AIRF RCE - Department of Defence · to be alive after crash-landing his stricken light aircraft on...

Vol. 52, No. 7, April 29, 2010 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

RCEAIR F

BATTLE READY

New name for a new era of joint airspace controllingFLTLT Jaimie Abbott

IT’S air traffic control but a whole lot more, now that the category has been re-named to exhibit its joint battlefield capability.

Air Force Air Traffic Control Officers will now be known as Joint Battlefield Airspace Controllers (JBACs) to reflect their role across the ADF in operations, exercises and humanitarian relief mis-sions in Australia and overseas.

JBACs will also wear a new quali-fication badge which has been intro-duced to reinforce their positions in the Air Force Command and Control structure.

Continued Page 3

MY WAY: THE MY WAY: THE HIGHHIGHWAYWAY

OFFCDT Patrick Humphries is lucky to be alive after crash-landing his stricken light aircraft on Hobart’s Brooker Highway on April 4. The

18-year-old ADFA student was on a civilian solo flight in his home city when the Victa Airtourer’s engine stopped suddenly at 1600 feet. As

the aircraft began to free-fall, he only had about a minute to find a safe

place to land. What happened next? Find out on PAGE 5

AIR WARRIOR BEGINS P4 P7 P133SQN WOWS KIWISSKI SCORES A YEAR

MIRACLE MAN: OFFCDT Patrick Humphries reflects on his dramatic emergency landing in Hobart which could have ended much worse. Inset, the wrecked aircraft on the Brooker Highway, captured on his mobile phone. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

Photo: CPL David Gibbs

2 News April 29, 2010RCEAIR F

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RCEAAIIRR F

Barry Rollings

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

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

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

“People will notice the difference at the larger Defence bases. We have begun implementing the recommenda-tions but the physical security aspects will take some time to complete.”

The review stemmed from August 2009 when four people were arrested in Melbourne for allegedly planning a terrorist attack against Holsworthy Army Barracks in Sydney.

“The arrests prompted the CDF ACM Angus Houston and the then Acting Secretary, Stephen Merchant, to commission the review of Defence’s protective security arrangements.”

Mr Roberts said the review encom-passed all of Defence’s establishments and resulted in 33 recommendations ranging over security policy, physi-cal security, contracting, response arrangements on bases in the event

Some of the proposed enhanced security arrangements Defence personnel will see include:� Tighter security and

access control at base entry and exit points.

� Strengthened meas-ures required at each SAFEBASE level.

� Stricter access con-trol requirements, including a positive identification process underpinned by elec-tronic access control and biometrics at selected sites.

� A possible broaden-ing of Australian Federal Police pres-ence at Defence establishments.

� Vehicle inspections depending on the SAFEBASE level, including provision of vehicle parking/inspection bays if necessary.

� Inspection of carried items, depending on the SAFEBASE level.

� Base alert systems and base lock-down and incident response plans.

Some of the key initiatives Defence will introduce under the SRP include:� Cut waste, reform culture, boost effi-

ciency to achieve $20 billion in sav-ings over a decade.

� Greater use of Defence Travel Card, more use of restricted airfares; better use of accommodation and services contract.

� Greater centralised shared services in Defence, converting about 700 contractor positions – such as those within information technology – to APS jobs (245 already converted).

� Civilianising 500-600 uniform military support positions between 2010 and 2014.

� More use of video conferencing.� Reduced staff for Defence Chiefs

already instigated.

THE KEY CHANGES

Base security changes afoot

ON GUARD

Photo: AC David Said

of attack; and changes to the Defence Act to allow Defence to better protect its bases.

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

“Our planning needs to be intelli-gence-led and risk-based. This means identifying those bases that may be

attractive as a terrorist target and ensuring that we address any security risks there in the first instance.

“Additionally, we hope to sub-mit changes to the Defence Act to Parliament later this year and secu-rity staff on our bases are discussing response plans with their local police commands.”

Mr Roberts said a whole-of-base alert system was required to alert base residents of a serious incident such as

a terrorist attack to initiate base emer-gency response plans, such as base lockdown. He said there also had to be some thought given to procedures to deal with a situation until police arrive in sufficient numbers and capability to be able to resolve the situation.

“We need to ensure that we have the legal authority for ADF members to defend themselves in the event of

a terrorist attack, to carry out vehicle and carried item inspections on entry to our bases and, when necessary, per-sonal searches. The CDF has asked us to check, in particular, the legal impli-cations of ADF members using force to defend themselves and others were a base to come under terrorist attack.”

For more information on the program, visit the BSIP website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/BSIP/

CDF vows to stay vigilant on SRP

Reserves reports ‘wrong’

Barry Rollings

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

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

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

“I’m very satisfied that we have developed a robust and comprehen-

sive performance-monitoring system which has a very strong emphasis not only on ensuring the reforms have been implemented but capability is not being adversely affected.

“The cultural dimension of the SRP is, of course, the key to its success.

“We have a number of organisa-tional change programs running, such as Air Force Improvement, which are all complementary programs to the goals of the SRP.”

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

“We know it’s going to be hard, which is why we need to make eve-rything we do count,” ACM Houston said.

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

ACM Houston told the SRP media roundtable that reserv-ists “are a vital part of our ADF and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

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

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

“However, due to our strong full-time ADF recruiting and retention results in recent times, our ability to supplement reserve salaries from within the overall military workforce

budget has diminished. This has required the services to pri-oritise reserve training salaries to ensure that the reserve con-tinues to meet its operational commitments and critical train-ing requirements.”

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

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

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

Photo: LAC Christopher Dickson

3 NewsApril 29, 2010RCEAIR F

From Page 1

The new badge for the renamed JBACs will be well earnt, according to OC 44WG GPCAPT Forster Bre-ckenridge.

“The new badge is the achieve-ment of passing one of the ADF’s most difficult aviation courses,” GPCAPT Breckenridge said.

“This award will be presented to current Joint Battlefield Airspace Controllers, and to those graduating from training from now onwards.”

JBAC skills and qualifications are already internationally recognised, with Australian JBACs regularly requested to operate with our coali-tion partners.

Since the 1980s, they have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for operations and throughout the world in support of natural disaster and humanitarian relief, including the recent effort in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, where five JBACs provided specialist air traffic control duties, including tower and approach con-trol.

CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin said the name change reinforces the Air Force commitment to an organic JBAC capability into the future.

“Numerous resources remain committed to not only this initiative but to all aspects of ATC reform and

AIR FORCE personnel were among the ADF members who met the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, when she visited Australian troops deployed to the United Arab Emirates at Al-Minhad Air Base on April 21.

Ms Bryce, on her way to Europe, held an afternoon tea with the Australian troops working in support of operations in Afghanistan, the Arabian Sea, and Iraq.

During an address, Ms Bryce said that it meant a lot to her to be in the Middle East meeting Australian serv-

icemen and women, and to share their experiences.

WOFF Robyn Connell spoke to Ms Bryce during the afternoon tea.

She said it was great that the Governor-General took the time to come and talk to the troops.

“We spoke about how fortunate we were to have such great facilities here while we’re deployed,” WOFF Connell said.

“She told me that she really appre-ciated the opportunity to come here today.”

Earning their badgeEarning their badge

‘They are familiar with military tactics, tech-niques and procedures facilitating a smooth transitional response from benign to hostile airspace activities. – SQNLDR Michael Duyvene De Wit

NEW BEGINNING: JBACs FLGOFFs Kelly Wagstaff and Mark Collins from 44WG Detachment, RAAF Base Williamtown. Photos: CPL David Gibbs

GG chats with troops at Al-Minhad Air Base

TEA FOR THREE: The Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, talks to SQNLDR Jo Brick and WOFF Robyn Connell at the air base.

Photo: SGT Brent Tero

we can expect to see continued activ-ity well into the future,” AIRMSHL Binskin said.

44WG’s Tactical Operations Specialist , SQNLDR Michael Duyvene De Wit, said JBACs are trained in a diversity of battlefield airspace management skills in addi-tion to core air traffic control com-petencies.

This will enable the deconfliction of air and kinetic activity in areas of operation.

“JBACs regularly deploy with Army units, some are parachute-qualified or attached to Navy war-ships, and all operate at joint and coalition level with Australian and foreign military forces when required,” SQNLDR Duyvene De Wit said.

“They are familiar with military tactics, techniques and procedures facilitating a smooth transitional response from benign to hostile air-space activities.”

There will be no change to the air traffic control services provided by JBACs to civil aircraft at Darwin, Townsville and Newcastle.

JBACs will continue to compete for a wide range of higher level jobs where their competencies match position requirements.

JBACs are competitively remu-nerated under the recent DFRT deter-minations as a result of the Officer Aviation Remuneration Structure reform that occurred last year.

There will be no change to exist-ing salary arrangements.

LOOK: FLGOFF Loretta Jolly with the new JBAC Badge.

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4 April 29, 2010News RCEAIR F

FLTLT Eamon Hamilton

A PAIR of 37SQN Hercules have trad-ed Down Under for the Deep South to take part in Exercise Air Warrior II.

From April 18 to 26, Exercise Air Warrior II at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas will feature a 37SQN C-130H and C-130J, along with an 88-strong Australian contingent.

Combat air lift missions will be flown by Australian Hercules alongside their American counter-parts into a massive training area

in the American state of Louisiana. Little Rock is a haven for the C-130s. It is the home of the US Air Force’s 19th Airlift Wing, owner of the largest fleet of C-130s in the world, with more than 90 C-130Es, Hs and Js.

Exercise Air Warrior II is run by the US Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), which is ded-icated to preparing units for combat operations.

This year is the first time since October 2007 that circumstances have

allowed RAAF Hercules to return to Air Warrior II.

Attendance at Red Flag in Nevada and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center in Missouri and Air Warrior II tests the full range of C-130 capabilities at facilities that are not available in our region.

CO 37SQN WGCDR Matt Hegarty said Air Warrior II will help Air Force to continue integrating with coalition partners during operations.

“Through this exercise we learn from people with the skills and experience

in conducting high intensity air mobility operations,” WGCDR Hegarty said.

The JRTC training area in Louisiana features a forward operating base, dirt airstrips, and numerous drop zones.

It is also host to pyrotech-nic displays and ‘enemy units’ which increase the realism of the training area.

Personnel back at Little Rock meanwhile have to remain vigilant against attacks and disturbances from ‘enemy forces’, modelled on real world scenarios.

“Air Warrior II allows us to maintain our high standards by utilising training facilities in the United States which are unlike what we have back home,” WGCDR Hegarty said.

“While they’re flying their missions, our Hercules crews can expect to face ground-borne threats, and be judged on their mission success by an independent observer who will fly with them.

“Our success in Air Warrior II will be judged on how we safely and effectively perform our combat air mobility role as a coalition partner,” WGCDR Hegarty said.

During the exercise, RAAF and US Army personnel had the unique opportunity of con-ducting an Anzac Day com-memorative service together.

Further coverage of Air Warrior II will appear in an upcoming edition of Air Force News.

Little time to draw breath at 37SQNTHREE continents. Five countries. More than 170 personnel away from home.

Call it another working week at 37SQN.

In the week leading to Anzac Day, 37SQN experienced one of its busiest operating periods against a backdrop of evolving change back home.

Three Hercules and 60 person-nel continued their support of Operation Slipper in Afghanistan from their base in the United Arab Emirates. Another pair of Hercules took part in Exercise Air Warrior II in the United States, with 88 per-sonnel from 37SQN and Combat Support Group.

Regionally, a Hercules deployed to Bersama Shield in Malaysia. Back home in Australia, training tasks with 285SQN took place at RAAF Bases Richmond and Edinburgh. All the while, 37SQN remains ready to respond to any

immediate crisis that may arise in Australia or regionally.

“This week is our maximum capacity, and probably the busiest we’ve been since Operation Padang Assist,” WGCDR Chris Hersey, XO-Maintenance of 37SQN, said.

The busy pace has not been restricted to the air. On the ground at RAAF Base Richmond, 37SQN is undergoing changes to make itself a more sustainable unit.

As the first Air Force unit to be selected for change under the Strategic Reform Program, 37SQN will evolve to become a more sus-tainable force for operations.

Meanwhile, the Enhanced Land Force project is yielding new and refurbished facilities for 37SQN across the base.

OC 86WG GPCAPT Richard Lennon said 37SQN epitomised the Air Lift Group mission, “To fly important people and stuff to tough places, on time.”

SPRINGING INTO LIFE: Above, loadmaster WOFF Murray George watches as the C-130 starts up in preparation for its travel to Air Warrior II, while left, LAC Ashley Condon and CPL James Hutchinson prepare to board the flight. Photos: AC Christopher Hall

UP AND AWAY: One of the C-130Js takes off at RAAF Base Richmond, loaded with equipment and personnel bound for Exercise Air Warrior II. Photo: LAC Michael Green

Hercs head to Hercs head to the Deep Souththe Deep South

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5 April 29, 2010RCEAIR F

Andrew Stackpool

WHEN his instructors periodically prac-tised engine failures during his flying in-struction, they would not have known that their tuition would play a vital role when OFFCDT Patrick Humphries experienced the real thing on a flight over Hobart on April 4.

He was flying a Victa Airtourer light aircraft owned by the Aero Club of Southern Tasmania during a visit to his home city.

OFFCDT Humphries, 18, learned to fly in 2007 and 2008 before joining the Air Force as an ADFA cadet this year. He holds a General Flying Progress Test licence.

He was flying near the Tasman Bridge when the engine failed.

“It stopped suddenly. I immediately carried out cockpit checks on fuel etc, but realised it would not restart, so I turned everything off as is standard prac-tice,” he said.

“I then tried to maintain some altitude while I looked for a place to land.”

OFFCDT Humphries was in a serious situation. He was flying at 1600 feet and the aircraft was sinking rapidly. He had only about a minute to land.

He realised he had three alternatives; football fields, roads or the river. There were some football fields nearby; how-ever, he quickly rejected them.

“One had a car park at one end and others had trees around them. Also, the Victa requires 500m for a rolling stop and the fields are only half that length.”

Then he s ighted the Brooker Highway. A section was empty because the traffic was held by traffic lights.

By now the aircraft was feeling very heavy and, with altitude and air speed washing off, he had to glide a circuit and then carry out a left-hand turn to line up for his final approach on the road. As he did so, he flew under an overpass.

Still alive after Still alive after highway divehighway dive

AIRBORNE AGAIN: Above, the Victa Airtourer is lifted from its low-loader after being removed from the Brooker Highway. ON A WING AND A ...: Below, OFFCDT Patrick Humphries with the aircraft before taking off on his news-making flight. Photos: courtesy OFFCDT Humphries

‘It has not dented my pas-sion for flying and I am keen to get up again as soon as pos-sible after the investigation is completed.

How did he feel at the time?“I was too busy during the flight and

then I was concerned to stop the traffic so I never really thought about it until later after I was debriefed,” he said.

Had the incident dampened his enthusiasm?

“It has not dented my passion for flying and I am keen to get up again as soon as possible after the investigation is completed,” he said.

“I have more confidence in my deci-sion-making abilities and I am glad my instructors used to teach me engine fail-ures so I was prepared.”

He returned to ADFA on Easter Monday. After he graduates in 2012, he hopes to fly Super Hornets or the Joint Strike Fighter.

His ADFA mates welcomed him home in the traditional way.

“I got the Poor Form Award for trashing the plane, the Slick Operator Award for landing a broken plane and then the Weekend Warrior Award for attracting so much attention,” he said.

At the time of going to print the cause of the engine failure had still not been determined.

He then had to clear a right-hand and then a left-hand turn on the road but before he could land, gravity beat him to it.

The aircraft scraped a concrete bar-rier on the right-hand corner. It remained airborne for another two or three sec-onds and then touched down. He still had to turn the left-hand corner but as he entered, the port undercarriage collapsed and the port wing struck a tree and sepa-rated.

The aircraft slewed around and struck the embankment.

OFFCDT Humphries was unharmed and his training kicked in again.

“As soon as it stopped, I got out of the aircraft in case of a fire,” he said.

At this point, only about 90 seconds had elapsed since the engine failed.

“I then looked down the road and saw the debris field from the wheel and wing. As it was a blind corner, I was concerned someone would strike it and have an accident.”

He ran down the road to warn oncom-ing traffic of the wreckage.

“Fortunately, someone came up in their car and blocked the lane and I then waited for the police to arrive.

“I was disappointed that the aircraft was wrecked as I had hoped to get out [of the incident] without damage.”

MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER: OFFCDT Humphries recalls the day he became headline news in Hobart. He is looking forward to flying again and hopes to one day fly the Super Hornet or Joint Strike Fighter as an Air Force pilot. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

News

Master of Psychology (Occupational Mental Health)

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

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

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

For additional information regarding the course contact

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

[email protected]

6 April 29, 2010RCEAIR F

LAC Aaron Curran

WITH the ADF having a decreasing footprint in Iraq, there is a lone Air Force officer still there doing an im-portant job for the future of our em-bassy.

In a theatre that is nearly all Army-dominated, logistics officer WGCDR Sally Pearson is embedded with SECDET XVI at the Australian Embassy in Baghdad.

In her primary role, WGCDR Pearson is Contract Manager for the Australian Embassy Private Security Contract.

Security at the Embassy has started transitioning from being exclusively an ADF organisation to a mix of sol-diers and contractors. The manage-ment of the contracted component is what makes WGCDR Pearson’s job so crucial. “I also work with DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] staff in managing interpreter and catering contracts,” she said.

On top of that, she is also provid-ing financial and contract management support to the new Project Engineer

Homeward Homeward boundbound TWO long-serving Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) were loaded on to a 36SQN C-17A in Tarin Kowt recently for the flight home after almost 10 years of combined service in the Middle East Area of Operations.

One of the ASLAVs first deployed to southern Iraq in early 2005 as part of the First Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG-1) and served in AMTG-2 and Overwatch Battle Group Four.

Towards the end of 2008 the ASLAV was transported by C-17A to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, to provide vital combat capability to Australian troops serving in the First Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-1), MRTF-2, and more recently the First Mentoring Task Force.

The second ASLAV deployed with OBG(W)-4 in early 2008 and was transported to Tarin Kowt later that year.

ASLAVs RETURN: Below, CPL Timothy Broughill, left, and LAC Cory Jecks from 1AOSS tie down the ASLAVs in the C-17A which brought them home. Above, the aircraft begins its journey. Photos: SGT Mick Davis

LONE RANGER: WGCDR Sally Pearson on top of the SECDET’s base in Baghdad. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

perations

Our powerer of one

who is responsible for upgrading Embassy and SECDET facilities.

“I arrived in Baghdad in late February and am here until I have handed over the role to DFAT in the new financial year.

“I came from HQ Air Command at RAAF Base Glenbrook and was selected for the role as a result of my contract, financial and project man-agement experience.”

Originally from the Royal Air Force (RAF), WGCDR Pearson came across on a lateral transfer in 2002 and this is her first deployment over-seas – not just during her time with Air Force, but also the RAF. “Since arriving the job has grown signifi-cantly but I soon realised that this is not unusual on operations,” WGCDR Pearson said. “There is certainly a lot I have to achieve here within a short time frame.”

Being the only Air Force mem-ber in SECDET and the theatre as a whole, is something that comes up on occasions.

SECDET XVI is a true combat team made up of cavalry, military police, signals, ordnance, transport,

engineers and intelligence soldiers, and they have a good stir at the expense of the lone RAAFie in their midst.

“While it hurts me to say this, the Army personnel in SECDET XVI are a very professional combat team,” she said with a grin.

“Good morale and humour among them is also evident and in between the hard work, I feel obliged to main-tain an appropriate level of inter-serv-ice banter, letting them know I can dish it out as well as take it.”

WGCDR Pearson said this has been a great opportunity to put her

skills to work in a unique and chal-lenging environment. “On top of improving my work I am also improv-ing my Spanish by talking to our con-tracted Chilean guards and learning a little Arabic as well.

“I am even having a great time working with the Army,” she said.

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FLTLT Jaimie Abbott

WHEN WOFF Kevin Schibrowski took off on his crew’s last opera-tional mission in the Middle East recently, he had no idea just how memorable the flight would be-come.

It wasn’t until he landed and completed his log-book that the 11SQN flight engineer discovered he had clocked up his 8760th hour – which equates to one year in the air.

The significant milestone was reached on a direct support mis-sion over Afghanistan on his rota-tion’s last mission of Operation Slipper. The rotation returned home to RAAF Base Edinburgh in late February.

WOFF Schibrowski – known to his colleagues as ‘Ski’ – said he was thrilled to reach the one year target.

“I felt a great sense of pride to think I’ve now spent an entire year airborne over the course of my career,” he said.

“I feel so lucky to have experi-

THERE’S only 11 Air Force people on Operation Astute in East Timor – but they have thrown out a mighty challenge to Army which dominates the 400-strong International Stabilisation Force.

On May 15 and 16, a team of Air Force guys, a girl and some dogs will be participating in the ISF Timor – Relay For Life, an 18-hour event to raise money for the Cancer Council. They reckon their team, Air Force One, can raise more money than any of the Army teams.

SQNLDR Fleur James, J1 JTF631 and captain of Air Force One, said it was the perfect opportunity “to show our Army mates just how good the Air Force is.

“Being embedded in what is essen-tially an Army operation really high-lights the differences in the ways that Army and Air Force operate,” she said.

“Those differences certainly gener-ate a healthy rivalry, and some excel-

lent banter about who’s ‘got it right’,” SQNLDR James said.

The team is comprised of SQNLDRs James and Rod Humphries, FLTLTs Tim Keating and Tom Dunn, FLGOFF Andrew Sheldon-Collins, and SGTs Ben Gilbey and Graham Schnaars. They will be joined by SGT Anthony McGauley and his team of military working dog handlers (and their four-legged PR machines) when they arrive in early May.

“We figure if we can get the rest of the Air Force behind us as sponsors we should have no problem in holding [Army’s] attack,” SQNLDR James said.

CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin said the cause was a good one. “It’s a slightly different sort of military campaign but one definitely worth fighting,” he said.

To donate to Air Force One go to: http://qld.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/airforceone, select ‘ISF Timor’ and select ‘Air Force One’

PROUD: WOFF Schibrowski with his wife Colleen, daughter Tamzyn and son James and the rest of Crew Two of 11SQN. Photos: AC Glynn Jones

BRING IT ON: With some inspiration from British band Madness (left) members of Air Force One ham it up, from left, SQNLDR Fleur James, SGT Graham Schnaars, SGT Ben Gilbey, SQNLDR Rod Humphries, FLTLT Tim Keating and FLTLT Tom Dunn.

Photo: SGT Linden Bleijie

Method in their Madness

Ski clocks Ski clocks upup a year a year

enced so much during my Air Force career especially as a flight engineer, and I definitely wouldn’t change a thing if I could do it all over again.”

F L T L T S t e w a r t Parkinson, captain of WOFF Schibrowski’s crew, said that the entire squadron was very proud of his achievement.

“Being the crew’s last flight of our Middle East rotation made it a fitting day for Ski to notch up his year airborne,” FLTLT Parkinson said.

WOFF Schibrowski began his career as an electrical fitter in 1978.

He always had an ambition to fly, and in the late 1980s obtained his private pilot’s licence. In 1988 he started training as a flight engi-neer on the Caribous and worked at 35 and 38SQNs. From there he moved to the Orion in 1993 with 292SQN before moving to 10SQN after conversion training in 1994.

“A career highlight was being selected to test fly the new AP-3C which replaced the P-3C model in 2002,” WOFF Schibrowski said.

He has now completed three deployments to the Middle East, which have included opera-tions over Iraq and the latest over Afghanistan. He has also travelled to Japan twice for 92WG exercises, along with deployments to Hawaii, and the Cocos and Christmas Islands.

WOFF Schibrowski has flown more than 2000 hours on the Caribous, and the remaining on the Orions.

He now has his sights set on the next goal.

He wants to clock up 40 years of service in the Air Force in 2018.

SPECIAL 1: WOFF Kevin Schibrowski wearing the commemorative patch which was specially made for him

to celebrate having completed 8760 hours of flying.

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8 April 29, 2010News RCEAIR F

Andrew Stackpool

TWINS enlisting in the ADF are not uncommon. However, staff and fellow students at Officers’ Training School got a surprise at the beginning of the year when not one but three sets of twins reported for their 2010 ADF Gap Year induction.

They were OFFCDTs Joshua and Alexander Dubrawski from Bunbury, WA, OFFCDTs Jessica and Laura Ewens from Canberra and OFFCDTs James and William Fullerton from Hazelbrook in the Blue Mountains.

Each pair went to school together and the Dubrawskis studied the same subjects in their final years, while the Ewens were both accepted into the

Medical Science degree course at the Australian National University.

Their reasons for joining the Gap Year program were in many ways sim-ilar, both as a group and as twins.

The Ewens are the only ones with any military background. Their mother was in the Air Force.

“During her service she showed me a career that was constantly stimulat-ing and exciting,” Laura said.

“My mother has played a very influential role in my life; therefore, the Air Force was my obvious choice,” Jessica said.

Both are hoping to enlist in the Air Force as medical officers.

Among the other four, the reasons were similar to each other; get an

insight into military life and the range of jobs/careers available, learn some new skills, meet new people, travel, and be more independent.

The Dubrawski brothers are head-ing for engineering disciplines and feel that intelligence or engineering would provide them their best opportunities for the future.

James Fullerton is considering going into the reserves and believes that the security police and/or ADF investigative service is his best bet, while William is considering the per-manent force but is still exploring his mustering/specialisation options.

The six were pleasantly surprised by this initial stage of their training. They said it was hard, demanding and

challenging but not to the extent they expected. It was also rewarding and provided a sense of satisfaction.

“Most of all, it was a lot of fun,” Laura said.

“I came in ready for anything. However, it is not what I expected, it was so much better. My [course] flight was incredible and I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for life,” Jessica said.

“It was hard and we challenged our-selves every day, however not every-one gets to learn how to use a weapon, shoot at a range, go on field exercises and wear the Air Force uniform.”

Gap year chief instructor FLTLT Michelle McPhail said that all of the twins were representative of most of their peers on course.

“They found the adjustment to mili-tary life extremely challenging at first, making plenty of mistakes during the learning process and taking some time to find their feet,” she said.

“However, they all have worked hard to achieve the standard they are now at.

“Gap Year has provided them an opportunity to grow and perform as individuals, and this is particularly rewarding for the staff to see.”

James described the change as abrupt with a lot more discipline expected of him, but, like his brother, “I have adapted to it,” he said.

All six twins have now moved on to the next phase of their Gap Year training.

Gap Year triple treatSEEING DOUBLE: Gap Year OFFCDTs Joshua and Alexander Dubrawski (left), Laura and Jessica Ewens (above) and James and William Fullerton (right) are looking forward to future careers with the Air Force.

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Andrew Stackpool

AIR FORCE has launched a new initia-tive to provide Air Force-branded prod-ucts to personnel and the public.

The online Air Force Shop is now open for business, along with a show-room in Canberra for local customers. The shop stocks a wide range of Air Force-branded clothing and other prod-ucts which can be purchased individu-ally or in bulk.

“The Air Force Shop enables Air Force personnel, families, and ex-mem-bers to foster pride in belonging to or being associated with the Air Force. Many people wish to be able to dis-play their support and proud history of service in a tasteful and professional way,” Director Coordination – Air Force GPCAPT Andrew Elfverson said.

“The initiative has my full support,” CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin said.

Michele McGee, the Standards and Compliance Manager – Air Force in the Directorate of Coordination, said that the Air Force brand is one of Australia’s most recognised brands.

“Air Force badges have a long and proud history and they continue to be of great relevance to our society today,”

she said. “The Air Force Shop was established to assist in the management of the Air Force brand. Air Force badg-es and logos are so much more than just badges and logos and it is important to make sure that they are protected.”

The shop was established because clothing stores and base canteens are not always accessible to those who have served or who are associated with the Air Force. The idea behind the online facility was to give people easy access to a range of quality promotional prod-ucts.

“The Air Force Shop was developed to support you and offers Air Force per-sonnel easy access to a range of quality products suitable for a variety of uses. The online facility makes purchasing easy with the added bonus of being able to purchase single items or small amounts,” Ms McGee said.

“It also ensures that product prices are competitive and consistent branding is produced to a standard to support a professional Air Force image.”

Personnel will see items such as caps and some clothing sold in Air Force’s new colours, too.

“With our new branding, the dark blue clouds and grey steel textures are reflected in the new range of products.

The grey cap reinforces the new look of Air Force branding,” Ms McGee said.

Brandnet Pty Ltd operates the shop on behalf of Air Force and its entire range of products has been authorised by Air Force.

The company has worked extensive-ly with Defence organisations for the past 19 years and collectively its team has more than 70 years of brand man-agement and product design experience.

“They have served many military and affiliated organisations, which has given them a greater understanding and appreciation of the extended military community. They understand the Air Force’s unique requirements and are able to ensure competitive prices and consistent branding is produced to a standard to support our professional image,” Ms McGee said.

A percentage of the profits from the Air Force Shop will go to supporting personnel through the Royal Australian Air Force Welfare Trust Fund.

View the online shop at www.airforceshop.com.au or visit the Brandnet showroom at Level 1, 65 Kembla Street, Fyshwick, ACT. Trading hours are from Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5pm and Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm.

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SO MUCH CHOICE: FLTLT Justin Cox and CPL Kristi Adam with some of the items from the new Air Force Shop. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

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10 April 29, 2010News RCEAIR FF

Andrew Stackpool

PLTOFF Emmanuel Murray did not let poor eyesight stop him from achieving his goal of becoming an Air Force fast-jet pi-lot, even though he had to take a rounda-bout route.

On March 25, PLTOFF Murray, a former reservist general hand, graduated from No. 218 Pilots’ Course at 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Base Pearce and was posted to 79SQN to fly Hawk lead-in fighters.

He received top marks on his courses at Officers’ Training School (OTS) and at the Basic Flying Training School at Tamworth.

PLTOFF Murray first applied to join the Air Force as a pilot in 2004 after fin-ishing high school.

Despite being a qualified private pilot, his initial medical examinations found that his eye-sight did not meet Air Force standards.

Laser eye surgery would fix the prob-lem but at the time it was not approved as an ADF procedure, although he was advised it would be available in the com-ing months.

“I was encouraged to enter the Air Force as a different mustering/category in the meantime,” PLTOFF Murray said.

“The approval to get the surgery took quite some time longer than expected but eventually I was able to apply to become a pilot and subsequently commissioned.”

In the meantime, he enlisted as a gen-eral hand in the reserves and was posted

to No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley. He was employed with the Airbase Protection Flight, responsi-ble for base ground defence training. Then, between 2006 and 2007, he was posted to 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron, working with the Amberley Combat Support Unit and the Military Working Dog (MWD) Section.

He also was involved with security duties at Avalon airshows and Air Force conferences.

“I mainly assisted with security patrols and general duties at the MWD school,” he said.

When the eye-sight problem was final-ly corrected, he reapplied and was ecstatic when he was advised his application had finally been successful.

“It was always my intent to become a full-time member – hopefully as a pilot. I had wanted to become a pilot from a very early age and was influenced by my brother and father who are both civilian pilots,” he said.

PLTOFF Murray said that the training he had received at 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU) had stood him in good stead at OTS. Each had its own set of challenges, which were specific to each school; how-ever, his time at 1RTU had helped prepare him for his future roles as an officer as well as providing him with an excellent insight into the wealth and experience within Air Force’s airmen ranks.

Now he is looking forward to his time with 79SQN. He hopes to move to the Hornets and eventually return to 2FTS as an instructor.

Gary Booth

BEFORE an appreciative audience of family and friends, as well as current and former Air Force personnel, 18 newly-qualified officers were awarded their pilot’s wings on March 25 after No. 218 Advanced Pilots’ course at 2 Flight Training School (2FTS), RAAF Base Pearce.

Commander Combat Support Group AIRCDRE Noddy Sawade was the reviewing officer for their gradua-tion parade.

To mark the event, two days earlier, 26 PC-9 aircraft from the school flew over Rottnest Island, Fremantle and Perth in the traditional Thunderbird formation to salute the new pilots.

While AIRCDRE Sawade pinned the wings on 17 of the pilots, WGCDR Graham Rowe, a former CO of 2FTS, had the honour to pin the wings on his son OFFCDT William Rowe.

OFFCDT Rowe has now been post-ed to 33SQN to fly the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft.

Another graduating pilot was OFFCDT Alexander Evans, the son of recently retired AVM Greg Evans.

OFFCDT James Wheeler achieved the highest aggregate of marks and was named as Dux of the course. He has now posted to 79SQN to fly the Hawk lead-in jet fighter.

UP WHERE HE BELONGS: PLTOFF Emmanuel Murray salutes CDR CSG AIRCDRE Noddy Sawade after he is presented with his pilot’s wings at RAAF Base Pearce. Photo: FSGT John Carroll

Thunderbird salute marks event

Pilot beats the odds

BIRD’S-EYE VIEW: 2FTS instructors fly a traditional Thunderbird formation to salute the graduating students at RAAF Base Pearce. Photo: CPL Ben Dempster

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FLTLT Skye Smith

COMMANDING Officer WGCDR David Smith paid tribute to his mem-bers when 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) celebrated the unit’s 68th anniversary on April 6.

“You are all professional people who are doing an amazing job, with limited resources,” WGCDR Smith said.

“You all play a significant role in the success of the unit, with the com-mon goal of perfecting the art of the Australian fighter pilot.”

WGCDR Smith presented a number of awards and medals at the anniversary, including a third clasp to the Defence Long Service Medal to WOFF Craig Thomas and a Good Show Award to LAC Adam Killip.

WGCDR Smith also acknowledged the high calibre of personnel posted to 2OCU, with a special mention to LAC Michael Bragg.

LAC Bragg was recently award-ed the J.R. Bartram and R.A. Kee Sword of Honour in the Air Force’s Leadership and Proficiency Awards.

The sword is awarded to a gradu-ate of the RAAF School of Technical Training in recognition of meritorious performance while undergoing train-ing as a technician.

2OCU began as No. 2 Operational Training Unit (2OTU), which formed at Port Pirie, South Australia, on April

LAC Adam Killip earned himself a Good Show Award when he discovered a fault with a main landing gear tyre of an F/A-18 recently.

The aircraft technician from 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) was carrying out flightline duties and oversee-ing the launch of aircraft when he discovered the faulty tyre.

He brought this discovery to the attention of his supervi-sor and the aircraft was sub-sequently removed from the flying program until the tyre was replaced.

Commander Air Combat Group AIRCDRE Mel Hupfeld presented the award to LAC

Killip during 2OCU’s 68th Anniversary celebrations on April 6.

“Your professional dili-gence provided an opportu-nity to inspect more closely a component, which if left unnoticed, had the potential to create an airborne emer-gency and subsequent dam-age to the aircraft,” AIRCDRE Hupfeld said.

“Your attention to detail demonstrates great profes-sionalism and an excellent attitude, which has distin-guished you from your peers. Your attitude and performance brings great credit upon you, 2OCU and ACG.”

AIRFIELD defence guards LAC Chris-topher Walsh and AC Tim Wright are the 2010 top shots for 2 Airfield Defence Squadron (2AFDS).

Their successes came about when 2AFDS recently completed its first major exercise for the year, Exercise Crack Thump, at RAAF Base Amberley.

The exercise re-qualifies 2AFDS personnel on the weapons used by the squadron and forms the foundation for all other activities to be conducted dur-ing the year.

LAC Walsh shot a score over 220 while AC Wright achieved a perfect score of 250 on the LF 6 (Live Fire 6) shoot.

The two then returned to the mound to qualify for the Marksmanship Award, in which the successful shooter is entitled to wear a crossed rifles badge on his sleeve.

This i s the LF 18 , Appl ied Marksmanship practice (Badge test).

LAC Walsh gained his with a score of 241 while AC Wright narrowly missed his with a score of 221.

CO WGCDR Iain Carty said Exercise Crack Thump was the first step in a series of activities that will result in the squadron achieving Operational Level of Capability (OLOC) in May.

“Once personnel have achieved mas-tery in the use of personal and crew-served weapons, we can then focus on the tactical employment of those weap-ons in a team environment in support of the preservation and projection of airpower,” he said.

During Crack Thump squadron personnel qualified on the majority of weapon systems used during airbase protection operations. They include the F88 Austeyr self-loading rifle, the F89 Minimi light machine gun, MAG 58 General Purpose Machine Gun and the F1 Fragmentation Grenade.

Later in the year, members will qualify on the other weapons systems employed within the squadron, including the 40mm M203 GLA grenade launch-er, the L14A1 84mm Carl Gustav and M72A6 66mm rocket launchers and the M18A1 anti-personnel mine.

For those with an interest in firearms, during the exercise, 2AFDS personnel spent more than 500 hours on the Purga and Greenbank rifle ranges.

They fired more than 215,000 rounds of 5.56 ball, 150,000 rounds of 5.56 link, and 120,000 rounds of 7.62 link ammunition.

They also threw more than 1200 hand grenades.

68 years of training

GOOD SHOW: AIRCDRE Mel Hupfeld congratulates LAC Adam Killip at the birthday celebrations. Photo: LAC Craig Barrett

Spotting a potential problem wins praise

6, 1942 and initially operated with Wirraways and Fairey Battles.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of F/A-18 operations in Australia, with 2OCU conducting the first Hornet conversion course on August 19, 1985.

The Air Force’s inaugural F/A-18 Fighter Combat Instructors Course (FCI) was conducted over 15 weeks from February to June 1989 at RAAF Base Williamtown.

The first five graduates were SQNLDR Mark Evans, and FLTLTs

Pat Barfield, John Conlan, John Lonergan and Mel Hupfeld, the cur-rent Commander Air Combat Group.

Today, 2OCU is more than just a unit that trains the next generation of fighter pilots.

The unit is also responsible

for the training of Fighter CombatInstructors and conducting refreshertraining.

Since the first Hornet FCI course in 1989, 2OCU has conducted 10 Hornet FCI courses and 38 Operational Conversion courses.

Dead-eyes home in on the range

ON TARGET: AC Benjamin Anderson changes his magazine, above; top shot LAC Christoper Walsh, right.

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FLTLT Skye Smith

F/A-18s from 3SQN were among the many stars that lined up to entertain thousands of spectators with an aer-ial display at the Warbirds over Wa-naka International Airshow in New Zealand over the Easter weekend.

Four Hornets and about 60 personnel from 3SQN were in New Zealand for Exercise Willoh (Williamtown-Ohakea) from March 29 to April 13.

The 3SQN Purple Cobra fly-ing display team impressed with a four-ship airfield attack sequence co-ordinated with on-field pyrotech-nics in the morning of each show day and returned in the afternoon to demonstrate precision formation flying.

CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin said the airshow provided an impor-tant opportunity to further extend Australia’s close defence relation-ship with New Zealand.

3SQN deployed to the RNZAF

The WOW factorWarbirds overWanaka

Base Ohakea, 22km west of Palmerston North on the North Island of New Zealand.

The Aussies received a very warm and hos-pitable welcome, with members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ohakea Cultural Maori Club conducting a traditional

MOUNTAIN VIEW: 3SQN Hornets fly above the mountainous terrain of New Zealand after participating at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow. The jets were flying back to RNZAF Base Ohakea, which is where 3SQN was based for the duration of Exercise Willoh. LEFT: FLGOFF Jason Cross (right), a 3SQN pilot who came from New Zealand before joining the RAAF, meets Richie McCaw, the captain of the All Blacks rugby team before his flight. Photos: FLTLT Michael Findlay

CLOSE FORMATION: Spectators watch as the F/A-18 of 3SQN’s Purple Cobra display flying team fly over the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.

Maori welcome upon their arrival. In return, 3SQN XO SQNLDR Adam Loong took Richie McCaw, captain of the All Blacks New Zealand rugby team, flying in one of the squadron’s jets during the airshow.

“I feel very lucky to have been given the chance to fly in a RAAF fast jet and am very appreciative to all those who made it possible,” Mr McCaw said.

“As a young fella I always wanted to play for the All Blacks or be a fighter pilot. I got to be an All Black and have now had a chance to fly in an F/A-18 jet, too.”

McCaw, who was made an honorary SQNLDR in the RNZAF last October, is the grandson of Jim McCaw who flew Typhoon and Tempest aircraft in World War II with 486SQN (RNZAF) of the Royal Air Force.

For the remainder of Exercise Willoh, 3SQN flew close air support missions in support of

the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) currency training and fighter evasion missions in sup-port of 40SQN.

The JTAC training missions were undertaken at the Waiouru Range in the North Island and pro-vided vital recurrency training for the NZDF JTACs.

Each mission used laser-guided training rounds and was controlled by a NZDF JTAC and supervised by an Australian JTAC from 4SQN.

3SQN also flew fighter evasion training missions for RNZAF C-130 crews during the exercise.

The training missions provided C-130 crews with vital experience in evading fighter aircraft, both over water and land airspace.

The RNZAF exercise co-ordina-tor, SQNLDR Carl Smith, said that Exercise Willoh was an invaluable opportunity for the RAAF and the NZDF to train together and build on an already close defence rela-tionship.

14 April 29, 2010 15Centrepiece

� Candidates must have com-pleted Year 12 English; South Australian applicants must have year 11 English and a pass in a language-rich sub-ject in Year 12, tertiary-level mathematics plus two other academic subjects.

� If a physical science subject is

not included in those two sub-jects at Year 12, a pass in year 11 in Physics or Chemistry or a multi-strand science is required.

� Candidates must meet the ACO aptitude standards criteria conducted at Defence Force Recruiting, a general ability test

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� Candidates must meet the air-crew medical standard.

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they are highly-motivated, able to think three-dimensionally, are strong in mathematics, able to think on their feet and deal effectively with dynamic situa-tions as they arise.

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HOW TO BECOME AN ACO

ACO eyes on the skies

� Streaming is determined by Air Force and Force Element Group requirements, stu-dents’ performance on the initial course and then the student’s preference.

� Final placing is determined by the Streaming review Board on completion of the initial course.

� ABM students complete 16 weeks of training at SACTU. It comprises 45 simulator missions and five live F/A-18 control missions. training includes fighter weapons and

tactics, airspace manage-ment and close and tactical aircraft control, climaxing in the graduating scenario.

� MPR students complete 16 weeks of the MPR training which comprises 50 hours of flying training in King Airs. This exposes students to the range of missions flown in the maritime environment.

� ACCAL students have 44 hours of flying training. This exposes them to the flying done by fast jets and tactical transport aircraft.

ACO STREAMS

RCEAIR F

Air Combat Officer (ACO) hopefuls have a long road ahead of them before they obtain the coveted brevets, even before they start the

course at the School of Air Warfare (SAW).

They are required to meet stringent educational and personal standards as well as the aircrew medical standard and then decide what stream of ACO they would like to pursue.

Streaming is determined firstly by Air Force requirements, then aptitude and finally their preference.

There are three streams; Air Battle Management (ABM), Maritime Patrol and Response (MPR) and Air Combat and Combat Air Lift (ACCAL).

And, having won a place, there is no guarantee they will make it through the 46-week course.

Three new RAAF ACOs have now taken their place after graduating from the intensive 6 ACO course on March 26.

OFFCDTs Kellie Davis and Slade Whitfield (ABM), and PLTOFF Joseph Mack (MPR) are the successful graduates from the eight RAAF officers who commenced the course in April last year.

Also to graduate was OFFCDT Michael Burns (ACCAL). He graduated on April 22.

The course comprised two parts; the first was the 30-week ACO Initial Course, followed by 16 weeks of specialist training in their chosen streams.

SAW conducted their Initial Course from April 6 to October 26 last year.

The ABM stream training was delivered by the Surveillance and Control Training Unit (SACTU) at RAAF Base Williamtown. SAW delivered the MPR and ACCAL stream training at RAAF Base East Sale.

The students then earned their brevets after completing their graduating missions.

For the ABM stream, their task was to control five real-time two versus two Hornet missions.

The students were based at the Eastern Regional Operations Centre at Williamtown and controlled aircraft flown by 75SQN at RAAF Base Tindal and other F/A-18s flown by 3SQN out of Williamtown.

Meanwhile, the MPR and ACCAL students deployed to RAAF Base Townsville with three 32SQN King Air aircraft and some SAW instructional staff and students.

According to FLTLT Murray Newberry, the student’s course commander, the MPR scenario required each student to act as a mission commander in a highly dynamic tactical scenario.

“It is a consolidation of all facets of their ACO course,” FLTLT Newberry said.

The scenario called for an aircraft to collect an intelligence officer in Gladstone and then proceed on a low-level overwater track surveillance mission.

The final phase was a visual navigation exercise flown through the Whitsunday Islands before the student returned to Townsville.

The aim of the ACCAL scenario

was to test the students in planning and executing a short notice task to achieve a mission aim under any weather conditions while operating from an unfamiliar airfield.

Each ACCAL student was given an Air Tasking Order for a short notice task that had to be planned and then executed within a specific time frame.

“The mission involved a coordinated reconnaissance of two targets, with threats enroute, while operating to a time on target window of +/- 30 seconds,” FLTLT Newberry said.

“The sortie involves Visual and Instrument Flight Rules and systems navigation with most of the mission flown at 250 feet Above Ground Level (75m).”

They flew from and returned to Townsville, and conducted the mission over a large area of North Queensland.

PLTOFF Whitfield enlisted in the Air Force in July 2008 and decided to become an ACO because of the broad range of opportunities it offered.

“Not many other occupations have common skillsets amidst such an array of different jobs,” he said.

“This is best highlighted in the ABM stream where the range of day-to-day jobs you can be involved in over an entire career is massive.”

He found the course both challenging and exciting, particularly after starting the ABM stream course.

“It was a big step up from the common course, going from controlling one aircraft to controlling multiple aircraft against multiple threats.”

He described his final mission

as: “Excellent, a real eye opener for what it’s going to be like in our future careers and [it] put everything we had been working towards over the last year into context.”

FLTLT Newberry said that the members of 6 ACO were a very tight-knit group that socialised together outside work and spent much of their down time at work studying as a group.

“A course as demanding and long as the ACO course sets the graduates in good stead to move on to their operational conversions and into the airborne environment as mission commanders and professional war fighters," he said.

“Finally, CO SAW would like to acknowledge the great efforts of the staff at both SAW and SACTU for their efforts in helping to graduate the students of 6 ACO Course.”

HOT SEAT: Above, FLTLT Kris Narayan, left, and FLGOFF Richard Morris fly a King Air over the Whitsunday Islands during the MPR mission. SWEET REWARD: Left, PLTOFF Mack can’t contain his delight after being told he passed his wings deployment flight. Photos: AC Terry Hartin

CENTRE STAGE: 6 ACO Course graduates await the presentation of their brevets on parade at RAAF Base East Sale.

READY TO ROLL: Bill Wood from Hawker Pacific supervises the start-up of a King Air at RAAF Base Townsville before its MPR mission.CHECKED OUT: Top, RNZAF PLTOFF Cameron Hitchings, left, and FLTLT Mathew Kitchin at the King Air’s navigation console during a mission.

WATER VIEW: Back image, a King Air from RAAF Base Townsville flies low over the Great Barrier Reef during a student’s graduation flight.

HIGH TECH: 6 ACO students OFFCDTs Slade Whitfield, left, and Kellie Davis with instructor SQNLDR Tim Main on the Air Battle Management simulator at the SAW.LOOK INTO MY EYES: Above inset, the view from a King Air over the Whitsunday Islands.

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SUBURBAN garages are used to store a wide range of items; even cars. Rarely are they turned into air-craft hangars.

However, that was the case for WGCDR Jim Lewis who spent 1201 hours – that’s more than 50 days – building a light aircraft in his garage in Canberra.

The administration officer has a private pilot’s licence with a night-flying endorsement.

“I have always wanted to build my own plane. The garage provid-ed all the space I wanted, and was free,” WGCDR Lewis said.

Asked why he did not buy something second-hand and leave the garage free, he said, “I love to build things and I wanted to know that the plane I flew was put togeth-er right.”

The aircraft he selected is a two-place American-designed Sonex.

“I selected it as I wanted to take my wife on trips and also do some basic aerobatics,” he said.

The aircraft arrived from the US in kit form and WGCDR Lewis set to work.

Although he had no previous experience in aircraft construction, he found that the kit comprised a reasonable amount of pre-fabrica-tion as well as a set of excellent instructions. From there he had picked up the required skills quite easily.

Initially, only one car was kept outside; however, as construction continued, both were relegated to the outdoors.

He said that his family was very supportive of the project.

“My wife is very patient with my aviation ‘sickness’,” he said.

The family also came through when the canopy needed fitting to the cockpit.

The aircraft The aircraft that Jim that Jim builtbuilt

Manufacturer: Sonex Aircraft, WisconsinType: Two-seat, low-wing aluminium light aircraftLength: 17ft 7inHeight: 4ft 4inWing span: 22ftWeight: 660lb (empty), 1100lb (gross)Power plant: 80hp AeroVee engine; a 2.2-litre Volkswagen engine that has been converted for aero useSpeed: 96-113kt, cruising, 126kt maximumRange: 550nmMaximum altitude: 12,500ft

As well as the actual construc-tion, WGCDR Lewis needed to fol-low a very stringent process to have the aircraft passed for airworthiness certification by the Sports Aircraft Association of Australia.

By late October last year, the aircraft was ready to leave its tem-porary home.

Carefully mounted without its wings on a trailer, it was towed to Goulburn (NSW) airport and the wings were fitted.

Then, on January 25, WGCDR Lewis climbed aboard, fired up the engine and took off on his first test flight.

Apart from an above-normal temperature indication on a rear cylinder, the aircraft performed faultlessly.

He said that the aircraft was easy to fly and performed very well; a good, solid aeroplane for a low-time pilot. As a ‘tail dragger’

(fitted with a steerable tail wheel) she is slightly nose-up. During flare on landing, forward visibility is obscured so the pilot needs to pay particular attention to ensure the runway is clear before landing and to then zig-zag while taxiing.

“Its performance compares very well with the Cessna 172 and Piper Warrior and costs about a sixth the price.”

He said he was a bit apprehen-sive before take-off but that turned to exhilaration as she lifted off.

“After touching down, I felt elated that it had gone so well.”

His family was also delighted and were looking forward to being taken up.

However, he has to complete 40 hours of test flights before he can do so.

Once the tests are completed he intends to fly the Sonex at Sports Aircraft Association events as well as taking the family away.

He is also contemplating his next aircraft to build.

SPECIFICATIONS

JOY OF FIRST FLIGHT: WGCDR Jim Lewis sits in the labour of love he built from kit form in his garage, right.

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18 April 29, 2010Flightline RCEAIR F

SAFE HOME: Above, FLGOFF Nadia Harrison from 1CCS at RAAF Base Richmond is reunited with her mother Sherie Harrison after a recent Welcome Home Parade held at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. FLGOFF Harrison was deployed with Force Communication Unit 2 in the Middle East. CA LTGEN Ken Gillespie reviewed the homecoming parade. Photo: LCPL Mark DoranSAFETY FIRST: Right, 1SQN aircraft life support fitter CPL Daniel Horan prepares a combat survival vest at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, in preparation for the departure to Australia of the squadron’s first five Super Hornet aircraft.

Photo: ACW Kylie Gibson

PARTY ON: Above, 77SQN’s LACW Camille Elderhurst and 381ECSS’s ACW Alysha Mirallez enjoy the Air Force’s 89th birthday celebrations at RAAF Base Williamtown.Members were joined by community leaders, local business owners and family members to celebrate the birthday on March 31. Photo: LACW Katharine PearsonPIECE OF CAKE: Right, OC 396ECSW GPCAPT Scott Winchester and the base’s youngest member, LACW Kirrie Waldon, cut the birthday cake at RAAF Base Darwin.

BIG NIGHT: Left, 36SQN’s SGT Nicholas Kozlowski and his wife Michelle attended the birthday celebrations at the RAAF Base Amberley Officers’ Mess and are pictured in front of the squadron’s Colours. Representatives of the community that support Amberley and its families celebrated the event with the members and their partners and friends. Photo: ACW Rosaleen Normoyle

FLYBOY: Below, CO 37SQN WGCDR Matt Hegarty presents a model of a C-130J to young Jared Faulkner from Blenheim, New Zealand, during his recent visit to RAAF Base Richmond. Jared and his family toured the base as part of a visit arranged by the New Zealand Make a Wish Foundation. Jared’s grandparents, who live in the nearby town of Windsor, also joined the tour. Photo: LAC Michael Green

ON GUARD: SGT Brian Down of Australia’s Federation Guard was part of the Air Force contingent to travel to Gallipoli in Turkey and Villers-Bretonneux in France for Anzac Day services this year. See the next edition for full coverage of Anzac Day. Photo: LAC Luke Morris

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19 PersonnelApril 29, 2010RCEAIR F

AS THE Strategic Reform Program gathers momentum, a question be-ing addressed at many levels across Defence is that of how to drive, man-age and conduct business faster and achieve cost-savings.

As part of this process, recently Air Combat Group (AGG) estab-lished a team to coordinate and implement continuous improvement projects across the group.

The Air Combat Reform Team (ACRT) was established under the umbrella of the Air Force Improvement (AFI) program to identify areas for improvement to ACG’s capability delivery.

One of its first projects, called Projsct pipeline, reviewed the F-111 supply chain and introduced a continuous improvement culture at 6SQN, RAAF Base Amberley.

I ts team comprised mem-bers from 82WG Operational Maintenance Section (OMS), 6SQN Logistics Section and maintenance staff.

Its goal was to explore and improve the squadron’s existing priority demand processes and the project team required teaching in current relevant methodologies.

To implement the project, the staff, assisted by the Amberley AFI team, gathered a range of data on the squadron supply chain. This included: the time and distance travelled for each demand; the time required to complete a demand; and the location of the stock.

ACRT member FLTLT Belinda Lister said the data produced some surprising results.

“For example, more that 60 per cent of demands were ordered against the OMS, and there was only a 20-minute time difference for priority demands and standard demands due to the time required to complete priority demand paper-work,” she said.

One of the suggestions from the project was the introduction of a ‘Repco style shopfront’, which

would allow maintenance staff to immediately access most F-111 parts and therefore reduce waiting and travelling times.

“This sparked a proposal to move the OMS from its previous location approximately 300 metres from the squadron to a new locale within the 6SQN facilities,” FLTLT Lister said.

“The team briefed the key stake-holders on the project outcomes and recommendations, and approval was given for the OMS move to go ahead.

“Excellent teamwork was inte-gral to the move but, 82WG OMS is now operating alongside the 6SQN Logistics Section, and maintenance staff are accessing most parts almost immediately.”

She said overall the project has resulted in more efficient processes and a reduction of double handling. Results are being reviewed and the original data will be measured again to document the savings.

Savings in the ACG pipeline

INNOVATIVE: Under Project Pipeline, a ‘Repco style shopfront’ at 6SQN was recommended to allow maintenance staff to immediately access most F-111 parts to reduce waiting and travelling times. Photo: LAC Christopher Dickson

ADF members can expect to spend less time studying towards a degree due to an understanding Defence has reached with education provider Open Universities Australia (OUA).

Under the ADF Higher Education Advanced Standing (ADFHEAS) Scheme, current, past and reserve ADF members can apply to have their serv-ice qualifications recognised as credit towards undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Service quals to be recognised under OUA deal

Director General Defence Education, Training and Development Branch BRIG Peter Gates said OUA’s flex-ible study options would benefit the ADFHEAS Scheme.

“Our aim is to deliver first-class edu-cation and development that equips peo-ple for their careers inside and outside of Defence,” he said.

“This agreement with OUA is an example of how Defence is working with its education sector partners to pro-vide opportunities for its members.

“The ADFHEAS Scheme recognises ADF training and experience and cre-ates paths for all Defence members to achieve higher education goals.”

To be eligible for the ADFHEAS Scheme, personnel must first meet the entry requirements, qualifications and deadlines specified by the participating university.

A record of training and education, including full qualifications, must be acquired from the appropriate service Registered Training Organisation (RTO), or a Certificate of Eligibility from the Executive Officer of Higher Education.

The member is then required to send these documents, along with the nec-essary applications, to the university’s admission centre for consideration.

For information on the nationally recognised qualifications awarded to Defence personnel by Defence RTOs, visit http://www.defencequals.edu.au. For more information on the ADFHEAS Scheme, visit http://www.defence.gov.au/adfheas/

STUDY LESS, GAIN MORE: SGT Jen Earp from the ADF School of Languages is an expert in the Chinese language, thanks to extensive training in the Air Force. Under the ADFHEAS Scheme, she can now have her service qualifications credited towards university programs through OUA. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

MILHOP rolling outTHE Military Health Outcomes Program (MIL-HOP), run by the Centre for Military and Veter-ans Health (CMVH), is about to roll out.

The program is being run on behalf of both the ADF and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The program will provide overall estimates of the health and mental health issues affecting ADF personnel and ensure a better understand-ing of the effects of deployments on the health and wellbeing of our people.

Members will shortly be invited to partici-pate in either the Middle East Area of Operation (MEAO) Health Study, if they have deployed to the MEAO, or the Health and Wellbeing Survey, if they have not.

To encourage the maximum number of serv-ing personnel to participate, CDF ACM Angus Houston has approved the allocation of work time for them to do so.

For more information about the studies, visit www.cmvh.org.au/milhop or contact SQNLDR Cath Brown on (02) 6266 1781.

Deanna Nott

IF YOU are a reservist and have not provided the ADF with details of your civilian employer, then it’s time to do your bit for your boss.

You should fill in an AD150 ADF Personal Data – PMKEYS form as soon as possible.

Why? Because current employment details are important for a number of reasons, according to BRIG Bill Sowry, Deputy Head of the Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division (CRESD).

“It’s vital for Defence to have a good relationship with the businesses and organisations that employ those people who provide us with a reserve capability,” BRIG Sowry said. “It all starts with us knowing who those employers are and where they are located.”

Many services and programs exist to support civil-ian employers.

“For example, Employer Support Payments (ESP) can be paid to an employer to help offset the cost of releasing an employee for reserve service,” he said.

“Currently the ESP is $1183.10 per week and, after a qualifying period, there are no strings attached as to what an employer does with that money.

“Our division also runs programs like Exercise Boss Lift where we take employers to operations and exercises, mainly overseas, where they can see their staff actively engaged in Defence activities.

“We also coordinate Exercise Executive Stretch, where your boss can actually experience some of the activities that you may be involved in while on reserve service.

“If we don’t know who your civilian employer is, we can’t tell them about these important opportuni-ties,” BRIG Sowry said.

So, to make sure your boss doesn’t miss out, get on to the DRN and complete an AD150, or call your unit and ask them to send you a hard copy for completion.

CRESD has just completed a new Reservist Handbook, which outlines the support and services offered to reservists. This will be mailed out to all reservists, so it is necessary for Defence to have your latest contact details.

DEFENCE Reserves Support’s new look website has been launched.

The new site, which aims to make all areas of interest more accessible, will be updated reg-ularly with promotions for new campaigns and opportunities for reservists and their employers.

Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division’s Director of Communication, Deanna Nott, says the new website home page simplifies the layout and gives prominence to key informa-tion.

“Overall, [there is] a much fresher approach for this new creative look so the end product is clean and professional looking with clear and concise navigation options that extend through into the website,” she says.

“We are delighted by the end result and look forward to feedback from our users.”

Visit the website at www.defencereserves.com

Focus on your employerFocus on your employerTHE BIG PICTURE: Make sure your personal details are kept up-to-date so your boss doesn’t miss out on opportunities available to reservist employers, such as Exercises Boss Lift and Executive Stretch. Pictured is reservist photographer CPL Peter Borys capturing the recent Super Hornet arrival at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo: LACW Tricia Wiles

New-look website for reservists

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NameSQNLDR Trevor BeamsSGT Jerome HartleyWOFF Dirk KurverWOFF Gregory BrydonWGCDR John DohntSGT Bill GrasbySGT Richard BartleWOFF Robert EleyWGCDR John KennyWOFF Douglas SmithWOFF Neil McInnesSQNLDR Benjamin ChartersFSGT Anthony AnsonFSGT Lynette BrownWGCDR Mark FrenchFSGT Gregory McDonaldSQNLDR Vivienne McDonaldFLTLT Michael BriggSQNLDR Adam Lawson

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20 April 29, 2010Personnel RCEAIR F

It’s nice to know that your crew on the home front will be looked after if anything happens to you. Because life

is full of uncertainties no matter how fit and healthy you might be now. So if you have people who depend

on you financially, then consider Defence Health Term Life Insurance for their protection. It will even cover

you on warlike operations if you take it out before you know you are to be deployed. Don’t delay. For a quote,

brochure or application form call Defence Health on 1800 335 425 or visit www.defencehealth.com.au

This information is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider your personal circumstances and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement in deciding whether to acquire this product. You may wish to seek independent advice. This product is underwritten by Asteron Life Limited (ABN 64 001 698 228, AFSL 237903) and Defence Health receives remuneration of 11.78% of all premiums you pay to Asteron Life Limited. The Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement may be obtained by calling the Defence Health Member Service Centre on 1800 335 425 or downloaded from www.defencehealth.com.auDEF0013/AF

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21 PersonnelApril 29, 2010RCEAIR F

AUSTRALIAN Air Force cadet’s (AAFC) CCPL Nicola Jones, from 310 (City of Tamworth) Squadron, won the final day of the Lake Keepit Soaring Club’s (LKSC) 2010 Keepit Regatta held recently.

CCPL Jones beat a group of more experienced and skilled com-petition glider pilots with minimal assistance from co-pilot and coach Steve Hedley.

CCPL Jones only came to the IMPRESSIVE: CCPL Nicola Jones.

With fl ying coloursCADETS CORNER sport in 2009 after she was awarded

an Air Force gliding scholarship and participated in the AAFC National Flying Competition that year. Then, in January, she attended a continu-ous gliding training course coor-dinated by 327FLT AAFC at LKSC.

The AAFC course included cross country training components and by graduation CCPL Jones had achieved her Gliding Federation of Australia C Certificate, Passenger Rating, 50km task and height gain for the award of her Silver C quali-fication.

Another successful student, CCPL David Thom from 322 (City of Ryde) Squadron attributed his achievements to being awarded an Air Force scholarship.

“Due to this scholarship and after attending the recent 1/10 Cross Country Course, I have achieved my C Certificate, AAFC Cadet Wings, Passenger rating and a five-hour solo flight,” he said.

“It has motivated me to achieve more in gliding and aviation.”

Senior Aviation Officer FLTLT (AAFC) Bill Gleeson-Barker con-

gratulated the students on their achievements.

“Cadets in attendance repre-sented the AAFC, 3WG and their local units positively and confirmedaccurate selection for RAAF fly-ing scholarships,” FLTLT Gleeson-Barker said.

“The course was a complete success and is now certainly a train-ing platform that will be part of the 327FLT (3WG) annual continuous training construct. It provides evi-dence to the Air Force of initiatives that are enhancing AAFC aviation.”

Air Force BandMay 1: The Ceremonial Band will lead the Bright Autumn Festival street parade in Bright, Victoria from 1.30pm.May 1: The Concert Band will provide a free public concert in Howitt Park as part of the Bright Autumn Festival from 3pm.May 2: The Concert Band will provide a second outdoor concert in conjunction with the Bright Autumn Festival from 12pm.May 3: The Concert Band will provide two school concerts in Albury, NSW at 10am and 11am.May 5: The Ceremonial Band will support the 1RTU graduation parade at RAAF Base Wagga from 11am.May 8: The Ceremonial Band will take part in the Freedom of Entry March in Playford, Adelaide.

Roulettes 40th The 40th anniversary of the formation of the RAAF Roulettes aerobatic team will be held at RAAF Base East Sale on August 13. The celebrations will include a luncheon, flying activities and dinner.� For more information, email Roulette 7, FLTLT

Allister Berryman, at [email protected]

BULLETIN BOARD

NOMINATIONS are being called for Leadership Ex-change workshops run by the Air Force Adaptive Cul-ture Program.

The Exchange is a professional development cross-rank forum for personnel from CPL to SQNLDR to enhance their leadership effectiveness. APS4 to EL1 personnel in leadership positions are also welcome to nominate.

The forum will allow them to develop in key lead-ership areas such as self-awareness and self-develop-ment, assertiveness, team building, and communica-tion. A key aspect of the Exchange is to generate understanding, learning and reflection within a cross-occupation, cross-rank environment.

Nominees need to be able to reflect on their own leadership experiences and share their reflections and ideas with others.

The people who attend are motivated individuals wanting to enhance their own capability and leader-ship, and want to make a difference for the Air Force.

Workshops will be held in Canberra and are fully funded by the Adaptive Culture Program.

Three Exchanges are planned for 2010: June 7-11, August 23-27 and October 18-22. Nominations for the June workshop close on May 10.

If nomination is successful, members will be asked to complete a learning contract with their supervi-sor after attending a Leadership Exchange. The aim of this process is to ensure that learning from the Exchange is brought back to the workplace for ongo-ing professional development.

For more information, contact Vicki Case on (02) 6266 5674, SQNLDR Steve Johnstone on (02) 62665219, email [email protected] or visit the Adaptive Culture Program website on the Air Force intranet.

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23 HistoryApril 29, 2010RCEAIR F

FLTLT Eamon Hamilton

NEW LIFE has been breathed into old portraits by photographers at RAAF Base Richmond.

Four ageing portraits were among a selection of imagery chosen for digital restoration and display at RAAF Base Glenbrook as part of Air Command's visual display upgrade. Richmond’s 87SQN Air Mobility Tactical Intelligence Flight (AMTIF) Combat Camera section was given the restoration task.

The portraits are of four pilots who were awarded the Victoria Cross – LT Frank McNamara, FLTLT Bill Newton, FSGT Rawdon Middleton and WGCDR Hughie Edwards.

Another two portraits were selected. They were two RAAF photographers killed during conflict – LAC Keith Homard of 9SQN, who died when HMAS Sydney was sunk on November 19, 1941; and CPL Darcy Sharland of No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit – later 87SQN – who was killed on a USAF Liberator bomber in New Guinea on 16 March 16, 1943.

SGT Bill Guthrie of 87SQN AMTIF said he included the VC winners as: “The existing imagery detracted from the great deeds these gentlemen achieved.

“Also, I could get my members to

learn some new techniques in Photoshop, and at the same time learn some much-needed Air Force history," he said.

A s a n e x a m p l e , LT F r a n k McNamara’s portrait is a copy of a photo taken during WWI. The photographers cleaned the image file by removing dust and scratch marks, correcting numerous imperfections gained over the years, adding lost information and resizing.

“This is like an artist preparing a canvas to work on before painting or in this case applying colour to the image,” SGT Guthrie said.

Once the photographers had a clean image, they started the hand colouring component. It was a complex and time-consuming task requiring great diligence.

“Each area was chosen for colouring and then an appropriate colour was applied. This then became a separate layer interwoven within the image. Some of the images had 30 or more layers before the whole image was coloured,” he said.

Information about each recipient was presented alongside the portrait, and a print of each work was framed.

All photographers then were required to deliver an oral presentation about their portrait subject to 87SQN AMTIF staff.

“It was no small undertaking by any means but a very good one to learn by,” SGT Guthrie said.

LT Francis McNamara served with 1SQN, Australian Flying Corps, in the Middle East during WWI. On March 20, 1917, during a bombing mission against Turkish positions and although badly wounded and weak from loss of blood, he rescued a fellow pilot who had crash-landed in the desert and flew him back to

safety. He subsequently served with distinction in WWII and retired in 1946 as an AVM.

FSGT Middleton flew bombers in WWII with the RAF’s 149SQN. On November 29, 1942, during a bombing raid in Italy his bomber was badly damaged and he was severely wounded. Despite his

wounds, he nursed the crippled air-craft back over France where it was engaged by anti-aircraft fire. As the aircraft reached the English coast he ordered the crew to bail out and five did so. He endeavoured to ditch the aircraft in the Channel but it crashed and he and two other crewmembers were killed.

BACK TO FORMER GLORY: The restored portraits of FSGT Rawdon Middleton, above, and LT Frank McNamara, right. Inset: The photo of LT McNamara before being restored.

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If you’ve had a first hand experience with the DFDA or complaints process, here’s your chance to tell us about it.

Our aim is to make sure you have confidence that the military justice system will deliver unbiased, timely and fair outcomes and to improve any areas where necessary.

Personal experience with the system is the only requirement. You can have your say by visiting www.defence.gov.au/mjs.

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24 April 29, 2010Health RCEAIR F

AREP AT A GLANCE

REACHING OUT: FLTLT Warwick Chate in a one-on-one session with an Air Force member on AREP. Photo: SGT Andrew Hetherington

Program can save your lifeDo you think you are alcohol dependent? SGT Andrew Hetherington spent time with members who are brave enough to answer ‘yes’.

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

on alcohol. But I kept paying the elec-tricity bill to keep the fridge running just so my beer would be cold.”

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

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

AREP is run by Air Force and civil-ian personnel and treats members of all three services.

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

“We see a variety of personality types, ranks and jobs represented on the program,” FLTLT Chate says.

“Any type of person can volunteer for

AREP once they are diagnosed as being alcohol dependent.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“They are admitted to the inpa-tient ward for two days and are fully assessed by medical staff, including assessment for alcohol withdrawal,” FLTLT Chate says.

Clients also undergo pathol-ogy and physical health tests to determine the extent that alcohol has affected their health and they all speak to a doctor to confirm the need for rehabilitation in an inpa-tient setting.

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

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

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

They do have some freedom dur-ing their stay.

“Clients are allowed off-site to go to AA meetings at nights and on weekends, to eat at the base mess, see a movie at the base movie thea-tre or visit local shopping centres

for short, supervised trips,” FLTLT Chate says.

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

During the course, clients keep a daily journal where they enter their feelings and thoughts.

FLTLT Chate and the other coun-sellors use this journal as an indica-tor of clients’ progress.

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

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

“Many clients just want to do something for themselves to change their lives,” FLTLT Chate says.

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

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

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

“But this program made me real-ise there’s so much more to life than

just drinking and there is a whole world to explore instead of sitting around the pub drinking beer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

� In 1980 AREP was devel-oped as a clinical flight of 3 Hospital at RAAF Base Richmond.

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

� At least eight AREP courses are run each year.

� AREP is run by the Air Force but open to all ADF members.

YOUR HEALTH & ALCOHOLWhat’s the right mix for you?

Assess your level of drinking at: www.therightmix.gov.au

Supported by the Partnership Agreement between the ex-service organisations and the Department of Veterans’ Aff airs

Authorised by the Australian Government, Capital Hill, Canberra.

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25 April 29, 2010RCEAIR F Sp rt

John Martin

FLTLT Shane Taylor is still wondering where his pit crew found a microwave oven in the dead of night at the Austral-ian Solo 24-hour Mountain Bike (MTB) Championships in Canberra – but he’s not complaining.

It might well have heated up the best cheeseburger he had ever eaten.

FLTLT Taylor was the best-per-formed ADF rider in the race that drew 125 cyclists to Majura Pines over the Easter long weekend.

He finished sixth outright and in sil-ver medal position for his age group, male 25-29 – which puts him in good shape for the ADCC Endurance MTB championships in Nowra on May 16 and the world 24-hour solo titles scheduled for Canberra in October.

FLTLT Taylor’s pit crew consisted of his wife Karen, sister Annette and work colleague FLTLT Darwin Natano.

“My nutrition plan has been stream-lined somewhat over the last couple of years from the very first race in which I had the option of sandwiches, banan-as, jelly lollies, pancakes, two-minute noodles etc to the point now where it’s simply a mix of gels, bars and sports drinks,” he said.

“It’s not particularly exciting and I generally can’t taste anything for a couple of days after while my mouth becomes accustomed to real food again;

WHEN you are on the back of a Superbike that’s burning down the track at 280km/h, and the rider at the controls apologises for not going flat-out, it might all seem a bit surreal.

But it’s a situation that was real-life and sweaty for CPL James Slater, of 322 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (322ECSS), RAAF Base Tindal, when he took a pillion ride with Australian Superbike rider Shawn Giles, of Team Suzuki, at the Hidden Valley track.

Giles was just one of the rid-ers who spent the week leading

up to the second round of the Superbike Championship Round 2 in Darwin on April 9 to 11 pro-viding the thrill of a lifetime to many men and women, school children and members of the ADF.

CPL Slater thought he knew what to expect. Wrong.

“I owned a bike as a teen and thought it would be like that except a bit faster,” he said.

It was much, much faster.Not that he minded. “I would

recommend it to anyone.”LACW Phoebe Treagus, also

from 322ECSS, said her ride was so much fun, she didn’t want to get off.

Taste of life in the fast lane

IN BRIEF

Rugby titles in CanberraAll roads will lead to Canberra in May for Army, Navy and Air Force rugby union players. They will contest the Defence men and women’s championships at Vikings Park in Wanniassa from May 16 to 22. The first men’s game will be on Sunday, May 16, between Navy and Air Force. Army plays its first game on Wednesday, May 19 against Air Force and plays Navy on Saturday, May 22.

Defence finds touchThe Australian Defence Touch Association (ADTA) senior mixed over-27 team finished fourth in its section at the National Touch League at Kawana Waters, Queensland, in March. ADTA, known as the Defence Warriors, fielded one of the biggest squads at the four-day tournament – six teams competing in the men’s over-30, men’s over-40, men’s over-45, senior mixed over-27 and for the first time men’s and women’s open. ADTA also had personnel officiating, including SQNLDR Cliff Winnett, SQNLDR Ken Gilbert, FLTLT Dave Borg, WOFF Matt Vernon, FLGOFF Indra Garner and Mark Wakely.

Wait on marathon teamMarathon runner FLGOFF Lisa Flint hopes she will get some good news on May 10 when more athletes are named in the team for the Commonwealth Games in India in October. FLGOFF Flint scored a qualifying time for the Games late last year with a crushing win in the Melbourne marathon. The first batch of athletes for the Dehli Commonwealth Games team was named on April 19 after the Australian track and field championships in Perth. But the team announced is not the final group. More mem-bers will be announced on May 10, then the team will be finalised on August 15.

EASY RIDERS: FSGT Tina Patterson, above, and CPL James Slater, right, get rides with Superbike rider Shawn Giles.

ALL REVVED UP: LACW Phoebe Treagus straps in for her ride. Photos: AB James Whittle

Hot stuff: saved by the bell

but one important lesson I learnt this time around was that you should never underestimate the effect of Motivational Food.

“At about 2am I came through transition to the news that not only had my pit crew rustled up a cheeseburger, but they had also found a micro-

wave in an administration building.”FLTLT Taylor said his preparation

for this race was far less than ideal so he decided to try a few different things.

“Usually I start quite fast, much fast-er than is sensible really, and then just try and hang on until the end.

“While this might work all right in ‘short’ six-hour races, it often means I am completely toast by Sunday morning and find it a real struggle just to keep pedalling.

“This time I tried to go for a more consistent approach which seemed to work quite well.

“Although I still faded quite badly towards the end I feel that this was more down to a lack of conditioning than strategy, and some tweaks to my train-ing schedule to include more longer rides should sort that out come October.

“The benefits became acutely appar-ent during the night time laps as I seemed to be making up places almost every lap,” he said.

SIXTH: FLTLT Shane Taylor.

.


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26 April 29, 2010RCEAIR FSp rt

SGT Tracey Mosley has been playing softball for Australia for almost half her life – and she says she’s not finished yet.

Eighteen years after making her international debut as a wide-eyed 19-year-old at the Challenger Cup in Beijing in 1992, SGT Mosley will don her mask and chest protector as catcher for Australia at the world championship in Caracus, Venezuela from June 23 to July 2.

Australia is ranked third in the world but SGT Mosley, who was posted from RAAF Base Amberley to Canberra in January, believes her team, with an abundance of young tal-ent, is on the crest of something great.

“We can win the gold medal, defi-nitely,” she says.

No way is this false bravado.SGT Mosley has earnt her stripes

over a long and distinguished softball career.

She has played 277 games for Australia, won a silver medal (Athens, 2004) and a bronze medal (Beijing, 2008) at Olympic Games and has played in three world championships already.

She has played international soft-ball across Europe, Japan, US, China and New Zealand and, of course, Australia itself.

The catcher is softball’s equivalent to American football’s quarterback. SGT Mosley calls the pitches, using coded hand messages to her players, and if anything happens on the field, it’s likely she’ll be involved in it. “So we have to do our homework on opposition teams.”

This will be her first trip to South America and she doesn’t know quite what to expect.

But she knows that part of the world has lots of baseball and softball fanatics, and she rates the host team as one of the sides to watch, along with defending champion USA, Japan, Canada, China, the Netherlands and Taipei.

SGT Mosley relishes the intelli-gence-gathering operation to identify the key players for each team.

“Some teams will only have a cou-ple of strong hitters, and we can rely on our pitchers to get them out. Then you look at the US team and you go through them all.” All seventeen of them.

“You look at the batters that you know, look at their strengths, weak-nesses, hitting patterns, maybe how other teams get them out, where they’ve hurt us in the past, where

QQueen of ueen of diamondsdiamondsWith two Olympic medals in her trophy With two Olympic medals in her trophy cabinet, SGT Tracey Mosley is going for cabinet, SGT Tracey Mosley is going for gold at the world softball titles.gold at the world softball titles.JJohn Martinohn Martin reports. reports.

we’ve got them out and we try to work a pitching pattern towards that.”

The Australian coach is in Brisbane but is in email contact with the players. The coaching staff might study videos of opposition players, and then call on players such as SGT Mosley to add to the knowledge base.

The youngest player in the Australian team is the same age SGT Mosley was in 1992 so things are coming the full circle.

She remembers exactly what it was like.

China, the venue for that tourna-ment, was very much a developing country then so it was quite a cultural experience. And SGT Mosley remem-bers feeling in awe of “playing soft-ball with your idols”.

Nowadays there’s other young players playing with their idols and, quite possibly, she is one of them.

SGT Mosley remembers tuning into the internet one night in 2005

and hearing the decision live from an International Olympic Committee meeting in Singapore to dump softball and baseball from the Games as of 2012. They were the first sports to be turfed out of the Games since 1936.

It was not a surprise – there had already been talk of it – but it was still a shock.

She feels disappointment that the likes of golf, which has an all-year public stage, won out over a sport that has only limited time in the spotlight.

“I don’t even know if I would have made it to London,” she says, mindful of her age.

“But it’s the younger kids I feel sad for. The Olympics were special and now they won’t get the chance to experience it.”

So is this a good time for her to call it a day? No way.

“I’ll keep playing as long as I enjoy it.”

She’s no doubt hoping to enjoy Venezuela a lot. Bring on that gold.

FOR the past four years, SGT Tracey Mosley has been listed by the Air Force as an elite athlete.

This status brings with it concessions in time off, so she can compete it tourna-ments.

“I can’t thank them enough,” she says.

Things could have been different.

SGT Mosley joined the Air Force in 1996.

She had a long-standing urge to join the ADF but decided against her first option, the Navy, when she was told they don’t actu-ally play softball on ships at sea.

Currently she is based at HMAS Harman with Defence Communication Station –

Australia, a job she finds fulfilling.

When she’s not touring, she plays softball in the local league for the Gungahlin Angels.

At least eight of her Australian team colleagues play profession-ally in the Italian and lucrative Japanese compe-titions, but SGT Mosley scratched that itch when she went to uni-versity in the US and played soft-ball there for four years from 1992.

Our gain, their loss

HARD AT WORK: SGT Tracey Mosley training in Canberra.Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

‘‘It’s the younger kids I feel sad for. The Olympics were special and now they won’t get the chance to experience it.

FLASHBACK: Inset right, the emotional medal ceremony in Beijing where she won bronze.

Centre half-forward CPL Josh Barton was named the Air Force’s Players’ Player.

CPL Nigel Peacock, the team captain and playing in his eighth ADF carnival, took the ASAFA award as Air Force’s Most Valuable Player.

The club’s Football Operations Manager and life member FSGT Matt Cribbes was awarded the AC David Hudson Memorial Trophy as best club-man across the three services.

SGT McGrath said that the team was full of confidence going into the tourna-ment.

Thirty-seven players turned up in Canberra for the pre-season selection camp in March. Unfortunately, only 24 players made it to Melbourne – nine of them couldn’t because of work commitments.

For the record, Army beat Air Force 19.8 (122) to 9.9 (63), and Navy beat Air Force 20.15 (145) to 8.12 (60). Army went on to beat Navy by nine points in the grand final to win the Jim Smail trophy.



27 April 29, 2010RCEAIR F Sp rt

MATT Hall scored a career-best second-place finish in front of 140,000 spectators at the Red Bull Air Race in Perth on April 18.

Hall, a former WGCDR in the Air Force, beat everyone but Austria’s Hannes Arch in an excit-ing final over the Swan River.

Hall’s time was 1:26.51min, just 0.48sec behind Arch. It lifted him to fourth place in the overall cham-pionship.

“I’ve been saying that the home-town advantage can go both ways,” Hall said. “But I deliberately used that, that energy. I had a few peo-ple saying ‘ignore the crowd, don’t

worry about the crowd.’ But I was feeling upbeat – and wanted to use it.

“As I was walking out to the plane that last time, there was a big crowd of people just lined up near the start-ing area, and they were all cheering and screaming. So I thought to myself ‘there’s only one solution here’. I turned around and put my hands in the air before I flew and went off and thought: ‘Yep, I’m gonna do this’. So I managed to harness the energy as opposed to letting it be converted to stress. So it worked out.”

Hall had been struggling through several of the training sessions as the

weight of his country’s great expecta-tions was clearly draining on him. His voice was hoarse the day before the final after showing some 5000 Australian fans his plane and team hangar.

“This is what I have been look-ing forward to and aiming for since I started in the Red Bull Air Race – a great performance in front of my home crowd in Australia.

“My goal is always to improve in everything I do and here at this race I improved almost every run. Hopefully when I come back to Perth next year I can improve again and go one better.”

Hall comes second in Perth

TWO Air Force OFFCDTs have been selected in the Australian country water polo team to tour Hawaii in August.

They are OFFCDT Emma Polkinghorne and OFFCDT Carrie Fettes who were star players for the Australian Defence Vipers, which won a silver medal at the Australian Country Water Polo Championships in Albury from March 31 to April 5.

After finishing third at the end of the round games and accounting for Queensland 9-7 in the semi-final, the

women managed to achieve what no other defence team has achieved in the championships before and made

it to the final against NSW. OFFCDT Polkinghorne was awarded most val-uable team player.

The men’s team won the play-off against Western Australia for teams five/six.

The ADF has been competing in the championships for more than 20 years and played host to the event for only the second time.

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

OFFCDTs picked for water polo tourHAWAII BOUND: OFFCDT Carrie Fettes looks to pass.

WHEN CPL Shannon Molloy won a 50-metre pen-alty against Navy in the Australian Football services carnival in Melbourne, the players and supporters of the Air Force women’s team must have been mightily relieved.

The free kick came in the second quarter of the game and brought her right in front of goal, just 10 metres out. She couldn’t miss from there, could she?

Two days earlier, Air Force failed to bother the scoreboard at all against Army in a 70-point drub-bing, 10.10 (70) to 0.0 (0).

The team did not score in the first quarter of the game against Navy either, so, close to goal or not, there was a huge amount of pressure on CPL Molloy.

From her view on the half-back flank, FLTLT Claire Hill said she was greatly relieved when her teammate kicked the goal.

Air Force kicked another goal for the game but still went down 6.2 (38) to 2.3 (15), completing what FLTLT Hill, also the secretary for the Air Force Football Club, termed a frustrating tourna-ment.

There were positives. Six players were selected in a the ADF All Stars team – CPLs Molloy (reserve) and Debbie Grylls, SGT Katie Staines (reserve), ACW Christine Van De Werken and OFFCDTs Bayleigh Potter and Gabriella Szekely.

CPL Grylls was named Most Valuable Player for both the Air Force and the carnival.

ACW Van De Werken, a strapping ruckman, was named best first-year player for the Air Force club – from men and women.

Only 16 female players were available for Air Force which was an improvement on last year when only 11 players turned up.

The difference was that last year Army agreed to play a 12-a-side game – and Air Force, one player down, came out and beat them.

This year, a plea to play a game with reduced players fell on deaf ears.

Air Force, with 16 players, took the field against and Army team, once bitten and twice shy, with 18 players and four interchange players on the bench.

FLTLT Hill saw much more of the ball than she wanted in defence. “We were flat-strapped,” she said.

Army went on to beat Navy by 25 points in the grand final to win the Geoff Ledger Cup.

John Martin

WITH 10 new players blooded at the Australian Services Australian Football Association (ASAFA) championships in Melbourne, Air Force can take some heart from its performances.

True, Air Force did crash out with losses to both Army and Navy at Whitten Oval in mid-April.

But coach SGT Sean McGrath, who has been in charge of the team now for three years, said that although he had a more talented pool at players at his disposal in the past, he had never had a bunch of players who gelled together better.

“They never gave in,” he said.At the end of the tournament, individ-

ual players were honoured and Air Force had its share of accolades.

Three Air Force players – onballers FLGOFF Neville Moyle and LAC Shannon Burke and speedy young wing-man/forward AC George Marshall – were selected in a combined ADF team to play Australian Combined Emergency Services in the curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide-St Kilda AFL game in Adelaide on April 24.

Battling against the odds

Ending the droughtEnding the drought

FETED: CPL Debbie Grylls breaks away with the ball, above; CPL Nigel Peacock, left.Photos: LSIS Paul

McCallum

SP RTApril 29, 2010

Water polo pair chosen for Hawaii tour

Her Olympic dream is now gone but SGT Tracey Mosley has not lost her passion for representing Australia at softball. In June she will head to Venezuela in South America to contest her fourth world championships. She already has silver and bronze Olympic medals and this time she is going for gold.

Meet our Queen of Diamonds on Page 26

Unfinished Unfinished business

CELEBRATING AIR FORCE’S ACHIEVEMENTS

Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

Accolades for star in a struggling footy team

Matt Hall second in WA

Page 27

� 277 games for Australia

� 2004: Olympic silver medal in Athens

� 2008: Olympic bronze medal in Beijing

HER STORY SO FAR ...

�

Page 27

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