
This event has highlighted to me
that the BFA tables in DI(A) Pers
148-2 do not cover Defence personnel above the age of 55. It is implied
within the tables by the way they are
constructed with the last age group
covering 51-55. Clearly these were
designed for an era where 55 was the
compulsory retiring age but now this
has extended to 60 for regulars and 65
for reservists.
By applying the logic of reducing performance with additional age,
and using the same increment that
is applied in the current tables when
moving from the 46-50 age group to
the 51+ age group for males, an additional 42 seconds should be allowed
every five-year age group up until age
65. Accordingly, the maximum time
for the 2.4km run for a 61- to 65-yearold male should be 15:54.
Clearly the times need to be amended to reflect an older Army workforce.
Many members of my squadron are
highly experienced hydrographic surveyors, and are also ageing. Army has
very few of these highly qualified personnel and it would be a shame to lose
them because we expect a 64-year-old
to be as fit as a 54-year-old.
Maj Zac Zaharias
OC Littoral and Riverine Survey Sqn
21 Const Regt
Holsworthy Barracks
Col Stephan Rudzki, Director Army
Health, responds:
THANK you for raising your concerns regarding the age group
standards in DI(A) Pers 148-2 Army
Twice as ready
Physical Conditioning Assessment
System.
The issue of extending age groups
was considered before the update of
DI(A) 148-2 in September 2007, but
it was determined that change was
not necessary. The thinking behind
this decision was that the minimum
aerobic standard for Army service
remained the 51-55 age standard.
While it is acknowledged that aerobic
performance declines with age, the
expectation is that older members of
the Army have to be fitter than civilian
counterparts.
Running performance is also dictated by more than aerobic capacity.
The integrity of the joints and the legacy of aches and pains also determine
run performance. The walk test was
specifically introduced to assess aerobic capacity in a less stressful way. It
may be appropriate for your soldier
to accept the reality of time and do the
walk test.
Cpl Douglas Livingstone
B Sqn, 2/14 LHR (QMI)
Gallipoli Barracks
Ump trump
IT IS great to see the innovation
and brilliant ideas that the Army
continues to produce as evidenced
by the article “Patched up umpires
identified” (Army, December 11,
2008). For someone to come up
with the idea of using a white
background for an umpire’s patch
is truly inspiring. And then to top
it off by having the word “umpire”
on it is bordering on sublime. It is
no surprise at all that the trial of
the patch, no doubt a long and rigorous affair, was successful given
such a genesis. I remain in awe.
Maj Neale Hughes
ADFWC
RAAF Williamtown
Invitation to join club
I AM a committee member of the
Holsworthy Pistol Club (HPC),
and write to you on behalf of the
club.
By our membership, we
are closely associated with the
Australian Army Sports Pistol
Association (AASPA), formally
recognised by the Army Sports
Association.
I noticed with interest the article
about Capt Paul Nowak’s attendance at World Shoot 15 in Bali
(Army, March 5).
HPC shoots the IPSC practice
mentioned in the article – as well
as UIT and Service Pistol practices – each Saturday on a dedicated
range within the Holsworthy Range
Complex.
We have found with the current
licensing laws that intending participants in the sport of pistol shooting have to jump through hoops
for about 18 months to get, first,
a probationary licence, then a full
licence, then a permit to acquire
and finally to purchase, if they
wish, a pistol. Given that most postings are about two years this means
that Army members have just about
finished jumping hurdles when
they are posted out of the area and
have to start again in another State.
Coupled with the need to put in at
least six scored shoots a year while
juggling operations, exercises, work
commitments and family etc, it just
gets too difficult.
So, we have come up with an
alternative: ADF members can join
AASPA at a cost of $20, which at
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IN RECENT years I have noticed
the introduction of the “I am an
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posters, and now I have received
an “I am an Australian Soldier”
booklet. I understand this is an initiative designed at developing our
soldiers, however, I honestly can’t
see the development these trinkets
offer. Would this money not be
better spent in improved training
resources?
In reality these medallions are
but a beer coaster in the live-in
lines and the pamphlets will clutter the squadron for a number of
months before being sent to the
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I am unable to obtain a new set of
cams and boots from the Q-store.
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the same time makes them Class
6 members of HPC. As Defence
members shooting on an Army
Range on Army land, they do not
require a licence (Section 123 of
the Defence Act 1903) to shoot and
the HPC makes club pistols (semiauto or revolver) and ammunition
available for civilian pistol familiarisation and practice at a nominal
cost.
This presents a relatively
straightforward way for ADF members to try out the sport of pistol
shooting, and improve their skills
in small arms. If they wish to further their involvement, then HPC
can assist them.
Enquiries about the club can be
directed to [email protected].
Lt-Col Greg Fackender
Holsworthy
FEATURES 19
Army March 19, 2009
Equal to the challenge
The next generation of soldiers brainstormed and
footslogged their way through the 2009 CA’s
Challenge, Maj (AAC) Ben Robinson writes.
W
ITH the pride of their
units and their states on
the line, 80 cadets from
all over Australia converged on Holsworthy Barracks,
Sydney to take up this year’s Chief
of Army Cadet Team Challenge from
March 5-8.
Skills tested: Cdt WO1 Michael
Mani at the completion of the early
morning navigation exercise (above).
Title holders: CA Lt-Gen Ken
Gillespie with the winning team from
South Queensland (right).
before being able to continue on to the
next stage.
Cadet WO1 Michael Mani, WA
Cadet RSM, said the obstacle course was
a highlight of the weekend. “It pushed
each of the section members to their
limits and also brought them together as teams, as they had to understand
each other’s strengths and weaknesses to
achieve their goals,” he said.
Presenting the awards, CA Lt-Gen
Ken Gillespie said he saw the cadets
display the qualities of teamwork, discipline and mateship. He said they were
the next generation of the ADF and they
were exactly the calibre of people the
Army wanted.
“It was impressive to see the dedication of the cadets and the determination
put in by all of the teams,” he said.
N GR
EW E
A
Li
m
T
ite R
d
Of A
fe
r* T
E
“The CA’s Challenge is the most
prestigious award we can win as cadets,”
Cadet WO2 Lucy Dixon, of the South
Australian team, said before the contest.
The main honours this year went to
the team from South Queensland while
the North Queensland team took out the
RSM-A Trophy for Drill.
The cadets formed up in teams of 10,
representing the eight Australian Army
Cadet regions across the country.
They were required to assist in a
mock mission conducting surveillance
operations on “alleged criminal activities”, starting with a night insertion.
Each section was to night navigate to
an area of operations and, from there,
begin their operations. Throughout the
night the cadets had to report back any
observations they made while remaining
undetected.
They then had to pack-march to a
range shoot.
“The challenge was a big eye opener
to see how different everyone’s leadership styles are,” Cadet Under Officer
Rachel Clatcherty, of South Queensland,
said. “The most challenging part for me
was the shooting.”
Assessment of the cadets had begun
at the moment of their insertion into the
challenge and they were watched closely
as their position was constantly probed
by “criminals” in the area. Intelligence
collected by the cadets led them to be
relocated to the Holsworthy obstacle
course, which they had to complete
What is ATM Direct
Charging?
There has been lots of news
coverage recently about ‘direct
charging’ of ATM fees, which
commenced on 3rd March 2009.
Prior to 3rd March, financial
institutions paid each other
every time a customer used
another institution’s ATM. Now,
ATM owners will charge this
fee directly to the customer
(cardholder). The fee will be
shown on the ATM screen; and
you can choose whether to
proceed with the transaction.
This arrangement was
introduced by the Reserve Bank
on the basis that there would be
more transparency when ATM
fees are disclosed upfront.
So financial institutions,
including Australian Defence
Credit Union, have no control
over the fees charged to
members’ accounts by ATM
owners.
Avoiding Fees & Charges
How can you avoid paying
these fees (ranging from $1.50$2.00 per transaction)? Use
a rediATM! There are over
1300 of these ATMs throughout
Australia, many of which are on
military bases.
They are hard to miss as they are
bright red in colour and are usually
located close to a credit union
branch. To find out the location of
the rediATMs, visit www.rediatm.
com.au.
There are other ways to avoid
paying ATM fees:
• withdraw cash at an ADCU
branch
• withdraw cash when making
a purchase at an EFTPOS
terminal
• select ‘credit’ when
using your Visa
Debit Card
• use BPay to pay
bills through
internet or phone
banking
• use your Visa Debit
Card to pay bills by
phone, internet or
mail
To find out more, ring our
Member Contact Centre on 1300
13 23 28, visit www.acu.com.au,
or see your local ADCU branch.
New Redi-Loan
For affordable repayments that won’t change
•
•
•
•
•
•
easy application process
quick turnaround with same day approval
no monthly or annual fees
convenient repayments straight from your pay
no penalty for early payout
a generous fee rebate scheme which rewards you for borrowing
with ADCU
*This product is available for a limited period from
1 January to 31 March 2009, so apply now!
Apply Online at www.adcu.com.au,
Phone-a-loan 1300 13 23 28,
or visit your local branch
Terms and conditions, fees and charges apply and are available on application. Australian Defence Credit Union Ltd ABN 48 087 649 741 AFSL 237 988.
20 FEATURES
Army March 19, 2009
Barrel of fun
In the turmoil that was the Vietnam War, Australian soldiers found a
piece of surfing paradise at Vung Tau, Tpr Michael Franchi reports.
D
IGGERS swapped their rifles for surfboards and hit the waves at the Peter
Badcoe Club at Vung Tau during the
Vietnam War.
RIDING THE CREST OF A WAVE
1966: 1 Australian Logistic Support
Group starts to set up at Vung Tau
and Sydney surfboard makers donate
boards.
1967: Work begins in January and
the Peter Badcoe Club is officially
opened in November.
1968: Accommodation blocks are
completed in May and the Harold
Holt memorial pool officially opens in
August.
1971: Australian task force withdraws from Phuoc Tuy.
1972: Centre is handed over to the
Vietnamese.
They could be found at the barbed-wire
protected beach known as Back Beach – which
backed on to the Australian base – playing a round
of golf, swimming, surfing, sun bathing and having a beer.
Stuart Scott’s newly released book Charlie
Time out: Soldiers from Tracker Platoon, 6RAR/NZ (Anzac), with surfboards Don’t Surf but Aussies Do ventures into the intriinstead of weapons at Vung Tau around 1969-70.
Photo by John Neervoort cate details and tales from the men and women
who visited and built the club.
Mr Scott said he started the project after reading an article in an American surfing magazine in
2007.
“An ex-US champion surfer who was a
Vietnam veteran mentioned that the Australians
over there had more up-to-date surfboards than the
Americans,” Mr Scott said
“This intrigued me, so I checked the Australian
War Memorial photo library and found a couple of
good photos there and started asking every veteran
I could find about it.”
The recreation and leave centre was named
after VC recipient Maj Peter Badcoe who died in
the Huong Tra district while attempting to throw
grenades under heavy machine gun fire.
The club included bars, a swimming pool
named after former prime minister Harold Holt,
mini-golf course and a concert stage.
The Army supplied surfboards, sailing boats
In the swim: The Harold Holt memorial swimming pool, with Badcoe Club’s and powerboats for water skiing.
Surf’s up: Pte Leigh Floyd takes time out to ride the
accommodation blocks in the background.
waves around 1969-70.
Photo by Paul Haw
Photo provided by Leigh Floyd
Armed lifesavers watched out from towers
in case of attack and, in the early stages, were
equipped with a surfboat and rescue rope reels.
Stan Middleton said that he and many Vietnam
veterans were very happy with the release of the
book and the stories in it.
“My wife Sinh worked at the Badcoe Club and
was able to provide the names and contacts of personnel that worked there,” Mr Middleton said.
Mr Scott said everyone had different memories
Deal direct with the builder
of the place, “from it being just a basic concrete
Save thousands by not dealing with the middle man
floor to it being a beachside hotel beer garden”.
Picture perfect: The Australian stretch of beach in the
To order the book or to pass on a story, visit www.
Home/Land packages
foreground, with the Korean, American then Vietnamese
charliedontsurf.com.au or email Stuart Scott at
[email protected].
zones in the background.
Photo by Paul Asbury
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22 PEOPLE
Army March 19, 2009
Hair today gone tomorrow: Capt Naomi Gallagher, HQ Norcom, loses her
locks for charity.
Photo by LS Helen Frank
Wave of support: LCpl Jose Gomez takes time out to mix with local children during a visit to Tamboko
village in Solomon Islands.
Photo by Kloe Croker
SEND US YOUR
PHOTOGRAPHS
If you have a photograph that you
think is suitable for the People page,
send it to armynews@defencenews.
gov.au. Images should be highresolution jpegs and must be
accompanied by information that
includes the identity of the people in
the photograph.
Hooray for padre: Chap Charles Vesely with an
Australia Day Medallion awarded for his support to
1RAR soldiers and their families. Photo by LCpl Mark Doran
Sharp-eyed: Sgt Bernie Maus, 2 Cav Regt, scans for threats from an
ASLAV turret in Afghanistan.
Photo by Capt Lachlan Simond
From the top: Lt-Col James Allen, on Op Hedgerow in Sudan, is given his
new rank slide by Gen Martin Luther Agwai, Commander of the military
force at UNAMID HQ in Darfur.
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LIFESTYLE 23
Army March 19, 2009
Say again, over
The winner of the March 5
caption competition is....
“And you are getting posted to ...?”
Capt James Fardell
DEOS Orchard Hills
We also liked ...
“Once again the combination of Coronas
and beer goggles causes a balls up.”
Maj T Davies
10 FSB
“PTIs are supporting the latest addition to
the WTSS.”
Gnr Murray
48Fd Bty
DIKKO
If you can think of a clever, witty caption to this picture, then email [email protected] with “caption competition March 19” in the subject line. Keep entries under 25 words. Entries MUST include the sender’s name, rank and unit.
By Bob Dikkenberg
BOOKS
A bonnie yarn
M A (Rick) O’Shea JP - Ex RAEME WO2
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Why invest in Property?
A
UTHOR Max Carmichael has
produced a well researched and
superbly written history of A
Coy, 10/27RSAR.
While there is an A Coy in just about
every infantry battalion in the Army, this
particular A Coy is unique to the south
east of South Australia and has offered
the chance for many in the region to provide part-time service.
As a result, this book is not your typical military history, offering an account
of service and commitment rather than
battle.
It speaks volumes about the professionalism, dedication, skill and pride of
those who served in the South East Coy
from 1950-2000, through an anthology
of stories that capture the spirit and colourful language of the Australian digger.
In Kilted Company covers the good
times as well as the difficult periods in
the long and proud history of A Coy,
accurately recording the changing fortunes of the Army Reserve.
An interesting subject concerns the
employment of females in a field force,
which marked a dramatic departure from
previous practice. The book records
how there were many who believed “the
female invasion” would result in the
lowering of “field force effectiveness, a
break down in discipline and the onset of
immoral behaviour in the ranks”.
Understandably, A Coy’s first two
female recruits were somewhat apprehensive walking through the entrance
of the company’s depot. But they were
pleasantly surprised by the response and
welcome they received.
“I was very aware that we were joining a male-dominated environment,” said
Barbara Hopgood, who rose through the
ranks to become a WO2.
“However, right from the start we
received a ‘fair go’, and I felt that rather
than being made to feel like intruders, we
were immediately accepted.”
The author deserves to be congratulated for the enormous task undertaken,
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24 LIFESTYLE
Army March 19, 2009
HEALTH
Don’t get spiked
Drink spiking is a dangerous offence where drugs are added to victims’
drinks leaving them in a vulnerable situation. Flt-Lt Anthony Marinac
explains how to prevent becoming a victim and what you should do if you
believe your drink has been spiked.
M
ANY people enjoy a extremely drunk in the first place – this
drink or two on a night is another reason to drink responsibly.
out, but if you are not Some of the symptoms may include;
careful you may become Feeling dizzy or faint, especially if
the feeling comes on suddenly.
the victim of drink spiking, regard- Feeling nauseous or sleepy.
less of whether you are male or Feeling “more drunk” than you
female.
would expect, given how much you
History shows that during the party
season there is a greater likelihood of
members being exposed to, or involved
with, prohibited substances. But it can
happen any time of the year.
There are some basic things you
can do to protect yourself and your
mates from drink-spiking incidents.
What drugs can be used?
Extra alcohol
Sedatives
Rohypnol
GHB (Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate)
Ketamine
Stimulants (less common)
Ecstasy
Speed
What are the symptoms?
Most people feel sudden and unmistakable symptoms following a spiking
incident. However, some people feel
few symptoms from a drink-spiking
incident, usually because they were
have had to drink.
Losing consciousness.
Waking up with memory blanks.
tre for testing, even if you are starting to feel better.
Report the incident to the police
– drink spiking is a crime.
Get everyone who was present
when the spiking incident occurred
to write down everything they can
remember about the events leading
up to the incident.
Will it affect my career?
What should I do?
You are in danger if you believe
you or a friend may have been a drinkspiking victim. Drink spiking is a form
of poisoning, and you can never be
sure what the impact of the drug will
be, especially combined with alcohol.
Quick action may save a life or prevent
a rape.
Don’t leave the victim alone under
any circumstances.
Make sure your whole group knows,
straight away.
Let the bar staff know straight away.
If the victim loses consciousness,
call an ambulance.
Get the victim away from the venue
and away from potential offenders.
Notify your MO and CO/OC or,
after hours, the base duty officer.
Report to your nearest medical cen-
If you follow the procedures
above, and report the suspected spiking incident immediately through your
chain of command or, after hours to Lethal cocktail: Always watch your drink when you are out socialising.
the duty officer, then DI(G) PERS
15-2 Involvement by Members of STAYING SAFE WHEN OUT AND ABOUT
the Australian Defence Force with a
ing. Otherwise, a straw in the bottle may
Prohibited Substance states that no Don’t get drunk. A person who is drinking
make it harder for an offender to slip a
responsibly may still be spiked, but has
adverse action will be taken against a
tablet or powder into your bottle.
a
better
chance
of
realising
it
and
taking
member reporting accidental prohib If your drink tastes strange, bitter or salty,
action.
ited substance use.
throw it away.
However, members who report Never leave your drink unattended or even If your drink has bits floating in it, throw
out
of
your
sight.
It
takes
only
a
second
for
accidental prohibited substance use
it away. Drugs like ecstasy do not fully
someone to spike your drink.
after being identified for prohibited
dissolve.
Don’t
get
involved
in
shouts
with
people
substance testing should not expect
If you’re on a date with someone you don’t
you don’t know and trust. Buy your own
immunity if they test positive to a proknow, buy your own drinks and arrange for
drinks. Don’t drink anything you didn’t see
a friend to call you periodically through the
hibited substance.
poured or opened.
evening.
So, if you or a mate have had your
Stick together as a group. A drink spiker
drink spiked, your first priority is to Where possible, buy bottled drinks and
keep the lid on. For females, this can easily
may try to separate you from your friends
ensure the victim’s safety, and the secbe slipped into your handbag when dancafter the drug has started taking effect.
ond priority is to report it.
CASE STUDY:
Corporal John had served 6 years in the Army
and was considering buying his own home
but didn’t want to take 30 years to pay it off.
After consultation with Spectrum John increased
Want to own your own home?
And pay it off sooner?
his knowledge on Defence Entitlements and
investment strategies. This enabled John to:• Time the purchase of his home to best utilise
DHOAS, HPAS and the First Home Owner’s
Grant (FHOG)
• Increase his deposit using other assets and RA
• Accelerate the repayment of his home loan
via a positively cash owed property with a
Government backed 10 year rental guarantee
(i.e. National Rental Affordability Scheme - NRAS).
Know your
entitlements
• Pay out his home loan early using increased
equity from other capital growth investments
DHOAS, HPSEA, HPAS,
RA, MSBS, DFRDB
This case study is for illustrative purposes only and not to be
construed as nancial advice. You need to consider your own
personal circumstances when making an investment decision.
Spectrum’s wealth creation strategies consider:
Get nancially t. For life.
• Property Investments
• Tax Planning
• Loan Structures
• Defence Entitlements
• Shares & Superannuation
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Call 1300 784 246
or visit www.spect.com.au
Advising Defence Personnel for 27 years
LIFESTYLE 25
Army March 19, 2009
FINANCE
Pumped up for a dumping
Share scams often look realistic and are
presented professionally. ASIC Chairman Tony
D’Aloisio explains what to look for so you
don’t get caught out.
➤ What is the licence number?
➤ What is the licence holder’s
P
ty of offences, including misleading
investors with false rumours relating
to stock exchange listed companies.
If found guilty, the operators of pump
and dump scams can be jailed and
The scammers usually own large heavily fined.
parcels of shares in small publicly listKeep a look out
ed companies. They attempt to drive
Pump and dump scams can surup the share price by spruiking false
face in many different ways includstatements to unsuspecting victims.
If the scammers succeed in con- ing online, by phone, by text mesvincing enough people to buy shares, sage or in person. It’s important that
the share price will inevitably increase if someone does make contact ‘out of
beyond its real worth. Once this hap- the blue’, people do their research and
pens (ie. the ‘pump’) the scammers consider getting professional, licensed
sell (ie. ‘dump’) their shares at the financial advice before making a decision.
peak of the price spike.
When the scammers sell their Online
Realistic and professional websites
shares, the price decreases, liquidity
in the shares falls and victims are left that claim to give ‘share tips’ or offer
holding shares at their deflated value. ‘investment opportunities’ are aplenty.
Typically, pump and dump scams These websites sometimes try to get
take advantage of shares that are of people to subscribe to their servicextremely low value, often referred es and often quote alleged industry
to as ‘penny stocks’. This makes it experts. People need to look beyond
easier for the scammers to pump up the slick presentation to find the real
the price. These scams often involve information.
The internet is a great way to share
companies that are likely to have
unexpected price spikes anyway, for information. However, with this freeexample, emerging mining companies. dom also comes the ability to easPump and dump scams are ille- ily mislead people. There are lots of
gal. The operators of pump and dump investment and finance forums, chat
scams can be charged with a varie- rooms and blogs out there. And while
UMP and dump scams have
been around for decades in
one form or another. These
scams are a way of artificially inflating share prices.
Our new
eLearning
module can
help you get
Financial
Advice.
Exercise caution: Don’t be taken in by scammers. Photo by LS Paul McCallum
most of the information may be legitimate, there will always be some people
trying to push their own wagon.
Watch out for comments from people who are supposedly giving ‘inside
knowledge’ or a ‘heads up’. These tips
could be people trying to serve their
own interest.
By phone
Sometimes scammers operate out
of boiler room call centres and have
teams of people working the phones
to pump up a share’s price. Sometimes
these are based overseas, sometimes
within Australia. If someone rings out
of the blue, it’s best just to hang up.
Sometimes the people calling claim
to be from a legitimate business and
say they got a person’s name from a
‘database’. In other cases, they claim
to be trying to contact someone else
and then ‘mistakenly’ give away the
hot tip. Don’t fall for this – they’re just
trying to make you feel like you have
some inside knowledge. Ask the following questions:
➤ What is your name, address and
phone number?
➤ Do you hold an Australian financial
services licence?
➤ What is the name of the company
holding the licence?
address?
This information can then be
checked to see if they are a legitimate business on ASIC’s consumer
website.
Be wary of anyone who claims
they don’t need a licence, or who
won’t answer questions and never
agree to anything over the phone.
By text message
There have been situations where
people have received text messages
from unknown senders with what
appears to be investment tips. Often
these are written as though it wasn’t
intended for the receiver, making
them believe that they’ve stumbled
onto a hot tip. The safest thing to do
is delete the message straight away.
In person
The scammers might have an
office, run seminars, hand out flyers,
and even offer to visit people at home
to try to persuade them to buy the
shares. People must be sure to check
the credentials of anyone offering to
deal with their finances.
What to do?
If you think you’ve been targeted
for a pump and dump scam, the best
response is to ignore it and say that
you’re not interested. Always do your
own research on shares and consider
seeking professional financial advice.
More information is at www.fido.gov.au or
call 1300 300 630. E-mail ASIC with topics
that interest you to [email protected]
Do you need
a Financial
Adviser?
How does
an Adviser
get paid?
How do
you find an
Adviser?
What should
you ask the
Adviser?
www.adfconsumer.gov.au
ADF Financial Services Consumer Council
ADF Financial Services Consumer Council
For more information contact us at: [email protected]
26 SPORT
Army March 19, 2009
World bid
gets a lift
By Eliza Sum and
Sharon Palmer
EVER wondered what, if anything, goes through a weightlifter’s mind as they grunt and
strain to lift 100kg over their
heads?
For Cpl Graham Walker it
must have been gold as he took
out the 62kg snatch, clean and
jerk at the Australian Masters
in Geelong with a score of 177
(77kg for the snatch and 100kg
for the clean and jerk).
The result has ensured his
place in the Australian Masters
team to take on the world’s best in
October in Sydney.
“Let’s put it this way, I just
concentrate on making sure that I
get the lift,” Cpl Walker said.
Weighing in at just 60kg and
standing at 165cm small, Cpl
Walker says he was destined to be
a boxer or a weightlifter.
“My mother wasn’t very keen
“These things happen, but I
know that work will always come
first,” he said.
“I was ecstatic with my result
this time and that’s why I’m working hard so I can get a good total,
hopefully 190 or close to 200 in
Sydney.”
He names three-time
Australian Olympian Charlie
Henderson as an inspiration, saying, “I don’t want to let myself go
when I get old.”
The 12th Australian Masters
Games were held in Geelong from
February 20-March 1. More than
60 sports were contested in and
around Geelong and more than
7100 competitors participated.
The 13th Australian Masters will
be held in Adelaide in 2011.
The 7th World Masters Games
will be held in Sydney from
October 10-18. Organisers expect
25,000 people from 100 countries
to compete in 28 sports at 72 venues throughout the city.
on boxing,” he said. “As you can
see, weightlifting is a non-contact
sport, and I saw my cousin doing
it in South Africa, so I decided to
pick it up too.”
After winning bronze at
nationals as a junior, Cpl Walker
gave the sport away for about
eight years, only returning as a
form of rehabilitation for an ankle
injury. His best result since his
return was in 2006.
“I was competing at the nationals against the young guns and I
won the silver medal with a score
of 181.”
Since then, he has concentrated on competing at the masters’
level. “This was my third masters
and it’s the best I have done at
this level.”
He enjoyed being in the Army
although work commitments
often conflicted with weightlifting
competitions and he was forced
to withdraw from the Australian
World Masters team last year.
Pocket rocket: Cpl Graham Walker on his way to a gold medal.
Photo by Chloe Brian
Heading in right direction
By Monique Ndario
and Sharon Palmer
THE football competition at the 12th
Australian Masters Games attracted
ADF team: Back row, left to right: Manager-Sgt Andrew Webb (RAAF); Sgt Nelson
Aceituna (RAAF); Flt-Sgt Brett Chapman; WO2 John Plackett, LMB; Sgt Geoff Gillard
(captain) (RAAF); Capt Ian Rainbow, 5CER; Player/coach – Sgt Scott Hanson (RAAF); Cpl
Bradley Moore (RAAF); Cpl Colin Dean, 17 Sig Regt. Front row, left to right: Sqn-Ldr Alec
Tattersall; Flt-Sgt Paul Bonnar; WO2 Kevan Naughton, 10FSB; WO2 Eddie Balarezo, AATC;
Sgt Matt Stacey (RAAF); Cpl Jason Jones (RAAF); WO2 Mark Ninnes, 19CEW. Absent: Sgt
Damian Vincent (RAAF). Photo by Chloe Brian
Results: ADF 2 b Barwon 1. Scorers: WO2 Kevan Naughton, Sgt Geoff Gillard. ADF 4 b
Surfside 1. Scorers: Sgt Geoff Gillard(2), Flt-Sgt Paul Bonnar, Sqnd-Ldr Alec Tattersall.
ADF 3 b Pressure 1. Scorers: Sgt Geoff Gillard, Cpl Jason Jones, WO2 Eddie Balerezo.
Semi-Final ADF 3 b Pressure 0. Scorers: Sgt Geoff Gillard, WO2 Eddie Balerezo, Sgt
Nelson Aceituno. Final Barwon 2 b ADF 0.
military attention in the form of the
ADF men’s soccer team which came
away with a silver medal in the 35-plus
division at the end of the competition.
WO2 Eddie Balarezo, AATC, was
named player’s player for the competition with WO2 Kevan Naughton,
10FSB, also among the standouts.
Unbeaten leading into the gold
medal playoff, team captain Sgt Geoff
Gillard (RAAF) said the team was confident of taking the gold but failed to
capitalise on its opportunities.
“We were disappointed because
I think we played the better football
throughout the tournament and the
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(RAAF) said the team performed well
all week. “These guys are the best of
the best,” he said.
He also said while they brought a
high level of military fitness to the park,
there was also an underlying sense of
fun among the team.
This was no more evident than in
the team’s pre-match custom.
A red headband was awarded to the
lowest performing player from the previous game judged by his peers.
The headband had to be worn for the
duration of the next game.
“The headband is just a way of
breaking the ice among the players and
at the same time it is a way of boosting
their spirits, because they want to avoid
wearing it because that would mean
they were voted the lowest performer.”
Sgt Webb said.
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match, but they converted their chances
and we didn’t,” he said.
“But in terms of the competition, we
had a great week both on and off the
paddock and interacted really well with
our competition.
“It was a really positive PR exercise
as well as a lot of fun.”
Sgt Gillard said the team now had
its sights set on the World Masters in
Sydney in October.
“We are all keen to do another
Australian Masters and take home the
gold next time but we have also registered for the worlds and should have an
even stronger team as a couple of the
guys who couldn’t make it to Geelong
will be back and another couple will
have turned 35 by then,” Sgt Gillard
said.
Team manager Sgt Andrew Webb
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SPORT 27
Army March 19, 2009
Making waves
Rhino hunter searches for the big guns
SPORT SHORTS
Netball coach wanted
ADFA Netball Club is seeking a qualified
coach for the 2009 season. The club is prominent in both the Canberra and Defence sports
communities. Ideally, applicants would hold a
current intermediate coaching accreditation
(formerly known as level 1 to 2). The successful applicant will be required for at least one
evening training session during the week and
for the duration of the Saturday games. The
season runs from April-September. For further
information, contact Maj Carla Watts on (02)
6268 8535 or [email protected]
10km road championship
THE Australian Defence Running and Athletic
Association will conduct the 2009 Defence
10km road championship in conjunction
with a 10km fun run starting at Empire Park,
Newcastle, on March 29. Age categories
include men’s and women’s open, veteran
men 35-44 years, veteran women 35 years
and over and masters men 45 years and over.
Competitors should enter the race online
at www.hilltoharbour.net and email the race
director, Sqn-Ldr Richard Gardiner, advising
of their entry and age category details. Further
details at www.adf.coolrunning.com.au or
email [email protected]
SURFING TRIALS
NSW Army Surfriders’ Association (ASRA) completed the
first of its selection trials in small, weak and windblown surf
on February 26 at the Wall on Sydney’s Cronulla Beach. The
trials are being held to select the team to contest the 2009
Triservice Surfing Championships in the Port Stephens area
from March 31-April 2. This year’s championships are being
organised by Army and staged by RAAF Base Williamtown. The
final selection will be on March 26 at Cronulla to select the
24-person team. POCs for the ASRA are Cpl John O’Connor on
0425 280 452 or Stuart Brook on 0439 042 392.
Pumped: Pte Paul Daniel is looking forward to the challenge of more technical surfing in the championships.
By Barry Rollings
NEXT time you see Pte Paul
Daniel, be sure to give him a big
wave.
He’s not craving the “hello”
kind though, just those huge green
monsters that take your breath
away when, from the comfort of
your lounge, you watch insanely
courageous (or is that just insane?)
surfers take off on salty skyscrapers
from exotic places like Hawaii’s
Waimea Bay.
Now 31 and a quartermaster
at 3RAR, Pte Daniel’s progression to big wave surfing has been
logical since his childhood days
at Seaspray on Victoria’s 90-Mile
Beach.
“As far back as I can remember,
I was always a surfer,” Pte Daniel
recalled.
“I could walk 50m out my
front door and be on the beach at
Seaspray. I would surf before and
after school, summer or winter; I
didn’t care. I won many ‘pretend
world championships’ as a 10-yearold there. It’s all I ever thought
about as a kid.”
He moved to Maroubra when he
was 12.
“The first time I stepped in
the water as a kid in Maroubra, I
thought it was the biggest wave I’d
ever seen. In reality it was probably
only 1m but I’d never seen anything
like it,” he said.
“I guess that was the moment I
became hooked on big-wave surfing. By the time I was 16, all I
wanted to do was surf big waves.
Between the ages of 16 to 20, I
rode some of the biggest waves
in the country – 9m in WA, 7.5m
in Tasmania, 6m in Victoria, and
4.5m in Queensland and 7.5m in
Sydney.”
From then on he has travelled to
some of the most beautiful places
in the world in search of the biggest and heaviest waves. From
Teahupoo and Java (both 4.5m) to
France (7m), Mexico (9m), 9-12m
at Mavericks in California and, of
course, Jaws in Hawaii (9-15m).
But Pte Daniel admits “a lot of
these waves I watched but didn’t
ride”.
“After seeing a local in Hawaii
killed on a monster 12m wipeout,
even I had my limits.”
Big wave surfing takes total
commitment and discipline, Pte
Daniel says.
“We paddle into or are towed
by jetskis onto waves which are
at least 6.2 m high, on surfboards
known as ‘guns’ or ‘rhino chasers’,’’ he said.
“The bigger the wave, the faster
it travels, and the bigger the surfboard needed to catch it.
“A larger board allows a rider
to paddle fast enough to catch the
wave and has the advantage of
being more stable, but it also lim-
its their manoeuvrability. In a big
wave wipeout, a breaking wave can
push you 6.2m to 15.5m below the
surface. Once you stop spinning
around, you have to quickly regain
your equilibrium and figure out
which way is up.”
His favourite big-wave surfing spots include Waimea Bay,
Ghost Trees, off Pebble Beach in
California, Jaws in Hawaii, Cyclops
in WA and Ours in Sydney.
He’s seen a fellow surfer tackle
a 13.5m wave at Ghost Trees and
another of 16.5m. At Jaws, so called
because of size and ferocity of the
waves, he’s seen waves reach 21m
high, moving about 48km/h.
Describing himself as a kamikaze, or big wave surfer, rather than
a technical enthusiast, Pte Daniel
admits to many wipeouts and close
calls, which he says are “just part
of big-wave surfing; in reality part
of any form of surfing”.
Being a “kamikaze” surfer, he
says the coming triservice surfing
championships will be a huge challenge for him. “I’ve never really
bothered about my technique; I’ve
always just charged big waves.
“But I’m really looking forward
to the challenge and I’m actually
enjoying technical surfing for the
first time since I was a kid. I’m sure
I will be surfing against much better technical surfers.”
Photo by Tim Forsyth
The 2009 ACT interservice
hockey competition will be held
at the National Hockey Centre
in Mouat Street, Lyneham, from
1pm-4.30pm, with the schedule of
matches to be decided.
“Members from the permanent
and reserve Navy, Army and Air
Force, along with Defence APS personnel are encouraged to field full
teams to ensure ACT has a competitive inter-Service competition,”
ACT hockey representative WOFF
Vicki Chapman said.
The ACT Combined Services
hockey teams will be selected
on the day for the 2009 Defence
Hockey Championships from May
30-June 5 at Homebush in Sydney.
Nominations are sought for players, coaches and managers. Those
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Shayne Borger, telephone 0400 774 763,
or e-mail: [email protected] or
[email protected]
THE 2009 AUSTRALIAN Services Australian
Football Association (ASAFA) Championships
will return to the home of footy as Navy, Army
and Air Force teams continue their rivalries
from April 15-19 in Melbourne. Matches will be
played at Whitten and TEAC Ovals, with Army
out to defend both the Jimmy Sail Cup in the
men’s action and the Cdre Geoff Ledger Cup
for the women’s national title.
TIME FOR A NEW CAR?
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SNATCHING
THE GOLD
Master stroke by
pocket rocket
SEE PAGE 26
March 19, 2009
ALL’S
SWELL
3RAR’s Pte Paul
Daniel rips it up
Photo by Bill Cunneen
Story – Page 27