Edition: 1254 March 17 2011

Edition 1254 March 17, 2011

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AVALON AIR SHOW P2, P27 I’M AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER P5 KAPOOKA SPECIAL P8-9« «

HEAVY HEAVY METALMETAL

Aussies score Aussies score big in wounded big in wounded warrior gameswarrior games

Page 33Page 33

Golden haul: From left, Pte Damien Thomlinson, 2 Cdo Regt, Pte Clint Vardy, APA-Bris, and WO2 Dennis Ramsay, ALTC, took home more than a dozen medals from Ex Wounded Warrior in the US and Canada.

2 NEWS Army March 17, 2011

Mr postman: Pte Michael Bird prepares mail to be flown out to remote patrol bases in southern Afghanistan. Photo by AB Jo Dilorenzo

The Soldiers’ Newspaper

Acting DirectorDavid Edlington: (02) 6265 4650

EDITORIALEditorSharon Palmer: (02) 6266 7609Deputy EditorJohn Wellfare: (02) 6266 7615Chief of StaffGraham McBean: (02) 6265 1161ReportersSgt Andrew Hetherington: (02) 6266 7614Cpl Zenith King: (02) 6265 2151Lcpl Mark Doran: (02) 6265 1304AB Melanie Schinkel: (02) 6265 2427Sydney photographer:Bill Cunneen: 0402 155 220NOTE: The best person to contact if you have a story idea is the Chief of Staff

CONTACT USEmail: [email protected]: (02) 6265 6690Mail: The Editor, Army, R8-LG-044, Department of Defence, ACT 2600Website: www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews

ADVERTISINGManagerTim Asher: (07) 3332 7651 or 0414 552 667Email: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONSPhone: (02) 6266 7607Email: [email protected]

DISCLAIMERArmy is published fortnightly by the Directorate of Defence News. It is printed under contract by Capital Fine Print. The material published is selected for its inter-est. The views expressed in published arti-cles are not necessarily those of Defence or Army. Every advertisement is subject to Directorate of Defence News approval and the Directorate of Defence News may, at its discretion, refuse to accept an advertise-ment. The Directorate accepts no respon-sibility or liability in relation to any loss due to the failure of an advertisement to appear or if it appears in a form which is not in accordance with the instructions received by the Directorate of Defence News. The fact that an advertisement is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service has the endorsement of the Department of Defence or Army.

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The Soldiers’ Newspaper

Force protection: School of Armour’s Tpr John Stewart talks about the roles and capabilities of the ASLAV. Photos by Sgt Andrew Hetherington

HUNDREDS of family, friends and fellow diggers gathered on Kangaroo Island on March 4 to honour the life of Spr Jamie Larcombe, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on February 19.

The funeral service was held at Flagstaff Hill, Kingscote, in recognition of Spr Larcombe’s childhood on the Kangaroo Island coast.

Commander 1 Bde Brig Gus McLachlan delivered the eulogy on behalf of the Army, and described Spr Larcombe, 21, as a reliable soldier who fought from the front under the harshest of pressures.

“He never took a back-

ward step and he was trust-ed and relied upon by more than 100 other soldiers,” Brig McLachlan said.

Spr Larcombe was also remembered as a communi-ty-minded person who main-tained a strong enthusiasm for his home

“Despite loving the Army and his regiment, Jamie’s mates tell me he never stopped talking about Kangaroo Island – the adventures he had growing up and the people who nur-tured him here.

“It seems you can take the boy out of the Island but you can’t take the Island out of the boy.

“Jamie you honour us all with your sacrifice, your courage, your love of your country, your love of your community and your love for your family. You lived the val-ues and character we have been privileged to observe in your wonderful family. You died to make us safer.

“It is an honour to have served with you.”

Spr Larcombe’s mates from 1CER formed an hon-our guard as a bearer party placed his coffin on a gun carriage.

The young soldier was laid to rest as a firing party fired three volleys and the Last Post was played.

Final farewell for a much-loved mate

Final journey: Spr Jamie Larcombe’s coffin is carried by members of 1CER into the Kingscote Cemetery. Photo by AB Jo Dilorenzo

Doing it all for showBy Sgt Andrew Hetherington

ARMY’S assault on the Australian International Airshow at Avalon was made up of two contingents.

There were personnel and equipment from both land and air units, showcasing some of Army’s capabilities to more than 170,000 people who attended the six-day event from March 1-6.

The OIC of the land displays, Sgt Scott Smith, Motorised Cbt Wg, Puckapunyal, said their role was to give the public an idea of the levels of protection soldiers have overseas.

“We had a Bushmaster, Abrams and an ASLAV with 15 soldiers interacting with the public,” Sgt Smith said.

“Visitors were surprised with what armoured vehicles we have in the Army.

“Some people who saw them called them toys, but I prefer to call them tools.”

ASLAV driver Tpr John Stewart, School of Armour Spt Sqn, said his role at the air-show was to tell visitors how good the Army and the ASLAV was.

“It was fun interacting with everyone and a lot of people took photos of the vehicle too,” Tpr Stewart said.

“They were surprised when I told them it can travel in water and what weapons we have mounted on it.”

Army’s air component included two Black Hawks from 6 Avn Regt.

The OPSO of Army’s Avalon air compo-nent, Capt Jamie Pitt, 6 Avn Regt, said the aircraft performed two roles.

“We had a static aircraft, where members of the public could view the aircraft and ask questions of our personnel,” he said.

“The second aircraft provided troop airlift capability for 10 Air Force Airfield Defence Guards during an airfield attack exercise.”

The next public aerial performance by 6 Avn Regt’s will be at the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 24-27.

At Navy’s MRH-90 static display Army had one of its MRH-90 pilots, Capt Daniel Mearns, 5 Avn Regt, liaise with interested visitors.

“People were very impressed with the aircraft, particularly its size in comparison to the Black Hawk and the amount of technol-ogy on the aircraft,” Capt Mearns said.

He said he was looking forward to the MRH-90 coming fully into service.

“It’s a nice aircraft to fly from up front, with the glass cockpit and the fly-by-wire controls,” Capt Mearns said.

“Coming from flying Black Hawks, the aircraft flies in a similar way, it’s a bit bigger and it’s very manoeuvrable.”

On display: MRH-90 pilot Capt Daniel Mearns talks to airshow visitors about the new aircraft.

Taking the stick: Lt Drew Warren, 6 Avn Regt, gives a cockpit brief to young aviation enthusiast Lachlan Adams.

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Afghan mission on trackBy Cpl Zenith King

THE momentum in Afghanistan is shifting in favour of Coalition forc-es, according to CDF ACM Angus Houston.

ACM Houston said the ADF’s training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army’s (ANA) 4th Brigade was delivering results, but progress remained fragile and required consolidation.

The Commander of Australian forc-es in the Middle East, Maj-Gen Angus Campbell, said the ANA and Afghan National Police (ANP) were active across the populated areas of Uruzgan province.

“The bulk of our capabilities are in Uruzgan province where the Mentoring Task Force is training the ANA 4th Brigade and Special Operations Task Group is conducting disruption opera-tions deeper in the province to undermine the capability of the insurgency,” Maj-Gen Campbell said.

He said training the 4th Brigade was the pathway to Afghan soldiers protect-ing Afghan communities and the govern-ment of Afghanistan taking responsibility for the country’s security.

“The 4th Brigade is where our atten-tion is focused,” he said.

“We now have over 3000 Afghan sol-diers in the 4th Brigade operating across the province, being mentored and part-nered by Australian and Coalition forces.

“Most recently we have seen, at the platoon and company level, Afghans operating or demonstrating the emerging capacity to operate independently.

“It’s good news and although there is work to be done, they are capable sol-diers who, if well led, can match it with the insurgency and they do.”

Despite progress being made, Maj-Gen Campbell said it was important to remember that the ANA was a new army.

“Like every new institution, the ANA doesn’t yet have the depth of profession-al background, organisational culture and cohesion apparent in more established armies,” he said.

“The gains are fragile and need to be consolidated and sustained.

“We still have work to do with 4th Brigade and this is being done in the midst of an active, complex insurgency.”

Maj-Gen Campbell said 2011 would be a difficult year, particularly moving into the warmer months.

“We can expect, through the spring and summer, a more intense effort by the insurgency to try to regain control over areas now characterised by a strong ANA and ANP presence. The gains Afghan and Coalition troops made in Uruzgan throughout the course of last year need to be sustained.” he said.

“I see the ANA patrolling, conducting re-supply tasks, participating in training,

learning how to call for fire support, and protecting its own bases.

“The nature of war is such that we still face many challenges, there will be setbacks, but the ANA is developing.

“If you were to consider our circum-stances a few years ago, operations in and around Tarin Kot were quite contest-ed. Now they are not. Operations deep into valleys, which were once areas that would have seen stiff insurgent resist-ance, now do not. Today, the ANA and the ANP are a routine presence through-out the populated areas of Uruzgan.

“They are moving in the right direc-tion and at the rate that we had expected.

“With good leadership and solid basic soldier skills, I see great potential, and that is what we have to attend to now.”

Defence has about 2400 personnel deployed in the MEAO. The deployment includes about 1550 personnel assigned to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, with the balance supporting this commitment, securing the Australian embassy in Iraq, and con-tributing to coalition maritime security in the Gulf.

IT HAS been a difficult start to the year for the ADF with the loss of two Mentoring Task Force 2 (MTF 2) sol-diers in Afghanistan.

Commander JTF 633 Maj-Gen Angus Campbell said the deaths of colleagues were hard felt, but would not deter soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen from getting the job done.

“There is no one who is unaffect-ed by this kind of event – the deaths of Cpl Atkinson and Spr Larcombe. But as a unit, the Mentoring Task Force is a robust, strong team deter-mined to pursue their mission.

“The mission is not made valu-able because of those lives that are lost,” he said.

“It’s intrinsically valuable because we are building a secure environment in which international terrorism cannot find a safe haven. The soldiers of MTF 2 know this, believe it and are clearly committed to fulfilling their part.

“But within that mission, where losses are taken, they are sorely felt. There is renewed determination to get on with the job and do it well.

“That is what our soldiers are doing and what their fallen mates expect them to do.”

Tragic deaths no deterrence

Leading from the front: Commander JTF 633 Maj-Gen Angus Campbell speaks to soldiers stationed at FOB Hadrian on his first visit to Afghanistan since taking command of Australian forces in the Middle East.

Photo by Sgt Neil Ruskin


Best foot forwardHonorary visit: Lt-Gen Budiman of the Indonesian Army is greeted by DCA Maj-Gen Paul Symon and a stair guard at Russell Offices in Canberra on his visit to Australia. While here he also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (inset) at the Australian War Memorial. Lt-Gen Budiman, Commander Education, Training and Doctrine Command, visited Australia from March 7-11 to better understand Army’s training frameworks and approaches, the functions and the relationships between headquarters and schools. Photos by Lauren Black (main) and Grace Costa

ARMY’s great front-page illustration for its 110th birthday liftout in the March 3 edition was photographed by Cpl Marshall Ryan, LWDC-Singleton. Cpl Ryan is a multimedia technician with LWDC and turned his talents to news photography to assist with Army’s commemorative project. The period uniforms are a sample of what has been worn over the 100-year period and were provided by the Infantry Museum at Singleton.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

MORE than 3000 people lined the perimeter of ADFA’s parade ground on February 26 to witness one of the largest CDF parades in the Academy’s history.

On the parade ground were 350 first-year officer cadets and midship-men undertaking their first parade at ADFA in front of family members, friends and Academy staff.

This year’s event also marked CDF ACM Angus Houston’s final time as the reviewing officer of an ADFA CDF Parade.

Three Air Force Mk127 Hawks soared over the parade ground in a spectacular flypast moments before CDF delivered his speech congratu-lating the cadets on their hard work and commitment.

“Be proud of this moment, and the things that you have accom-plished,” he said.

“Also, acknowledge those who have supported you – your family, friends, colleagues and the ADFA staff.

“Life in the ADF has its chal-lenges, but it is also a great privilege – for not only are you serving the nation, but you will have the oppor-tunity to work alongside, and inevi-tability lead, some of the finest men and women in Australia.”

ACM Houston also highlighted the important roles the midshipmen and officer cadets will play after graduating from the Academy.

“You can expect to serve across the world to protect our nation and

support our national interests,” he said.

“Today, young men and women who, six years ago on my first CDF Parade, stood on this very parade ground are in Afghanistan, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

“They are with the United Nations in Israel and Sudan, and they are with the Multi-National Force of Observers in Egypt. Closer to home, they are protecting Australia’s bor-ders and offshore maritime assets.

“And in recent times, they were assisting the people of Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia fol-lowing a summer of natural disas-ters.”

Over the next three to four years, the officer cadets will continue to develop the skills and attributes required of junior officers in the Army, Navy and Air Force, in addi-tion to completing undergraduate degree studies at the University of NSW College at ADFA.

CDF’s last review

Inspection: CDF ACM Angus Houston inspects first-year ADFA cadets on parade in Canberra. Photo by Lauren Black

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By Natalie Alexander

SIX soldiers will soon head overseas to learn about Australia’s military his-tory as part of the Chief of Army ‘I’m an Australian Soldier’ Scholarships for 2011.

For the first time, the number of scholarships has doubled to allow three soldiers to visit key historical battlefields in France, joining three others who will tour Gallipoli in Turkey.

CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie congrat-ulated the recipients at a ceremony in Canberra on March 3, which was also attended by the French Ambassador to Australia Michel Filhol and Turkish First Counsellor Sibel Müderrisoglu.

Lt-Gen Gillespie said the scholarship program, initiated by former CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy, was formed to recognise excellence in junior leadership and to provide soldiers with first-hand exposure to Australia’s past wartime contributions.

“The decision was made to have another three scholarships to reflect that strong junior leadership isn’t something that’s quite narrow in our organisa-tion, it’s actually something that’s very healthy,” he said.

The recipients of this year’s Gallipoli scholarship are Cpl Erin Moore, 10FSB, and Bdr Peter Smith and Cpl Matthew Luhtasaari, 1RTB.

Cpl Rebecca Piper, RMC-D, Bdr Shane Fender, 7 Fd Regt, and LCpl Nicholas Lines, 2CER, were selected as the first soldiers to take the study tour to France.

The six soldiers will embark on an intensive tour led by an Army historian, exploring significant wartime sites and participating in commemorative activi-ties such as the official Gallipoli Anzac Day ceremony.

Lt-Gen Gillespie said past tours to Turkey had been successful in educating personnel about the Gallipoli campaign and its significance to modern Australia.

“The participants sing for their sup-per and work their way through the Anzac ceremony,” he said.

“That’s been going very well and I think we have achieved over that time what Lt-Gen Leahy set out to do.”

Cpl Moore, who will travel to Turkey, said she was excited to be following in the footsteps of past soldiers.

“We’ll be on a two-week military study tour, so at the end we’ll basically come out being like tour guides,” she said.

“We’ll definitely be on our stomachs, crawling on treks and observing to see exactly what the Anzacs would have faced from their point of view.”

Lt-Gen Gillespie said he decided to broaden the scholarship to include

Study tour on itinerary

France to help soldiers understand more about the nation’s involvement at the Western Front.

“While Gallipoli is in everybody’s psyche in Australia – everyone can talk to you about Gallipoli – the reality of it is that most of the carnage and damage was done to the Australian military on the battlefields of France and Belgium,” he said.

LCpl Lines said he was looking for-ward to the journey to France, as he believed the battlefield of the Western Front in World War I was still a mystery to many soldiers and the public.

“We had some great victories and some great defeats that I think over the years have been overlooked,” he said.

“I think it’d be good to learn more about it and bring that history back, even if it’s just back to our own units and our own subordinates.”

Applications for the scholarship close in September each year, and all soldiers from the ranks of private, lance corporal and corporal are encouraged to apply.

Scholarship recipients: Left to right, LCpl Nicholas Lines, Cpl Rebecca Piper, Bdr Shane Fender, French Ambassador Michel Filhol, Turkish First Counsellor Sibel Müderrisoglu, CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie, Cpl Matthew Luhtasaari, Cpl Erin Moore and Bdr Peter Smith. Photo by LAC Bill Solomou


CHANGES to the ADF Family Health Trial will begin on April 1 in response to feedback from families showing a desire for more choice and flexibility in healthcare options.

The trial, aiming to assess a suitable healthcare model for ADF families, started in May 2009 in several cities across Australia.

A mid-2010 evaluation of 700 ADF families found many wanted a greater choice of general practitioner than the doctors assigned to the trial.

In response, the Directorate of ADF Dependant Healthcare has said eligible families would be able to visit any gen-eral practice and be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses from April 1.

The Directorate said all Medicare-recognised services provided in a general practice would also now be eligible for reimbursement through the Medicare rebate and the Family Health Trial.

No fringe benefit tax (FBT) liability applies on services that are bulk billed. Only amounts claimed for reimburse-ment will attract FBT.

The changes will also give families greater flexibility in how they use the current $320 dental provision, with some allied health services such as physiotherapy, optometry, chiroprac-tory and podiatry eligible under the allowance.

For more information on the changes and how to register for the trial go to the ADF health site on the intranet or look under health on the Defence website.

Families can now visit any doctor

More med-class clarityBy Graham McBean

A REVISED five-tier system of medical employment classifica-tions will give Defence personnel a clear understanding of where they stand in terms of medical status.

The revised system begins its five-year roll out from July 1, with personnel migrated to the system as they receive treatment or attend peri-odical medical appointments.

New, more detailed classifications for pregnancy and extended rehabili-tation are important features of the revision; some of these have already been introduced into the MEC sys-tem and have been successfully used since August last year.

A significant difference of the revised system is that there is more flexibility, where appropriate, for employment and deployment in the system.

Head of People Capability Maj-Gen Craig Orme said the revised MECs would provide Defence with a simpler, more flexible system that accurately reflected a Defence mem-ber’s state of health.

He said the revised system would also better communicate a member’s health status to commanders and supervisors without divulging confi-dential information.

“The old medical employment categories were not providing the flexibility to help people know what they could do and what they couldn’t do,” Maj-Gen Orme said.

“We have built a revised system

with more categories to better reflect a member’s state of health, their state of employability and their state of deployability.”

Maj-Gen Orme said a critical fea-ture of the new system was improv-ing the flexibility of employment and deployment in the medical classifica-tion system.

He said a person with a certain medical classification might not be able to deploy as an infantryman in

the front-line but another person with the same MEC might well be able to deploy in operational support in a clerical role.

“By providing a more flexible range of classifications a person may be able to deploy into operational theatres in specific roles.

“So it is broadening the abil-ity to use the workforce in a more efficient role.”

MEC 1: Fully deployable.

MEC 2: Deployable with limitations on employment and deployment depend-ing on the level of available health sup-port and the physical requirements of employment the environment.

MEC 3: Is a rehabilitation classification that means there is some injury or ill-ness, or pregnancy, and the member is undergoing rehabilitation and cannot be deployed. The intent is that wherever possible the member will eventually go back to a deployable classification.

MEC 4: A transition classification for members who won’t recover to the medical standard required for their pre-sent trade but may be transitioned to a new trade or be offered work in their current trade for a specified period.

MEC 5: A classification for members who are in the process of separating because of their medical condition.

Pregnancy classificationThis new classification is designed to remove the ambiguity of the old medi-cal classifications. Although personnel are still not able to deploy while preg-nant, the new classification effectively communicates that pregnancy is no longer mistakenly classified as an injury or illness.

Extended rehabilitation classificationThe new classification is more closely aligned to the 2004 Rehabilitation and Compensation Act to give people the time and support they need to get back to their job. If returning to their old job is not possible because of injury, mem-bers will be trained for employment in a similar job or other employment where possible. The new classification also extends the amount of time for reha-bilitation and acknowledges that some workplace injuries or wounds in action might take longer to heal or recover.

Medically fit: The new medical classification system aims to let personnel know where they stand in terms of deployability.

REVISED CLASSIFICATIONS

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MAJ-GEN Rick Burr has taken over command of 1 Div at Enoggera Barracks a f t e r M a j - G e n M i c k Slater left to head up the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, established fol-lowing recent natural dis-asters.

At a reception held on base on February 22 Maj-Gen Burr highlighted the achievements of his prede-cessor, making special note of Maj-Gen Slater’s leader-ship in preparing Australian military personnel for over-seas service.

“Gen Slater has ensured that 1 Div has attained an extremely high level of pro-fessionalism in ensuring our troops are effectively trained and prepared for deploy-ment,” Maj-Gen Burr said.

“Now as the leader of Queensland’s disaster reconstruction effort, we wish him all the best in his work to restore normality to the lives of people seriously affected by natural disasters in this state.”

HQ 1 Div provides a key role in assist-ing with the preparation of Army force elements deploying on operations, includ-ing managing the immediate lessons learned from those operations to ensure they are integrated across the force.

The headquarters also maintains the ADF’s key Deployable Joint Force HQ and supports HQJOC in operations planning.

Handover of 1 Div command

Good luck: Maj-Gen Mick Slater, right, hands over command of 1 Div to Maj-Gen Rick Burr. Photo by Cpl Kim Allen

The major ADF exercise activity this year is Talisman Sabre and HQ 1 Div will play a significant role.

Maj-Gen Burr will act as the Coalition Forces Land Component Commander, leading substant ia l Australian and United States Army and Marine Corps elements as part of a broader Combined Task Force based on the Command of the US Navy 7th Fleet.

He was previously the Director G e n e r a l o f M i l i t a r y S t r a t eg i c Commitments and has extensive opera-tional and command experience includ-ing as the CO of the SAS Regt.

Information at fingertipsBy Graham McBean

THE Army’s latest information technology innovation will be online and ready for browsing on the DRN from March 17.

Vers ion 1 of iArmy was ‘e-launched’ from the Army Knowledge Management Group (AKMG) at Puckapunyal and brings doctrine, training and lessons from operations in a single portal. Access to tech-based learning prod-ucts like the Steyr and pistol pack-ages are also available.

Nine separate buttons on the ‘splash page’ divides the Army’s knowledge into categories from doc-trine and lessons to commanders’ aides and an upload function.

It also includes Army Wiki, which provides soldiers with the ability to upload and download dif-ferent forms of media and informa-tion.

Version 2.0 is already being developed and promises to bring a range of new information packages in a one-stop shop.

Director AKMG Col Michael Rozzoli said access to the portal was as simple as typing iArmy into the DRN Internet Explorer address bar.

“The aim of iArmy was to make our corporate knowledge visible to those people who need it at an appropriate level,” Col Rozzoli said.

It also provides a medium to capture soldier’s and officer’s tacit knowledge.

“The information outside the Army is free-flowing and iArmy is

designed to be free-flowing but rec-ognises our responsibilities as well.

“Soldiers will be able to go back-wards and forwards through the information and there is a mechanism for soldiers to contribute to iArmy.”

Importantly, access to Army’s information is being managed in three main ‘realms’ or areas.

The first is Army Wiki, blogs and discussions and is designed for informal information and knowl-edge sharing.

The second is iArmy and the first stage of formalising Army’s electronic information into knowl-edge. iArmy contains the collective Army knowledge that ultimately

supports ‘warfighting’ needs and training for ‘the war’. This is how Army delivers agile information to the right person at the right time.

Fixed knowledge such as doc-trine, policy and regulations is available through the iArmy portal.

Col Rozzoli said information could be converted from the infor-mal to higher levels from soldier input through submissions on the “Upload to iArmy”.

He said iArmy had received pos-itive feedback from trial users who tested the system in October last year.

iArmy is on the DRN at http://iArmy.defence.gov.au

Tell us about the other hats you wearAll Reservists (Active and Specialist) should recently

have received mail asking about your civil skills (formal,

self-claimed, experience) for the Civil Skills Data e-survey.

It is very important that you complete this survey as it

helps the Australian Defence Force better identify people

with specific skills that can be drawn upon for emergencies,

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You will receive a half day pay for preparing and completing

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If you have any questions about the survey, or any of the

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You can complete the survey on your own or a Defence

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Visit www.civilskillsdata.com today

CIVILSKILLSDATASkills in Reserve

8 NEWS: HOME OF THE SOLDIER Army March 17, 2011

By LCpl Mark Doran

IN JANUARY this year WO1 Trudy Casey was appointed as 1RTB’s first female RSM.

With a proud history as ‘Home of the Soldier’, 1RTB has had females in most of the command positions, but not as the RSM.

Previously posted as RSM 1CSR, WO1 Casey said it was an honour to be Kapooka’s RSM and it was certainly the highlight of her career.

“It was just an absolutely amaz-ing opportunity, and I would not be here today if I hadn’t started my career to become an RSM at the corporal level by coming here as an instructor,” WO1 Casey said.

“I’m proud to represent female soldiers, although gender doesn’t play a big part in the position.”

WO1 Casey was born in Gosford, grew-up in Woy Woy on the NSW Central Coast and enlisted as a movements operator in September 1990 when she was 17.

Since then, two deployments to East Timor and two to the Middle East have given her a wealth of knowledge and experience.

WO1 Casey said she had gained inspiration from many of her mentors throughout her military career and said her first CO, Col Rose Vivian, was someone she looked up to.

“I believe a good leader is some-one who is firm and fair,” she said.

“They are approachable, will lis-ten and at all times have the soldiers’ best interests at heart.”

WO1 Casey said the younger generation of soldiers were very motivated and keen to join the Army and serve their country.

“A good soldier is someone who is self-motivated, shows a lot of hon-esty and integrity and can work as part of a team,” WO1 Casey said.

“I would urge anyone who wants to enhance their own abilities or have an influence on Army’s future-soldiers to take a posting to Kapooka as an RI.

“It was the most rewarding job I have had in my career.”

Setting the pace

By LCpl Mark Doran

MAJ Rebecca Lacey enlisted in the Army in 1995 and is now ARTC Adventurous Training Wing’s (ATW) first female OC.

Enlisting into RACS, Maj Lacey has come up through the ranks and graduated from RMC in 2005.

She said it was a great honour and a fantastic challenge to be OC ATW.

“The best thing about this job is the fantastic team – they provide me with inspiration every day,” Maj Lacey said.

“I enjoy working for the ADF because we get a fair-go. If you have the drive, qualifications and attributes to do a job you will be given a go.”

Pushing boundaries in the spirit of adventure

By LCpl Mark Doran

THE first female BSM in the history of AAB–Kapooka, WO2 Joanne Davey, has being playing music since she was seven years old.

Born in Geelong, WO2 Davey enlist-ed as a musician in 1996 and has been posted to RMC Band and Australian Army Bands in Kapooka, Sydney and Melbourne.

“I love playing music and it’s the peo-ple that really make this job with their enthusiasm and expertise,” she said.

“My career highs have included per-forming in Vanuatu, Bougainville and two trips to East Timor.”

Boss brings major band experience to Kapooka

High standards: WO1 Trudy Casey is Kapooka’s first female RSM, but says gender is “not important” to the role. Photos by LCpl Mark DoranMaj Rebecca Lacey

WO2 Joanne Davey

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If you are currently in receipt of Rent Allowance, you may be

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NEWS: HOME OF THE SOLDIER 9 Army March 17, 2011

By LCpl Mark Doran

RECRUITS are benefiting from an upgrade to fitness facilities at Kapooka as a part of the Enhanced Land Force building project.

The state-of-the-art facilities will enhance the physical fitness levels and the conditioning processes of the recruits at ARTC and give PTIs improved amenities for rehabilita-tion and recovery.

Almost $5.6m has been spent on a new 30m waveless swimming pool and $4.1m on the gymnasium extension, including a new basket-ball court.

As well, $580,000 has been spent on the multipurpose covered

outdoor area and $666,000 on a new RDJ course and ropes tower.

1RTB PTI Cpl Chad Gill said the covered PT areas allowed physical training in all weather.

“We can now also conduct more than one training session at a time and hold the beep test inside if it is raining – this is better for recruits and staff,” he said.

New gym boosts soldier training optionsPushup test: Kapooka PTIs Cpl Chad Gill, left, and Cpl Tamara Davies, right, put recruits through their paces in the new gym area.

By LCpl Mark Doran

WHILE one platoon of recruits was finishing the gruelling Kapooka Challenge, another two platoons were on the parade ground for their march out at 1RTB on February 25.

Recruits from A Coy put their newly learnt soldiering abilities to the test during the final chal-lenge of the basic recruit course, which included the obstacle course and the bayonet assault course.

OC A Coy Maj Catie Eccleston watched her recruits on the obstacle course and said the chal-lenge was mainly a teamwork exercise.

“The challenge was set to test the recruits across a couple of hours of endurance while maintaining their tactics and skills,” she said.

VCDF Lt-Gen David Hurley reviewed the sol-diers from B Coy on the march-out parade and said they were well presented and prepared.

“This was the first great milestone in their career and they have well and truly earned the cel-ebrations of today,” Lt-Gen Hurley said.

“There is no doubt they have achieved a great deal since they arrived at 1RTB.”

Lt-Gen Hurley congratulated the platoons on their achievements and their level of drill, dress and bearing.

He also acknowledged the recruit instructors’ efforts and congratulated them on the quality of the recruits.

Recruit school producing high quality soldiers

VIPs try Army lifeBy LCpl Mark Doran

HIGH-profile employers and community leaders participated in the Defence Reserves Support Kapooka VIP Challenge held at ARTC on February 24-25.

The event was an employer-engagement activity exposing the guests to some of the challenges faced by recruits at 1RTB.

Football legends, the Mortimer brothers, Steve, Chris, Peter and Glen, and Wayne Pearce, Dr Len Notaras from Darwin Hospital and the owner of Boost Juice Bars, Janine Allis, were among the group experiencing abseiling, the high-rope confidence course and shooting at the WTTS.

Head of the Cadet Reserve and Employer Support Division Maj-Gen Paul Brereton said the ARes reached out and engaged the civilians to educate them about the importance of what reservists did, and their value as employees.

“We sent them away with the task of being our advocates in the community,” he said.

“Part of my job is to put poli-cies in place to ensure reservists are available when required.

“What the ADF does at the moment depends very much on the contribution that reservists make.

“More than 90 per cent of personnel deployed to Solomon Islands and half of our people in East Timor are reservists.

“Using them in lower inten-sity theatres frees up our highly trained, high-readiness regular forces for higher intensity opera-tions elsewhere.”

The VIPs met with reserve recruits during their training at the range and saw how the recruits were adjusting to Army life and found out why some of the sol-diers had enlisted.

Rec Kirrym Roker, 9RQR, is a mechanic from Brisbane who said he was overjoyed at meeting the Mortimer brothers.

“It was a good change from the normal Kapooka routine to meet the VIPs and it certainly improved the platoon’s morale,” she said.

On the second day the VIPs witnessed part of the recruits’ final challenge at the obstacle course then saw the march-out parade of another platoon.

Roped in: Boost Juice owner Janine Allis takes on the high-wire confidence course at Kapooka. Photos by LCpl Mark Doran

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By Flt-Lt John McCourt

A PROUD serving major cel-ebrated 50 years of service at a special dining-in night at the his-toric Larrakeyah Barracks Mess on February 15.

It was a double celebration for Maj Trevor Smith as it was also his 65th birthday.

Maj Smith has seen service in Vietnam and is still serving, hav-ing recently secured an 18-month extension to fulfil a special role with Norforce.

Maj Smith’s military involve-ment has been one of commitment and opportunity, and his never-say-never ethos has served him well.

After joining the Army in January 1962 when he was 15, he undertook a range of postings before eventually transferring to the ARes in January 1971 – along the way serving a number of roles in Balcombe (Victoria), Sydney, Vietnam, back to Sydney and then Papua New Guinea.

Although he eventually returned to Army full-time, it has been as a reservist that Maj Smith’s determina-

tion and commitment showed through. Having successfully negotiated

his way out of compulsory retire-ment at age 47, his retirement age was changed to 55. He had another windfall as his 55th birthday came along just as the retirement age changed to 60, with extensions to compulsory retirement at 65.

Along the way he has achieved much.

Working in his civilian role with the oil and steel industries in South Australia and the Northern Territory for about 30 years, Maj Smith final-ly found himself retrenched from both careers. So he came to be in Darwin in October 2001 in need of something else to do.

Behind him was a noteworthy ARes career in various roles before being commissioned in November 1979 and becoming the first ARes Liaison Officer for the Defence Reserves Support Council in Australia. From there, Maj Smith raised the ARes Recruiting Unit in Darwin and was then posted to 7 Trg Gp to conduct Officer Cadet Training.

After being retrenched Maj

Smith took just two weeks to decide to re-join the Army full-time, taking on a 15-month stint as the Deputy Director of Army Personnel Agency in Darwin

Two years later Maj Smith was OC Force Preparation Sqn Darwin and, in 2004, 2IC of 1CSR with 300 soldiers. He then became OC Australian Army Cadets in the Northern Territory.

His current task as Norforce Staff Officer Heritage is to shift the Norforce Museum to Darwin Military Museum East Point. It is to undergo a multi-million dollar rede-velopment by the NT Government.

In his private life, Maj Smith is married to Helen, who is currently President of NT Netball. To keep them both busy (as if they were not busy enough) they have eight grand-children aged from three weeks to 20 years from their three daughters.

Maj Smith is a founding member of Variety, the children’s charity, in the NT and coordinates a national camp for children with special needs each year. In 2010 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for ser-vices to Army cadets and Variety.

Still serving after 50 years in green

Cause to celebrate: Maj Trevor Smith and his wife, Helen, celebrate his 65th birthday and 50 years of service at a dining-in function in Darwin. Photo by AB James Whittle

SOLDIERS from 51FNQR celebrated the 95th anniversary of the raising of their battalion in the ORs mess at Porton Barracks on March 1.

In acknowledging the achievements of the battalion, CO 51FNQR Lt-Col Steven Brain said the unit had a long history, having been raised in 1916 in Egypt and primarily made up of volunteers from a unit that had fought at Gallipoli.

“The battalion then fought on the Western Front in France in famous bat-tles such as Pozieres, Polygon Wood and Hamel,” he said.

“On Anzac Day 1918 they fought a counterattack at Villers Bretonneux, los-ing 389 men over two days.

“During this action, Lt Clifford Sadlier was awarded the VC and 39 other decorations were awarded.”

Having had many homes, including WA, Tasmania and Sydney over the years, the battalion finally came to rest in Cairns in 1936.

In 1985, the 51st Independent Rifle Company, The Royal Queensland Regiment was reorganised to become a Regional Force Surveillance Unit and was renamed 51st Battalion, The Far North Queensland Regiment.

The unit is now responsible for the land surveillance of Cape York, the Gulf Country, the Torres Strait, Cairns and Tablelands regions.

As well as a diverse area of respon-sibility, the battalion also relies on the

Battalion with roots in WWI celebrates 95 years of service to Australia

diversity of its members. These members come from many backgrounds and areas of expertise, from miners in Weipa to engineers in Mt Isa and farmers on the coast.

The unit also has the highest per-centage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders compared to any other unit in the ADF.

“Our indigenous soldiers are highly valued for their intimate knowledge of their environment as they live and work daily in the battalion’s area of responsibil-ity,” Col Brain said.

“They bring to the unit unique skills that cannot be learnt on a short-duration Army course or in any manual.”

Happy birthday: CO 51FNQR Lt-Col Steven Brain and new recruit Pte Kate Branville cut the cake at the unit’s 95th anniversary celebration.

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DEFECTIVE CLOTHINGTO REPORT a defect against a cloth-

ing item, a RODUM is to be submit-ted in addition to any unit promulgated instructions. For more details on the RODUM process, go to http://vbmweb.sor.defence.gov.au/rodum/ and select RODUM Web User Guide from the menu on the left of the page.

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CLOTHING UPDATE

By Michael Brooke

CAVALRY Officer Maj Matt Carr has been locked in a life-or-death struggle for the past nine years, fighting a determined and coura-geous battle for survival against an enemy as deadly as the Taliban.

In January 2002, Maj Carr was 25 years old, 10-foot tall and bullet-proof, when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

“Without realising what was going on, I automatically adopted this style of military appreciation from the moment I was diagnosed,” he said.

At Sydney’s Victoria Barracks Maj Carr recently launched his book, Battle Scars, about his struggle for survival, which has attracted wide-ranging media interest.

Maj Carr said the book outlined a possible battle plan that others might be able to use during their own war with cancer and disease.

The theme for the book took shape after his deployment to the MEAO in 2007, when he realised he had used the principles of war to deal with cancer.

The first half of Battle Scars pro-vides an account of Maj Carr’s opera-tional experiences, while the last few chapters outline his strategy and philos-ophy for dealing with a disease which

he uniquely describes as a civil war within your own body.

“Ironically, I believe that my experiences through battling can-cer actually led to an improvement of me as an officer and as a per-son.”

Maj Carr’s strategy for battling cancer is based on the principles of counterinsurgency operations.

“Instead of getting worked up over the real-

ity that you have suddenly been hurled into a war against a disease or illness or tragedy, try accepting the fact you are a soldier, a leader, with whole armies of specialists and support structures at your command and disposal,” he says in the book.

“That which does not destroy you, will only make you stronger.

“But now that I can see how close death has been and is, I’m privileged with the gift of appreciating life.”

Maj Carr has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite significant com-plications, he has been able to continue working in the Army, remains physi-cally active and surfs weekly.

The 272-page book retails for $29.95 and is available at leading book stores. Autographed copies are available online at www.battlescars.com.au

Cancer ‘like fighting a civil war in your body’Tales of support

By Natalie Alexander

TWO books recounting some unknown stories from Australia’s military past were launched as part of the Army’s 110th birthday.

At a presentation at Russell Offices on March 2, DCA Maj-Gen Paul Symon and Maj-Gen John Caligari launched Forgotten Men by Maj Michael Tyquin and More than Bombs and Bandages by Kirsty Harris, which share the experiences of two specialist groups from both World Wars.

More than Bombs and Bandages,

Australian Army nurses at work in World War I is based on Dr Harris’ award-winning thesis on nurses at war.

Dr Harris said she hoped her book would show many military nurses served beyond their call of duty, acting as counsellors, protectors and surro-gate family members to the wounded.

“My one regret is that the book wasn’t published 20 or 30 years ago, when the diggers of the first AIF were still alive,” she said. “They personally knew the value of the Army nurse in her red cape, and were effusive in their thanks for their lives saved.”

The launch also featured Forgotten

Men, The Australian Army Veterinary Corps 1909-1946, the story of a small group that cared for the horses and other support animals of the AIF.

Maj Tyquin was inspired to write the book as a way of recording the group’s contribution, particularly in World War I.

“Animals were an intrinsic part of war, but like the soldiers they carried or supported, they too had to be fed, watered, rested and cared for,” he said.

Both books are available from leading book stores or at www.bigskypublishing.com.au – Forgotten Men, 480pp RRP $34.99; More than Bombs and Bandages, 352pp, RRP $34.99.

Stories to share: Maj Michael Tyquin and Kirsty Harris at the launch of their books Forgotten Men and Bombs and Bandages at Russell Offices in Canberra. Photo by LCpl Mark Doran

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By Hugh McKenzie

THE upgrade of 27 Bushmasters has garnered two major awards for Land Systems Division at the recent Australian Defence M a g a z i n e c o n f e r e n c e i n Canberra.

The first was for DMO and industry collaboration in support of operations, called the Rapid Acquisition Certificate Category Award.

The second and major award for the night was the Essington-Lewis Trophy for the Most Outstanding DMO/Major Company Team of 2010.

“We knew that the Accelerated Upgrade Activity had quali-fied as one of two finalists for the Rapid Acquisition Award,” said Sarah Myers, team leader of LSD’s Protected Mobility Vehicle Program.

“We didn’t know that we were

in contention for the Essington Lewis Trophy – a great surprise for all involved.”

The awards are for the combined work by PMV Program and Thales teams to prepare Bushmasters to the MEAO Configuration and deliver the initial 18 vehicles in a 10-week turn-around for deployment to the-atre. The remaining nine vehicles were then prepared for the strategic reserve.

“We reprioritised current work requirements and reassigned staff members and Thales resources to accelerate the activity. Thales also engaged additional staff,” Ms Myers said.

“As it was an existing task, pro-curement action had already com-menced, which ensured sufficient stock was available to meet the immediate deployment require-ment.”

This initial turnaround work involved the design, acquisition

and fitment of spall-curtains, C4I (FBCB2) and ECM kit, Protected Weapons Stations (to half the vehi-cles), upper control arms, automat-ic fire suppression system and an additional seat.

“We also upgrade the vehicles’ alternators to meet the additional power requirements of the MEAO Configuration,” Ms Myers said.

Ms Myers said intense planning was required to ensure there could be a commitment to the accelerated program and the plan was adjusted throughout the process to address issues as they arose.

“It required close communica-tion with all stakeholders involved. The activity would not have been successful without the sup-port of the broader Defence com-munity including Joint Logistics Command, Jo in t Opera t ions Command, 7 Bde, a number of DMO elements, Army HQ and RAAF personnel who prepared and

flew the vehicles into theatre,” Ms Myers said.

The additional nine Bushmasters were used to create the Capability Managers Strategic Reserve.

“This reserve has already ensured that Bushmasters are avail-able to support operations when needed. The work hasn’t stopped and these nine Bushmasters have already been deployed,” Ms Myers said.

“Continuous upgrade activity is being undertaken to maintain the reserve. Bushmasters in the reserve are the same configuration as those in theatre.”

Head Land Systems Maj-Gen Grant Cavenagh said it was great to be at the presentation and see the teams accept the awards.

“I am sure you would all join with me in congratulating the PMV Team and their Thales counterparts for the recognition of their great work,” Maj-Gen Cavenagh said.

Afghanistan shootingAN AFGHAN man was shot and killed by an Australian soldier in the Chora Valley region of Uruzgan on February 14 when he posed an imminent threat to an Afghan National Army and Australian MTF 2 patrol. The patrol was conducting security operations near a village when it observed the man behaving suspiciously. The man failed to heed repeated directions to halt and instead revealed a device that appeared to be like those used by insurgents to detonate radio-controlled IEDs. An internal review has found the soldier acted in accordance with his rules of engagement and the Laws of Armed Conflict and the device was confirmed to be a portable radio transmitter.

WWII commendationsTWENTY servicemen killed while escaping Japanese forces during World War II will be posthumously awarded the Commendation for Gallantry. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence David Feeney accepted the unanimous recom-mendations of the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal on March 6 and called on the next of kin of those honoured to come forward and receive the Commendation. Among the 20 service-men were the ‘Tavoy Eight’, members of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment who were executed by firing squad in Burma on June 6, 1942. The Tribunal recommended the commendation should be pre-sented to the family member in possession of the deceased’s World War II medals. More information is available by calling 1800 111 321.

Air dispatch reunionAIR Movements Training and Development Unit and 176 Air Dispatch Sqn will hold an air dispatch reunion on November 26 at RAAF Base Richmond. It will be an opportunity for past and present mem-bers of the air dispatch or related trades to catch up in a relaxed social environment. Interested personnel are invited to submit their mailing details to WO2 Anthony Eddie at [email protected] or AMTDU, RAAF Base Richmond, NSW 2755.

Anzac Day care packagesA MAILING address has been established for members of the public to send Anzac Day care packages to service men and women serving on operations overseas. Items weighing up to 2kg and posted in a BM-size Australia Post carton can be posted without cost to the sender. The postal addresses are active until April 15 and packages will be distributed throughout the appropriate oper-ational areas. The special addresses vary for each area of operations and are listed at on the Defence website at www.defence.gov.au/anzacday/mail/. Joint Operations Command Director of General Support Brig Dianne Gallasch said soldiers had access to essential personal items and care-package items most appreciated would include confectionary, magazines or DVDs.

More AWM fundingTHE Australian War Memorial will receive an additional $8m a year to support its ongoing operations. The new funding comes on top of the Memorial’s regular annual funding of $38m. The new funding will ensure the Memorial can ade-quately respond to increased demands for special events as well as supporting general enquiries, multimedia and educational programs, research centre services and professional historical advice.

IN BRIEF

Bushmaster benefits from fast upgrade

Built tough: The MEAO-configured Bushmasters were delivered through an accelerated upgrade program involving Land Systems Division and Thales. Inset: The joint PMV team celebrate with their award. Back row from left, Simon Hawley (DMO), Joe Cardillo (DMO), Anthony Torr (Thales), Brent Hunter (DMO), Sarah Myers (DMO), WO2 Shane Wallis (DMO), MAJ Eugene Tinning (DMO). Front row, Dean Grimsey (Thales), Damon Carrington (Thales), Shaun Smith (Thales), Luke Crampton (DMO), Adrian Tarmo (DMO).

WORLD NEWS 13 Army March 17, 2011

By Cpl Zenith King

AS THE sun began to set over the Multinational Base in Tarin Kot on February 24 a ‘nine-liner’ casualty evacuation request came through to warn staff at the Role 2 medi-cal facility a blast patient would be arriving shortly by aeromedical evacuation (AME).

On duty in the trauma department was a team of Australian medical per-sonnel quickly preparing for what was to come.

A report en route informed them a 16-year-old boy from Uruzgan prov-ince was being brought in with a blast injury to his hand after picking up unexploded ordnance.

The distant murmur of a Black Hawk was the first sign their patient was approaching.

On duty at the time was MO Maj Oscar Aldridge.

“From the time the nine-lin-er dropped, to the time the patient arrived, was only about 15 minutes, which was well inside the golden hour,” Maj Aldridge said.

“I was in my office when it came through so I rang the RMO, Capt Joshua Piercey and his team to let them know a patient was coming in.

“We had some information about what had happened and what the patient’s vital signs were. We also knew his injuries and the treatment that had been provided in the field.”

As the patient was wheeled into the resuscitation bay, it was down to business for the Aussies who were sur-rounded by specialists from the US Navy on standby to move the patient into theatre.

Capt Piercey was the team manager and said the team was well prepared before the patient’s arrival.

“We were aware he had a serious injury to his hand but we had to ensure he wasn’t bleeding anywhere else first,” Capt Piercey said.

“Obviously we had to be cognisant of the injury, but we didn’t want that to distract us from the fact he might have a more life-threatening illness we hadn’t yet discovered.

“Once we ascertained the patient wasn’t bleeding, his airway was stable and he was breathing on his own, we called in the orthopaedic surgeon from the US Navy to assess the situation.

“Before being moved into theatre, an x-ray was taken to ascertain the full extent of his injuries.

“We then ensured all his lines were secured and any drugs administered

had been recorded accurately and relayed to the operating room.”

By this time the resus team had successfully stabilised the patient and it was now up to a team of specialists to perform limb-saving surgery.

Maj Aldridge, who has previous trauma surgery experience, moved into theatre to assist with surgery.

“The injuries from the blast meant he had extensive damage to his hand which required us to amputate the ends of his first three fingers,” he said.

“We will go back and have a look in a day or two to see how the remain-ing tissue looks, remove any more dead or infected tissue if we need to and then possibly repeat that again in a couple of days time.

“Eventually we hope he will be left with three good stumps and will still have good function in that hand.”

He said seeing and treating such a young man could be upsetting, espe-cially since, as far as he could ascer-tain, he was an innocent victim of the conflict. But, he said, the reward lay in helping ensure he would have a func-tional hand.

“It won’t be a fully functioning hand but he will still be able to use it and we are immensely proud of that.”

Trauma team to the rescue

Specialist care: Maj Oscar Aldridge, left, and LCpl Gregory Sorensen, MTF 2, work on a patient in Tarin Kot (above).

The trauma team: Cpl Ellen Greig, left, Capt Joshua Piercey, Lt Jasmine Poole, Maj Oscar Aldridge and Cpl Adam Yates (left). Photos by Sgt Neil Ruskin

14 WORLD NEWS Army March 17, 2011

By Cpl Zenith King

AN INCREDIBLE feat by the movers at JMCC MEAO has transited more than 12000 passengers on intra-theatre flights during the past six months, as well as several million pounds of cargo.

Operator mover Pte Kalliopi Makryllos was sur-prised to find out they had achieved so many flights.

“The relief in place periods are very busy and we do long hours, so it’s exciting to hear that we have managed to get so many planes in and out of theatre,” she said.

Pte Makryllos said at the busiest times it was impor-tant to stay calm.

“I don’t tend to stress too much and try to stay as calm as possible when things get hectic,” she said.

“When a flight was delayed, the most impor-tant thing was to remain flexible and keep everyone informed with what was going on.”

Platoon commander Lt Robert Gillson, based in AMAB, spoke of the challenges faced daily by move-ments staff. “Over the past six months, large portions of the runway [in Tarin Kot] have be under construction, meaning the C17s are unable to land.

“Because of that we have had to rely mostly on the C-130 and put smaller loads on to more air frames.”

By Cpl Zenith King

SOLDIERS from the Afghan National Army’s (ANA) 4th Brigade are going from strength to strength after a gym was offi-cially opened in their compound in Tarin Kot on February 26.

Operat ional Mentor and Liaison Team health mentor Capt Andrew Hudson, MTF 2, wel-comed the Commander of the ANA 4th Brigade, Gen Zafar, who officially cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.

Capt Hudson said the gym was a concept he came up with after realising the ANA had limited rec-reational and welfare facilities.

“Most Australian soldiers will go to the gym and train if work commitments allow, but they have the facilities to do so,” he said.

“At the ANA camp, all the Afghan soldiers had was a tent and a shed, but no equipment.

“I believe that fitness is an essential component of soldiering, not only from a physical perspec-tive, but it also helps build team work, confidence and mateship. So I decided I would try to organ-ise a gym and put in place and mentor a sustainable ANA health and fitness policy.

“Also Afghanistan has a devel-oping history of body building which is something I knew would attract ANA soldiers into the gym. Having seen the reaction of the officers and soldiers to the gym I have no doubt that it will be a resounding success.”

Making moves in the MEAO

On the move: Pte Kalliopi Makryllos is one of the movements operators in the MEAO. Photo by Cpl Zenith King

Gym fit for an armyCapt Hudson said the project

was supported with the help of the 4th Brigade Commander.

“The idea took off rapidly after orders were issued to utilise a previously unused donated tent, which was supplied a year ago by our American partners,” he said.

“We then managed to get our hands on some old Coalition forces gym equipment and, with the help of the Royal Australian Elec t r ica l and Mechanica l Engineering Corps, started to repair and service everything in preparation for the gym’s opening.

“We stripped the majority of the equipment down and serviced it to ensure it was safe to use. This took about three weeks to com-plete and now I am pleased to say that it’s all functional and is a tre-mendous asset for the ANA.”

Capt Hudson said the ANA soldiers didn’t do formal physi-cal training, so apart from playing volleyball or cricket, they did little other exercise.

“One of the goals I would like to achieve is the implementation of organised physical training using the new gym, and so far I have the support of Gen Zafar and his key staff officers,” he said.

“We are jointly devising a health and fitness policy for the 4th Brigade and my health team and I are looking forward to men-toring its success.

“The gym is able to hold 30 soldiers at a time so it’s a good size to accommodate platoon-sized physical training sessions.”

Working out: An ANA soldier tests out equipment in the 4th Brigade’s newly established gym. Photo by Cpl Zenith King

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16 WORLD NEWS Army March 17, 2011

By Capt Cameron Jamieson

AUSTRALIAN troops from the International Stabilisation Force have joined New Zealand mili-tary personnel, police and offi-cials serving in East Timor for a church service for the victims of the devastating Christchurch earthquake.

The congregation prayed for the souls of the lost, to alleviate the suffering of the survivors and to ask for strength for those help-ing the city from the tragic conse-quences of the disaster.

Many of the New Zealanders

serving in East Timor are from the Christchurch area, making the service a personal bridge between their operational duties and their family and friends at home.

During the service New Zealand Maj Ian Lattimore spoke to the congregation about the diffi-culty of watching the reports from Christchurch.

“I know this week many of us have been asking ourselves what we are doing so far away when our own nation is dealing with an enormous tragedy,” he said.

“I ask you to try and remember in this challenging time that we still have a job here to do – it is

the nature of New Zealand to help others.

“Timor still requires our pres-ence here, as do the other nations our Service people are currently in.”

After the service Australian Army Sgt Russell O’Brien said he was thankful for the opportu-nity to pray alongside the New Zealanders.

“I want to support our Kiwi brothers and sisters,” he said.

“It felt better after standing alongside them, thinking about those who have been lost and those who have been saved.”

Sharing quake grief

Showing support: New Zealand Padre Tony Harrison (top) leads the congregation during a memorial service for the victims of the devastating Christchurch earthquake, while Cpl Ben John (above) joins the service to show support to ISF personnel with family in the disaster area.

Photos by Capt Cameron Jamieson

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WORLD NEWS 17 Army March 17, 2011

Engineers go back to schoolBy Capt Cameron Jamieson

AUSTRALIAN Army engineers and US Navy Seabees have gone back to school in East Timor during recent months to help revitalise tired old buildings.

S ev e r a l d i g g e r s f r o m t h e International Stabilisation Force helped their US Navy construction engineer comrades refurbish the September 4 High School in the Dili suburb of Balide.

The September 4 School is named after the day in 1999 when the results were announced of East Timor’s inde-pendence referendum.

School headmaster Marcelino Da Costa Ribeiro said the refurbishment was deeply appreciated by the staff and students at the school.

“Before the work, the area would become inundated with water and the roofs would leak,” Mr Da Costa Ribeiro said.

“Now we can concentrate on school work without worrying about the weather.”

ISF Combat Engineer LCpl Thomas Vallas said he was impressed with the work the Seabees were performing on behalf of children in East Timor.

“Any opportunity to improve schools is welcome,” he said. “If your school looks good, you’ll have pride in it and want to attend.

“This is the fourth school these Seabees have refurbished in the area, and it’s excellent to get out and work with them as they are very professional and safety conscious.”

The team of Seabees are from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 of Gulf Fort, Missouri, and are serving in East Timor as part of US reconstruction efforts.

The Seabees have a continuous schools and public buildings refurbish-ment program that allows them to refur-bish one site within Dili and one in regional East Timor at any given time.

US Navy PO2 Erik Dines said help-ing people was part of the reason he became a Seabee.

“It’s an honour to come over here and help improve the learning environ-ment for the people,” he said.

“I enlisted to help my country achieve its goals, and the locals here appreciate what we are doing on behalf of the US.”

Lessons learnt: US Navy Seabee PO2 Erik Dines explains ongoing work at the September 4 school in Dili, East Timor, to LCpl Thomas Vallas. Several Australian engineers are helping the Seabee team with their ongoing task of refurbishing schools in East Timor.

Photo by Capt Cameron Jamieson

18 CENTREPIECE Army March 17, 2011 19

ARMY CELEBRATESThe Australian Army’s 110th birthday was celebrated with a week of activities and ceremonies throughout the nation and the world, Natalie Alexander reports.

THE Australian Army cele-brated its 110th birthday on March 1 with a commemo-rative service and breakfast

at the Australian War Memorial. The ceremony, led by CA Lt-Gen

Ken Gillespie, began at 7am with the marching-in of the Army Banner by members of Australia’s Federation Guard and music by the RMC band.

As members of the Army and other Defence personnel stood around the Pool of Reflection, Lt-Gen Gillespie delivered his birthday address honouring the long history of the Service.

He spoke of the strong affin-ity between the Australian commu-nity and the Army, one of the first Commonwealth institutions founded after Federation in 1901.

“The need for the unified defence of our island continent had been one of the major impetuses behind the Federation movement,” Lt-Gen Gillespie said.

“The Australian Army has always been a truly national institution and a pervasive one in the national psyche.”

He said the apolitical culture of the Service and the involvement of near-ly two million personnel in conflicts throughout history had strengthened the Army’s position as defender of all in the community.

“We rejoice in the fact that, as it has been for well over a century, Australia continues to have an Army for and of the whole of the Australian nation,” he said.

“But before we celebrate today, just pause to reflect on the work our people are doing for our nation, even now in Afghanistan and in many other parts of a troubled world.”

Lt-Gen Gillespie said the 110th anniversary was a chance to remem-ber both the Army’s achievements and its losses, with 12 soldiers killed in Afghanistan in the past 12 months.

“The year that has passed since we last stood here has certainly not been an easy one,” he said.

While the price of the Afghanistan commitment had been high for the Army and the community, Lt-Gen Gillespie said the war in Afghanistan remained the Army’s focus.

“Our task of assisting the Afghan Army’s 4th Brigade to secure Uruzgan province is progressing well, but the 4th Brigade is unlikely to be ready to assume full responsibility of the province by our 111th birthday,” he said.

“We will continue to face a hard war in Afghanistan for some time to come.”

However, he said the Army also remained committed to its other tasks both planned and unpredicted, such as its recent operations in disaster-affected communities.

Lt-Gen Gillespie also highlighted his belief in the young generation of personnel now leading the Service in operations at home and abroad.

“To those who fear that the sol-diers of today might be somehow of lesser quality or lack the commitment and professionalism of the soldiers of yesteryear, let me reassure them this is certainly not the case,” he said.

“The nation remains well served by its Army, and the young men and women who have volunteered to con-stitute it.”

His address was followed by the laying of wreaths in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Lt-Gen Gillespie, one of the Army’s youngest soldiers Pte Shane Fitzpatrick and the oldest surviving female veteran from World War II, Lorna Ward.

The service concluded with a breakfast, the cutting of the Army’s birthday cake and the release of the 110th Anniversary Coin designed by reservist Pte Joel Shaddock.

The celebrations marked the beginning of a week of Army birth-day activities, including the launch of two historical books and a concert at the Australian War Memorial by the RMC Band featuring country singer Lee Kernaghan.

By Natalie AlexanderAS THE Australian Army celebrated more than a century of service at a ceremony on March 1, one soldier was there to represent the future.

Pte Shane Fitzpatrick, 21, joined CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie and World War II veteran Lorna Ward in lay-ing wreaths at the Australian War Memorial to honour Army personnel past and present who have fought for the nation.

A member of Australia’s Federation Guard, Pte Fitzpatrick began his career as an Army cadet in 2007.

“Slowly I started having more and more of a passion for the Service, then took the leap forward in joining the Regular Army,” he said.

Pte Fitzpatrick said he felt privi-leged to have participated in the cere-mony and to have met Lorna Ward, the oldest surviving female WWII veteran.

“It was a lovely ceremony, it was good to see members of Defence com-ing out early this morning and enjoying the festivities,” he said.

Pte Fitzpatrick said he planned to serve in the Army for the rest of his life.

Representing the future

“My goal is to get to at least the rank of sergeant, and to fulfil my duties within Defence,” he said.

In his birthday address, Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie stressed his confidence in the young generation of men and women working across various fields in the Australian Army.

“In my 43-and-a-bit years of service, I’ve seen many changes in Australian society and in our Army,” he said.

“What that service qualifies me to say with the utmost confidence is that the current generation of young Australians who make up the bulk of the Army are very impressive people indeed.”

Recognising the service of our past generationsBy Natalie AlexanderWHILE the current generation of sol-diers came to celebrate the Army’s birth-day at the Australian War Memorial, past personnel were not forgotten.

The oldest surviving female veteran from World War II, Lorna Ward, 93, took part in the 110th anniversary service as a living reminder of the Army’s role in past conflicts.

Mrs Ward honoured personnel who have served for the nation as she laid a wreath in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, together with CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie and a young soldier from Australia’s Federation Guard, Pte Shane Fitzpatrick.

Mrs Ward said she felt moved to be a part of the ceremony, which brought back memories of her time helping wounded soldiers as a physiotherapist in the 2/9 Australian General Hospital.

“When I was going up to lay the wreath, I was thinking of the troops who came through the hospital because they were so courageous,” Mrs Ward said.

“All they wanted to do was get out of hospital quickly and go back to their mates in the trenches.”

Mrs Ward’s time as a serving physi-otherapist began in 1940 when, after graduating from a Diploma of Massage, she enlisted in the Army at Adelaide’s Keswick Barracks.

It was not long before Mrs Ward was sent overseas, when in February 1941 she left with the 2/9 AGH on the SS Mauretania as one of five physiothera-pists onboard.

“You didn’t know where you were headed, you just got on,” Mrs Ward said.

“We were told to not fall overboard, because ships and convoy don’t return to look for you!”

The nurses and physiotherapists of the unit found themselves serving for six months in Egypt, including staging with the 2/2 AGH in Kantara and taking in casualties from Greece, Crete and Tobruk at Abd El Kader.

In July 1941 the unit moved to sup-port soldiers in the Syrian campaign in Nazareth, where Mrs Ward met the man who would later become her husband, artillery soldier Barrie Ward.

“He had come down from Syria with malignant malaria, he was in our hos-pital for a few weeks and we became great friends,” Mrs Ward said.

“In those days, if you were married overseas you were just put on a ship and taken straight home and I wasn’t going to do that – I wanted to stay with my friends in the unit, because you become very bonded with people.”

Their chance to marry came in 1942, when plans for the 2/9 AGH to go to Java to support forces in the Singapore-Malayan campaign were cancelled.

“Prime Minister Curtin ordered the troops home, because Singapore had fallen to the Japanese and most of the ships in the convoy to Java returned to Australia,” she said.

Mrs Ward said her time serving as a physiotherapist at war was marked by friendship and great sadness at seeing wounded soldiers.

“Some of the casualties that came down from the desert were dreadful, especially the burns,” she said.

“It didn’t worry me to see all the skin but now I think about it, it was dreadful for them.”

However, Mrs Ward said she would not forget her fellow nurses and soldiers and their time working at war.

“It’s quite apart from your everyday living here,” she said.

The future: Pte Shane Fitzpatrick, was invited to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during on

behalf of future leaders during the Army’s 110th birthday celebrations in Canberra.

Photo by LCpl Mark Doran

The past: The oldest living former female soldier, Mrs Lorna Ward, pictured here with her son-in-law Robert Cotton, was invited to the Army’s 110th birthday celebrations.


By LCpl Mark Doran

THE Army paid tribute to the Australian community with Music on the Lawns, a concert at the Australian War Memorial, on March 4, as part of the 110th birthday celebrations.

With performances by the RMC Band, Lee Kernaghan and a display from Australia’s Federation Guard Precision Drill Team, more than 1000 guests enjoyed an evening of entertainment with all the proceeds going to Legacy Australia.

A hit of the show was Australia’s favourite country music star singing Australian Boy, a tribute to our servicemen and women.

After filming the video clip for Australian Boy at Oakey’s Army Aviation Centre last year, Lee Kernaghan said he was happy to perform at an Army function in the future.

The RMC Band’s newest member, Rec Sophie Christopher, also delighted the crowd with classic jazz numbers in her first performance with the Army.

Big turnout for music event

On show: RMC Band’s Pte Rouslan Babajanov performs during celebrations at the Australian War Memorial.Photo by LCpl Mark Doran

Eat cake: Commander 1 Div Maj Gen Rick Burr and 1 Sig Regt’s youngest senior NCO Sgt Sam Hillier cut the cake at 1 Div celebrations at Gallipoli Barracks.Photo by Cpl Natalie Frederikos

Solo: Rec Sophie Christopher performs a

jazz number with the RMC Band for the Music on

the Lawns concert at the Australian War Memorial.


Tribute: Defence personnel gather at the Australian War Memorial to celebrate the Army’s 110th birthday.Photo by Cpl Janine Fabre

I HAVE just finished reading your lat-est edition (Army, March 3) and, as always, it is an interesting paper to read. However, I could find no refer-ence to the Boer War in your 110th Army birthday liftout.

We may have left these shores as con-tingents from each state, but this country federated while these soldiers were still fighting the Boers.

While overseas, they were known as Australians, not soldiers from each individual state even though the name of their contingents did not reflect this, for example, the Queensland Mounted Infantry etc. Then came the Australian Commonwealth Horse, the forerunner for all mounted infantry in future wars.

My uncle fought in the Boer War and returned home and enlisted again in World War I and fought at Gallipoli as did many of the soldiers who fought in South Africa. He, like every other soldier who have left these shores to fight a war, would be a very disappointed man to think he was forgotten.

In researching the Elands River Battle, you will read about the first sol-diers who dug in to save their lives and fought and won against a massive force compared to their numbers. A wonder-ful poem was written by George Essex Evans from Toowoomba about that battle named Elands River.

In the words of Conan Doyle, “The Australians have been so split up during

I AM a former NCO in the Australian Army now working for the Wilderness Society in NSW.

Every year our organisation hosts an event called Wild Endurance, a 36-hour, 100km race in the Blue Mountains.

The event is scheduled to take place on the weekend of April 30 to May 1, and we are looking to recruit teams who will will fundraise and participate in the event.

Given the nature of the event, I think it is an ideal team building exercise for soldiers, enlisted or com-

missioned, regular or reserve, either as part of a unit or a broader group. We have had military participation in the past but we would like to increase it, as we see a natural synergy between an organisation such as ours, which seeks to protect the Australian wilderness for all Australians to enjoy, and the military, whose mission it is to protect our country.

You can learn more about the event at www.wildendurance.org.au

Chris DaleyWilderness Society, NSW

Don’t forget our first war

Excerpt from Eland’s River by George Essex EvansThey called us to surrender, and they let their cannon lag,They offered us our freedom for the striking of the flag.Army stores were there in moundsWorth a hundred thousand pounds,And we lay battered round them behind trench and sconce and crag.But we sent the answer in,They would take what they could win.We hadn’t come five thousand miles to fly the coward’s rag.We saw the guns of Carrington come on and fall away;We say the ranks of Kitchener across the kopje grey.For the sun was shining thenUpon twenty thousand menAnd we laughed, because we knew, in spite of hell-fire and delay,On Australia’s page foreverWe had written Eland’s River.We had written it forever and a day.

the campaign, that through their valour and efficiency were universally recog-nised, they had no single large exploit which they could call their own. But now they can point to Elands River ... when the ballad-makers of Australia seek for a subject, let them turn to Elands River, for there was no finer fighting in the war.”Ms Colleen O’LearyBrisbane

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20 LETTERS Army March 17, 2011

A hard war: Australian soldiers were fighting in the Boer War as the colony became a nation.

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HOW TO CONTRIBUTEIf you have an interest-ing training activity, new course or learn-ing event you would like to see feature in the training section of Army, send details to the editor by emailing [email protected] or, for more information, call (02)6266 7609.

Stories can either be submitted or researched and written from scratch in-house. If providing photos, please ensure they are high resolution and include caption infor-mation on where the photo was taken, the first and last names, ranks and units of all the people in the photo.

By Maj (AAC) Ben Robinsonand Lt Darlene Lavett

EIGHTY Cadets from units across Australia converged on Kokoda Barracks, Canungra on March 3 for the annual CA Cadet Team Challenge.

The cadets , aged between 15 and 18, competed in a range of activities designed to test their knowledge and skills, including quick-decision exercises, ceremonial drill, field craft, navigation, first aid, engineering tasks, leadership and teamwork.

After a hotly contested compe-tition, CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie announced the champion team as NSW.

Commander AAC Brig John Withers said the CA Cadet Team Challenge provided an excellent opportunity for the cadets to capi-talise on the skills they had devel-oped during the past few years, and provided them with an activity that tested them as individuals and in a team environment.

“I would like to congratulate the NSW team on winning the overall challenge and also congratulate the team from WA on coming runner up in the overall contest and winning the RSM-A Drill Competition,” Brig Withers said.

“I would also like to congratu-late all of the cadets who gave up their weekend to participate in the challenge and demonstrate the army values of courage, initiative

and teamwork.”Lt-Gen Gillespie said that, for

these future community and military leaders, the challenge provided an excellent opportunity to capitalise on unit training and working together as a team.

“We have just awarded a first and a second place but really you are all winners because you come along, you confront physical and mental challenges and you go away better people because of it,” Lt-Gen Gillespie said.

“The cadet force is therefore a really important part of Army’s future; you’re all a part of Army’s future.

“Not all of you will go on to serve but those of you who do will play a great role in the future of our nation and I think it’s worth my time to be here on this weekend seeing you participate in this challenge.

“The Army cadets all performed really well, demonstrating the value of teamwork and they are delivering what will be Australia’s next genera-tion of leaders, whether that’s in uni-form or in other walks of life.”

A member of the winning team, CUO Brydie Kate Cullen, said she couldn’t be happier with the result.

“It is amazing to win the chal-lenge today as we are the first NSW team to win since the challenge commenced,” she said.

“We’ve worked hard to get here and I’m really proud of what every-one has achieved this weekend.”

States fight for cadet supremacy

In battle: Cadets from throughout Australia represented their states in a range of military skills, with the NSW team (inset) announced the winner. Photos by WO2 Wayne Ryan

Playing dirty: Cdt LCpl Natasha Rose (above) crawls through an obstacle in the CA’s Cadet Challenge.

Up and over: Cdt Sgt Shelley Bryant (above right) hauls herself over a wall in Canungra’s obstacle course.

TRAINING 21Army March 17, 2011

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22 TRAINING Army March 17, 2011

Image is everythingBy WO2 Wayne Ryan

DEPLOYED troops will have greater access to detailed infor-mation from aerial photos and visual intelligence with the com-pletion of a major upgrade to the Defence Intelligence Training Centre (DIntTC) at Kokoda Barracks, Canungra.

Due to a demand for image-ry analysts throughout the ADF, the $1.4m upgrade has increased the number of imagery analysis courses and supplied new high-end workstations designed spe-cifically for full-motion video and still imagery analysis.

Senior Instructor Imagery Intelligence Wing Sqn-Ldr Craig Johnston said it was an exciting time for imagery analysis training.

“While the field was pre-domi-nantly RAAF focused, the image-ry analysis function is rapidly adopting a triservice feel,” he said.

“This is due to the acquisition of new imaging assets by the ser-vices and access to imagery prod-uct at the tactical level.”

He said the imagery course was open to all three Services, with trainees coming from a range of backgrounds.

“It is a pleasure to instruct a group of enthusiastic and moti-vated trainees,” Sqn-Ldr Johnston said.

“Each of the trainees brings different skill sets to the class-room and part of our philosophy

is to draw on their experiences. Everyone has something pertinent and valuable to add.”

Army trainee LBdr Edward Taunton-Burnet, 20 STA Regt, said imagery analysis knowledge was particularly important to his unit.

“I am doing the course to help support the Army’s UAV capabil-ity and to gain imagery skills I can take back to the unit,” he said.

DIntTC instructor WOFF Karen Wheeler said throughout the 16-week course trainees were exposed to a number of skills sets.

“Topics range from map read-ing and manipulation of image-ry to more detailed analysis on industries, military equipment and lines of communication,” WOFF Wheeler said.

“The course has recently changed and has become con-

siderably more operationally focused. Army participants have brought a wealth of experience with them – the Army is rapidly becoming more imagery focused.

“As instructors it helps us to think and anticipate the demands of the warfighter.”

Personnel interested in applying for an image analysis course should first con-tact their unit operations cell.

Evolving skill setThe world of imagery analysis has changed dra-matically since its inception in the early 1900s. Before the invention of photography, command-ers relied on eyesight, drawings and the memory of troops for intelligence on enemy activities and locations.

With World War I came the introduction of ground-based and aerial photography collection. For the first time, commanders were able to access timely and accurate intelligence on the enemy.

The days of wet film processing have been replaced by digital technology, which means infor-mation can be accessed, disseminated and pre-sented to commanders in the field within minutes.

Intelligence: This aerial photo shows German trenches on the Hindenburg Line during World War I.

Eyes in the sky: LBdr Edward Taunton-Burnet receives a few points from WOFF Karen Wheeler, an Imagery Instructor at the Defence Intelligence Training Centre (DIntTC). Photo by WO2 Wayne Ryan

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24 TRAINING Army March 17, 2011

Afghanistan is a learning experienceBy AB Melanie Schinkel and Cpl Zenith King

INFANTRY soldiers are drawing on their overseas operational expe-rience to influence and reinvigor-ate the way the School of Infantry trains and prepares its new soldiers for service in the Royal Australian Regiment.

As a result of Army’s increased operational tempo in East Timor, Solomon Islands and the Middle East during the past decade, today’s expe-rienced soldiers are in a position to impart more wisdom and know-how to trainees than their predecessors.

School of Inf Instructor and Section Commander Cpl Leon Gray has deployed to East Timor, Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan. Cpl Gray said the infantry IET course had changed considerably since he com-pleted it in 2001.

“When I did the course, some of my instructors told me about their experiences in East Timor. I never thought I would go to the Middle East or serve in an actual war. Now, 10 years later, I’m passing on a complete-

ly different wealth of knowledge to my trainees,” Cpl Gray said.

“During every lesson I teach, I try to incorporate real-life stories or examples, which keeps the training ‘real’ and the trainees motivated. It also puts into perspective what they can expect to be doing on deployment in the near future.

“Today, the training is a richer experience for the trainees and they march out of Singleton prepared for their units and deployments.”

He said in the past the Army had to rely on Vietnam War doctrine, but now Army training had become more adap-tive due to the influences of current operations.

“The training now is a good mix-ture of rural and urban-environment instruction, so it’s much more dynam-ic. It’s also constantly changing to encompass the experiences of person-nel who return to the school after serv-ing on operations.”

Cpl Robert Matheson, also an instructor at the school, enlisted in 2006 and has served in Afghanistan twice. He said he often referenced sce-narios from his time in Afghanistan to

give his trainees credible and realistic instruction.

“The course is flexible in that it enables instructors to inject real-time scenarios, so the training is life-like and up-to-date,” Cpl Matheson said.

“When I did the course, there wasn’t a whole lot going on besides

operations in East Timor. Now, there are soldiers in our platoon who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan as well, so the trainees have the advan-tage of learning about operational theatres from the soldiers who have actually served in them.

“I must admit, I often hit a raw

nerve to make the trainees sit up and pay attention. Personal experiences and real-life scenarios help to high-light the points I’m teaching.

“It works too, because you can see the trainees thinking, ‘wow, that hap-pened to him and it could happen to me in a matter of months’.”

Operational focus: Infantry NCOs are passing on the benefit of their combat experience to IETs at Singleton. Photo by AB Jo Dilorenzo

First-hand knowledge: Cpl Robert Matheson, pictured here on patrol in Afghanistan with MTF 1, is now an instructor at the School of Inf. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

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TRAINING 25Army March 17, 2011

MILITARY Self Defence (MSD) training must continue evolving with new equipment and operation-al experience to remain relevant, according to Senior Instructor Maj Trav Faure.

In the 10 years since its introduc-tion, 8181 exponents and more than 600 instructors have qualified in 314 MSD courses throughout the Army.

Maj Faure said the new combat body armour system and non-lethal weapons technology due to enter ser-vice in the near future would change the shape of future MSD training.

“These changes will create oppor-tunities and challenges for MSD to evolve if it’s to remain relevant,” he said.

“The first principle of MSD – one mind, any weapon – won’t change, but the execution of some techniques may change with the new capabilities com-ing online.”

Maj Faure said the success of the current course over the previous close quarter fighting and military unarmed combat models rested partly with ADF PTIs, who had embraced the MSD mindset and instruction methodology.

“They’re our experts in physical training and they have a sound under-standing of delivering safe and realis-tic training,” he said.

“The other key to the program’s success has been the Mili tary Unarmed Combat Cell, which was set up in 2006 as a temporary unit to over-see the widespread implementation of a self-defence program for all soldiers.

“During its short existence, the cell

delivered the current MSD package, manual, DVD and about 40 courses, but its main purpose was to develop the necessary MSD skills in the PTI trade.”

The MSD course was developed using the experience of past and present ADF personnel, specialised Australian police units and the US Marine Corps’ martial arts program.

World-class civilian subject-matter experts also contributed, including Ray Floro (edged weapon awareness), John Will (program and instructor develop-ment) and Hunter Armstrong (combat mindset development).

“The result is a world-class course providing soldiers, sailors and airmen with the necessary mindset and con-cepts to deal with the more aggressive situations involving unarmed combat.”

As well as evolving with the times and technology, Maj Faure said he hoped the course would improve upon its already low injury rate of 2.1 per cent.

“I believe lowering the rate of inju-ries further to, say, 1.5 per cent, is an achievable goal for this type of train-ing,” he said.

“We can do it with a greater emphasis on instructor development to create real subject matter experts.

“RMC, ADFA and the School of Infantry have conducted courses and achieved lower injury rates than the average, which I believe is due to the professionalism of their instructors and these units having an ongoing commit-ment to regular instructor development to enhance skills and knowledge.”

Fighting fit for the future

Hand to hand: Soldiers from 3CSSB conduct edged-weapon training as part of the Military Self Defence Course. Photo by LCpl Mark Doran

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26 FEATURES Army March 17, 2011

Finding strength in tragedy

IN THE space of eight months 12 Australian soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan.

The two most recent casualties, Cpl Richard Atkinson and Spr Jamie Larcombe, were both from 1CER. Their deaths sent shockwaves through the Darwin-based unit.

At a memorial for Cpl Atkinson in Darwin, CO 1CER Lt-Col Matt Pearse described how the “lads from his sec-tion and his troop will soldier on” and “they’ll see the end of this tour of duty just as Akka would expect”.

It is difficult for some Australians to understand how, in the wake of grief and faced with such extreme danger, our sol-diers could want to “soldier on”, how they could want to go back to the place that has taken the lives of so many of their mates, how they could not fear meeting the same fate.

But this attitude of determination in the face of adversity is not unique to 1CER.

Indeed, tributes to all of the 23 soldiers killed since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 have included promises from comrades to “get the job done”.

Rather than scare soldiers off, these tragic deaths seem to harden their resolve – and this can be seen not only in the tributes to the fallen, but in the raw data.

ADF numbers for soldiers who quit the Army are at their lowest point in history.

Historically, the rate is about 12 per cent. Even with the increase in casualties, it has con-sistently fallen over the past few years and is below 9 per cent.

RSM-A WO Stephen Ward said the possibility of death or injury was always present in the mind but it did not “take over”.

Intensive training played a large part in how soldiers coped with their grief and fears, but in the main, a deep-seated sense of mateship and loyalty enabled them to see their missions through, he said.

“People have often wondered about the guys who fought in Gallipoli ... what made them climb out of a trench and run straight in front of machineguns ... line after line of them? The simple answer is mateship and a fear of letting their mates down. That bond is incredibly strong. This concept of mateship and being there for your mates is still very real today.”

WO Ward said a casualty had a pro-found effect on the Army.

“It’s always a massive shock to the system. Always. It’s never ever good news and the whole organisation suffers at every level.”

The bond created by a casualty was strong, he said.

“I think it hardens their resolve. Losing a mate motivates them to get the job done, to make sure the sacrifice does not go to waste. All of these soldiers are extremely brave, and it can be hard for people outside the Army to understand how they do it.

“Two of the young people I spoke to after Cpl Atkinson’s funeral, you could see their willingness to go back, to get the job done, to do justice to their mate’s life which had been lost.”

Mark Thomson, a defence analyst for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said retention rates were so high because soldiers knew what they were getting into.

“They go in with their eyes complete-ly open – no one is pretending there are

not dangers involved,” he said.

“Also, it’s part of what they aspire to be. Bearing some risks and working together to achieve a goal is part of what they sign up for.

“The Army has no trouble whatsoever get-ting people into the infantry or, more impor-tantly, keeping them there. They have more trouble recruiting engi-neers or filling mechani-cal positions.”

Neil James of the A u s t r a l i a D e f e n c e Association said casu-alties had no effect on retention rates because soldiers were like fam-ily.

“You fight wars in small teams. These are your mates. If you lose a mate you keep doing the job,” he said.

“To some extent it helps them cope. It’s

when you return back to base that you may find your grief surfacing. Death is a heavy investment to make, but it’s the profession they’re in.”

Each Army unit has at least one chap-lain and access to a psychologist.

WO Ward said soldiers were encour-aged to seek help when needed.

“You always question yourself in regards to what’s out there and how it might impact you. But the training we give them underpins their confidence to the job,” he said.

“Their mates are always there to sup-port them. And we never send anyone out on their own. They are always with their team. Together. Doing their job with their mates.

“Being in the Army is about cour-age, initiative and teamwork. Whether they are in Afghanistan or Grantham, our soldiers are really so proud to be serving our nation. That’s what they’re thinking about every day.”

This is an edited version of a story printed in the Herald Sun on February 20 reproduced with the permission of Ellen Lutton and the Herald Sun.

Despite the high loss of life in recent months, Defence Force retention rates are at their highest, writes Ellen Lutton.

What made them climb out of a trench and

run straight in front of

machineguns ... line after line of them? The

simple answer is mateship and

a fear of letting their mates down.

Resolute: Engineers from 1CER place Cpl Richard Atkinson’s casket on a RAAF C-130 Hercules at a ramp ceremony in Tarin Kot. Photo by Cpl Christopher Dickson

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FEATURES 27Army March 17, 2011

IT’S not often soldiers from 10FSB get the opportunity to support an international event.

Six personnel from a 10FSB Bulk Fuel Installation (BFI) section were given the task of supplying fuel to some of the world’s most advanced combat aircraft at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon between February 21 and March 8.

Airshow BFI Sect Commander Cpl James Stephenson said his site provided fuel to all of the attending USAF aircraft and more.

“The fuel we supplied was F-34 which most of the helicopters, includ-ing our Black Hawks and MRH-90s, also run on,” Cpl Stephenson said.

“We could hold up to 270,000lt in two 136,000lt tanks and we always kept between 250,000 and 270,000lt

in the tanks at any one time. We could pump 1200lt of fuel a minute through 100mm pipes to and from the tanks to the trucks.”

It was the first time the unit had supported the Avalon event and Cpl Stephenson and his men didn’t take long to set up the site.

“We arrived on February 20 and after the tank bunding had been constructed by civil-ian contractors, we had the BFI ready and operating within 12 hours,” Cpl Stephenson said.

It was a long and compli-cated process for the BFI to fill the aviation trucks with fuel, which then drove to the aircraft waiting at the flight line.

Cpl Stephenson and his team went through an intricate receipting proce-

dure with built-in safeguards, ensur-ing the fuel was safe to be used by aircraft.

It all began with their deliveries of fuel to fill their tanks.

“The truck made a delivery to our site and before we accepted it we took

samples from each of the five mod-ules of the tanker,” Cpl Stephenson said.

“We first did a visual test looking for any of the three types of water

contamination; free, dissolved and entrained.

“Free water shows up as big beads in the sample, dissolved water gives the fuel a cloudy colour and finally entrained water, which is not visible to the naked eye and is only visible

after testing in our mobile lab.”Cpl Stephenson then took

the sample to the mobile lab set up in a shipping container and checked it for electrical conductivity, flash point and the levels of Fuel System Icing Inhibitor.

“If the fuel doesn’t pass any of these tests, I can reject the tanker,” he said.

“When the samples did pass the tests the tanker pumped into one of our tanks and another sample was

then taken and confirmatory tested at RAAF Base East Sale.”

Only after the East Sale lab called Cpl Stephenson to confirm a positive test result, the fuel could be released for use in the airshow aircraft.

The 10FSB BFI airshow deploy-ment was an important role Cpl Stephenson and his team hoped to perform again in the future.

“It was the first big RAAF exer-cise we’ve dealt with and we built relations between us and the Air Force,” he said.

“We showed we could perform in the role, were deployable, reliable and got the fuel out as quickly as possible, on time, with no malfunctions and the fuel was good.

“If it wasn’t the consequences could be deadly.”

If the fuel doesn’t pass any of these tests, I can

reject the tanker.

Fuelling the fires Refuellers from 10FSB kept many of the Avalon Airshow’s gas-guzzilng jets flying, Sgt Andrew Hetherington reports.

Facts and figures� The six 10FSB personnel main-

tained up to 270,000lt of F-34 aviation fuel in two 136,000l tanks.

� The BFI pumps could deliver 1200lt of fuel to waiting tankers.

� During the airshow the installation provided more than 670,000lt of fuel.On the flight line: Pte Jordan Parker attaches a hose to a pump, to transfer fuel to an Air Force tanker at the Australian International Air Show

at Avalon, while Cpl James Stephenson (inset) tests the fuel for impurities. Photos by Sgt Andrew Hetherington

Only the best: The 10FSB refuellers were primarily responsible for supporting high-end warplanes such as this visiting US Air Force F-16. Photo by AC Oliver Carter

Only the best: The 10FSB refuellers were primarily responsible for supporting high-end warplanes such as this visiting US Air Force F-16. Photo by AC Oliver Carter

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28 FEATURES Army March 17, 2011

Dad shows it’s never too lateTraditional roles were reversed when a father started recruit training at Kapooka, where his son was an instructor.

RECRUIT instructor Cpl Rob Serafin looked on proudly as his 58-year-old father, Pte Rick Serafin, graduated from

3 Pl, A Coy, after completing the four-week ARes recruit course at Kapooka.

“To this day I’m not sure what moti-vated him to join the Reserve at this stage in his life,” Cpl Serafin said.

“It took Dad a long time to settle into civilian life after the Navy. I think he always missed the structure that the services provided, so maybe that was part of it.”

Pte Rick Serafin joined the Navy at age 15 and was sent to Perth to train until he was 16, which was the required age to go on board a ship. He retired on DFRDB at the age of 36 as a chief petty officer (WO2) after 20 years of service.

“When he told me he was joining the Army it was a bit of a shock, because he kept it pretty quiet,” Cpl Serafin said.

“I thought he was crazy – I know what the recruits go through and for him to attempt it at his age, I had my reser-vations. I knew he was fit enough and capable but still I wanted him to recon-sider.

“I made sure I did not interfere or prepare him too much for the course, as I wanted the Kapooka experience to be all his own, but I was allocated to

his platoon for some coaching on the range and ended up coaching Dad on the finer points of firing the F88. Like most recruits, he didn’t listen at first.

“I knew his staff, and quite often they asked if I would make a guest appear-ance for a bit of fault correction to pay back some of the corrections Dad may have done as I was growing up, but I declined the opportunity.”

Pte Serafin’s civilian life also revolves around the Army as he works at Bandiana on the M113A3 production line.

“I have joined the Royal Australian Corps of Transport, so I think it will go hand in hand with what I do in civilian life,” he said.

“I think some of Rob’s mates took particular interest in my being at Kapooka and thought it was a good idea for a dressing down, but I quickly caught on when I spotted the grins. Afterwards they would introduce themselves and shake my hand.

“I enjoyed Kapooka and the variety of training involved, and how much is taught in such a short period.

“I certainly have more of an appreci-ation of what Rob and his fellow instruc-tors go through and the work that they put in to each recruit, but I am sure glad it is over.”

Family reunion: Cpl Rob Serafin congratulates his father, Pte Rick Serafin, who recently graduated from Kapooka, where Cpl Serafin is a recruit instructor.

Hardship: Cpl Rob Serafin had reservations about his father, Pte Rick Serafin, 58, undertaking recruit training at Kapooka, considering the mental and physical challenges faced by recruits.

Photos by LCpl Mark Doran

PERSONNEL 29Army March 17, 2011

Promotions streamlinedA NEW Career Management Cycle (CMC) for Other Ranks has been rolled out this year to help ease the process of deliv-ering posting orders on time.

A release from the Soldier Career Management Agency (SCMA) said because of the large volume of candidates for promotion, a disciplined approach to decision making was needed and the revised CMC was a more robust pro-cess for helping soldiers in their career goals.

The release said changes had been made, particularly to how candidates would be pre-sented to a Personnel Advisory Committee (PAC) to ensure the process was managed efficient-ly before the release of posting orders in July.

The first phase of the new system filters candidates to ensure they meet the basic requirements for promotion.

This process will include a candidate’s eligibility based on the promotion eligibility zone and their requirements for trade on February 1 of the year of presentation to PAC.

Candidates who advance to the next phase will be con-sidered by a panel and ranked against their peers before being

given a banding based on three levels: � Band 1: Suitable for promo-

tion if positions are available in the CMC. If not promoted they will be represented to PAC for the next CMC.

� Band 2: Not suitable within the CMC but will be recon-sidered in the next CMC.

� Band 3: Although still a val-ued member of Army, the member will not be consid-ered again. Essentially the panel believes the member has reached ceiling rank.The panel’s decision is then

communicated to a candidate’s CO and is also available on the PMKeyS self-service portal.

Candidates may present themselves to PAC for promo-tion for a maximum of six years.

The key to success was a high level of performance as well as meeting the ser-vice requirements for promo-tion indicated in a candidate’s employment specification, according to the SCMA release.

The agency also recom-mended soldiers discuss their career aspirations with their chain of command and appro-priate career manager.

For more information on the new CMC, go to the SCMA intranet site.

By Sarah McMullenand Kara Pasmore

THE ADF’s largest ever health research program, the MEAO Health Study, is now open to reservist and ex-serving members.

The study is expanding its research beyond serving members based on evi-dence indicating physical and mental health outcomes for ex-serving mem-bers are different from those of serving members.

Formal invitations to take part in the study will be sent throughout this year to reservists and ex-serving members with MEAO experience.

The head of the University of Queensland node of the Centre for Military and Veteran’s Health, Associate Professor Susan Treloar, said reserv-ist and ex-serving members interested in taking part needn’t wait for a formal invitation.

“Given that ex-serving and reservist ADF members can be more difficult to locate, we welcome these group mem-bers to contact us directly,” she said.

“We need their current contact details in order to send information about how to join the study.

“Log-in and password details for a secure online survey will also be sent, or there is the option to do a mailed paper survey.”

Individual study responses and

MEAO health study now open to more members

information are kept secure and confi-dential by authorised research staff at the University of Queensland and the University of Adelaide. The study has the endorsement of both CDF and the Repatriation Commissioner.

Professor Treloar said all participants’ privacy would be protected and no iden-tifiable information would be provided to Defence or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The overall results of the study will be important to both departments in terms of revealing any linkages between deployment exposures and experiences, and subsequent health problems among veterans.

For more information on the MEAO Health Study go to www.cmvh.org.au/milhop, call the centre on 1800 886 567 or email [email protected]

Rank revision: The new Career Management Cycle will classify promotion candidates as suitable for promotion, not suitable in the current cycle but able to be reconsidered in the next cycle, or at ceiling rank and not suitable for further promotion.

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30 PEOPLE Army March 17, 2011

Special delivery: Pte Joel Horne, 3CSSB, delivers bottled water to children returning to school after Cyclone Yasi.

Photo by Cpl Melina Mancuso

Heavy metal: Tpr Josh Van-Wezel, School of Armour, talks through the M1A1 Abrams tank-mounted MAG58 with children at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, Victoria. Photo by Sgt Andrew Hetherington

High five: Pte Andrew Whitrod (above) makes friends with a child during a patrol in regional East Timor.

Photo by Capt Cameron Jamieson

On record: Finance Clerk Pte Glenn Guy, FSU 4, (inset) balances the books at Al Minhad Air Base in United Arab Emirates.

Photo by Cpl Zenith King

HOW TO CONTRIBUTEIf you have any photos you would like to see feature on the people page in Army, send them to the editor by emailing [email protected] or, for more information, call (02)6266 7609. Please ensure photos are high resolution and you include caption information on where the photo was taken, the first and last names and ranks and units of all of the people in the photo.

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LIFESTYLE 31 Army March 17, 2011

Say again, over

If you can think of a clever, witty caption for the picture, above left, email [email protected] with “caption competition March 17” in the subject line. Keep entries under 25 words. Entries MUST include sender’s name, rank and unit.

MOVIES

March 3 winner“I can’t believe we have to imi-tate child birth as part of our equity and diversity brief.”OCdt Dylan ParagaADFA

We also liked ...“Do you get the feeling we’re in some kind of experiment?”Cpl Snowy Bavista(retd)

BOOKS

DIKKO By Bob Dikkenberg

Before I forgetBy Allan StantonSid Harta Publishers, $29.95

BEFORE I Forget is Allan Stanton’s well-told yarn of his enlistment as a national ser-viceman and his deployment to Vietnam as a cavalry troop-er with A Sqn 3 Cav Regt.

In a straightforward story, Allan relates his experiences from training to deployment. Memories of mateship, the Aussie spirit, the times of bore-dom and the moments of terror are covered in a raw and honest account of an unpopular war.

From the time spent in-coun-try to the issues faced on return-ing home, Allan’s book covers the controversial war from a soldier’s perspective.

– LCpl Mark Doran

The Adjustment BureauDirector: George Nolfi

Starring: Matt Damon and Emily Blunt

Rating: ��

DO YOU believe in fate? The premise behind The Adjustment Bureau is that “fate” is stage-managed by an army of supernatural beings in retro business wear keeping us all on track.

It sounds ridiculous when explained in a single sentence, but writer/director George Nolfi presents it in such a way that it feels vaguely plausible for the film’s 105 minutes.

David Norris (Damon) is an up-and-coming congressman running for senate, whose love-at-first-sight chance meeting with witty ballet dancer Elise (Blunt) sets him at odds with his pre-arranged life plan. Enter the corporate-styled gods/angels of the Adjustment Bureau, who set about righting fate’s path in con-frontation with Norris’s stubborn pursuit of his dream girl.

Writer Nolfi comes to TAB from mixed pedigree, having previously worked with Damon as a co-writer on The Bourne Ultimatum, which was out-standing, and Ocean’s Twelve, which was rubbish. What he presents here is a mixed-bag movie, which feels like a romance that wants to be a thriller, but never gets exciting enough to pull it off.

Part of the problem is a shameless Damon fixation, which throws the pacing way off. Damon is brilliant in the part of

A moving memoir

a young politician with Kennedyesque charisma and a working-class back-ground. It’s interesting to sit back and watch him “be” the character, but after 45 minutes the story hasn’t progressed at all because we’ve been too busy hanging out with the male lead.

The slow start throws off the pace for the rest of the film, so the final showdown gets crammed into about 20 minutes and feels too easily resolved.

TAB reminded me of The Kingdom, insomuch as the film everyone is com-ing to see only takes place in the last half hour, but the characters are interest-ing enough to keep audiences engaged.

The Kingdom, however, told a good story in a slow-but-engaging way. TAB’s story is weak and it’s only good acting and clever costume choices that save it from being a total disaster.

– John Wellfare

Weak plot needs some adjusting

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32 LIFESTYLE Army March 17, 2011

NOW that we’re approach-ing a quarter of the way through the year, train-ers may start considering

upping their training regimes.There’s no problem with that. The

body has a remarkable way of adapt-ing to incremental changes in stresses.

In fact, all the health benefits of exercise will increase with enhanced training – such as blood circulation, cardiovascular gains, physical repair and strength – and the chances of bad things will diminish.

The important thing to remember is that the accepted wisdom on ramp-ing up to the next fitness level is that it should not increase more than 10 per cent in either volume or intensity at any given time.

The two best ways to do this are to either split your training ses-sions or begin to use your rest days for active recovery sessions – small doses that increase the total weekly training effort.

Splitting sessionsThis is probably the most effec-

tive way of marginally increas-ing your training effort. If you are already putting in one big session a day, then splitting the sessions is the

Rev it up, slowly ...

There’s nothing wrong with upping your training regime. But Cpl Dean Cook says it has to be planned and progressive.

HEALTH

most practical method of going to the next level in your training.

Take weight training for instance. If you complete a bicep and back ses-sion on a particular day, split those into two. Do the back training in the morning and the biceps in the after-noon/evening.

You can still engage the muscular areas while training in each effort to provide that extra benefit, or slightly extend the back training – or both.

Either way, make sure it is within the 10 per cent parameter and you will be fine. Again, the body’s innate recovery mechanism will look after you.

Rest daysThe second way to marginally

increase the amount of training you

are engaged in is to begin using a rest day.

If you are factoring in two to three days out of seven for rest then you can introduce some exercise on one or more of those days.

If it is cardiovascular exercise you’re mainly interested in, then do a light boxing, fitness or gym session. Take it easy with intensity and vol-ume and you will be fine.

Alternatively, you can take the dog for a walk or do an easy walk around the lake on the weekend to get

that extra benefit from your weekly training agenda.

If you’re frequently involved in upper body resistance training then spend some time on the rowing machine to introduce some extra spe-cific load upon the body.

IntensityIncreasing intensity is simply a

matter of elevating your perceived exertion for longer or whatever gets the heart-rate indicator up within the estimated extra 10 per cent.

Increasing the speed or incline on

a treadmill is fine. Doing the interme-diate class rather than the beginners’ class is another option.

Increasing the pace of your walk, run, cycle, etc, or adding another kilometre will achieve your aim of progressively and marginally pushing your training to a new level.

To allow for the least risk of injury on the way towards the best increase of training efforts, just make sure that your training is planned, progressive and regular and your body will easily adapt to your new fitness demands.

Small increments: Don’t push too far too fast when ramping up your fitness regime. Photo by LCpl Mark Doran

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SPORT 33Army March 17, 2011

By Graham McBean

SGT Michael Lyddiard swam just under 21km and spent 8hrs 23min in the water off Perth to check off his lat-est challenge.

The wounded engineer said he achieved his two goals for the Rottnest Channel Swim – completing and not fin-ishing last in the solo event.

He came in 115th from 148 contest-ants in the solo category and raised more than $43,000 for Legacy in the process.

Sgt Lyddiard said the first and last 5km were the hardest as he established a rhythm and then battled muscle fatigue 4km out from the finish.

“I just had to focus on the mental preparation and wait for it to kick in and rely on the support I had,” Sgt Lyddiard said.

He maintained his race plan and paused every 40 minutes for about 15-20 seconds to take on water and protein.

As temperatures soared to about 38 degrees midway through the event, he swam for cold currents, which added to the distance but provided respite from the hot weather.

His next challenge is a 16km double crossing from Townsville to Magnetic Island. He said his ultimate ambition was to get to a point where the English Channel might be a possibility.

Donations to Sgt Lyddiard’s Legacy fundraising can be made at www.everydayhero.com.au/michael_lyddiard until March 30.

Finishing the winner on day for Lyddiard

Determination: Sgt Michael Lyddiard pushes against fatigue in his bid to swim the Rottnest Channel.

By Michael Brooke

FIVE ADF members, including three proud soldiers, demonstrated their courage and determination to overcome adversity at the recent US Marine Corps Paralympic Trials.

The personnel, part of Joint Health Command’s ADF Paralympic Sports Program, shocked Coalition partners by winning 12 gold medals, 11 silver and one bronze.

Their participation in the US Marine Corps Paralympic Trials was part of Exercise Wounded Warrior, conducted in the US and Canada from February 6-28.

WO2 Dennis Ramsey, Pte Damien Thomlinson and Pte Clint Vardy all had a hand in the ADF’s gold-medal haul.

The ADF team claimed 10 gold medals in swimming and such was its domination, the US Marines feared the Australians would win all the gold medals at stake.

Pte Vardy, APA-Brisbane, won medals in three different sports.

In swimming he won four gold medals in the 50m and 100m free-style events, the 50m backstroke and the Allied 200m relay.

In track and field Pte Vardy won gold in the 800m and silver in the 100m and 200m events, and silver as a member of the Allied 4x100m relay team.

Pte Vardy, who lost his arm in a motor bike accident, said he was particularly pleased with his gold medal in the 30m air rifle event because, with a final score of 98.8 he pipped former soldier turned clear-ance diver Paul De Gelder.

“I was pretty pleased to beat someone ex-infantry in a shooting contest,” he said.

Pte Thomlinson, 2 Cdo Regt, won gold in the 200m relay and sil-ver in the 50m freestyle, but gained much more in appreciation and respect for soldiers with significant injuries and wounds.

Pte Thomlinson, who lost both legs as a result of an IED attack in Afghanistan, said he marvelled at how Coalition soldiers with such wounds and injuries had the cour-age and determination to succeed at whatever they put their minds to.

“I was pretty inspired by a cou-ple of different veterans – Ray and Chuck – who were absolutely deter-mined to keep going in life and to not take a backward step,” he said.

WO2 Ramsey, ALTC, collected silver medals in the 100m, 200m, 800m wheelchair track and discus events, and a bronze in the wheel-chair basketball.

WO2 Ramsey, who lost both legs to illness after returning from deployment, said he would start training for his next challenge – the Arafura Games in Darwin in May.

During Ex Wounded Warrior, the ADF members also learnt adaptive snow sports at the Canadian veter-ans’ learn-to-ski week, followed by

the US Marine Corps paralympic sports trials.

Acting Joint Health Commander Cdre Robyn Walker said the Paralympic Sports Program and Ex Wounded Warrior, highlighted Defence’s seriousness in rehabilitat-ing its members.

“Their rehabilitation and activi-ties such as Ex Wounded Warrior aids in bringing them back to the enjoyable and quality lives that we all expect to live,” she said.

Ex Wounded Warrior was the result of the Canadian Soldier-On program and the US Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment inviting the ADF Paralympic Sports Program to send a team of members with

acquired disabilities to their interna-tional exchange events.

The ADF Paralympic Sports Program and Directorate of Army Health support staff have conducted information exchanges with partici-pating nations on the rehabilitation of severely injured members to fur-ther inform the development of the ADF Paralympic Sports Program and other rehabilitation services.

Ill, wounded and injured ADF personnel can access more information and a wider sup-port network through the ADF Paralympic Sports Program website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/vcdf/sites/DRS and the Wounded Digger website at www.army.gov.au/woundeddigger

Going for gold

Taking on the world: Pte Damien Thomlinson, wounded in an IED attack in Afghanistan, learns to snow board at the Canadian veterans’ learn-to-ski week as part of Ex Wounded Warrior in the US and Canada.

Pte Damien Thomlinson

Pte Clint Vardy WO2 Dennis Ramsey

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By Sgt Andrew Hetherington

WITH only one position up for grabs on the 2012 Australian Olympic team for the 200m singles kayak race, Capt Kevin Vowles is well on his way to claiming it.

The Puckapunyal Health Centre-based psychology officer won two silver medals during the Victorian kayaking championships at the Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre held from February 19-20 and is currently competing in the national championship in Adelaide.

“I competed in the singles 200m and 500m events and after leading 95 per cent of the way in both races, I unfortunately lost both of them to the same guy by about an inch each time,” Capt Vowles said.

“I showed a lot of strength and speed, but he had a bit more endur-ance than I did.”

Even though he lost both races by a small margin, Capt Vowles was still pleased with his performance.

“I hadn’t tapered off my train-ing before the races, so I didn’t feel

that fresh and I was paddling an old boat,” he said.

“For the nationals, I will be pad-dling a new $7000 kayak.”

To achieve his goal of Australian Olympic selection Capt Vowles is making both personal and financial sacrifices.

“I went part time at work at the beginning of the year after design-ing my own daily training program,” he said.

“It consists of being on the water about an-hour-and-a-half in the morning and three hours in the gym in the afternoon.”

To qualify for an Olympic team place he said he still had a lot of work to do, but he felt he had a good chance of being selected.

“There are three regattas, one in December and two next year with one in January and the other, which is the nationals, in March,” he said.

“I need to win at least the nation-als and one other regatta to get the only 200m singles event place on the team.

“I think I have a very good chance because I have a strong

belief in my ability to achieve Olympic standard.”

He said to get to the top of Australian kayaking he would need to beat some fierce competition.

“The best Australian kayakers are ranked in the top three places in the world,” Capt Vowles said.

“People who are selected for the Olympic team are expected to per-form.

“I have to achieve a time below 36sec for the 200m event and I’m training for 35sec to guarantee my spot on the team.”

He said his Army and psychol-ogy training had helped him with his kayaking goals.

“I have a competitive edge over other kayakers who are not seeking any sports psychology support.

“I’ve done research into sports psychology and I have applied a lot of techniques into my program, such as using music to enhance my com-petitive performance.

“This is my biggest goal in my kayaking career and to make Olympic selection would be an amazing achievement for me.”

Paddle power ARMY Thunder ran over the Bellingen Magpies for a convincing 34-16 win in the Sgt Matthew Locke Memorial Rugby League match, raising more than $12,000 for charity in the process.

The visiting Army team, which included several newcomers, pulled out a strong lead in the game played at Bellingen Park on February 26, scoring within the first few minutes to post a 14-0 lead at quarter time.

The Magpies tried to mount a counter attack in the second quarter, but were playing catch up and struggled to gain momentum, ending the first half with the Army team well in the lead 22-4.

An overconfident Thunder team stumbled in the third quarter, with some handling errors and missed opportunities allowing the Magpies to find their rhythm and claw their way back into the game. Recognising the locals were still a threat,

the soldiers rallied in the final quarter and resumed their onslaught to reach the 34-16 final score.

Players from the Army team, includ-ing two Bellingen locals, Sgt Nick Matthews and Cpl Pat Inskip, spent sev-eral days before the match in the regional NSW town visiting local primary schools and giving presentations on the Army andhealthy living.

The annual Sgt Matthew Locke match honours the Bellingen local SASR patrol commander, killed in action during a firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan in 2007.

Proceeds from the match were donat-ed to The Grub Club, a charity set up in Sgt Locke’s honour to provide school supplies to children in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province. A Holden Barina was raffled and won by Bellingen local Rodney Wright.

Thunder cracks opposition in memorial match

Champions: Army Thunder team members celebrate after their convincing win against the Bellingen Magpies in the Sgt Matthew Locke Memorial Rugby League match.

Olympic dream: Capt Kevin Vowles has won two silver medals in the Victorian kayaking championships and hopes to perform better in the nationals this month to secure his place in the Australian Olympic team for 2012. Photo by Sgt Andrew Hetherington

ARMY Rugby has been a representa-tive sporting institution for many years, but exactly how many years is not quite clear.

Army Rugby’s Vice-President for Support Col Marcus Fielding said they might be unknowingly approaching the centenary of Army Rugby in the next few years.

“Army Rugby is said to have been formed in 1931, but there is other evi-dence that a team was formed on the Western Front during World War I,” Col Fielding said.

The organisation has initiated a research project to rediscover its ori-gins and history.

The project seeks to determine how far back Army Rugby can trace its lineage, and to develop a collection of highlight articles covering different periods in Army Rugby’s history.

“I imagine that we will recover all sorts of interesting stories. It’s impor-tant to make an investment to capture our history and heritage,” he said.

Army Rugby is appealing to anyone who might have knowledge of any asso-ciation records, trophies, memorabilia, photos and history of any kind.

To provide information to the project, contact Andrew Kilsby on 0408 342 795 or [email protected]

Time to rediscover the origins of Army rugby

Lost in history: Does this photo, taken in 1931, show the first Army Rugby team?

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SPORT 35 Army March 17, 2011

Athletes’ moving memorialBy WO2 Wayne Ryan

SOUTH Queensland’s fittest and fast-est turned out to take on Canungra’s undulating hills in the inaugural Kokoda Barracks Triathlon, held in memory of PTI Cpl Renee Nicholls on February 28.

The event tested competitors’ resolve with a 2km run, 240m swim, 7km ride, 240m swim and 2km run.

Sgt Greg Woodward, 6RAR, took out the men’s competition in a time of 40min, 49sec, followed by women’s winner Capt Karina Jones, ALPC, in 48.53.

The event also included prizes for the first Kokoda Barracks-based personnel across the line, which was won by hus-band and wife duo WO2 Pat Thomas, HQ LWC, and Maj Gail Thomas, WO and NCO Academy, in 42.50 and 49.55 respectively.

The Defence Intelligence Training Centre men’s team and the HQ LWC women’s team placed first in the teams event, in 43.29 and 53.04 respectively.

Cpl Nicholls’ parents, Dianne and Glen, presented trophies to the various category winners.

Cpl Nicholls was a PTI at Kokoda Barracks and a world-class triathlete, who

placed third in her first Ironman event – the Ironman Australia titles in Port Macquarie – and first in her age group at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in 2009, as well as several podi-um finishes in other events.

She was killed in a road cycling acci-dent on the Gold Coast in February last year.

The Kokoda Barracks Triathlon will continue as an annual event in memory of Cpl Nicholls.

Event winnersOverall� Men’s: Sgt Greg Woodward

� Women’s: Capt Karina Jones

Kokoda Barracks personnel� Men’s: WO2 Pat Thomas

� Women’s: Maj Gail Thomas

Winning teams� Men’s: Maj Arran Hassell, Lt-Col

Justin Roocke and Maj Brad McNamara

� Women’s: Cpl Sarah Cassidy, Juanita Plater and Cpl Lyndsay Millar

On the run: WO2 Pat Thomas (left) and Sgt Greg Woodward lead the pack at the start of the Kokoda Barracks Triathlon. Maj Gail Thomas (inset) powers up a hill in the second running leg.

Photos by WO2 Wayne Ryan

March 17, 2011

Powerful Powerful legacylegacy

SE Queensland soldiers take on Canungra’s hills

in memorial triathlon

Kayaker on the Kayaker on the verge of living verge of living Olympic dreamOlympic dream

EYES EYES ON THE ON THE PRIZEPRIZE Full story page 34

March 17, 2011

Edition: 1254 March 17 2011

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Transcript of Edition: 1254 March 17 2011