Australian Military Fills Role Vital to War on Terror

4-Jun-07
By Senior Airman Clark Staehle
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Most tasks wouldn’t happen without teamwork, and the same holds true for the Global War on Terrorism. Many countries comprise the Coalition forces that augment the U.S. military’s presence in Southwest Asia, including the Australian military.

Here, the Royal Australian Air Force contributes planes and personnel, which are used to support other RAAF and Coalition operations in throughout the area of responsibility.

“I command a Royal Australian Air Force RAAF C-130 Hercules detachment of about 155 personnel that provides intra-theater airlift and sustainment support in the Middle East, with three transport aircraft, ground crew and other support elements,” said Wing Commander Rob Williams, Task Group 633.4 commander.

The RAAF has more than just planes and pilots here though. There are several Australian servicemembers who provide support from the Combined Air Operations Center. There, they provide intelligence for other Australian assets in the AOR.

“(We) provide air asset support to ensure that the Australian whole-of-government effort to rehabilitate Iraq and stabilize Afghanistan is successful,” said Leading Aircraftsman Mark Sweeney, Task Group 633.4 A2 Intelligence clerk.

The RAAF also has personnel there whose job it is to plan, publish and coordinate the detachment’s missions here. This includes ensuring any cargo its planes may be carrying arrives to its destination on time.

“(I help support GWOT) by ensuring that every available inch and pound of RAAF C-130 pallet space is allocated and arrives in the right place at the right time, carrying Australian or Coalition freight or (passengers),” said Squadron Leader Buzz Lawson, Task Group 633.4 A3-A5 C-130 air operations and planning.

Additionally, the Australian government also provides support for GWOT in other ways. They also have an overwatch battle group, which patrols provinces in Iraq. The country also works hand in hand with Dutch personnel in Afghanistan. Like the U.S. military, the RAAF also operates a version of the plane the U.S. Navy uses here, the P-3 Orion, which helps support Coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

“In addition to the C-130 detachment, we also have a RAAF AP-3C Orion detachment of about 170 personnel that conducts maritime patrol operations, with two aircraft and associated command and support elements from a separate base in the Middle East,” Wing Commander Williams said. “The RAAF also has a number of staff embedded within Coalition headquarters throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The relatively small detachment of RAAF servicemembers provides vital support needed to the rest of its forces throughout Southwest Asia.

“Our role here with the C-130s keeps all of this functioning,” said Squadron Leader Shane Peacey, a Task Group 633.4 C-130 pilot. “Although a small force, we Australians can pack a significant punch.”

Wing Commander Williams agreed that the RAAF provide essential services to the Coalition forces throughout the AOR.

“It provides Australian Defense Force personnel an opportunity to strengthen and continue the long history of cooperation between Australian and the U.S. and other coalition nations,” he said.

Photo - Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Buzz Lawson, Task Grouop 633.4 A3-A5 C-130 Air Operations and Planning, works out flying schedules using a map of the area of responsibility. Photo by Senior Airman Clark Staehle.

Group of Australians making a difference

Sunday, 15 April 2007
By Major John McPherson

CAMP VICTORY — There is a small group of Australian Defence Force people working in and around Baghdad who are currently making a big difference to the progress of the coalition in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.

They are an unusual group in that they are embedded into elements of the multi national force headquarters run by our major coalition partner, the United States, and work not only with Americans but also people from a number of other nationalities.

Based predominantly out of the Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace - with a number within the International Zone in Baghdad proper - the reputations of these 27 Australians are held high throughout the coalition. They are a mix of Army, Navy and Air Force commissioned and non-commissioned officers and their duties directly affect the outcomes of the coalition operation.

They are employed in all facets from troop movement, resource and sustainment, telecommunications, intelligence, explosive ordinance advice, engineering and legal … all the way through to designing and maintaining web pages and troop morale.

And the group is just as diverse as their jobs.

"The most junior member of the group - and only female - is Army Corporal Rebecca Kane who is responsible for the movement of all embedded coalition (non-US) troops into and out of the theatre,” said Flight Sergeant Matt Clarke, who's involved in signals and communications. “The most senior, Royal Australian Navy Captain Paul Kinghorne, is chief of resource and sustainment."

Most are specialists in their respective areas of expertise. Another giving witness to this is LTCOL Craig Hersant who has a highly important role as part the Multi National Corp - Iraq in which he has responsibility for the tasking and operation of a wide range of surveillance assets.

Matt Clarke says without doubt the larrikin of the group would be Navy Chief Petty Officer, Jamie McGinley, who takes his role as a Sergeant Major extremely seriously. "But he's also a bit of a softy and is known to often visit injured coalition troops in the combat hospital and share a few well received Aussie stories," says Matt.

These members of the Australian Defence Force work tirelessly with their American and coalition counterparts day-in and day-out and are essentially the front line operators - although they never fire a shot.

The good old Aussie "G'day Mate" is often heard throughout the halls of the Al Faw Palace headquarters although, sometimes, with a range of American and other country accents.

Although most of the embeds sleep in the same facilities as the rest of the Australians at Camp Victory they can sometimes be overlooked in the wider scheme of things because they aren't seen in the daily work environment with everyone else.

But there should be no doubting the impact their contribution is having on the wider coalition efforts to restore this country to its former grandeur and their work deserves to be fully recognized on the broadest possible front.