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FORCEAIRVol. 52, No. 1, February 4, 2010 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

OFF TO HAITI

Air traffic specialists to help control

disaster zoneBy FLTLT Jaimie Abbott

THEY’RE among the most sought-after in the world, and now a team of RAAF air traffic control officers (ATCOs) have been hand-picked to assist relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Five personnel have deployed to Haiti where they will be embedded with a US Air Force team to provide specialist air traffic control duties including tower and approach control in the disaster zone.

FLGOFF Laura Vize and FLTLTs Aaron Doherty, John Woodhouse, Joel Adelstein and Matthew Ferguson-Mclellan were on a short-notice stand-by when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement on January 23. They have been drawn from air traffic control detachments across Australia that belong to Surveillance and Response Group’s 44WG.

“Our ability to quickly mobilise this team of highly specialised air traffic con-trollers at relatively short notice reflects our tactical flexibility and builds on the experience gained from running air traf-fic control operations in the Middle East at Baghdad Airport and Balad,” CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin said.

With so many aid flights attempting to get into Haiti there have been delays at the main airport, from where US forces are operating.

The ATCOs chosen for this mission will work to improve the safety and air traffic flow from airports where aid flights are now being sent, to ensure emergency assistance is received and moved quickly through the Caribbean nation.

Continued Page 2

Super Hornet preparations

PAGES 8-9

Wedgetail contract signed

PAGE 3

FULLY PREPARED: A team of air traffic control officers from 44WG have deployed to earthquake-ravaged Haiti to assist in the US-led relief efforts. Pictured are three of the five team members at RAAF Base Williamtown before departing. From left, FLTLT Aaron Doherty, FLTLT John Woodhouse and FLGOFF Laura Vize. Photo: LAC Mark Friend

2 News AIR FORCE February 4, 2010

Advertising managerTim Asher: (07) 3332 76510414 552 [email protected]

Postal address:R8–LG–048, Russell OfficesCanberra, ACT 2600

DisclaimerAIR FORCE News is published fortnightly by the Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Printed by Capital Fine Print. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising if it is deemed inappropriate and to change the size of the ad, print type or other specifications if material is not compatible with our system. The fact an ad is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service has the endorsement of Defence or AIR FORCE News.

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From Page 1

“We are really proud to play our part in being able to provide assist-ance necessary for the reconstruction of Haiti,” team OIC FLTLT Matthew Ferguson-Mclellan said.

The death toll from the 7.0 mag-nitude quake on January 12 contin-ues to rise, but more than 112,000 are confirmed dead, and almost 200,000 people are injured.

The relief effort has now turned to the one million people who are home-less, and locals continue to search through rubble to find loved ones until all hope is gone.

In such a desperate environ-ment any hand on deck is welcome, and OC 44WG GPCAPT Forster Breckenridge said RAAF ATCOs have an excellent reputation interna-tionally.

“44WG personnel were sent to the earthquake-ravaged Indonesian city of Banda Aceh following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami,” GPCAPT

Heron UAV takes to the skies in Afghanistan

Haiti, here Haiti, here we comewe come

The first Australian-leased Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has begun operations supporting Australian troops in Afghanistan. It is seen left in flight over Kandahar Airfield.Pictured below, Heron Detachment Commander WGCDR Steve Williams (centre left) thanks Mark Levack, site manager with Heron contractor MDA, after the final touches were completed on the UAV. These final touches, including the RAAF Roundel, paved the way for the Australian Kandahar-based contingent to begin flying operations with the Heron. Joining the celebratory moment are, from left, Air Component Commander (ACC) elect, GPCAPT Don Thornton; current ACC, GPCAPT Gary Martin; and MDA representatives Dan Booth, Dave Ritchie, and Tom Allmendinger.

Full report on the Heron � next edition

Breckenridge said. “We’ve previous-ly deployed to Baghdad and Balad in Iraq, Sinai, Somalia, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Banda Aceh and Sudan.”

Air Traffic Control Tactical Operations Specialist SQNLDR Michael Duyvene De Wit said 44WG personnel were highly trained to pro-vide integrated civil/military air traf-fic services to support humanitarian assistance operations when emergen-cies occurred.

“We are trained in a diversity of battlefield airspace management skills in addition to core air traffic control competencies,” SQNLDR Duyvene De Wit said.

This is not the first time RAAF ATCOs have worked closely with their US counterparts.

“The Australians’ skills sets and methods of operations are well known and understood by both forc-es, following their deployment to Iraq,” Commander Surveillance and

Response Group AIRCDRE Jim Brown said.

It is not known how long 44WG

personnel will be deployed to Haiti for, but this mission could last at least two months.

See upcoming editions of AIR FORCE News for updates on the team’s progress in Haiti.

PROUD RECORD: OIC FLTLT Matthew Ferguson-Mclellan stands in front of his contingent headed for Haiti, from left, FLTLT Aaron Doherty, FLGOFF Laura Vize, FLTLT John Woodhouse and FLTLT Joel Adelstein. EPhoto: LAC Mark Friend

Photo: CPL Andrew Eddie

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3 NewsAIR FORCE February 4, 2010

By FLTLT Jaimie Abbott

THE wheels are fast-in-motion at RAAF Base Williamtown follow-ing the delivery of the first two Wedgetail aircraft.

More than 100 jobs are set to be created in the Newcastle area, after Boeing signed an $800 million con-tract to provide through-life support services for the new Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) fleet.

Hundreds turned out for the official contract signing ceremony, including personnel from 2SQN, 42WG, the AEW&C Systems Program Office and Boeing.

After the ceremony, guests were able to take a rare glimpse inside the Wedgetail to inspect the 10 state-of-the-art mission crew consoles that are able to track airborne and mari-time targets simultaneously, while maintaining continuous surveillance of the operational area.

The first two Wedgetails from an eventual family of six were delivered to Williamtown in November. The remaining aircraft will be progres-sively delivered to the base this year.

Flight, mission and mainte-nance crews from 2SQN are now conducting familiarisation training, ahead of formal acceptance by the Commonwealth of the modified Boeing 737 aircraft.

AEW&C Program Manager AVM Chris Deeble said the five-year performance-based contract would allow for the necessary infrastruc-ture to be developed to support the capability.

“It will cover deeper level main-tenance, technical services, training and logistics support,” AVM Deeble said.

“Establishing such a program for the aircraft ahead of formal accept-ance will help ensure the long-term success of this world-first system.”

The contract will pump a healthy cash injection into the local economy with over 100 new jobs to be cre-ated in the Hunter Region, including engineering, logistics, maintenance, training and supply positions.

Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Minister Greg Combet, who signed the contract, said it would also provide continued and new employment for more than 100 per-sonnel at Amberley over the next 12 months, which would have positive flow-on effects for local businesses.

Embedded in the fine print are details on how Boeing Defence Australia will support the Wedgetail’s air and ground segments, while sub-

Wedgetail is all go

contractor Northrop Grumman will sustain the Multirole Electronically Scanned Array radar.

Mr Combet said the ultimate aim is to reduce the cost to Defence and the Commonwealth into the future.

“It links contractor profits directly to contractor performance, thereby promoting greater efficiency and delivering real cost saving,” Mr Combet said.

The Wedgetail project is not just about the aircraft with a giant exter-nal radar fin.

It comes as a package – with the associated ground support seg-ments, such as the Operational Flight Trainer, Operational Mission Simulator and Mission Support System.

All of these program elements are located at Williamtown.

PRIZE ARRIVAL: Above, 2SQN’s CPL Kelly Hyland and OFFCDT Sarah Briese with the squadron’s two Wedgetail aircraft. Photo: CPL David GibbsIT’S OFFICIAL: Left, Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Minister Greg Combet signs the contract for the Wedgetail through-life support services. Photo: ACW Amy Trebilco

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CONGRATULATIONS to the fol-lowing Air Force members for be-ing recognised on the 2010 Austral-ia Day Honours List.

Member (AM) in the Military DivisionAVM Mark SkidmoreFor exceptional service as the Air Commander Australia, as the Director General-Air Joint Operations Command, and as the Joint Force Air Component Commander.

WGCDR Jason MurrayFor exceptional service to the Air Force in the fields of project man-agement, aircraft engineering and technical training.

WGCDR Simon Sauer For exceptional service to the Air Force as the Staff Officer Force Protection at Headquarters Combat Support Group and as CO of the RAAF Security and Fire School.

Medal (OAM) in the Military DivisionGPCAPT Alan Holtfreter For meritorious service in the field of military air traffic control capability.

WOFF Kevin LeahyFor meritorious service to the Air Force in the field of ground engi-neering.

WOFF Anthony LockFor meritorious service in the field of aircraft maintenance and in establishing revised Air Force maintenance governance.

Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)GPCAPT Gary Martin For outstanding achievement as the Director C-17A Transition Team during the introduction of the C-17A Globemaster III air-craft into service.

WGCDR Philip ArmsFor outstanding achievement as Deputy Director, Aircrew Sustainability Project.

WGCDR David AshworthFor outstanding achievement as CO 1 Recruit Training Unit.

WGCDR Nicholas Clarke MBEFor outstanding achievement as the Staff Officer Grade 1 Satellite Communications in the Directorate of Communications and Network Operations within the Chief Information Officer Group.

WOFF Paul MartinFor outstanding achievement as the Warrant Officer Engineer at 37SQN.

Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)WGCDR Stephen MallettFor meritorious achievement as Staff Officer Technical Capability at Headquarters Combat Support Group at RAAF Base Amberley.

SQNLDR Stephen ClarkeFor meritorious achievement as a Qualified Flying Instructor within 82WG.

SQNLDR Nicholas ElliottFor meritorious achievement as Senior Engineering Officer at 11SQN.

SQNLDR Adam LoongFor meritorious achievement as B Flight Commander at 2 Operational Conversion Unit.

FSGT Adrian LeeFor meritorious achievement as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of the Avionics section at 3SQN.

CONSPICIOUS SERVICE MEDALS: Top, SQNLDR Adam Loong; above, FSGT Adrian Lee.ORDER OF AUSTRALIA: Right, AVM Mark Skidmore.

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5 InternationalAIR FORCE February 4, 2010

By LT Madeline Denholm

A SIGNIFICANT enhancement to the supporting capability for Austral-ia’s operations in the Middle East has come online at the ADF’s forward support base in the Gulf.

Constructed at a cost of almost $8 million, the new aircraft maintenance hangar was officially opened by former Commander Joint Task Force 633 MAJGEN Mark Kelly on December 5.

“This is a significant day in the history of the ADF in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO),” MAJGEN Kelly said.

MAJGEN Kelly said the facil-ity was long overdue, particularly for the ADF’s aircraft maintenance and ground crews.

“We’ve got a great facility now to allow you guys to conduct your impor-tant task in maintaining our aircraft, to keep them in a position to maintain and support the rest of the task groups across the MEAO and, in particular, Afghanistan,” he said.

The hangar is large enough to allow the entry and maintenance of one airframe, either an AP-3C or C-130, while the taxi-way and apron facilities are of sufficient strength to cater for a C-17.

Doors openpen in MEAO

IN BRIEF

The facility features an impressive list of statistics: 50 by 55 metres wide; 19 metres high; 45,000 cubic metres in volume; mechanically operated doors weighing six tonnes each; and 4000 cubic metres of concrete poured within the hangar and on the extended ramp space.

Seven Seas Shipchandlers was con-tracted to design the plans and manage the project.

The company’s managing director, CAPT Peter Machado, said it presented some unique challenges.

“Not only was there the need for security, but also there was the actual timeline in which to get the project completed,” CAPT Machado said.

“On top of that, the sheer size of the hangar, which was quite incredible, and the remote location itself were also quite challenging.”

The AP-3Cs have been operating from the base since late 2002 and were joined in recent months by the C-130 detachment, which relocated from another Gulf state.

Throughout that time, the maintain-ers have ensured the aircraft contin-ued to sustain the high rate of effort supporting all operations across the Middle East, often in extreme climatic conditions.

H Q J T F 6 3 3 S e n i o r P r o j e c t Engineer-Gulf States, SQNLDR Gilbert Gonthier, said that work will now be carried out inside the climate controlled hangar.

“During the summer months, tem-peratures on the apron here can exceed 70 degrees,” he said.

“The AP-3C and C-130 maintainers and ground crews will now be able to work under cover in a climate control-led environment where the temperature is maintained at 25 degrees.

“The hangar will permit much bet-ter productivity and it’s certainly going to do a lot for the morale of the crews, which is very important.”

Guard changes in MEAOJOINT Task Group 633 has a new com-mander.

MAJGEN John Cantwell assumed command of the Operation Slipper task force on January 15 from MAJGEN Mark Kelly.

The handover was marked by a parade of ADF personnel at the head-quarters, the lowering of MAJGEN Kelly’s commander’s pennant, which was presented to him, and the signing by both commanders of the certificate of transfer of command.

MAJGEN Kelly said it had been an honour to serve the task force while MAJGEN Cantwell said he looked for-ward to serving the task force over the year ahead.

IT’S OURS: ADF personnel attend the opening ceremony for the hangar while below AIRCDRE Warren Ludwig (left) watches as SQNLDR Gilbert Gonthier and MAJGEN Mark Kelly (right) cut the ribbon. Photos: SGT Rob Nyffenegger

Drawdown in East TimorAUSTRALIAN Forces in East Timor as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) are being reduced by approximately 150 personnel.

The overall size of the joint Australian-New Zealand force will decrease from 800 to 550 personnel.

The decision is based on the con-tinuing calm in the country after the 2008 unrest and follows on from the withdrawal of another 100 personnel in January last year.

Approximately 100 ADF person-nel returned to Australia in December and the remainder will return home by March.

This will leave a force of 400 ADF personnel in East Timor.

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By SGT Andrew Hetherington

AUSTRALIA joined the world-wide cy-ber warfare fight with the official open-ing of the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) on January 15.

Defence investigated about 200 elec-tronic security incidents on its own net-works per month in 2009.

The CSOC was set up in July 2009 at cost of $3 million and is a unit of the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD).

Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner said old assumptions about geo-graphic boundaries and time zones were obsolete.

“Cyberspace is always open for busi-ness,” Senator Faulkner said.

“But this also brings great challenges to those who guard our electronic borders.”

CSOC head Lynn Moore said the unit drew on DSD’s expertise and high pow-ered computing resources to understand cyber threats.

“CSOC operations and response teams react to significant threats on government networks and information,” Ms Moore said.

“We also assist agency information communication technology staff in devel-oping mitigation strategies.”

CSOC will also provide advice and threat assessment to government through its relationship with the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Australia.

The most common incidents against Defence networks involved spoofing and phish-ing, according to Cyber Security Operations Centre head Lynn Moore.

“Spoofing is a way of attacking a computer pro-gram, in which the program is modified,” she said.

“Phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempt-ing to acquire sensitive infor-mation such as user names through the use of socially engineered emails.

“The threat actor creates an email that appears to be genuine to convince the victim to open it and download mali-cious software.

“In some cases the email was tailored to the victim or appears to come from an email address familiar to one the victim may be familiar with.

“The CSOC provided advice and mitigation strate-gies to many agencies regard-ing these types of activities,” Ms Moore said.

IN BRIEFBoost to base facilitiesDEFENCE facilities across the country are to receive a $1.4 billion infrastructure uplift following parlia-mentary approval of the Enhanced Land Force Stage 2 (ELF2) project.

The project includes the construction and refur-bishment of facilities and infrastructure upgrades at Defence sites across Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT.

Included is $7 million for new training facili-ties and working accommodation at RAAF Base Amberley and $33 million at RAAF Base Edinburgh, to include training facilities at the Land Warfare Centre’s Warrant Officers’ and Non-Commissioned Officers’ Academy.

Construction under the project is planned to commence mid this year and be completed by late 2014.

ADFA and UNSW still partnersACADEMIC services at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and University of NSW (UNSW) will continue after the two organisations renewed their agreement for the provision of academic serv-ices at ADFA in 2010.

UNSW provides undergraduate degrees for mid-shipmen and officer cadets at ADFA and Defence-sponsored postgraduate studies. It also contributes to Defence and industry research.

The new agreement commenced on January 1.

New recruiting contractorCHANGES to ADF recruiting services will not be impacted by a new two-year contract with Manpower Services (Aust) that was signed on December 15.

The new contract follows the termination by agreement of the previous contract with the Chandler Macleod Group (CMG). It is an interim arrangement while long-term arrangements are finalised.

Defence expects the handover of services from CMG to Manpower to take place over the next few months. However, applications for enlistment and appointment to the ADF will be processed during the transition period.

Cyber crime Cyber crime cracrackdownckdown

TOP THREATS

NO BORDERS: Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner opens Defence’s new Cyber Security Operations Centre in Canberra. Photo: Bryan Doherty



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By FLTLT Eamon Hamilton

THROUGH night vision gog-gles, the crew of a C-130 touch-es down at a dirt airstrip, taxiing to the parking apron.

An air load team is caked in dust from the C-130’s cyclonic propwash, and gets to work unloading cargo once the ramp is lowered.

The airfield, however, isn’t in the mountains of Afghanistan – it’s only an hour’s flight from Townsville – but for all purposes, it may as well be.

Exercise Precision Red, held in November and December, saw Air Force practise high-tempo deployed airfield operations across northern Queensland.

The exercise has its origins in preparing C-130 crews for the rigors of deploying to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO).

Precision Red still retains a focus on training C-130 crews for the real thing, but is now also emerging as a major develop-ment activity for Combat Support Group units.

More than 350 personnel deployed for this latest exercise, headquartered at RAAF Base Townsville. Of these, 230 person-nel worked from three airfields in Shoalwater Bay and High Range Field Training Areas.

XO 285SQN SQNLDR Chris

Precisionon prep forr MEAO

McBurnie said the exercise pre-pared new loadmasters, co-pilots and captains for the Middle East, and provided refresher training to 37SQN crews returning abroad.

Using 37SQN C-130 and maintenance crews, 285SQN led the airborne element of Precision Red.

“Our Hercules crews trained with 285SQN, and Precision Red represented their final test before they could go to 37SQN and be deployed abroad,” SQNLDR McBurnie said.

“Exercise Precision Red recre-ated that environment, with up to three Hercules flying from RAAF Base Townsville to remote air-fields for up to 10 hours, day and night.”

Efforts were made to test C-130 personnel with the work-load and tactics that they would use in the MEAO. Aircrew were kitted in combat body armour for their missions and used night vision goggles when sorties extended into the evening.

From the jumpseat in the C-130 cockpit, instructors from 285SQN carefully monitored crew performance and workload to ensure they would pass muster on deployment.

Several Combat Support Group (CSG) units, along with Surveillance Response Group’s 44WG, sent personnel to activate three working airfields in northern Queensland – two in Shoalwater Bay Field Training and one in

High Range Field Training Area near Townsville.

CSG units have been heav-ily involved with several previ-ous Precision Red exercises, but for the first time all satellite air-fields were controlled from an Air Operations Support Task Unit at RAAF Base Townsville.

Ta s k U n i t C o m m a n d e r SQNLDR Alan Brown said it “allowed for maximum fusion between the air and ground ele-ments while at Townsville”.

He said the integrat ion between air and ground effort was very smooth, “with a ‘one team’ approach right from the com-mencement of the exercise”.

The task unit directed airfields with their load coordination, logistics and admin support.

“The task elements in the training area provided deployed airfield support, which included air load teams, airfield engineer-ing, communication information systems, medical, ops; logistical support including catering, air-craft enemy parties and air traf-fic control services,” SQNLDR Brown said.

Precision Red also offered an opportunity for one of Australia’s important strategic partners to participate – New Zealand.

“The opportunity existed at Samuel Hill for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) to integrate an air load team with the CSG Task Element,” SQNLDR Brown said.

“The RNZAF team consisted of eight members and provided a means of improving Australian and New Zealand training and interoperability.

“Overall, the mutual train-ing benefits achieved by CSG supporting ALG for Exercise Precision Red made it a very suc-cessful exercise.”

THE ADF Rehabilitation Program is to receive a $150 million funding boost over the next dec-ade, according to a January 20 announcement by Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Greg Combet.

The program assists wounded members return to service or transition to ongoing care.

In tandem with the initiative, the government has completed its review of the ADF’s mental health system and is investigating new health care technologies to support deployed personnel.

Included in this is the introduction of digital radiology and improvements to surgical capability.

Following the mental health review, the gov-ernment is allocating an additional $83 million over the next four years to implement the review’s recommendations.

Among these are the enhancement of the mental health workforce, improvements to men-tal health training and expansion of programs designed to support members suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

“The health and wellbeing of Defence person-nel is a top priority for the government, and that is why we are putting considerable funding into new and improved Defence health initiatives,” Mr Combet said.

“We will continue to provide our personnel with world-class health care and that is why we are also funding a comprehensive e-health sys-tem to improve the maintenance of ADF health records.”

For more information on the program, visit http://ohsc.defence.gov.au and click on the Military Rehab and Comp tab.

ON PATROL: From left, security police personnel LAC Scott Knowles, ACW Michelle Hiesley and LAC Ali Al-Bander patrol Bening Field airstrip, an hour out of Townsville, during Exercise Precision Red. Photo: AC Philip Sharpe

Boost for ADF’s rehab program

WE’RE READY: Above, 2AFDS airfield defence guard AC James Collins protects a C-130 at Bening Field airstrip during the exercise, while inset, Army troops queue to board the aircraft. Right, 322ECSS firefighter LAC Taylor Wilkin mans the radio in a mobile communications station on the airstrip. Photos: AC Philip Sharpe


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ACOs a star ar attractionTHE AIR Force’s new Super Hornets won’t be the only star attraction when they arrive in March.

1SQN’s SQNLDR Grant Fifield and FLTLT David Murphy will feature in a web-based air combat officer (ACO) cam-paign for ADF Recruiting.

The two Super Hornet ACOs have been filming day-in-the-life-styled footage of themselves at Naval Air Station Lemoore in the US to capture the imagination of prospective ACO recruits.

“We didn’t have a script,” FLTLT Murphy said. “We just had a few ideas about what we wanted to say about being a fast-jet ACO.

“Needless to say there were many takes needed to get the footage we required.”

Both ACOs converted to the Super Hornet at USN host squadron VFA-122 last year.

Finding time to do the filming during ongoing training and a busy flying program was a challenge, FLTLT Murphy said.

“The filming was fun, but it was tough trying to align both our schedules. I’m looking forward to seeing the end result.”

CO 1SQN WGCDR Glen Braz said that 2009 was an intense period of training for aircrew and maintainers.

“Two teams of maintainers have com-pleted classroom instruction at the Centre for Naval Aviation Technical Training

Unit and on-the-job training at VFA-122,” WGCDR Braz said.

“There are now nine RAAF aircrews fully qualified on the Super Hornet and training is still ongoing in preparation for accepting Australia’s first aircraft in March.

“Conversion on the Super Hornet was awesome,” FLTLT Murphy said.

“This jet has so many sensors it is amazing how much situational awareness the crew have and with the twin crew con-figuration, the jet is capable of conducting an air-to-air engagement and at the same time employ an air-to-ground weapon.”

WGCDR Braz said that a 1SQN detachment would deploy this month to take custody of the new aircraft and begin work-ups for the ferry home.

FLTLT Murphy will be flying with the new jets to RAAF Base Amberley.

“It was an awesome opportunity to be selected as part of the initial cadre of crews to train on the Super Hornet and the chance to spend over a year in the US was great,” FLTLT Murphy said.

“It will be good to come home with our brand new jets and catch up with family and friends.

“The training and support we have received from the USN has been outstand-ing,” WGCDR Braz said.

“I’m looking forward to bringing our first jets home.”

STAR STRUCK: ACO FLTLT David Murphy strikes a pose alongside his Super Hornet at US Naval Air Station Lemoore.Photo: courtesy 1SQN Left, the RAAF’s first Super Hornet on display in St. Louis. Photo: courtesy Boeing

Super Hornets sustainedIN BRIEF

AIR FORCE is to modify Super Hornet flying profiles at RAAF Base Amberley.

To reduce the impact of noise on Brisbane’s western suburbs, the aircraft will fly at higher altitude than current aircraft during their transits to training areas off the Queensland coast.

There will also be restrictions on night flying. Under normal circumstances, night flying will cease by 11pm, with no continu-nous circuits after 10pm.

The final Public Environment Report on Super Hornet flying operations at Amberley has been submitted to the Minister of the Environment; his decision is expected shortly.

A further review will be undertaken once the full complement is received in 2011.

SUPPORT for the introduction of the Super Hornet came closer to fruition on December 16 with the signing of a three-year sustain-ment contract with Boeing.

Under the $20 million a year contract, the company will provide engineering, sup-ply chain management and maintenance services to support Super Hornet opera-tions from RAAF Base Amberley.

Boeing Defence Australia will provide much of the workforce.

The first four F/A-18F will arrive at Amberley in March, with the remaining aircraft to be progressively introduced throughout 2010 and 2011.

Australia is acquiring 24 F/A-18F to aid the transition to the Joint Strike Fighter and allow Air Force to retire the F-111 fleet in December.

Keeping the peace

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MAINTENANCE training for the pending 24 F/A-18 Super Hornets took a significant leap forward on December 8 with the introduction at RAAF Base Amberley of a new Visual Environment Maintenance Trainer (VEMT).

The system is an Australian version of the US F/A-18F courseware, devel-oped to meet the Air Force’s mainte-nance trade structure.

The trainer comprises a Super Hornet cockpit simulator with touch screens that allow Air Force maintenance students to perform diagnostic and system func-tional checks in realistic settings.

This enables them to work on com-plex maintenance tasks as well as solve technical problems. They are monitored by an instructor who can use the system to bring up teaching points as the student continues the exercise.

The trainer can also be reprogrammed to create new faults and allow students to do more diagnostic analysis in a shorter period of time than could be performed using other training tools.

OIC of the 278SQN Technical Training Flight FLTLT Paul Mulcahy said the VEMT accurately simulated the F/A-18F avionics system, allowing stu-dents to undertake realistic fault find-ing and system functional checks on the multiple avionics systems.

“This could not be undertaken unless you have multiple very expensive individual practical trainers,” FLTLT Mulcahy said.

“This fault finding is undertaken in a benign environment, without losing the realism of a real aircraft platform as the cockpit functionality is the same as the real aircraft.

“The instructor can monitor the student’s actions and bring up teach-ing points if they undertake a dangerous action without the risk of the students actually hurting themselves or damaging expensive aircraft components.”

In preparation for the VEMT,

278SQN underwent a major building refurbishment program. It included the installation of five state-of-the-art electronic classrooms and two training rooms.

FLTLT Mulcahy said that the devel-opment of the new trainer took a team of four 278SQN maintenance course developers 12 months to complete. They deployed to the US Navy’s Air Station Lemoore for six months to gain a full understanding of the system and training aids. During the past three months, seven squadron technical instructors joined them.

Further enhancements to the new VEMT system are in the pipeline with the planned delivery in August of an Integrated Environment Maintenance Trainer (IVEMT) in August and the upgrade to IVEMT status of the VEMT in December.

The introduction of the new trainers also means that from January this year all F/A-18F maintenance training will be conducted in Australia instead of the US.

Each of the three specialist courses (avionics, aircraft and armament) can accommodate up to 10 students with four individual courses run annually. On top of those 120 students, 278SQN will deliver F/A-18F safety and famil-iarisation training to all other person-nel employed on or around the F/A-18F aircraft.

FLTLT Mulcahy said that the arrival of the Super Hornet marks the start of a new era for 278SQN.

“To see the Australian F/A-18Fs operating will give our instructors a great sense of achievement,” he said.

“The success of the F/A-18F main-tenance training project is a testament to the professionalism of all parties involved. This includes the Australian Super Hornet Project Office, Air Combat Transition Office, USN, Boeing and 278SQN.”

Perfect for practicePerfect for practice

POLLIE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT: The member for Ipswich West, Wayne Wendt, took centre stage when he dropped in on the Super Hornet Visual Environment Maintenance Trainer team at RAAF Base Amberley in December. Photos: ACW Kylie Gibson

TESTING IT OUT: CPL Aaron Davidson, from 278SQN Training and Development, demonstrates the controls of the cockpit station for the Super Hornet VEMT.

278SQN’s new Super Hornet maintenance trainer now online

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THE AUSTRALIAN Defence Force Acad-emy’s ACME Racing Team achieved its best results with its new car at the Society of Au-tomotive Engineers competition at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne in December.

The team gained second spot in the presenta-tion event and ninth in the design event. Twenty-two teams entered.

The last time the ACME team placed was in 2005 when it gained a third in the acceleration event.

The team’s facilitator, Dr Warren Smith, said this was the first time the team had broken into the top 10 in design.

“We took a young team to the competition with the majority being first and second-year

students. They will return next year to build on the foundations laid in 2009,” Dr Smith said.

Dr Smith said he would welcome more stu-dents and staff from all disciplines at ADFA to become involved in the team.

“When those close to the team saw how much work was still to be done in November, it is a credit to all of the involved students and support-ing staff that the car was finished and the students of ACME Racing participated in the competition.

“As perhaps the most complex, predominate-ly undergraduate systems realisation project, much learning and education is achieved through being a part of the team – and there is a place for all students; arts, business, science, engineering and technology,” he said.

By WGCDR Rob Etchells

TWENTY-eight Air Force and 13 foreign air force officers were among the 176 officers who graduated from the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) on December 3.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Australian Defence Force Academy and was the climax of the intensive 11-month course.

CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin awarded the Air Force prizes.

The Chief of Air Force Prize, for the Air Force officer who achieves the best overall results on the course, was awarded to WGCDR Howard Edwards (RAF). He is a Tornado pilot who has had operational experience on Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served alongside the RAAF’s F/A-18 detachment.

SQNLDR Ashley Howell received the Air Vice Marshal Reynolds Prize, which is award-ed to the course member who achieves the best result for their Exercise Reynolds Defence paper submission, thereby contributing to the development of ADF air power capability.

FLTLT Sheena Oldridge beat 31 ADF and foreign military officers when she was named Student of Merit and won prizes for being the top stu-dent for five out of the eight academic subjects studied on the 2009 Capability and Tech-nology Management Program

at the Capability and Technol-ogy Management College.

The Student of Merit award is awarded to the student with the overall highest results across all academic and mili-tary activities studied under the program.

The cour se , fo rmer ly known as the Austra l ian

Te c h n i c a l S t a ff O ff i c e rCourse, is a demanding year-long technical staff collegeprogram that prepares select-ed career officers for appoint-ments as capability technol-ogy managers and projectleaders within the Defencecapability management con-tinuum.

Side by side with the best from overseas

FLTLT beats foreign field for honours

SQNLDR Emma Lovett took the Sir Richard Williams Prize, for the course member who best demonstrates oratory excellence during the single service module.

The graduating officers received a range of qualifications from the ACSC and the University of New South Wales, including Graduate Diploma in Management in Defence Studies, Graduate Diploma in Strategic Defence Studies, Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies, Master of Arts in Strategy and Policy, and Master of Arts in Strategy and Management.

ADFA star car raises the bar

A WELL-OILED MACHINE: A team photo in the ADFA pit area. Photo: courtesy ADFA

ORATORY EXCELLENCE: SQNLDR Emma Lovett is awarded the Sir Richard Williams Prize by CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin. Photo: courtesy ACSC

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AIR FORCE personnel and assets around Australia and overseas joined hundreds of thousands of Australians in commemorating Australia Day.

In Canberra, celebrations were marked by a flag-raising ceremony conducted by Australia’s Federation Guard.

Three F/A-18s added to the spectacle by performing a fly-past with bomb burst as the flag was raised.

Fly-pasts also figured in most capital city ceremonies. An F-111 performed a fly-past in Brisbane before heading to Sydney Harbour for the final Australia Day fly-past by a ‘pig’.

Commander Combat Support Group AIRCDRE Noddy Sawade was the offi-cial host in Brisbane.

Sydney Harbour was also the venue for fly-pasts by three F/A-18s and a C-130.

The F/A-18s had a busy day, also con-ducting fly-pasts in Melbourne, where they were joined by the Roulettes, as well as in Adelaide and Darwin.

Meanwhile, in Perth it was the PC-9s from 2 Flying Training School that took to the skies.

Dozens of personnel formed cata-falque parties or were flag bearers at cer-emonies around the country.

Reminding people of those ADF per-sonnel who would celebrate the day far from home and loved ones, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Command AVM Greg Evans said Australia Day was a signifi-cant day of celebration for all Australians, including those serving on operations.

“Australia Day unites us as a commu-nity, works to heal divisions, and gives us a unique view of the world,” AVM Evans said.

“We are regarded by our partners and those countries in which we work for our compassionate approach to the local peo-ple and getting the job done. Although our men and women serving on opera-tions can’t take the day off, we send them our best wishes and heartfelt thanks for the hard work they are doing on behalf of Australia.”

In the Middle East Area of Operations, personnel held a barbecue and appointed their own unofficial ‘Lambasador’, air load team member CPL Dean Bickley.

In Afghanistan, as well as barbecues, members of the Second Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force and other Australian units celebrated with an offic-ers and senior non-commissioned officers versus soldiers cricket match, followed by another game against the Dutch and Americans.

Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, MAJGEN John Cantwell, spoke for all his personnel when he wished everyone back home a wonderful Australia Day for 2010.

“On behalf of all of Australia’s sail-ors, soldiers, airmen and Defence civil-ians, who are doing important jobs here, we thank you sincerely for the wonder-ful support that we receive every single day. We couldn’t do our job without it,” MAJGEN Cantwell said.

IN LINE: Above, Air Force trainees from HMAS Cerberus form part of the Royal Guard on parade in front of the City of Melbourne Town Hall. Photo: LSIS Nina NikolinWITH A BANG: Right, CPL Christopher Bellve from RAAF Base Amberley in front of the 21 gun salute in the Australia Day flag-raising ceremony in Brisbane. Photo: ACW Rosaleen NormoyleOVER SYDNEY: Inset, three F/A-18s from RAAF Base Williamtown fly in formation over Sydney Harbour. Photo: LACW Casey Gaul

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AIR FORCE has won the ADF’s inaugural blood donor challenge, helping to raise awareness of the importance of donating blood to people in Australia and those on ADF operations overseas.

The cha l l enge was he ld Australia-wide between September 1 and November 30.

Out of a total 1265 donors, Air Force provided 489. This included 205 from RAAF Base Edinburgh, 156 from RAAF Base Pearce, 72 from RAAF Laverton and 56 from RAAF Base Wagga.

The figures are all the more remarkable as the donations were made at Red Cross centres and not at base medical centres.

Commander Jo in t Hea l th MAJGEN Paul Alexander said the Australian Red Cross Blood Service was vital to Defence operations and thanked the donors from the three services.

“The blood challenge has helped increase the numbers of donors within the three services, and I congratulate Air Force on register-ing the most donors,” MAJGEN Alexander said.

“We apprecia te the work that’s been done and I think it’s

very important that Defence gets involved to build on these sorts of events.

“Our relationship with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is an important one, and our person-nel on operations are very depend-ent on these life-saving donations.”

Realising the importance of blood since first donating at 18 years of age, Army’s MAJ Gary Schulz planned the challenge and hopes to build on the event next year.

“Being in the ADF I’ve always felt that I was healthy and therefore an ideal donor,” MAJ Schulz said.

“There are many people who aren’t lucky enough to be as healthy as most service personnel and there-fore we have the ability to provide our ‘liquid gold’ to help other peo-ple out.”

MAJGEN Alexander said the ADF would stay involved and sup-port the blood drive next year as well as continuing to ensure that the range of blood products available to deployed troops remains suitable.

For more information on donating blood to the Red Cross, call 13 14 95 or visit www.donateblood.com.au

Air Force’se’s red gold TWENTY volunteer members from 2

Airfield Defence Squadron (2AFDS) brought some cheer to children with special needs in Brisbane on Decem-ber 13 when they participated in the 2009 Golden Casket Variety Christ-mas party.

More than 3000 children and family members attended the event, which is co-sponsored by Golden Casket and the children’s charity Variety.

2AFDS team organiser CPL Nick Beamish said the group from RAAF Base Amberley had mounted its own display but had also assisted with a wide range of other activities.

“We displayed one of our Land Rovers and two motor bikes, and a range of our equipment,” CPL Beamish said.

“However, we also supported the event with the setting-up and disman-tling of the venue, and by handing out presents to the children, looking after lost children, face-painting and assisting with other displays.

“It was a day-long event and pretty full-on.”

CPL Beamish said that the Air Force display proved very popular with the children and also with the organisers.

“The team enjoys doing it and we are glad to help out and bring some hap-piness to the children,” he said.

“Also, it is good to be able to give something back to the community.”

2AFDS spread good cheer to special kids

BLOODY IMPRESSIVE: AIRCDRE John Kentish hands his veins over to Lisa Mihaljevic from the Red Cross mobile blood bank. Air Force won the ADF inaugural blood donor challenge, held from September to November last year, after nearly 500 members donated blood to the Red Cross around Australia. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

Supersize welcome

14 AIR FORCE February 4, 2010 15

RAAF Base Wagga came alive last December when 1RTU held its largest graduation parade in history, writes LAC Aaron Curran.

Centrepiece

By LAC Aaron Curran

DOBRO pozhalovat v Avs-traliyu (Russian for ‘welcome to Australia’). That is what one of Air Force’s newest airmen would have thought last Febru-ary when he stepped off a plane in Sydney.

AC Sergey Semenishchev, 27, completed his recruit train-ing at 1RTU on December 10. Originally from St Petersburg, Russia, AC Semenishchev had only been in Australia a mat-ter of months before deciding to join the Air Force as a dental assistant.

“I moved here with my wife to improve our standard of living and have kids,” he said.

“Russia was not a safe coun-try for us.”

AC Semenishchev was not your every day standard recruit, though. He has a masters degree in pharmacy and has a family history of military service.

“My grandfather was an artil-

lery captain in the Russian Army during WWII and my father was a LTCOL,” he said.

“Service in the Russian Army is compulsory. For people with a degree like me, it is for one year but if you don’t do it you are breaking the law.”

When asked about his train-ing in the Russian Army, AC Semenishchev gave a one-word reply: brutal.

“It was brutal and tough and the food was terrible,” he said.

“The Australian military is different. It is professional, you get paid well and it is not com-pulsory. I like it because people can have the choice whether to join or not.”

He said he enjoyed the course at 1RTU and being an ex-semi-professional swimmer and com-petent in boxing and karate, he excelled at PT.

“PT training was not hard for me,” he said.

“But other things were not

as easy for me to get used to, like going bush and shooting. I was never a good shooter but I did get good results off the F88 Steyr.”

He said the rifle he used in the Russian Army, the AK-74, was more reliable than the F88, less expensive and easier to maintain and service, but the Steyr was more comfortable, and the results showed.

One thing that struck AC Semenishchev was the attitude within 1RTU.

“The main attitude – treat others as you want to be treated – was a value I was not used to,” he said.

“But after being at 1RTU for two weeks I realised it was fine and everyone liked me. People on my course, especially my room mates, were very patient with me, particularly when I kept asking them what the CPL had just said.”

AC Semenishchev did one-

on-one English language train-ing in Russia but still required help with the Australian lan-guage, especially slang. Once in Sydney his approach to this was unique, but practical.

“The first three months I was here I spent a lot of time in Kogarah Library speaking to pensioners,” he said.

“They have a lot of time, are from different backgrounds and they are lonely so they like to talk.”

AC Semenishchev – or Serge, crazy Russian, the Russian or Boris as he was known to fellow recruits and instructors – feels he owes a debt to Australia and what it has so far given him.

“I arrived with nothing and Australia has given me a lot plus the chance to bring up children in safety,” he said.

“But when it comes to weath-er, Australia, unlike Russia, only has two seasons – summer and hot summer.”

IF YOU were on the parade ground at 1 Recruit Train-ing Unit (1RTU) at RAAF Base Wagga on December 10 you would have wit-

nessed a significant event in that unit’s history.

To complement the largest ever graduation from 1RTU – 167 students from three courses – the Air Force brought out the big guns for the event and put on a parade to remember.

The Queen’s Colour for the Royal Australian Air Force, the Queen’s Colour for the RAAF College and Governor General’s Banner for Number 1 Recruit Training Unit were paraded in front of more than 850 guests,

personnel and the reviewing offi-cer, DCAF AVM Geoff Brown.

“Every graduation is a sig-nificant event, however this one was unique,” AVM Brown said.

“I appreciated the day’s excellent display of drill by the 167 graduates.”

Due to the sheer number of graduates, an extra day was needed for practice to get it right and to get them working in time.

In single formation, the three courses made a line more than 100 metres long, taking up a large stretch of the main road of the base.

CO 1RTU WGCDR Ross Jones said the parading of the three Colours was a significant event for the unit.

“Not just for 1RTU and RAAF College, but for the entire Air Force,” WGCDR Jones said.

“Because we had so many recruits graduating at once to start their careers in a large variety of trades, and the fact that DCAF was reviewing the parade, we thought it was appro-priate to request the Colours.”

To top it off, two F-111s from RAAF Base Amberley flew low over the parade ground to the obvious enjoyment of the public who applauded and cheered the popular aircraft.

The event brought the base, and parts of Wagga, to a stand-still with the roads in and out of the base clogged with traffic before and after the parade.

As well as traffic control, base staff had the arduous task of processing more than 800 vis-itors through the front gate.

Personnel were also enlisted to help out with parade safety and security and parading the Colours.

And to accommodate the large number of people on the parade ground, 1RTU had to hire extra seating and marquees.

“It was not just an organisa-tional challenge it was a logisti-cal one as well,” WGCDR Jones said.

“Everyone at RAAF Base Wagga jumped on board and helped us out with a very suc-cessful parade.”

Crazy Russian a happy recruit

Air Force top scores at ADFA grad

RUSSIAN LARRIKIN: 1RTU graduate AC Sergey Semenishchev (also pictured below left) was affectionately known as the ‘crazy Russian’ by his course mates. He is looking forward to his new career as an Air Force dental assistant. Photos: LAC Aaron Curran

SEA OF BLUE: 1RTU’s largest graduation parade involved 167 recruits from three courses. More than 850 guests attended the event, which brought the base, and some of Wagga, to a standstill due to the huge influx of visitors. Photo: AC Terry Hartin

VIP: DCAF AVM Geoff Brown reviews the parade. Photo: CPL Steve Duncan

LONG LINE: The graduating parade stretches as far as the eye can see. Photo: AC Terry Hartin

WHILE 1RTU graduates were strutting their stuff in Wagga on December 10, Air Force’s new officers were celebrating their own gradu-ation at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Minister for Defence John Faulkner and CDF ACM Angus Houston were among the guests at the graduation of 256 cadets, 101 of them Air Force.

Air Force’s top achievers were OFFCDT (now PLTOFF) John-Paul Thorbjornsen, who received the CDF Sword of Honour, and OFFCDT (now FLGOFF) Elizabeth Buffett, who claimed the Commander-in-Chief Medal. The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s OFFCDT Haley Price took out the CAF Award, the ADFA’s high-est accolades.

WE SALUTE YOU: Above, the graduating class of 2009 celebrate the completion of three years of military and leadership training and undergraduate studies at ADFA. Left, Governor-General Quentin Bryce presents OFFCDT (now FLGOFF) Elizabeth Buffett with the Commander in Chief Medal during the graduation awards ceremony. Photos: David Paterson

WELL DONE: Left, CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin with CDF Sword of Honour winner OFFCDT (now PLTOFF) John-Paul Thorbjornsen.

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RAIN was no deterrent for the residents of Salisbury when RAAF Base Edin-burgh exercised its right of Freedom of Entry to the city on November 21.

The parade marked the 21st anniver-sary since the city granted the base its privilege of Freedom of Entry on March 26, 1988.

The right in November was bestowed upon 250 officers and airmen as well as several Edinburgh-based Army and Navy personnel, many of whom have served in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO).

The Air Force Ensign, Squadron Standards of 10, 11 and No. 24 (City of Adelaide) SQNs, and 92WG and the Governor-General’s Banners of the Aircraft Research and Development Unit and Institute of Aviation Medicine were paraded. Many other units on base and the Air Force Band provided support.

GPCAPT Reg Carruthers, the OC Aerospace Operational Support Group and Senior Australian Defence Force Officer for South Australia, led the parade.

WOFF Stephanie Jacobs was the parade Warrant Officer.

The Mayor of Salisbury, Gillian Aldridge, took the salute and the parade was challenged by Chief Inspector Kym Zander of the local South Australia Police.

GPCAPT Carruthers said Edinburgh and the community of the City of Salisbury were entering a new and excit-ing time.

“With approximately 1200 Army per-sonnel and support staff arriving within 12 months, it presents a fantastic oppor-tunity for further growth and develop-ment for this dynamic community,” GPCAPT Carruthers said.

By LAC Aaron Curran

RAAF Base East Sale has reinforced its association with the indigenous people of Gippsland with a visit to the base by local youth.

On November 17, 12 indigenous youth and three mentors from the Gunai/Kurnai people of East Gippsland spent the day at the School of Air Warfare (SAW).

They received briefings by CO WGCDR Jake Campbell and XO SQNLDR Phil Wade and a tour of the schools simulators and facilities, con-cluding with an afternoon tea.

“The highlight for them was a flight in a 32SQN King Air 350 over the Lakes area of East Gippsland,” WGCDR Campbell said.

“The visit also allowed SAW and the Gunai/Kurnai people to build upon the relationship that started when SAW was established in 2008.”

In January 2008, chief elder Albert Mullet handcrafted two Mongili war-fighting spears for presentation to the then CAF, AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd, at the Air Combat Officer (ACO) transi-tion ceremony. These spears are now on display at SAW and are also on the unit’s badge.

“Those spears represent the war-fight-ing skills required of ACOs and observ-ers and are an integral part of the SAW badge,” WGCDR Campbell said.

“Our relationship with the Gunai/Kurnai people is also represented throughout SAW through the social club that we call the Mongili Club; the Mission Command award presented to ACO graduates is called

Salisbury’s open arms

East Sale builds on its indigenous ties

RAIN DOESN’T DAMPEN PARADE: Above, GPCAPT Reg Carruthers leads members from RAAF Base Edinburgh during the Freedom of the City march through Salisbury, Adelaide; left, a young Adelaide Crows fan waves as the parade passes. Photos: LAC Brenton Kwaterski

the Mongili Award and the students are pre-sented a Mongili spear.”

After the visit, one of the mentors rang the visit organiser, SGT Dave Salerman.

“He told me the students hadn’t stopped talking about it and they thought the visit was fantastic,” SGT Salerman said.

“Many of the youth had a limited view on career options, but the visit to SAW gave them a much broader perspective on that.”

Before the visit, personnel from SAW visited Krowathunkooloong, the Keeping Place in Bairnsdale, which provides a central focus for the education, cultural talks and activities such as boomerang throwing of the Gunai/Kurnai people.

“SAW will continue to promote these joint activities and be active in provid-ing Air Force recruiting information to those youth that present an active inter-est in a Defence Force career,” WGCDR Campbell said.

“The feedback from their visit was positive and the youth are now much more aware of what the ADF, and in par-ticular the Air Force, has to offer.”

SAW ARM: SAW’s SQNLDR Brett Mitchell tries his hand at throwing a boomerang during a visit to the Gurnai/Kurnai People in Bairnsdale. Photo: CPL Col Dadd



18 Flightline AIR FORCE February 4, 2010

SANTA DOUBLES: Above, refuellers LAC Chris Paxton and LAC Kane O’Connor celebrate Christmas in the Middle East Area of Operations, while below, CPL Tricia Reynolds and CPL David Miller prepare to distribute care packages to other personnel deployed over Christmas in the Middle East.

Photos: WO2 Mark Dowling

MIGHTY MATES: Above, Air Force Investigator CPL Fiona Parslow, from RAAF Base Wagga, takes time out to meet some children from the Cannossan Orphanage in Dili, East Timor. Photo: AB Jo DilorenzoHIGH DEGREE: Left, Chancellor of the University of New South Wales, David Gonski, presents AVM Julie Hammer (ret’d) with an honorary degree as a Doctor of Engineering in recognition of her outstanding career. She was the first woman to be promoted to two-star rank in the ADF and the first woman to command an operational unit in the Air Force. She had almost 30 years of service and after transferring to the Air Force Reserves was the national president of Engineers Australia. Photo: Natalia Komarova

TEAM INTEL: Signals Operator Technician trainees from left, LACW Toni Wiley, AC Jacob Walsh and AC Josh Duncan, are instructed by CPL Angela Maher (standing) during the RAAF Electronic Intelligence Analysis Course held at the Defence Force School of Signals – Electronic Warfare Wing at Cabarlah. The course provides initial training for employment at the Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit and marks the first time that Electronic Intelligence training has been provided to Air Force trainees to meet Air Force capability requirements. Photo: ACW Kylie Gibson

HIDING SOMETHING THIS BIG TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF SKILL.

It’s 78 metres long and displaces over

3000 tonnes. However the Collins Class

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of professionals operating some of the most sophisticated

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completion of your training you’ll earn an approximate salary

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and subsidised accommodation. Stealthy, ever vigilant and

highly efficient, a submarine exists in a world unseen by most

and experienced by a lucky few. Its secrets are everything and

that’s the trademark of the silent service.

If you are in the ADF and would you’d like to know more about joining our team, call 08 9553 3821.

19 PersonnelAIR FORCE February 4, 2010

REMOVAL and relocation services for Air Force mem-bers will now be with one con-tractor as of July this year.

In a move that streamlines the process of removal and relo-cation, Toll Transitions will be taking on these responsibili-ties from the Defence Housing Authority (DHA).

There will be no reductions to members’ relocation adminis-tration and removal entitlements under the new contract.

However, the allocation and tenancy management of service residences and approval of Rent Allowance will still be under-taken by DHA.

M e m b e r s c a n e x p e c t improvements with the new sys-

Toll moving in

tem such as: a dedicated case manager available to answer all relocation administration and removal questions; an increase in the number of case manage-ment locations; provision of information on goods currently held in store; increased monitor-

ing of service delivery at uplift and delivery; and all relevant information will be accessible from a new website.

There will be a transition period during which DHA is completing on-going removals and Toll Transitions commenc-

es taking over responsibility. The responsible organisation for administering the relocation will be determined by the date of removal uplift.

The table above identi-fies the key dates and contact details.

Organisation administration responsibility

Submission of Application for Relocation

Date of Removal Uplift

Contact Number

Defence Housing Australia

Before July 1 Before August 31 1800 249711

Toll Transitions Between March 1 and June 30

After September 1 1800 819167

Toll Transitions After July 1 After July 1 1800 819167

A RANGE of new initiatives to enable families to better cope with Defence life is being planned as a result of the ADF families’ survey.

Feedback is being used to help shape the 20-year ADF Housing and Accommodation Strategy so that more flexible housing options are available to ADF families.

It is also being used to develop an improved Absence from Home Support program for ADF mem-bers and their families.

The survey, completed by 5749 respondents, found that families would like to see improved communi-cation and interaction with Defence and that, while Defence has a comprehensive range of service and per-sonnel policies aimed at supporting families, more can be done to improve the way that these programs and policies are communicated and understood.

As a result, commanders are being sent information about the importance of improved communication with families – including helping them feel part of the ADF community, understand the roles of the ADF, and aid-ing family education and preparation.

The survey results are being used to tailor support, employment, housing and education programs and Defence is beginning a process of close engagement with members and their families to further improve and enhance the relationship and minimise the impact of ADF service on families.

CHANGES AFOOT: The survey will result in a better deal for families. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

Some of the fi ndings 31.2 per cent of the married/partnered respondents were married to or part-nered with an Air Force member. 29.6 per cent of the single parent respond-ents were Air Force members.

41 per cent of Air Force spouse and partner respondents excluding dual ADF couples said that they preferred a period of at least 10-12 months to pass between deployments, while 13.4 per cent said that a period of between one and three months was an acceptable length of time between deployments.

63.9 per cent said that one to three months was an acceptable length of time for their spouses/partners to be away for any type of service.

40.8 per cent said that they had access to flexible start and finishing times for work, while 4.2 per cent of Air Force single parent respondents said that they could work from home or another loca-tion.

48.5 per cent of respondents who were spouses and partners of Air Force mem-bers excluding dual ADF couples said that they preferred that deployments last between one and three months, while a further 44.3 per cent said they thought that deployments of four to six months’ duration were acceptable.

Families survey leads to new ADF initiatives

20 Personnel AIR FORCE February 4, 2010

By LAC Aaron Curran

AIR FORCE Training Group (AFTG) has increased the wings under its command from three to four, with the splitting of Ground Training Wing (GTW) from RAAF College (RAAFCOL) on December 1.

AFTG previously comprised three wings – RAAF College, Air Training Wing (ATW) and Reserve Training Wing (RTW).

Incoming Executive Officer GTW WGCDR Jo Elkington said the previous workload of RAAFCOL and its Commandant (COMDT) was unsustainable.

“One GPCAPT had to look after a chain of com-mand of up to nine COs around Australia that were distributed as 17 elements,” WGCDR Elkington said.

“They are all busy units due to their sheer volume of work and individual specialities, and that created a high requirement for staff work, making things dif-ficult and inefficient.”

Previously, HQ RAAFCOL supported and com-manded all the ground elements of training but the span of control for the COMDT was too broad and complex, resulting in a high rate of effort that was unsustainable in the long term.

“In mid-July 2008 a meeting was held with AFTG HQAC and AFHQ,” WGCDR Elkington said.

“From that meeting came the agreement to do the split.”

RAAFCOL and GTW split the various schools and training establishments between them to improve the quality of development, conduct and evaluation of ab-initio military training, Initial Employment Training (IET), post-IET and promotion courses.

“The aim is to enhance Air Force and the wider ADF capability,” she said.

“Combat Survival Training School has been moved from ATW to GTW. This helped the overall span of control for AFTG wings by reducing ATW by one unit. ”

With the split, GTW still has the distance between the units to contend with. With the HQ based in RAAF Base Wagga, it has three units at Sydney and at RAAF Bases Amberley and Townsville.

“One of the biggest challenges we have faced involves finding suitable facilities for HQ GTW,” WGCDR Elkington said.

“Another was the huge workload and attention to detail to get this up and running.”

Former Director Personnel – Air Force, GPCAPT Bob Rodgers, is the new COMDT of RAAFCOL with GPCAPT Christopher Crowley taking leadership of GTW.

“Both GPCAPTs have previously had postings as unit COs within AFTG.

“So by taking on these positions, they will captial-ise on their experience within their respective wings. They have also worked together closely within PERS Branch of AFHQ as DP-AF and DPCM-AF,” she said.

SIGNING IN: AC Andrew Kelly with the new Headquarters Ground Training Wing (HQGTW) sign at RAAF Base Wagga. GTW split from RAAF College in December and AC Kelly was the first member posted into the new GTW. Behind him is Executive Officer HQGTW WGCDR Jo Elkington and Jane Worldon, finance manager from RAAF College.Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

AFTG splits into four

Spreading its wings

RAAFCOL HQ RAAFCOL (Wagga) 1 Recruit Training Unit (Wagga) School of Postgraduate Studies (Wagga) Officers’ Training School (East Sale) Air Force Band (Williams) Defence International Training Centre (Williams)

Ground Training Wing HQ GTW (Wagga) RAAF School of Technical Training (Wagga) RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training (Wagga) Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School (Orchard Hills) RAAF Security and Fire School (Amberley) Combat Survival Training School (Townsville)

New composition

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21 PersonnelAIR FORCE February 4, 2010

BULLETIN BOARDAir Force BandThe band will perform as part of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2010 from February 4-7. The Tattoo is being held at the Sydney Football Stadium with each show beginning at 8pm.� For more information on the Military Tattoo,

visit www.edinburghtattooinaustralia.com.au

RAAF Museum Air PageantThe RAAF Museum’s biennial Air Pageant will be held at Point Cook on February 28 from 9am with flying starting at 1pm.

Aircraft on display will include the Mustang, Kittyhawk, Sabre, Winjeel, Tiger Moth, Vampire, Boomerang and Spitfire. � For more information on the event, visit www.

airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum

Relay for life volunteers SGT Korey McGregor from RAAF Base Amberley is calling for base personnel to form a team of runners and walkers to participate in the annual Cancer Council’s Relay for Life.

The event will be held at Ipswich on March 27 and 28 and comprises teams of 10-15 people participating in an overnight relay; walking or running to raise money for the Cancer Council. SGT McGregor, who is the team captain, has also issued a challenge to the local Army unit, police, ambulance and fire service to form teams and to see who can complete the most laps over the 24-hour period.

Other bases and units are also encouraged to get involved in the Australia-wide relay. � Details may be found at www.relayforlife.org.au

Air Training Corps reunionPast cadets and staff of 30 Flight Air Training Corps and 430 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets are invited to attend a 30-year reunion on February 27.

The reunion will coincide with the 430 Squadron Freedom of Entry parade in the Macedon Range to begin in Kyneton at 1.30pm.

The reunion will begin at 6.30pm at the Drill Hall and attendees are encouraged to bring any memorabilia of their time in the cadets. Those unable to attend are encouraged to write a short piece on their experiences and email it to [email protected].� For more information, email the above address

or call (03) 5422 1073.

Sydney Veterans ExpoMembers are invited to attend the Sydney Veterans and Defence Expo at the Penrith Paceway on March 6.

The aim of the day is to inform the veteran and Defence community about health and community services, and to raise awareness in the general public and veteran and Defence community of the work carried out by ex-service organisations. � For more information, call (02) 9624 8188

Extension 364.

By LAC Aaron Curran

IF YOU are looking for a chal-lenge, to gain additional skill sets or simply looking for a re-freshing change, then an Any

Airman (ANYA) position may be for you.

Up to 300 ANYA positions are available and are recruiting now, including: military skills instructors (MSI); facilitator at the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS); human intelligence opera-tors within 1 Intelligence Coy; Defence interviewer and careers counsellor within Defence Force Recruiting (DFR); consultancy positions within the Air Force Improvement Team (AFIT) – formerly Management Service Agency (MSA); personnel man-agers (PM) within Directorate Personnel – Air Force (DP-AF); and numerous other instructional, training development, safety and bare base caretaker positions.

ANYA positions are open to airmen of all ranks and mus-terings and are in most posting locations across Australia. ANYA employment usually involves a posting tenure of three years and provides members with a range of opportunities before returning to their mustering.

Many members have found an ANYA posting beneficial when it comes to promotion or seeking a new career path within Air Force.

One person who has benefit-ed is SGT Damian Parslow, a SECPOL military working dog handler who is now an MSI at 1RTU.

“To me, a lot of myths about being an MSI have been dis-pelled,” SGT Parlow said.

“I soon realised that being an MSI is not so much about scream-ing all day like drill instructors of years gone by, but more about teaching, developing and man-aging a very dynamic group of people.”

He is a Recruit Flight Section Commander and is responsible for the welfare and management

ANYA offers new skills

of not only four NCOs, but up to 80 recruits as well.

In an entirely different role is SGT Natalie Payne, a facilita-tor at the School of Postgraduate Studies Detachment Amberley.

“As a facilitator you will be expected to facilitate discussions on a variety of topics,” she said.

“These include decision mak-ing, problem solving, communi-cation, leader focus, responsibil-ity, teamwork and more.”

She also delivers lessons, some of which include subordi-nate development, the Defence Force Disciplinary Act, admin-istrative sanctions, equity, drill, and OHS.

SGT Payne said this had helped her grow personally and professionally and urged oth-ers who have a genuine desire to further develop themselves and assist in the development of oth-ers to consider facilitating.

FSGT Penny Baker i s another convert to ANYA and is currently a PM at DP-AF in Canberra.

In her first year as a PM she was responsible for the aircraft life support fitter, carpenter, elec-trician, general hand, plant opera-tor, plumber and work supervisor musterings.

“I absolutely love it,” FSGT Baker said. “The day-to-day duties

of a PM are completely different to anything I had ever done. Normally I would come into work knowing what was on the agenda for the week, but this job can be very reac-tive and each day can be different.”

In DP-AF there are more than 30 PMs covering all musterings and categories, assisting in the needs of not only the PAF/Reserves airmen and officer workforce but also the needs of the wider ADF.

“A PM’s main role is to facil-itate posting action to Air Force members across Australia and overseas and we always endeavour to provide as much information to members as possible so they can manage and balance their own careers,” she said.

“This is an awesome job with amazing challenges and so far this has been the highlight of my career.”

There are many other success stories of Air Force personnel who have taken on ANYA positions, such as CPL Ben Hodge, who is on his second posting to Australia’s Federation Guard; CPL Kylie Davis, who is in DFR; and FSGT Mick Reichardt, who has spent the past three years at AFI and improved his academic qualifica-tions along the way.

All these profiles can be viewed on the Air Force People Central under the Career Progression/ANYA profile tab.

IF YOU decide that an ANYA position in 2011, or earlier, is for you, act now as the Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for most positions are out and start to close in March.All ANYA positions are advertised through Air Force People Central via EOI where all the requirements are out-lined. EOIS are submitted electronically.

FSGT Trent McIntosh, the ANYA PM, said the new electronic EOI system was designed to eliminate wast-age and streamline the application process for units and chains of command.

“As ANYA positions are much sought-after I encour-age all members to read the guidance contained within the EOI before submitting it to ensure it is as competi-tive as possible,” he said.

THE DRUM: Drummers from the Federation Guard Military Precision Drill Team demonstrate their skills. Photo: CPL Melina Mancuso

NEW FOCUS: Members of a sergeants’ promotion course at the School of Postgraduate Studies, RAAF Base Wagga. Photo: LAC Aaron Curran

How to apply

JUST ONE EXAMPLE: CPL Craig Pettit, a military skills instructor at 1RTU, evaluates his trainees during a physical training lesson at RAAF Base Wagga. Photo: CPL Raymond Vance

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A Bell and BouBy Paul Lineham

AN IMMACULATELY maintained MASH-style Army Bell 47 Sioux helicopter will be one of the out-standing displays at the new RAAF Base Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre (RAAHC).

OIC RAAHC SQNLDR Dennis Deering said the helicopter was the last of the 65 Bell 47 helicopters acquired by the Army and operated out of Amberley by 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron.

“A01-738 was flown in South Vietnam by 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight before returning to operate from Amberley and subsequently the new Army Aviation Centre at Oakey,” he said.

“This helicopter was also used as a display aircraft with the Indonesians prior to an aid program that deliv-ered 12 Bell 47 helicopters to their military.”

Its home for the past 34 years has been the Museum of Army Flying at Oakey, which has now lent it to the RAAHC as a permanent exhibit.

Base Executive Officer WGCDR Clive Wells said the helicopter was transported from Oakey by the 9th Force Support Battalion, which is now located at Amberley, and handed over by the CO, LTCOL Andrew Fidge.

“It was fitting that an Army helicopter which flew out of Amberley should be brought back by a major Army unit now based here,” WGCDR Wells said.

Bell 47G A01-738 will join the Heritage Centre’s Canberra, Mirage, Sabre and Boston, with other air-craft additions to be announced later this year.

Amberley is also to be gifted a Caribou this year in recognition of the type’s service there between 1992 and 2007.

The aircraft joins the two Caribous gifted respec-tively to the Australian War Memorial and RAAF Museum.

Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Greg Combet and Member for Blair Shayne Neumann co-announced the gift on December 9.

The Defence Materiel Organisation is managing the disposal of the remaining airframes.

EASY RIDERS: LTCOL Andrew Fidge (left) and WGCDR Clive Wells enjoy the ride in the Bell 47G Sioux helicopter as it heads by truck to its final resting place at Amberley. Photo: LAC Dan Pinhorn

Farewell to Point Cook’s school STUDENTS at Point Cook Primary School found themselves at a new location on February 1 after the historic school moved off base.

It has moved to a new building in Ponsford Drive in the town of Point Cook.

The school was established at RAAF Base Point Cook in 1923 but the rapidly-expanding local commu-nity meant that it needed to move to larger premises.

At a farewell ceremony on December 17, Commander Air Force Training Group AIRCDRE Ken Watson presented the school with a painting of SE5a aircraft flying over the base.

The ceremony was also marked with a flyover by CT4 and Winjeel trainer aircraft.

AIRCDRE Watson said the school’s association with Point Cook was almost as long as the Air Force had been formed.

“I’d like to thank the school for its service to Air Force members in the past. I have only heard very positive things from Air Force folks who have attend-ed or sent their children to this school,” he said.

“We wish you all the best as you continue your service to the Point Cook community in your new facilities and hope your memories of your time here at RAAF Base Point Cook will be happy ones.”

SCHOOL’S OUT: Principal Michael Hayes presents AIRCDRE Ken Watson with an etching for 86 years support to the school. Photo: Don Kenny

ENQUIRIES: [email protected]

DPSDEC014/09

23-24 March 2010 | BAE Systems Theatre, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE SPACE SEMINAR 2010

24 Lifestyle AIR FORCE February 4, 2010

HEALTH

Getting going in 2010WHETHER a seasoned athlete, an occasional fitness participant, or a beginner with a New Year’s resolu-tion to get fit, many members will return to work and vigorously engage in a fitness regime.

One of the key causes of injury when returning to training and sport, as well as being a major motivation buster, is the “bull at a gate” syn-drome.

Members feeling refreshed from leave or under pressure to pass a fit-ness assessment decide to take the plunge and get stuck into their fitness routines.

Training diligently every day for an hour, many push hard to reach their goals.

Unfortunately, this approach often leads to failure as the body and mind tire rapidly. For some, motivation is lost, while for others who push through mental warning barriers, overtraining and injury await.

The key step in avoiding these pit-falls and ensuring a successful return to physical training is knowledge.

This article will look at the impact of leave on the body and how to begin/start again with physical training.

You pigged out over the break. Now it’s a mad scramble to get fit but LT Rob Orr says you should take one step at a time.

For those who were very active prior to leave, this effect on fitness is a very important consideration.

Often, members expect to be able to perform at the same level of fitness on return to activity.

They expect to be able to run at the same pace or for the same length of time, do as many push ups or lift as much weight. Many simply continue with their training program as if they had never taken a break.

For those few able to exercise at

the same pace and volume, the cost of performing at this same level is high-er than it was pre-leave and soon the body fatigues or an injury occurs.

Those who fail to start training at the same level will lose motivation and in all probability cease training.

Conversely, some members will attack their training with even more vigour in an attempt to rapidly return to pre-leave fitness levels.

Again, the outcome of this approach can often be fatigue and/or injury.

For those beginning with a new training program, a similar trap exists where they suddenly begin their exer-cise program with over-enthusiastic high-volume training every day.

Regret tably, the progressive increase in body stress begins to over-whelm the initial enthusiasm.

Waking every morning with muscle soreness and fatigue leads to a loss of motivation and soon one day of train-ing is missed, then two, then a week and soon training is forgotten.

TOO MUCH TOO SOON: Beware of over-training. Photo: AB Paul Berry

For the first four weeks a steady progressive approach to training is recommended:➤ For the first two weeks

train no more than three to four times a week. Then, if comfortable with train-ing frequency, increase to no more than five times a week.

➤ Train at a low intensity – no more than 80 per cent of maximum effort.

➤ Train for no more than 40 minutes (excluding warm up and cool down).

➤ Try as many different activ-ities as possible. Rotate through different weight-training exercises, try different cardio machines, run different routes.

Take it easy

Fact 1: DetrainingAs physical activity is reduced over

the festive season, physical fitness declines. Some research has shown that as much as 1 per cent of VO2, a measure of aerobic fitness, is lost each day following inactivity.

In performance measures, this equates to an increase in a 2.4km run time of around one minute or a decrease in shuttle run ability of seven levels per week of inactivity.

When it comes to strength, although the loss is not as drastic, muscle strength is also lost due to inactivity.

Fact 2: Weight increaseOften over the leave period, the

reduction in physical activity combines with an increase in food and alcohol consumption. The outcome of this equation, of calories out versus calo-ries in, is an increase in body weight.

This increase in weight reduces the aerobic fitness of the body, reduces the body’s relative strength, and, most importantly, increases the weight your body must now carry.

The two combine to have a notable impact on fitness and injury potential as a now less-fit body must carry addi-tional weight.

For more information visit www.adcu.com.au,call 1300 13 23 28 or

visit your local ADCU branch.

Fees and charges apply. Full terms & conditions available on request. Australian Defence Credit Union Ltd ABN 48 087 649 741 AFSL No. 237 988

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25SportAIR FORCE February 4, 2010

By John Martin

WHENEVER the then WGCDR Matt Hall finished an F/A-18 mis-sion, he could expect

to have a debrief with his team and move on.

Now, he says, when he returns to ground, 400 million people can quick-ly hear all about his mistakes via tel-evision, newspapers and the internet.

Early last year Matt left the Permanent Air Force to become one of the pilots in the Red Bull Air Race world championship – and what a suc-cess he has been.

He shattered all rookie records last year, finishing third with 36 points from a series of races in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), San Diego (USA), Windsor (Canada), Budapest (Hungary), Porto (Portugal) and Barcelona (Spain) against a galaxy of international pilots.

His big breakthrough came high above 720,000 fans in Porto when he finished third to make the podium for the first time.

He capped that off in Barcelona with another three points to clinch third place for the series.

These days when Matt finishes fly-ing he might face a bank of television cameras and questions from journalists hungry for information about a fast-growing and high-profile sport.

He accepts that interviews go hand-in-hand with what he does now, and he strives to satisfy the growing demand from the media for his time. The day Air Force News spoke to him, he was in the middle of a whole week of time he had set aside just for media interviews. Then there’s the new media. You’ll find Matt not only at his website but on Facebook and Twitter sites, too.

Matt joined the Air Force in 1991 as a direct entry officer, went straight through pilot training to Hornets, com-pleted the Fighter Combat Instructors’ course in 1999, and did an exchange to the USA flying F-15s, between 2002 and 2004, which included combat mis-sions in Iraq. He returned to RAAF Base Williamtown in January 2005 to continue flying F/A-18s.

He flew an MXS aircraft in the Red Bull race last year, racing against the clock at speeds of up to 370kph through low-level aerial tracks made up of inflatable 20m pylons, and he said his performance far exceeded his expectations for his first year.

“All year I really focused on trying to learn as much as I could while hav-ing fun and most of all flying safely.

“That won’t change this year and I now know if I get those three things right – learning, fun and safety – I am in for another wonderful year.”

Matt is one of few pilots in the race who has a military background and he believes the skills he learnt in disci-pline, management and prioritisation have served him well.

He had to break away from the comfort zone to do this, severing a guaranteed career and leaving behind 18 years of friendships for the time being.

He took a second mortgage out on his house in NSW and used all his life savings just to gain a foothold in a new pursuit.

It hasn’t been easy. It’s been a strain on his whole fam-

ily.Matt says he spent five months

out of Australia last year. About half

of that time, he had his family – wife Pedita (a former WGCDR medical officer in the Reserves) and four-year-old son Mitchell – with him. “I would hardly ever have seen them otherwise.”

It’s also chicken and the egg stuff. You need sponsors to bring in enough money to pay for the things that can promote success, but you need success to attract sponsors.

But slowly it’s coming together. “It’s starting to pay dividends,” Matt says.

He is under no illusions though. He’s no longer the new kid on the

Former F/A-18 pilot excels in new arenanew arena

block. The other pilots now have to treat him as a serious rival and that will change their mindsets.

Matt is getting a new aircraft, an MXS-R, built in the US. It will be lighter and faster than last year’s air-craft and will be ready for his first race in Abu Dhabi in late March.

His rivals can’t directly affect his performances but he expects to have to deal with a bit of psychological warfare.

Matt says the Red Bull Air Race is no different to cricket or boxing.

If there’s an opportunity to sow the seeds of doubt in someone’s mind by dropping a comment in a newspaper about, say, Matt’s beginner’s luck, you don’t miss the chance to try to gain a mental advantage.

He says it’s hard to describe how excited he is about the coming season.

“I am not one to make predictions about my own performances or get too caught up in the results of the other pilots but I can say with some certainty that I am more confident going into my second season than I was before my debut year of competition.

“Last year I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I would handle myself, and while I know I still have a lot to learn, I am at least now familiar with how the race works and I am get-ting better at bringing the best out of myself.

“And I will need to because I know everyone else will have lifted the bar in the off-season, both in and out of the aircraft. Last year I was a definite underdog which is just how I like it and, while I still consider myself that way, I know there are some people who will be expecting good things from me. Nothing like a bit of friendly pressure.”

For more information, visit www.mat-thallracing.com For more information on Matt Hall’s Official Supporters Tour for when the Red Bull circuit comes to Perth in April, visit www.avtours.com.au/redbull10.html

BACK THEN: WGCDR Matthew Hall in an F/A-18 ... the skills he learnt in the Air Force have served him well. Photo: Sonja Inderwisch

BREAKTHROUGH: Matt Hall flies through an air gate during the fifth round of the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Porto, Portugal, in September. Photo: Tom Lovelock/Red Bull Air Race via AP Images

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26 Sport AIR FORCE February 4, 2010

C’mon Aussie c’monBy CPL Andrew Eddie

THE Boxing Day Test between old cricket foes Australia and England is a sporting tradition held in the high-est regard by Australians the world over.

So when the two teams fronted up again on Boxing Day just past, it attracted the usual attention.

But don’t confuse it with what occurred on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground that day.

This game happened on a rough-and-tumble arena on Kandahar Airstrip in Afghanistan between an Australian military team and the English 9 Regiment.

A carpet pitch was rolled out for the occasion on an uneven, stony dirt surface, the field reduced in size so as not to impose on the volleyball courts and hockey arena.

The crowd fell a good deal short of those at the MCG, too, and the players, however willing, had varying degrees of skill.

But this cricket match had one sim-ilarity to the real thing: the competitive spirit, albeit mixed with jovial inter-ludes and a fair dose of friendly banter.

Aside from the players, the Air Force was represented by SQNLDR Trevor Alley officiating as umpire.

Australia, captained by Force Support Unit engineer CPL Paul Sweeney, won by four runs in a thriller after winning the toss, compiling a formidable 180 runs (including a solid contribution from CPL Adam King) and taking two English wickets in the first over.

Then English man-mountain LCPL Vinnie De Souza strode to the wicket.

He had already left his mark by capturing three Australian scalps with his quick and accurate bowling.

Now he flashed his bat. Within a blistering 10-over period, the English score went from 2-0 to within sight of victory, due to Vinnie’s onslaught. He tore all bowlers apart, despatching them all to all parts of the ground.

He was finally dismissed in his 70s

and by that time England was 7-124, needing 57 runs for victory.

England captain Staff Sergeant Mark Salter nearly got them there but lobbed the ball when England was oh so close.

The catch was gleefully accepted, and the Aussies were overjoyed to have hung on for a victory that had been constantly swaying between probable and possible.

TAKE THAT: Above, CPL Adam King gives his all in an attempt to dismiss English captain Mark Salter, who stood between the Aussies and victory on the carpet pitch in Afghanistan. SQNLDR Trevor Alley officiates as umpire beside him. CPL King finished the match with one wicket and a bundle of runs. Right, CPL Jimmy Reilly, fielding on the boundary, obliges FLTLT Darren Edmonds with an autograph. Photos: CPL Andrew Eddie

ALL hail Air Force golf champion CPL Mark Patton.

But spare a thought for SGT Peter Reinke who has finished sec-ond now for five years in a row.

CPL Patton and SGT Reinke were all tied up after the first three rounds of the ADF national golf championship at the Federal Golf Club in Canberra in December.

This set the scene for a great final round showdown – with CPL Patton taking the title by two shots with his closing round of 74 (+2).

The overall title went to Navy’s LEUT Daryl Whitehead who led from start to finish with a four-round total of 292 (four over par) to win the overall title.

WOFF Lainie Thorn made a wel-come return to the nationals after a long layoff and showed she still has the game to come out of the event as the women’s champion. AB Virginia Vale took out the women’s nett title.

Air Force’s SGT Greg Fraser took out the newly established vet-erans category.

Air Force nett champion was FLTLT Nick Willers by a stroke from FLTLT Luke Connell.

One hundred and fifty-two golf-ers contested the titles, which was the largest in the 26-year history of the event.

So close and yet so far at ADF golf titles again

Despite some windy conditions, the weather was kind overall for the week and tournament director WGCDR Trevor Owens said the titles were yet another success for the hard-working committee.

In the state teams event, the Queensland contingent again took

out the title and has now long proved to be the state to beat.

The 2010 ADF national champi-onship will be held from December 6 to 10.

The entry package is scheduled to be with the ADF Regional Reps in early July.

A TENSE VICTORY: Air Force champion CPL Mark Patton plays his third shot from the greenside bunker to the par 5 17th green during the third round. Photo: CPL Peter Borys

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27SportAIR FORCE February 4, 2010

By FLTLT Trevor Grant

BATTLING rain and wind and being pounded by two-metre waves is not everyone’s cup of tea – but for FLTLT Donna Wishart, that was how she spent the first 10 days of 2010.

FLTLT Wishart, a rower for the women’s Avalon Beach surf life saving club, was tak-ing part in the Navy-sponsored George Bass Surfboat Marathon from Batemans Bay to Eden on the far south coast of NSW.

The race, with competitors from all over the east coast of Australia and this year a crew from Holland, is a gruelling test of strength, cour-age and teamwork for some 190km over seven stages.

“It is an extremely hard marathon and the conditions were not the best, but we made it,” FLTLT Wishart said.

“We had a few minor issues in the initial stages but we ploughed on and made it to the end.”

While the Avalon Beach women did not win the marathon, this crew of mums with an average age of 42 completed every stage of the event.

FLTLT Wishart said that for the next George Bass marathon in 2012 she would love to see Defence enter a men’s and women’s team.

“It is a great way to build teamwork and trust, and you make a lot of friends.”

The marathon follows the route that George Bass first rowed with a small crew in 1797 while exploring the east coast of Australia.

CMDR Bass and six sailors left Sydney in a whale boat in December 1797 and returned in February 1798 having rowed some 1000km of coastline, half of which was previously unex-plored.

By LEUT Pete Bounty

EXPERIENCE triumphed over youthful tal-ent in the finals of the 26th Australian Defence basketball national championships at the Army Logistics Training Centre, Latchford Barracks, Victoria, in December.

NSW men and ACT/Wagga women’s teams both beat teams representing Queensland.

In the women’s final, ACT/Wagga got away to a good lead in the first quarter but an injury-

depleted Queensland side responded with good defensive pressure in the second to draw level.

ACT/Wagga coach PO Glyn Hunter said his team came out flat in the first quarter.Queensland kept up the pressure in the third quarter but failed to capitalise, missing several easy baskets.

Queensland’s poor shooting percentage allowed ACT/Wagga to regain control, in the end winning comfortably 56 to 35.

In the men’s game, Queensland took it to NSW in a fast and physical first quarter.

NSW coach CPL Rob Greig said he was expecting Queensland to come out hard but felt the depth in his team would be too much.

“We’re very lucky this year. We go 10 deep and everyone did what was asked of them,” he said.

Queensland’s resistance was short-lived with key NSW players on target from beyond the

three-point line, allowing NSW to pull away. NSW cruised home to a 76 to 43 win.

QLD coach WO2 Bruce Ferguson said a lack of opportunity to prepare for the tournament made it hard for his team against a well-drilled NSW.

“Their speed up the court and their outside shooters really hurt us,” he said.

Information on Defence Basketball can be found at www.adba.basketball.net.au

IN BRIEF

New York successRESERVIST CPL Jane Watts passed the polygraph test then dazzled the judges at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation championships in New York

Ahoy, Air Force goes to seagoes to sea

Experience the telling factor in basketball finals

late last year. She was judged second in the Miss Figure (Short Class) and third in Fit Body (Medium Class). “I was so stoked,” she said. “It was an amaz-ing experience against some awesome competi-tion.” CPL Watts, pictured at right in New York, qualified for the titles by winning the Miss Figure and Fit Body titles at the WNBF Asia Pacific titles in October on the heels of winning the women’s Overall Class at the ADF natural physique titles in September. The polygraph test in New York attested to her natural status.

Soccer’s new identityTHE RAAF National Soccer Association has changed its name to the Air Force Football Association – and has a new logo to reflect the change.It also has a new patron, CDR Air Lift Group AIRCDRE John Oddie. The committee has already started working towards the next selection trials and ADF national tour-nament in Sydney from October 25 to November 5.

WELCOME: Commitee representative SGT Nathan King presents new AFFA patron AIRCDRE John Oddie with a framed photograph of the AFFA 2009 representative squad.

Photo: LAC Michael Green

On song at ZatopekRUNNERS CPL Cassie Fien and FLGOFF Lisa Flint flew the flag high for Air Force in the women’s 10,000m race at the Zatopek Classic in Melbourne in December. Half marathon specialist CPL Fien finished sixth in 33mins 16.16sec in a star-studded field. FLGOFF Flint, who has qualified for the marathon in the Commonwealth Games in India this year, finished 15th in 36mins 11.70sec.

BACK ASHORE: Above, FLTLT Donna Wishart gives the thumbs up after rowing 190km in 10 days at sea; that’s her in white in the bow of the surfboat, left. Photos: FLTLT Trevor Grant

TOUCH FOOTY AT AMBERLEY

EYES ON THE BALL: SGT Barry Pleasance, of Get it On, focuses on getting control of the ball In C grade.

TOUCHDOWN: Mr Shane McCoy scores a try for Arrows in the A grade final.

OH, NO YOU DON’T: SGT Gavin Sephton (right), of Get it On, holds up FSGT Matt Rush, of Offsiders, in C grade at the RAAF Base Amberley Touch Football Club grand finals late last year. Get it On won the title. A grade was won by Breakaways, B grade by Razorbacks and the mixed competition by Ruck’n’Roll. Photos: ACW Kylie Gibson



SPORTFebruary 4, 2010

Reach for the sky After an 18-

year career in the Air Force, Matt Hall is now dazzling fans in some of the world’s greatest cities in the Red Bull Air Race

Report, Page 25

FIRST PODIUM: Matt Hall shows his jubilation after finishing third in Porto, Portugal in September. Photo: Markus KuceraCLINCHING IT: Background photo, Hall goes skyward in the final round of the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Barcelona, Spain. He finished third for the year which was the best performance by a rookie in his first season. Photo: David Blundell/Red Bull Air Race via AP Images

Taking on Poms in Kandahar

– Page 26

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