AIRF RCEVol. 59, No. 5, April 6, 2017 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

White Ribbon accreditation – P5Air Force marks 96th birthday – P3

We join the ADF’s push to assist

cyclone-ravaged Queensland

Centre

STORM SURGE

South of Bowen post Cyclone Debbie.

Photo: CPL Glen McCarthy

2 April 6, 2017RCEAIR FNews

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Living the Air Force Values: RESPECT – EXCELLENCE – AGILITY – DEDICATION – INTEGRITY – TEAMWORK

FLGOFF Courtney Jay

THE country Victorian town of Rushworth was brought to a stand-still in honour of two local Air Force heroes on March 20.

CDF ACM Mark Binskin and CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies joined the Rushworth RSL and communi-ty members to commemorate AVM Frank McNamara VC CBE CB and AIRMSHL Sir George Jones KBE CB DFC.

The Centenary of Anzac event marked 100 years to the day when, while serving with No. 1 Squadron, AVM McNamara rescued a fellow squadron member who had been shot down during bombing raids in Gaza.

AVM McNamara, who had a seri-ous leg wound at the time of the res-

cue, was later awarded the Victoria Cross (VC).

He was the first and only Australian airman to receive the VC during WWI.

AIRMSHL Jones was pivotal in transforming the training of Air Force pilots and instrumental in recruitment at the start of WWII.

He received a knighthood for his service in 1953.

A I R M S H L D a v i e s a n d descendants of AVM McNamara and AIRMSHL Jones unveiled two memorials arranged by the Rushworth RSL to commemorate the local heroes who both spent their childhood in the town.

Rushworth RSL sub-branch presi-dent Bill Barlow acknowledged the support from Air Force and the ADF

and the hard work of the committee that coordinated the event.

“The Rushworth RSL committee has dedicated three years to planning this event, from researching history to tracking down family members. We are extremely proud to be hon-ouring these two early aviators,” Mr Barlow said.

“I am grateful for the support received by the Air Force, ADF and the local community.”

AIRMSHL Davies thanked the Rushworth RSL for its efforts to rec-ognise the roles of two airmen who shaped the Air Force.

“It’s important to reflect on our history and remember our forefa-thers,” AIRMSHL Davies said.

“AVM Frank McNamara and AIRMSHL Sir George Jones have a

special place in both Air Force and Rushworth history.

“Both of these men are still an inspiration to our personnel today. The Rushworth RSL and community have been outstanding in their com-mitment to recognising the part these airmen played in shaping our modern Air Force.”

The commemoration included a fly-past by one of Air Force’s newest aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon.

The memorials can be viewed at the Soldiers War Memorial on High Street in Rushworth.

For more information about the Centenary of ANZAC 2014-2018 see www. anzaccentenary.gov.au

Two men who shaped

our future

A No. 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon aircraft performs a fly-past during the Rushworth

commemoration ceremony. Photos: CPL Colin Dadd

Below: CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies (left) and CDF ACM Mark Binskin with the memorial for AIRMSHL Sir George Jones and his relatives Anne Jones (centre left) and Rosemary Ruddell.

Above: AVM Frank McNamara’s relatives (from left) Anne and Paula Marland with his memorial.

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3April 6, 2017RCEAIR F News

FLTLT Stephanie Anderson and FLGOFF Deanna Ellick

THE sky was far from the limit at RAAF Base Tindal as Australian F/A-18A Hornets and US F-22 Raptors tore up the clouds during the first rotation of the Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC) initiative in February.

The EAC is one of the Force Posture initiatives between Australia and the US, and builds on the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin.

It fosters greater integration across a broad range of Defence and Air Force capabilities, including fighters, airlift, tankers, bombers and support elements.

The first rotation took place in February when US Air Force’s (USAF) 90th Fighter Squadron, from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, based itself out of RAAF Bases Tindal and Townsville.

CO 90th FS LTCOL Dave Skalicky said the EAC integrated various func-tions of the US and Australian militaries.

“90th FS is part of Air Force integra-tion, using US fifth-generation F-22 air-craft and fourth-generation F/A-18As,” he said.

“What we’ve found in integrating the fighters is that the maintenance func-tions, the logistical support functions and everything else that happens on a RAAF base is analogous to what hap-pens on a USAF base,” he said

“We’re able to integrate all those things and show that great interoper-ability, and demonstrate that we’re better

postured for all the challenges we might face in future operations in northern Australia.”

Twelve F-22 Raptors and approxi-mately 200 personnel from 90th FS spent three weeks at Tindal for the EAC activity.

CO No. 75 Squadron WGCDR Michael Grant said his squadron and 90th FS were operating alongside each other just a few months ago in opera-tions overseas and they were together again at Tindal to support the EAC activities.

“Australia and the US share com-mon values and a very strong military alliance. Importantly, we’re both intro-ducing fifth-generation air forces at the moment so during exercises such as the EAC we get to learn a little more about each other and also we strengthen our operational resilience,” he said.

“There’s really been no difference between training here at Tindal and operating beside each other overseas. That’s a really good thing. I’m seeing just as many examples of professional-ism and mastery on display here in this training exercise as I observed overseas.”

As well as the Hornets and Raptors, the No. 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail and USAF’s KC-135s from Nebraska Air National Guard and the 434th Air Refuelling Wing participated in the training for the first rotation of the EAC. The Wedgetail operated out of Tindal with the fighter aircraft, and the KC-135s were based at RAAF Base Darwin.

Mutual benefits of sharing the air

Leigh Watson

RAAF bases around the nation cel-ebrated the Air Force’s 96th birth-day on March 31, and this year the theme was education and the road towards becoming a fifth-generation force.

Speaking at the birthday in Canberra, LAC Daniel Hogan, a geospatial imagery analyst, provid-ed a reflection on Air Force and the future.

“Air Force is constantly evolv-ing and we are now on the cusp of a true fifth-generation Air Force,” LAC Hogan said.

“To make these capabilities a reality we require a workforce of airmen and officers who are united in our mission to fully utilise this new technology.

“In particular, I would like to praise the junior airmen out there who every day make a difference in their units and squadrons. We are

so lucky to have so many junior air-men who are extremely talented and committed to their jobs.

“Rank is not a defining way to judge anyone. It’s merely a way to represent one’s role and responsibil-ity. But it will never be a guide to someone’s integrity, intelligence, drive, passion or dedication.”

The birthday provided an oppor-tunity to reflect on Air Force’s his-tory and consider how it will evolve.

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies said many of the challenges the Air Force faced in the past held true today.

“We stand on the threshold of a new era of unprecedented tech-nological progress, built on the foundations that have been laid by generations of pioneers and innova-tors,” he said.

“Those early airmen, often with great sacrifice, showed us the true value of knowledge and a future focus.”

CAF spoke about AIRMSHL Sir George Jones, WWI ace and the Ai Force’s Chief of the Air Staff through most of WWII, and his con-tribution to the education and train-ing of airmen.

“At present, I find myself asking the same questions that AIRMSHL Jones was asking in 1936. What are the training and information requirements for the Air Force of today? Will the decisions we make now remain valid with new tech-nologies, new challenges, and new opportunities in an ever more com-plex world order?” AIRMSHL Davies said.

“All the members of Air Force have the same opportunity and responsibility to develop their own technical and professional mastery and use that skill and knowledge to generate air power for Australia.”

More 96th birthday coverage Next edition

From left, FLTLT William Grady of the USAF 90th FS, SADFO WGCDR Andrew Tatnell, CO 90th FS LTCOL David Skalicky and CO 75SQN WGCDR Michael Grant, with a F/A-18A/B Hornet and a USAF F-22 Raptor in the background. Photo: CPL Terry Hartin

We’re 96 and set for a new generation

Australia’s Federation Guard raises the Air Force Ensign at Regatta Point, Canberra,

during Air Force’s 96th birthday on March 31.Photos: LAC Jesse Kane

CPL Mark Doran

ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander veterans will lead the Anzac Day march in Canberra for the first time this year.

The march will highlight the ser-vice given by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in uniform and in an auxiliary capacity.

Among the lead marchers will be WOFF Michael Enchong, of PERS-AF, who has served in the Air Force for 31 years and has deployed to the Solomon Islands and the Middle East region.

“I’ve had the honour of commem-ora t ing Anzac D a y o n b o t h deployments,” he said.

“It was a great time to reflect on our previous and current soldiers, sailors and air-men, as well as the next genera-tion, and their ser-vice to country.

W h e n h e joined in 1986 it was hard to f i n d a n o t h e r Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person in Air Force.

WOFF Enchong said today it was a refreshing change to see many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people serving in the Air Force uni-form.

“It’s an absolute honour to have the option to march in the lead col-umn of the Anzac Day parade in Canberra,” he said.

“Our people have been defending the country for thousands of years, Being recognised on the national stage is outstanding.”

Nat iona l Pres ident of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Service Association, SQNLDR Gary Oakley of PERS-AF, said the request to lead the march was made to the RSL by the associa-tion.

“This is an opportunity to high-light Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service,” he said.

“It will be important for us to have as many indigenous veterans as possible marching on Anzac Day, especially those still serving.

“Relatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died have also been given rare permission by the RSL to march with the lead column wearing their fam-ily’s medals.”

Deputy Director Diversity and Inclusion – Air Force, WGCDR Cheryl Neal, a descendent of the

Darug people and an indig-enous veteran with 30 years of service, said Aboriginal and To r r e s S t r a i t Islander people have a long his-tory of service.

“They have always protected country, often denying the i r heritage in order to do so in uni-

form,” she said.“The opportunity for our peo-

ple to lead the Anzac Day march in Canberra allows for greater recogni-tion of service to the nation, for all people.”

Specialist Advisor to CAF – Indigenous Affairs GPCAPT Lisa Jackson Pulver said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service women and men hold a proud legacy of serv-ing their nation, country, communi-ties and families.

“Australia has a debt of gratitude to our first people Anzacs – they were never thanked or acknowledged for their service during their life-times,” she said.

“At last, the story is being told, held close to our hearts and shared with us all.”

4 April 6, 2017RCEAIR FNews

Pride in every step

‘

WOFF Michael Enchong, of PERS-AF, places a poppy on the

roll of honour at the Australian War Memorial.

Left: PO Mathew Goward , WO1 Patrick Blaik and WOFF Michael

Enchong will be among the indigenous veterans leading the

Anzac parade.Photo: CPL Dan Pinhorn

RESEARCH from the Australian War Memorial shows indigenous people have served Australia from at least the time of Federation.

Others served even before 1901 in the colonial naval and military forces of Victoria and New South Wales.

During the Boer War, as many as a dozen indig-enous men are known to have served in both coloni-al and federal contingents.

The number of men with proven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander herit-age who enlisted in the AIF during WWI is thought to be 823, though other estimates put the total at between 1000 and 1200.

In WWII, the estimated number of indigenous men and women who served ranges from between 3000 and 6000.

The tradition of service by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders contin-ued through conflicts and peacekeeping operations following WWII, including the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

They contributed to the ADF’s more recent overseas operations, including Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands, and still contribute to ongoing operations in Australia, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East region.

Our people have been defending country for thousands of years.

WOFF Michael Enchong

DGPERS-AF

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5April 6, 2017RCEAIR F White Ribbon

AIR Force became an accredited White Ribbon work-place on March 31 setting in train a major milestone for the ADF.

Air Force now joins Navy and Army as a White Ribbon Accredited Workplace and, as a result, the ADF is now the largest organisation in Australia to achieve this.

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies said the accreditation process was undertaken for important reasons.

He said White Ribbon accreditation was a clear message to the community that family and domestic violence were incompatible with Air Force values.

“Air Force is a values-based organisation where we expect our members to lead by example. Achieving White Ribbon Accreditation identifies us as leaders of change for this important cause,” AIRMSHL Davies said.

“We are committed to White Ribbon’s campaign to stand up, speak out and act to stop men’s violence against women. Data shows the majority of family and domestic violence is perpetrated by a small minority of men against women.

“Violence against anyone is unacceptable in our workplaces, at home and in our community. Our accreditation is a visible demonstration of our intent to end workplace and domestic violence.”

WOFF-AF Robert Swanwick said family and domestic violence posed a risk to capability.

“It’s a shocking fact that some people believe domestic violence or abuse is acceptable or justified.

“As with all forms of unacceptable behaviour, we

must call it out when we see or suspect it is occurring and then support those affected. Unacceptable behav-iour and violence can cause physical, psychological and emotional trauma.

“Besides being abhorrent and intolerable, it eats away at the fibre of our people and that affects our abil-ity to generate capability,” he said.

In mid-March, Defence Minister Marise Payne launched the Defence Family and Domestic Violence Strategy (accessible through the DRN, https://objective/id:AF28610886), which sets out principles and policies designed to support ADF personnel and their families who are affected by domestic violence.

Air Force personnel are urged to read this strat-egy along with A Commanders and Managers Guide to Responding to Family and Domestic Violence (accessible through the DRN, https://objective/id:AF25513586).

Although White Ribbon’s focus is on preventing violence against women, Air Force believes it is impor-tant to acknowledge family violence can affect both men and women. It’s never acceptable for anyone to perpetrate violence.

For more information about the White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation Program or White Ribbon Australia’s campaign to prevent men’s violence against women, visit www.whiteribbon.org.au/workplaces

Committed to the cause

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies accepts the White Ribbon Workspace Accreditation Certificate for Air Force from the Chief Executive

Officer of White Ribbon Australia, Libby Davies. Photo: CPL Peter Borys

‘(This is) a visible demonstration of our intent to end workplace and domestic violence.AIRMSHL Leo DaviesCAF

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6 April 6, 2017RCEAIR FCAF Symposium

THE CAF Symposium in Melbourne on February 27 was an opportunity for Army, Navy and Air Force representatives to discuss the future of air power with industry partners and air forces from 33 countries.

With the theme “evolving joint air power” as a guide, participants shared a range of perspectives.

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies officially launched the Air Force Strategy 2017-2027 at the symposium.

One of the five change vectors in the strategy is joint warfighting and he said one of the priorities of the strat-egy was “getting the joint fight right”.

“It won’t look like the joint fight of yesterday. It will evolve and change and we need to be prepared for that change,” he said.

“In my communications with Army and Navy at vari-ous levels I’m hearing ‘how can we be part of that?’. We will need to go at a pace that is good for the ADF and joint outcomes and not just best for Air Force.

“For example, we might not fly four F-35A aircraft from Williamtown. We might send two to work with Army or Navy because that would give us a better joint outcome. We’ve not had the opportunity to think this way before.”

DCAF AVM Warren McDonald shared his perspective on strategic depth with symposium participants.

“The ultimate view of the platform being at the centre of the fight is shifting and it is shifting fast. With modern warfare there is a need to move so that the combat poten-tial of a fully integrated force is brought to bear,” he said.

AVM McDonald said the Air Warfare Centre, for example, “stands as a reminder to develop our own ideas and own concepts and be focused on the sum of all things as opposed to the platform”.

“The key focus of the Air Warfare Centre was to bring together the best warfighters we could assemble so they could develop tactics and procedures that will aid in win-ning the modern networked fight,” he said.

“The move is already proving its worth. Previously we ran a Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) course every two years to produce six FCIs. This used a large number of ADF assets. With the same number of ADF assets we now train a multitude of disciplines, variety of aircraft and capabili-ties to produce 60 air warfare instructors. Changes like this add depth and options.

“To increase the options, Air Force must continue to invest in industry. It is only by partnering with indus-try that we can best contribute to our strate-gic depth.”

Head Joint Capability Management and Integration RADM Peter Quinn spoke about the importance of joint forces and building deep connections.

“Just being ‘more joint’ is not good enough. The force must be pervasively interconnected and networked in multiple resilient and adaptive layers,” he said.

“Without this level of integration, and the highly skilled workforce trained and ready for future challenges,

the Government’s commitments to frigates, submarines, armoured vehicles and a whole new Air Force, will result in a joint workforce ready for 20th century warfare, not 21st century [warfare].”

He said a lot of work was needed “to ensure we get this revolutionary plan for the joint force right”.

“The youngest warfighters use information very dif-ferently to how I did when I joined the Navy 33 years

ago. They are digital natives from birth and this has fundamentally changed the way they communicate, understand situa-tions, and problem solve.

“They’ve only known the Google age. Their minds are also much less bounded. If they want to know something about any topic imaginable that information is likely only one or two Siri commands away. I’ve seen our people doing many great things.

“In units where we give our young digital natives the space to be innovative, they are using systems for purposes we never set a requirement for, and integrat-ing multiple systems in unexpected ways to generate a new understanding of the environment.”

RADM Quinn said the challenge would be to make sure these digital

natives had the systems, speed and data to manipulate that data and minimise constraints on how they use these systems.

Special Operations Commander Australia MAJGEN Jeff Sengelman said air power would never realise its full potential without the integrated use of special operations forces, or “the team of teams”.

“For all the technical talk of networks and integration there is a single word that I prefer to use – that’s trust. Trust is what connects forces. Trust of systems, trust between technologies and capabilities, trust with my peo-ple and their families,” he said.

“The missions we’re asking them to deploy on, the places we’re asking them to go, the things we’re asking them to do – if they’re not anchored in that it will make the challenges even harder.

“It’s the team of teams we’re building for those chal-lenges for the future. I can’t imagine any scenario where air power isn’t a significant component of that. In all those missions we’ve participated in, a number of lives have been saved, difficult situations recovered and mis-sions achieved because Air Force was over us and sup-ported us. This is not just a technical partnership or defi-nition of joint, this is a high-trust relationship.”

AIRMSHL Davies continued his message about the strategy during a presentation for all Defence personnel in Canberra on March 14.

He said the five vectors would be used to prioritise decisions and “if it does not fit one of the five vectors of the strategy then why would you do it?

“That also involves a change in thinking. We are truly going to be joint. We are going to look after our people. We’re going to invest in infrastructure, communications and international engagement. There is no ‘more impor-tant’ vector. However, the one I would focus on first is the one that underpins everything we do – the people vector.”

Trust, technology and Realising the full potential of air power will take much hard work, Leigh Watson writes

‘It won’t look like the joint fight of yesterday. It will evolve and change and we need to be prepared for that change.

AIRMSHL Leo DaviesCAF

CAF Symposium guests (from left) Commander Surveillance and Response Group AIRCDRE Craig Heap, Head Force Design AVM Mel Hupfeld, Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command, Pakistan Air Force AVM Salman Ahsan Bokh, Ambreen Bokhari from Pakistan and Louise Hupfeld inspect the Plan Jericho hologram at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook.

Photos: CPL Nicci Freeman

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7April 6, 2017RCEAIR F CAF Symposium

the right joint fight

The Australian International Airshow attracted not only leaders in international air power and trade to Avalon but also international senior enlisted leaders.

Among the coalition air force partners who attended the CAF Symposium during the show were (back, from left) W/O

Mark Harwood (Warrant Officer of RNZAF), 1st ML Raffaele Pirozzi (Ist Marshall Lieutenant, Italian AF), WOFF-AF Robert Swanwick, CWO Gerard Poitras (Chief Warrant Officer, Royal Canadian AF), WOFF Rudolf Vitasz (ACG); and (front, from left) WOFF Michelle Foley (AC), WOFF Paula Ivanovic,

WOFF Lisa Sheridan (CSG), CMSgt Gay L. C. Veale (Chief Master Sergeant, USAF) and WOFF Glenn Lyons (AMG).

This was a rare chance for RAAF senior enlisted leaders and international service warrant officers to engage and learn from each other.

A rare chance for leaders to liaise

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8 April 6, 2017RCEAIR FNews

CPL Mark Doran

A 10-week contract in an Air Force typing pool turned into a memorable career for Wendy Van Spanje of Headquarters Air Command, who retires on April 18 after 29 years as a public servant.

The 1988 short-term indenture at RAAF Base Glenbrook was extended with Mrs Van Spanje working in several dif-ferent departments for her first four years with Defence.

She then became the executive assistant to Air Commander Australia (ACAUST) and during the past 25 years has worked with 13 Air Commanders.

Mrs Van Spanje said the highlights of her career began in 1988 with her first flight in a military aircraft, a CH-47 Chinook, in those days operated by Air Force.

“I’ve also flown over the Blue Mountains with an air commodore who did aerobatics in a DHC-1 Chipmunk,” she said.

“There have been flights in C-130 Hercules, the Boeing 737 and a Hawk 127 and I’ve seen the skills of the Boeing 707 pilots and crew during an air-to-air refuel-ling

“Once I even flew over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a Navy helicopter.”

Wendy said she did not want to pick a favourite air commander as she enjoyed working with every ACAUST.

“I have had an amazing time and will take away many wonderful memories,” she said.

“It was an absolute pleasure and a privi-lege to work for and with such impressive

people, and the friendships my husband and I have created will be long-lasting.

“I’ve been given many wonder-ful opportunities over the years and have been most fortunate to witness the incred-ible skills and professionalism across Air Force.”

ACAUST AVM Gavin Turnbull said an organisation the size of Air Command gen-erated an enormous amount of correspond-ence and phone calls requiring front office management, filtering and coordination.

“It requires all the staff ’s efforts, but particularly the executive assis-tant’s, to ensure each moment of the Air Commander’s time is gainfully employed,” he said.

“Without good staff and an executive assistant, I would be, quite frankly, admin-istering myself to an early grave.”

AVM Turnbull said Wendy was a genu-inely lovely person who was unflappable and did an enormous amount of work.

“She always has a smile and a kind word for everyone she deals with,” he said.

“Wendy earned the respect of every commander she worked for and has an ongoing friendship with most, including the CDF ACM Mark Binskin (ACAUST 2007/08) who always remembers to bring Christmas baubles for her collection.

“I think most of her Christmas decora-tions collection is from the roving band of past and present Air Commanders,” he said.

“Wendy will be missed, but she is leav-ing Air Force on a high, with a great deal of thanks and the time to now enjoy what she wants to do.”

Wendy ‘will be missed’

Wendy Van Spanje, of Headquarters Air Command, will retire on April 18 after 29 years.

Photo: CPL Oliver Carter

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9April 6, 2017RCEAIR F News

SGT Dave Morley

AIR Force members joined the community at the Katherine muse-um on March 22 to commemorate the day the town was bombed 75 years ago.

SADFO WGCDR Andrew Tatnell said the tyranny of distance played a large part in the success of the Japanese Imperial Forces when they reached far across the oceans of the south-west Pacific and the Timor Sea during WWII.

“Yet that same tyranny of dis-

tance protected this nation from successful invasion,” he said.

“At around lunchtime, the quiet and peaceful town of Katherine was interrupted by the destruction of war – an act of violence by one nation against another.

“By the time Japanese Imperial Forces had attacked Katherine they had finally over-extended their capacity to win the war.”

WGCDR Tatnell said the rapid conquest of the Japanese forces lasted a mere six months, from December 1941 until June 1942.

“The Japanese Fifth Army had stalled in Burma and British India, and the Japanese Navy’s carriers’ foray into Australasia had been blunted by the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7 and 8, 1942,” he said.

“We mark with solemn respect the actions of our fellow commu-nity, their bravery in assisting each other, the reality of war in our own backyard, and the fear of invasion.

“It would have been a terrifying experience.”

THE most southern Japanese bomb-ing raid on the Northern Territory occurred at 12.20pm on March 22, 1942, when nine G4M Betty bomb-ers scattered 60kg bombs around Katherine.

The twin-engined Navy aircraft took off from Koepang in Timor and were apparently hoping to find Allied bombers at Katherine Airfield. They didn’t.

Of the 91 bombs dropped, 84 were anti-personnel “daisy cutters”, which mostly fell on the airfield.

Although damage at Katherine was minimal, Dodger Kodjalwal, an Aboriginal man, was killed and two other Aboriginal people were wounded.

US servicemen from 808 Engineer Aviation Battalion were still working on the airfield when the Japanese dropped their bombs.

A crew of Postmaster-General linesmen working at Knott’s Crossing also narrowly escaped being hit when a number of bombs landed nearby.

BETTY BOMBERS’ SOUTHERN ASSAULT

The day the war came to town

RAAF Base Tindal personnel salute during the National Anthem at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Katherine.Photo: SGT Andrew Eddie

Japanese Betty bombers were used in the attack on Katherine.

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11April 6, 2017RCEAIR F News

AIR Force’s F-111s and Hornets, and Navy’s missile-equipped submarines, would form one of Australia’s layered lines of defence, laid out in the White Paper released by then Defence Minister Kim Beazley.

A Defence satellite installation was to be established about 20-40km from Geraldton, WA, and expected to be opera-tional in the mid-1990s to gather signals from areas of “strategic interest”.

The White Paper also made a provision for another three over-the-horizon radar systems in the Jindalee system.

Legislation to create the Defence Housing Authority was introduced into par-liament. A board that included civilians and three military officers would run DHA.

DHA previously operated on an interim basis pending the legalisation.

– CPL Max Bree

April1987

Back in...

SQNLDR Bruce Chalmers

MEMBERS of RAAF Base Edinburgh took on a team from Army’s 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and the muscles of the South Australian Police and Metropolitan Fire Service, to haul a fire engine down pit straight to the chequered flag dur-ing the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

It was the second time the event has been held to raise funds for the TeamKids Easter Appeal (through the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide) and the first time Air Force and Army teams had been invited to join the race to pull a fire engine 75 metres.

While the losing teams were pretty sure the brakes were being applied to the trucks they were hauling, the participants enjoyed the event, which will be broadcast during an Easter telethon on Channel 9 in Adelaide.

FLGOFF Jess Broady said it was “a great opportunity to get out in the community and interact with our colleagues from Army, fire and police”.

“Taking part in this event will be even more rewarding if it helps raise lots of money for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at the telethon on Good Friday, because they do such great things for the community,” she said.

For FLTLT Justin Byers, the participation was more personal.

“My son was born with a very rare metabolic condition and for seven years the Women’s and Children’s Hospital has guided his treatment. My wife and I are very grateful for that,” he said.

“I see first-hand the dedication, the hard work and the sheer professionalism of the staff at the hospital. So I take every opportunity to help them raise funds to look after children who are sick, and their families, as they have done for us throughout my son’s life.”

The winning team will be revealed during the telethon on Good Friday.

Pulling our weight

CPL Robert James and FLGOFF Alex Desmond pull their weight in the fire truck challenge in Adelaide.Photos: SGT Rob Hack

Left: Truck pull participants (from left) FLGOFF Liana Poole, LACW Kylie Baker and FLGOFF Courtney McGorm debrief with GPCAPT Greg Weller after the race.

12 13RCEAIR FCentrepiece April 6, 2017

A 38SQN King Air flies past flood affected Proserpine after Cyclone Debbie struck the region.Photo: CPL Glen McCarthy

KING Airs from No. 38 Squadron were busy work-ing hard as Air Force News went to print to provide an initial survey of the affected areas of North Queensland in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

The 38SQN aircrew, along with two Air Force imagery special-ists from No. 28 Squadron, flew over the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach, Proserpine and Bowen to assess the destruction.

FLGOFF Dylan Stevenson, a co-pilot at 38SQN, said the provision of imagery so early after the event pro-vided vital information for recovery teams.

The aim was to identify main road access and highlight townships that had been cut off.

“The King Air is a stable platform and is ideally suited for this imagery collection.

“It can conduct surveillance over a large area in a short amount of time,” he said.

“The imagery helps the recovery teams understand what is out there

and what they need to bring to get through.”

The imagery specialists working out of the back of the King Airs were SGTs Rob Hack and Murray Staff and CPL Glen McCarthy.

SGT Hack said the operationally tasked imagery collection outlined the varied role of the Air Force imagery specialists.

“Often the images returned after each sortie are all the information available to identify the damage of that particular area. We collect the visual information that is demanded early after a disaster,” he said.

“After each mission our imagery is collated in the intelligence cell and passed on to the civil authorities pro-viding the eyes over the devastated areas.

“We are often focused on the public relations effect of our pho-tos, however, our training also gives us the skills to capture the style of imagery that highlights damage from a weather event like Tropical Cyclone Debbie.”

The King Airs’ surveillance work

was one aspect of the ADF’s sup-port to Operation Queensland Assist through Joint Task Force 661.

Air Force’s Air Base Recovery Squadron was also ready to deploy south from Townsville after the cyclone r ipped through North Queensland on March 28.

No. 65 Squadron’s Airfield Engineering Flight Townsville and 383 Contingency Response Squadron were on short notice to move and had a deployable airfield recovery team (DART) at the ready.

CPL Robert Thompson, a plant operator with 65SQN, said the flight had loaded six Mack trucks with equipment for a disaster relief mis-sion.

“We had the heavy machinery that most people will recognise – the front-end loader, the skid steer and the articulated tractor,” he said.

“We also ensured we had potable water and fuel for about three or four days. Deploying with rations and with our own water, we are not then draw-ing on the already limited supplies of the local population.

“Additionally, we had a mobile field workshop, which gives us an ability to repair equipment in the field, extending our endurance.”

The DART was awaiting the go-ahead from higher headquarters before it headed south to assist with the recovery effort by ensuring air-fields in the region were clear and accessible to resupply flights.

SGT Scott Triffitt, a works super-visor at 65SQN Airfield Engineering Flight Townsville, said the flexibility of the airfield engineering section was its key asset.

“Disaster relief is a not a task peo-ple would readily associate with air-field engineering, but our plant equip-ment and the skill sets of the team are exactly suited to a disaster relief activity,” he said.

Meanwhile , Exercise Black Dagger 17-1 was postponed due to the cyclone, but it had recommenced. An updated article will be provided in the next edition.

More cyclone support coverage Next edition

THE BIG PICTURE

• Tropical Cyclone Debbie crossed the Queensland

coast at around midday on March 28. In preparation, the ADF positioned assets to respond to requests from the Queensland Government.

• The ADF supported the Queensland Government and worked closely with state and federal agencies as part of a whole-of-government response.

• The ADF provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Queensland Government under Operation Queensland Assist 17. About 1600 ADF personnel were assigned to the operation.

• Two B300 King Air conducted reconnaissance along the coastline and inland routes from Townsville to Mackay.

• A preventative medicine team was established in Bowen to commence medical support tasks.

• The ADF prepared for anticipated calls for support by pre-positioning ADF force elements and survey-ing locations, including remote centres.

SNAPSHOT OF RESPONSE

Early air surveillance aids recovery in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Debbie, FLTLT Shaun Donnelly writes

CPL Glen McCarthy surveys damaged parts of Queensland aboard a 38SQN King Air, capturing imagery in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Debbie. Photo: SGT Murray Staff

Carpenter LAC Matthew Kunde, of No. 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron, prepares a truck as part of

Operation Queensland Assist. Photo: SGT Murray Staff

From left, capital works supervisor SGT Scott Triffitt, carpenter LAC Isaac Cullen and plant operator CPL Nick Voigt discuss plans for the airfield clearance convoy. Photo: SGT Murray Staff

DPSJAN018/17

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14 April 6, 2017RCEAIR FNews

THE Army Air Force Canteen Service (AAFCANS) has opened the doors to its refurbished canteen at RAAF Base Amberley.

The $500,000 refurbishment was started over stand-down and base SADFO AIRCDRE Ken Robinson and AAFCANS managing director Stewart McGrow officially opened the new-look canteen on February 23.

Mr McGrow said it was gratifying “to make this project come alive and deliver a contemporary canteen facil-ity that will enhance the retail experi-ence for the nearly 8000 Air Force and Army personnel on base”.

AAFCANS has spent more than $6.4 million on capital improvements at Defence bases in the past five years.

AIRCDRE Robinson said a high-quality canteen was “an essential part of our functionality as a base”.

The new canteen will serve modern fresh food and includes a speciality bar and grill serving omelettes, pasta,

schnitzels and other specialty dishes. It also has quick self-checkout machines.

The outside dining area has been upgraded with a shade sail, comfort-able bench seating, dining tables and mist fans for hot days.

The interior is contemporary and spacious with private booths, soft fur-nishings, larger lounge areas filled with ottomans and space for group dis-cussions. It also has a recharge station with USB and power outlets.

The Amberley Heritage Centre and AIRCDRE Robinson’s team worked with AAFCANS marketing manager Donna Browne to come up with an art installation that captures the heart and history of RAAF Base Amberley.

Historic images, unit plaques and photos adorn the walls and windows and a wall-to-wall glass-mounted mural depicts No. 1 Squadron Avro Lincoln bomber pilots at Amberley during the 1950s.

A taste of modern comfort

FLGOFF Deanna Ellick

RAAF Base Darwin kept the dignitaries flowing in February, hosting visits from the Prime Minister and two Northern Territory leaders.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had afternoon tea with members of No. 13 Squadron as part of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin.

CO 13SQN WGCDR Steven Parsons said it was fitting that afternoon tea with the Prime Minister was held in the offic-ers’ mess.

“It is one of the few buildings on the base that survived the bombing as well as 13SQN, which was based in Darwin at the time of the Japanese air raids,” WGCDR Parsons said.

The visit was also an opportunity for WGCDR Parsons to renew acquaintances with the Prime Minister.

“In my previous role as Staff Officer VIP Operations I had the unique oppor-tunity to spend time with the Prime Minister and his staff and know of the genuine concern he has for all the men and women in uniform,” WGCDR Parsons said.

The officers’ mess also played host to

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and Chief Justice Michael Grant on February 9.

The pair were formally welcomed as honorary members to the mess by mess committee president SQNLDR Craig Sedgman.

“Inviting members such as the Chief Justice and the Police Commissioner into the mess environment allows them to socialise in a relaxed atmosphere with people who make a difference around Darwin,” SQNLDR Sedgman said.

The Police Commissioner returned to the base the following week to talk about leadership. The key messages during his presentation included challenging the status quo, understanding “whose stage it is” and the importance of self-reflection.

“The hardest conversations I’ve had were with myself. You simply can’t per-form at the senior level without having that self-reflection and understanding what your strengths and weaknesses, how you are going to react to certain situations and what you need to work on,” he said.

The officers’ mess is aiming to expand its engagements to include local businesses that play a role in the base’s capability.

VIPs line up for mess hospitality

Above: The refurbished canteen at RAAF Base Amberley.Left: AIRCDRE Ken Robinson congratulates AAFCANS managing director Stewart McGrow at the official opening.Photos: Donna Browne and CPL Casey Gaul

Members of 13SQN with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the officers’ mess at RAAF Base Darwin.

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FeatureRCEAIR F April 6, 2017 15

A FORMER member and keen Air Force News reader con-tacted us after reading about Exercise Red Flag 17 in the February 23 edition, with recollections of his own experiences of Red Flag 82.

Ric Tanner, who retired from the Air Force as a flight lieutenant in 1988 after almost 20 years’ service, said the lift-out brought back many good memories of Red Flag 82.

At the time, FLTLT Tanner was serv-ing as a photographic interpreter and he was seconded from No. 77 Squadron to No.1 Squadron to support the contingent of F-111C aircraft, which took part in the exercise.

“At the time the ‘Pig’ was considered the aircraft to be wary of, but Red Flag 82 proved beyond a doubt that ‘Pigs can fly’,” he said.

“Our preparations pre-deployment from Australia centred on providing sev-eral hundred radar predictions for each navigator to use during each of their assigned Red Flag sorties, as well as for the training sorties before Red Flag proper.

“For the uninitiated, a radar predic-tion is a hand-rendered picture of what the navigator is likely to see on his radar-scope of an area at a given moment in time, from a specific altitude, above ground level, and on a given heading.

“These predictions were calculated and depicted at specified distances from the aircraft from 100nm to 30nm to 5nm out from the turn point or target.”

FLTLT Tanner said they were also predicted at different scales to match the capabilities of the radarscope presenta-tion.

“In the 1980s, the F-111C was con-sidered ‘state-of-the-art’, just as the E-3A and KC-30A aircraft are in today’s Air Force,” he said.

“Like its modern day counterparts, the ‘Pig’ flew some extraordinary mis-sions at Red Flag 82.

“Akin to the F-35A’s stealth capa-bilities, the 1SQN aircraft succeeded in remaining undetected and unopposed at or below 500ft AGL inbound to their targets under the cover of darkness, rely-ing on aircrew experience and skill along with accurate radar prediction materials for the three- to four-hour flights.”

FLTLT Tanner said 35 years ago stealth was simply the results of great aircrew training.

“They had trust in the capabilities of their aircraft and trust in the abilities of ground crew to supply a serviceable and reliable aircraft and the intelligence staff

to accurately predict radar ‘pictures’ for the navigator,” he said.

He said there was an interesting mix of participating aircraft, including the F-4E, F-5E, F-15C, F-16CJ, EF-111A, F-4 Wild Weasel, E-3A AWAC, RAF F3 Tornado, S2 Buccaneer and RAAF C-130Es.

FLTLT Tanner said they initially deployed in October 1982 to Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho for in-country familiarisation flying during which RAAF aircraft flew long-duration sorties across the northern and central US.

“Following several weeks of famil-iarisation, we deployed to Nellis for Red Flag 82,” he said.

“What I enjoyed most about working with the Americans during the exercise was being able to do close-up inspec-tions of the USAF EF-111A Raven and F-111A aircraft.

“Also, working with USAF intelli-gence staff and comparing production methods for radar predictions and other aspects of mission planning – we learnt from each other.”

Another highlight included com-paring radar prediction methodologies between the two air forces and the use of in-flight recordings of missions via radarscope photography and other cam-eras for mission debriefs.

“Probably the main highlight of working with USAF personnel, though, was their eagerness to learn how we pre-pared the aircrew mission packages in comparison to how they did it. Our meth-ods provided greater and more accurate mission data for our aircrew,” FLTLT Tanner said.

He said long hours were worked to support the aircrew during Red Flag 82.

“Pre-mission briefings to ensure all radar predictions were included in the navigator’s flight package, and offset aiming points were explained,” he said.

“Post-mission briefings to determine the accuracy of the mission’s radar pre-dictions was mandatory, as was the eval-uation of target acquisition and weapon accuracy from radarscope imagery.”

Exercise Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat training exercise, hosted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, that has been staged with allied air forces since 1975. The most recent was held from January 23 to February 10 this year.

Our Red Flag coverage recalled the 1982 exercise and F-111Cs, SGT Dave Morley writes

Proof that ‘pigs’ can fly

Six F-111Cs of 1SQN on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, US, prior to Exercise Red Flag 02.

Photo: SGT Glen McCarthy

FLTLT Ric Tanner (retd) in 1982.

Feature RCEAIR F April 6, 201716

Line of Fire Author: Ian TownsendPublisher: Fourth Estate Publishing RRP: $30Reviewer: SGT Dave Morley

THIS book sheds light on an obscure incident that occurred in May 1942 in Rabaul, the former capital of New Guinea, where an 11-year-old Australian boy, Dickie Manson, was executed as a spy by Japanese troops.

It starts in Adelaide in the early 1930s, when Dickie’s mother Marjorie Manson, facing the stigma of being an unmarried mother, follows Dickie’s father to the Kalgoorlie goldfields and later to Brisbane.

In Brisbane Marjorie meets Rabaul plantation owner Ted Harvey, who is in town to leave his wife for psychiat-ric treatment, and returns with him and Dickie to Rabaul.

Well-known prize-winning journal-ist and author Ian Townsend said, after writing two historical novels, he was looking for a way to tell an Australian story about Rabaul during WWII.

“The name Rabaul doesn’t resonate in Australia as a battlefield, certainly not like Kokoda or Gallipoli or Tobruk does, and it dawned on me most peo-

Untold story comes to life

ple in Australia had pretty much for-gotten Rabaul,” he said.

“I read about an Australian fam-ily called Harvey, which included a mother and her young son, executed for espionage just after the invasion.

“They were mentioned in passing in various books, but there was little information about who they were and what they’d done.

“Their story seemed extraordinary, so I decided to track them down and, instead of writing a novel, I decided to write a non-fiction book about what was obviously an incident Australians knew little about.”

Alongside the story of Marjorie and Dickie, the author weaves in sto-ries of Rabaul’s devastating volcan-ic eruptions, the surreal lifestyle of

its Australian residents, the Japanese invasion and the desperate escape attempts by the remnants of the 2/22nd Battalion and others.

A comprehensive postscript lists the fates of the book’s main characters, and detailed notes and references indi-cate where the author found much of his information.

Townsend said ADF members should read this book as “to under-stand our place in the region, we need to know our history”.

“In February, we heard a lot about the 75th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore and the bombing of Darwin,” he said.

“What wasn’t said was that, four weeks before the bombing of Darwin, Australian territory was invaded by a huge Japanese force and most of the nearly 2000 Australian military personnel and civilians who were in Rabaul the week before the invasion were dead within six months.”

Townsend has done an excellent job with his research and readers will find Line of Fire hard to put down.

Air Force News has a signed copy of Line of Fire to give away to a lucky reader. To win, email airforcenews@defencenews.gov.au to enter a draw before April 14.

Dickie Manson (circa 1930s), the Australian boy shot as a spy in Rabaul during WWII. Photo: Manson family

Look forward

A GLOBAL benchmark in com-bat airlift training made its international debut at RAAF Base Richmond.From March 6 to 16, RAAF C-130J

and C-17A crews were joined by their Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H counterparts to undergo instruc-tion from the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Centre (AATTC).

Established in 1983, the AATTC is staffed by the United States Air Force (USAF) 139th Airlift Wing, and teach-es personnel how to best overcome the threats faced on combat airlift opera-tions.

It is considered a global benchmark for airlift training, and the RAAF has traditionally sent a single Hercules or C-17A crew to Missouri each year for AATTC training.

Bringing AATTC staff to Australia for the first time in 2017 has allowed the RAAF and RNZAF to qualify more airlift crews than has traditionally been possible in the US.

AATTC courses typically focus on the threats and weapons employed by adversaries during combat operations, according to LTCOL Erik Smith of the 139th Airlift Wing.

“We really focus on multiple aspects of analysing an adversary’s threat, devel-oping tactics techniques and procedures, and translating that into training that is effective for aircrews in order to survive the threat,” LTCOL Smith said.

“This course traditionally focused on C-130 capabilities, and over the past 25 years has expanded to multiple plat-forms.”

Threats range from small arms such as AK-47s and other rifles, through to shoulder-launched surface-to-air mis-siles, and larger anti-aircraft artillery sys-tems.

While such threats have been preva-lent for decades, their use and employ-ment by adversaries can evolve, making AATTC training all the more essential.

“We try to give the background and history of different threat systems, how they are constructed, how they operate, and how we anticipate our adversaries will employ them,” LTCOL Smith said.

“We match that up with the best tac-tic and counter-tactic to survive those threats if we’re not otherwise able to deny or degrade that threat.”

With that background, students planned and executed low-level airlift missions from RAAF Base Richmond against simulated threats.

Coordinating the AATTC courses for the RAAF element was FLTLT Dane

Johnson, a C-130J Captain with No. 37 Squadron.

“This is an aircrew training course where pilots are taught to threat-react, and to plan and fly the missions,” FLTLT Johnson said.

“That’s side-by-side with an intel-ligence course, where we have intelli-gence officers that we work very closely with.”

Mirroring real-world operations, the course provides training for intelligence officers that is relevant to planning of airlift missions.

“They develop the intelligence product, help the aircrew plan the mis-sion, and will actually go along on the (AATTC) mission to see how we fly it,” FLTLT Johnson said.

“That will allow them to better brief and develop the course of action in the future.”

The AATTC missions included air-drops to nearby Londonderry Drop Zone, as well as simulated airdrops and landing at regional airfields.

FLTLT Steve Buckland, a C-130J Captain with 37SQN, said the training he received during AATTC would con-tinue to benefit RAAF airlift crews in the Middle East and other operational environments.

“I’ve managed to not only refresh my own knowledge of threats and how we deal with threats to our aircraft, I’ve advanced it, and I’ve learned some different ways of dealing with those threats,” FLTLT Buckland said.

“That’s enhanced my knowledge and professional development, and that’s going to put me in good stead when I go back into those environments.”

“That’ll enable us to keep our crew, our passengers and our cargo safer when we deliver them into threat environ-ments.”

The RNZAF likewise has a commit-ment to provide airlift support for its deployed personnel in the Middle East.

That makes AATTC courses essen-tial for RNZAF C-130H aircrew such as FLGOFF Ed Drane from No. 40 Squadron, RNZAF.

“For me, I’ve got a huge amount out of it,” FLGOFF Drane said.

Much of the low-level flying in the course was conducted within the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, which was a highlight.

“We did a low-level awareness train-er, and it was pretty much like a race-course through the hills, where we learnt how to manoeuvre the aircraft to the maximum of its abilities – that was a first for me and it was enjoyable.”

FeatureRCEAIR F April 6, 2017 17

Delivering the goodsA USAF advanced airlift course has been held in Australia for the first time, Eamon Hamilton writes

FLTLT Jimmy Davidson of 40SQN Royal New Zealand Air Force, FLTLT Kate Sewell of 87SQN and MAJ Chad Huskamp of the US Air National Guard, attend the Advanced Airlift Tactics and Training Centre course at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo: SGT Guy Young

FLTLT Doug Izatt, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with 36SQN, monitors the terrain during a defensive systems training exercise above the Blue Mountains. Photo: STAFF SGT Patrick Evenson

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CPL Max Bree

A FORMER airman who helped bring Caribous back from Vietnam retired last year after nearly 51 years in the Air Force.

WGCDR Peter Rothwell (retd) grew up in Tully, north Queensland and joined the Air Force as an apprentice in 1965 aged 15.

“My mum said it would be good to get a trade but then Vietnam came up and she wasn’t very happy,” he said.

“But the line was too long and I wouldn’t have got to properly deploy there until the mid-70s.”

He graduated as an instrument fit-ter two years later and served in Townsville, then Edinburgh, where he first laid eyes on visiting Caribous, an aircraft he would later grow to love.

“I thought it was a funny looking thing,” he said.

“It was made of thin sheet metal and looked awkward.

“But when you got it up in the air you saw what they could do with it, you could respect it. It became the ugly duckling; it was an awkward bird until it took off.”

Peter helped bring the Caribous back from Vietnam in 1972 and spent time working on the aircraft while posted to No. 35 Squadron.

“You could work hard to keep that thing going and doing its job,” he said.

“It was just so much fun, with where it took us and what you could do to keep it maintained.”

Due to the Caribous’ simple ana-logue systems, Peter was cross-trained to work on the aircraft’s avionics com-ponents and assisted with engines and airframes.

“The hard work was filling up the oil all the time,” he said. “It seemed as if it used as much oil as fuel.”

Peter served as a UN peacekeeper maintaining white Caribous in India and Pakistan during 1975.

“That certainly was an experience of a lifetime,” he said.

“The work was totally different; the scenery and flying aspects were tremen-dous.”

In 1982, Peter commissioned as an instrument officer and continued work-ing until retiring from the permanent Air Force in 2005.

He started with Air Lift Group as a reservist that year before becoming an Air Force Cadets liaison officer, an organisation of which he was a member of in 1963 and ’64.

“My career was challenging, but the most rewarding period would be my time with the cadets,” he said.

“I was able to assist our youth with their aspirations and watch their pro-gress through many years.”

For this work Peter received a CAF Commendation in 2014.

Time started to creep up on Peter and he retired from the reserves towards the end of 2016.

Dedicated to the core

Above: Former members of 35SQN and 38SQN Richard Jones, John McDougall, Don Payne, Aussie Pratt, Peter Rothwell, and Stew McAlister at the 35SQN re-dedication parade last year.Photo: CPL Veronica O’Hara

Left: Peter’s UN peacekeeping attachment in 1975.

Feature RCEAIR F April 6, 201718

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CPL Mark Doran

COMMANDERS now have greater awareness and are notified faster about the key health management informa-tion of their subordinates following enhancements to the Defence e-Health system (DeHS).

Joint Health Command has intro-duced an automated notification system whereby the PMKeyS-listed military supervisors of ADF members receive either an email or SMS advis-ing when a subordinate is recommend-ed for medical absence, or their medi-cal restrictions change.

The messages do not contain med-ical-in-confidence information and will not be sent if the PMKeyS-listed supervisor is a civilian.

Director-General Strategic Health Coordination BRIG Len Brennan said the messages would be brief and sent by the commander’s preferred method of contact listed on the DeHS.

“This simple initiative is aimed to improve communications between commanders and their soldiers, to ensure safe employment of the mem-ber,” he said.

“In all cases the ADF member is still required to present the PM101 ‘chit’ to their military or civilian supervisor.”

WHILE the primary focus of DeHS is to provide a clinical health manage-ment tool to centralise and manage ADF health records, Defence plans to progressively extend the system’s functionality to other projects.

The ADF Deployable Health Capability (JP2060) project will deliv-er health capability across operation-al environments, while the Defence

Management Systems Improvement (JP2080) project will improve the functionality of Defence’s corporate support systems and the interchange of information between systems.

DeHS is also expected to link with the national Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) being implemented by the Department of Health as part of

the National e-Health Strategy. This means DeHS will have the capabil-ity to interact with PCEHR for the interchange of health information across the private and public health systems.

Members will be able to consent to their participation in the PCEHR system while in Defence and when they discharge.

Tap into e-Health

BRIG Brennan urged all person-nel to check their PMKeyS supervisor details were accurate.

In some cases, commanders may prefer to change their preferred meth-od of contact and this can be done by contacting their local health centre.

The system was introduced last month following a successful trial last year at SOCOMD.

The DeHS contains the medical records of all ADF members since November 14, 2016.

Since March 1, 2017, DeHS automatically alerts a member’s supervisor of recommendations for medical absence or change in restrictions.

DeHS notifications do not contain medical information.

Personnel must still provide their supervisor with the PM101 ‘chit’.

Medical absence must be approved by the appropriate officer within the member’s chain of command.

PMKeyS-listed supervisors of ADF members will receive an SMS or email advising when

a subordinate is recommended for absence. Photo: CPL Mark Doran

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19April 6, 2017RCEAIR F Personnel

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20 April 6, 2017RCEAIR FPersonnel

Monique Mendez

A NEW pay system called Defence One, Release 1a (R1a) for permanent ADF members will be launched on August 7. Payroll in the new system will be automat-ed based on personal and operational data.

Director General Personnel Air Force AIRCDRE Henrik Ehlers said it was “critical that you understand your ongoing responsibility to ensure leave, pay, allow-ances and payroll deductions accurately reflect your personal circumstances”.

“Accuracy of your personal details in PMKeyS is important for ensuring the pay and leave benefits are correct,” AIRCDRE Ehlers said.

All members should log in through the PMKeyS Self Service portal (in the Essentials list on the DRN home page) before August 7 and ensure the following details are correct:

• Rank• Contact details• Emergency contact details and next

of kin• Dependant details• Categorisation• Position details including location• Allowances• Leave data including absence entitle-

ment, outstanding absence applica-tions and denied absence applications

“To avoid over- or under-payments and discrepancies with leave, personnel need to be proactive in managing their personal details. Most details can be updated in PMKeyS Self Service,” AIRCDRE Ehlers said.

Members who have difficulty updat-ing information in PMKeyS Self Service should seek advice from unit adminis-tration staff, the Defence Service Centre (DSC) or the Self Service user guides, which can be accessed through PMKeyS Self Service.

If categorisation details are incorrect members should contact their orderly room or unit administration, or complete the appropriate form (AD291 or AA157) to amend their details.

AIRCDRE Ehlers said supervisors had an important role to play in ensuring the correct pay and benefits were being received “by approving leave, allowance and personal administration requests in a timely manner”.

It is essential that member details are correct to enable a smooth transition to Defence One, Release 1a.

For more information and updates visit the Defence One website (http://ciogintranet/organisation/HRDD/Projects/DefenceOne/Pages/default.aspx) on the DRN.

Accuracy pays off

THREE officer cadets have left their mark on future generations of maintenance personnel at No. 35 Squadron.

The major systems of the C-27J Spartan are now displayed as a mural inside the 35SQN Maintenance Cell at RAAF Base Richmond.

The mural was coordinated by OFFCDTs Amy Lynn, Casey Lewis and Gaurav Gandhi, who are all studying engineering at ADFA. Each of them was attached to 35SQN for two weeks work experience at Richmond in January and February.

CO 35SQN WGCDR Jarrod Pendlebury said the mural was a legacy for the unit.

“This provides existing information on the major systems of the Spartan but in a more open and accessible format for our workforce,” he said.

“It is intended to assist communication of technical ideas and will enable a collaborative approach to systems familiarisation and trouble-shooting where the size of the group hampers the use of iPads or computers.”

The Spartan is still new to Air Force, making it all the more important for the 35SQN workforce to understand what makes the aircraft “tick”. To that end, the OFFCDTs took technical illustra-tions of the aircraft, divided them into the major subsystems (including hydraulics, avionics and cargo systems) and put them on the wall.

OFFCDT Casey Lewis said the mural would help streamline procedures at the squadron.

“Addressing a need and producing something that would be used by the squadron was very valuable to us,” OFFCDT Lewis said.

“The project was a great example of team-work within Air Force. We had to rely on a lot of people to complete our task.”

As each officer cadet completed their two weeks at 35SQN they handed over responsibil-ity of the project to their replacement. The mural was officially unveiled on February 24.

From left, officer cadets Amy Lynn, Casey Lewis and Gaurav Gandhi, with the systems board they delivered during their work experience with 35SQN at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo: Eamon Hamilton

Right things on the wall

21April 6, 2017RCEAIR F Flightline

Who’s leaving after 20+ yearsDEPARTURE LOUNGE

Name Must/Spec Last day Years

WGCDR James Pritchard PCO Feb 13 41

SQNLDR Paul Ashby ELECTR Feb 19 40

SGT Allan Davidson ATECH Feb 5 38

WOFF Milos Krcevinac WOD Feb 14 38

GPCAPT David Millar ACO Feb 14 35

WOFF Wayne Hicks AVTECH Feb 5 34

CPL Geraldine Bainrot ASOP Feb 1 28

GPCAPT Richard Trotman-Dickenson INTELO Feb 4 27

SGT Glenn McGregor FIREFTR Feb 27 27

SGT Damian Ewing ATECH Feb 10 27

FSGT Craig Templar SUP Feb 13 26

SQNLDR Kenneth Harrison GRDEF Feb 26 23

CPL Kenneth Friend ARMTECH Feb 10 22

FLTLT Justin Schultz PLT Feb 26 21

SGT Nicole Stubbs CISCON Feb 20 21

SGT Grant Dore AVTECH Feb 26 21

FLTLT Nadiah Smith AERO Feb 5 20

LAC Luke Reeves, of 65SQN, demonstrates a bobcat during the airshow at Avalon. Photos: CPL Mark Doran

CPL Natasha Ramshaw and BD (bred dog) Sol inside an F/A-18 Hornet at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon.Photo: CPL Ben Dempster

LAC Justin Starrenburg, of 65SQN’s Explosive

Ordnance Disposal Flight, inspects the

results of Harvey Hansen’s detection

efforts at Avalon.

Members of 65SQN display their engineering

equipment at Avalon.

LACW Stacey Lesbirel, of 3AMES, discusses the

C-130 Hercules medical configuration to Phyllis

Chang during the airshow.

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MOST people who have had a medical procedure would have received an anaesthetic.After a recent procedure when a specialist anaesthetist cared for me, I began to wonder about anaes-thetics. What does an anaesthetist con-sider before administering them? What should patients be aware of before and after receiving them?

There are a number of anaesthe-tists in the ADF employed in hospitals within Australia and on exercises and operations overseas. One of them is Navy’s LCDR John Ellingham.

“Anaesthesia is a reversible pro-cess whereby reflexes are suppressed, conscious state may be altered and pain relief where needed is provided,” LCDR Ellingham said.

“Anaesthesia allows surgical or other procedures to proceed comforta-bly and safely with as little other effect to the health of the patient as possible.”

Anaesthesia is divided into four different categories: local, regional, sedation, and general anaesthesia.

“Most people are familiar with the local form, usually administered in procedures such as to suture a cut, remove a mole or to have dental work performed,” LCDR Ellingham said.

“Regional anaesthesia is used to numb a limb or a major area of the body. One example of this is an epi-

The truth about anaestheticWO2 Andrew Hetherington speaks to specialist anaesthetist and officer LCDR John Ellingham

dural used to provide pain relief for women in labour.”

LCDR Ellingham said sedation and general anaesthesia were used for more complex procedures.

“Sedation has become more com-mon for day surgical procedures, such as an endoscopy. In this setting the medicines increase comfort and

allay anxiety sufficiently, so a general anaesthetic is not necessary,” he said.

“General anaesthesia is common for more complicated procedures. In this case the patient is unconscious during the procedure. All of these techniques may be used singly or in combination. Before your procedure your anaesthetist will consider the

options to provide you with the best conditions for your surgery.”

Before receiving an anaesthetic, LCDR Ellingham said patients fill out a medical history questionnaire.

“For us it’s critical to ascertain if the patient has any allergies to medica-tions or anything else such as food and chemicals,” he said.

“A family history of adverse reac-tions to anaesthetic drugs is important for us to know. Different forms of dis-ease, the presence of blood loss and pregnancy are examples of conditions that affect how the body deals with anaesthetic drugs.”

Before surgery, patients can follow a few simple steps to give themselves the best chance of complete and com-fortable recovery.

“As surgery and anaesthesia place stress on the body, your general physi-cal condition is an important factor in how well you tolerate any procedure,” LCDR Ellingham said.

“Being fit and well rested, and reducing or ceasing smoking and alco-hol consumption pre-operatively is helpful.”

Following a procedure, patients receive instructions to manage recov-ery.

“It’s best to plan for time off and to expect not to drive, use heavy machin-ery, or make important decisions for 24 hours after leaving hospital,” LCDR Ellingham said.

“Most modern anaesthetics are rap-idly removed from the body and in general have little effect long-term.

“It’s important to plan for a rela-tive or friend to be with you after the operation, so they can assist recovery.”

SAFELY REDUCING PAINLCDR John Ellingham said Australia was one of the safest places in the world to receive an anaesthetic.

“Australian anaesthetists go through an extensive training process,” he said.

“To become a specialist in anaesthesia takes many years. In addition to becoming a medical doctor, which can take from five to eight years of university, there is a period of specialty training.

“Specialty training of five years begins after two or three years of working as a general hospital doctor.

“There’s a lot of study and many theoretical and clinical examinations to sit, in addition to day-to-day on-the-job training in the hospital.”

LCDR Ellingham trained and worked in Australia but has spent

LCDR John Ellingham administers an anaesthetic to a patient before their surgery. Photos: WO2 Andrew Hetherington

time working overseas in South Korea and the United States. He has been a doctor for more than 25 years and a specialist in anaesthesia for 15.

Anaesthesia is his main field. He has also worked in critical care and aeromedical retrieval.

22 April 6, 2017RCEAIR FHealth & Fitness

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