On target during Hamel – Pages 4-5 Dogs earn their stripes – Page 15

AIRF RCEVol. 58, No. 13, July 28, 2016 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

PRIDE REIGNS

Honour amid

heartbreak in France

CENTRE

FLTLT Kirsty Cross, a pilot from 2SQN, prepares to march with the ADF contingent for the French National Day parade in Paris on July 14. Photo: SGT Janine Fabre

2 July 28, 2016RCEAIR FNews

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CONTACT USraafnews@defencenews.gov.auThe Editor, Air Force News, R8-LG-047, PO Box 7909, Department of Defence, ACT 2600www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnewsFax: (02) 6265 6690

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RCEAIR F

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

WGCDR Colleen Higginson

A COLLABORATIVE workshop has helped advance Air Force towards its goal of becoming a White Ribbon-accredited workplace by next March.

Representatives from force element groups and Air Force Headquarters (AFHQ) branches took part in the workshop, in which they discussed ways of preparing Air Force members to address the issue of men’s violence against women.

COS AFHQ AIRCDRE Hayden Marshall opened the workshop and emphasised Air Force’s commitment to “walk the talk”.

“Air Force recognises that violence against women has a negative impact on the health and safety of our mem-bers in the workplace and the commu-nity,” he said.

“As with any other safety issue we face in our workplace and community, we need direct action by individuals.

“To enhance these actions, we need to ensure our training is best tailored to help Air Force members understand the issue of violence against women and what we can do in our workplaces and our community to keep each other safe.

“Air Force is proud to be partner-ing with White Ribbon and workshops such as these are one of the many steps we are taking together on our road to accreditation.”

The one-day workshop, conduct-ed in Canberra on June 30, included White Ribbon representatives from ADFA, the Australian Civil-Military Centre and the Defence Community Organisation.

All aspects of the White Ribbon workplace accreditation program were discussed and reviewed to ensure the Air Force White Ribbon training pack-age was being developed correctly to help members understand the issue of violence against women.

Workshop participant GPCAPT

Guy Adams, from the Directorate of Strategic Plans AFHQ, said the work-shop “clarified my understanding of why Air Force desires White Ribbon accreditation and the benefits it will bring to Air Force from a capability perspective”.

Another participant, COS Air Combat Group GPCAPT Rob Denney, said his team was looking forward to participating in the accreditation pro-gram.

“The workshop provided valu-able insight and understanding of the White Ribbon organisation and what is required of us to be part of the Air Force accreditation program,” he said.

Group WOFF Darren Whitford, from Surveillance and Response Group said “White Ribbon will further enhance Air Force’s cultural reform and is an initiative that is consistent with New Horizon and in alignment with Defence Pathways to change”.

Participants agreed that understand-ing how White Ribbon aligned with their own values was crucial.

“The White Ribbon message is an Air Force message,” AIRCDRE Marshall said.

“Our Air Force values – respect, excellence, agility, dedication, integ-rity and teamwork – define us as a professional force and are integral to our White Ribbon aspirations.

“Violence against women is never acceptable, and neither is being aware of it and doing nothing. All Air Force workplaces are encouraged to address this important topic.”

White Ribbon training packages will be available to all personnel from August to October. The training will be delivered by commanders at all lev-els to all personnel.

To find out how you can support White Ribbon, visit http://drnet.defence.gov.au/RAAF and click on the White Ribbon Australia tab under Featured Links. You can also visit the White Ribbon website at http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/.

Walking the talkTaking a step towards White Ribbon goal

The White Ribbon C-130J and, above,

executive WOFF Scott Chenery,

Academy Sergeant Major of ADFA, at the White Ribbon training with his

peers.Photos: SGT William

Guthrie, LACW Katharine

Pearson

A NEW minister has entered into the Defence fold following the swearing in of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s ministry.

Christopher Pyne has been appointed to the new role of the Minister for Defence Industry. He joins Minister for Defence Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan – who was previously the Minister for Defence Materiel – in the Defence portfolio.

Mr Pyne will be responsible for delivering the $195 billion worth of investment in Australia’s defence capabilities outlined in the Defence White Paper.

CPL Bill Solomou

Australian and foreign military aircraft are fly-ing into Darwin and Tindal as Air Force pre-pares for its largest training activity – Exercise Pitch Black 2016.

About 2500 personnel and up to 115 aircraft from around the globe are ready to go for the exercise, from July 29 to August 19.

Pitch Black provides the opportunity to exer-cise Air Force’s high end war fighting capabili-ties alongside the Army and international part-ners in realistic air and air-land scenarios aimed at enhancing interoperability. The countries rep-resented are Australia, Canada, France (New Caledonia), Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the US.

Some foreign elements, including the Singapore Air Force, have been in the Northern Territory since mid-July conducting pre-exercise training.

AIRCDRE Christopher Sawade, head of special events, said major exercises such as Pitch Black were pivotal in ensuring the Air Force remained ready to respond whenever the Australian Government required.

“The training that occurs during these exer-cises directly supports Air Force’s ability to conduct operations, such as current missions

in the Middle East against Daesh,” AIRCDRE Sawade said.

“Pitch Black will be an opportunity to advance Plan Jericho initiatives by exercising key capabilities in a complex and dynamic envi-ronment.

“Integrating new capabilities and exploiting them to their full potential will be the difference between an Air Force with fifth generation air-craft, and a fifth generation Air Force.”

Exercise Pitch Black is a major boost for the Northern Territory economy and employment. The exercise is expected to inject approximately $25 million into the local economy.

There will be two major opportunities dur-ing Exercise Pitch Black for the public to talk to Defence personnel and see Air Force capabili-ties on display. A handling display and flypasts will be performed over Mindil Beach on August 11 and an Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin is scheduled for August 13.

Both events are free and provide the Air Force with the opportunity to thank the local community for its continued support of impor-tant training activities in the Top End.

Keep up with Exercise Pitch Black via Air Force’s social media outlets and the exercise website (www.airforce,gov.au/pitchblack16), and in Air Force News.

New minister joins the ranks

It’s all systems go for Pitch Black

On target during Hamel – Pages 4-5 Dogs earn their stripes – Page 15

AIRF RCEVol. 58, No. 13, July 28, 2016 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

PRIDE REIGNS

Honour amid

heartbreak in France

CENTRE

FLTLT Kirsty Cross, a pilot from 2SQN, prepares to march with the ADF contingent for the French National Day parade in Paris on July 14. Photo: SGT Janine Fabre

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3July 28, 2016RCEAIR F News

NEW light has been shed on the immi-nent 10-year strategy that will shape a world-class, fifth-generation Air Force.

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies (pic-tured) gave a preamble to the 2016-2026 plan during an address to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute on July 19.

AIRMSHL Davies outlined five dis-tinct “vectors” that are crucial to the 10-year strategy – joint warfighting, peo-ple, communications, infrastructure and international engagement.

He said these five vectors would set Air Force on a path to success.

“The vectors will allow Air Force to adapt to change coherently, but also to prevail against the challenges that will be inherent to Air Force’s future as we become the first fully fifth-generation Air Force in the world,” AIRMSHL Davies said.

“These vectors have been chosen for their simplicity and we can tailor appro-priate language for clarity. Vectors have both direction and magnitude and we can measure success against them.

“Delivering this strategy also recog-nises that Air Force needs to embrace a new view of leadership. We must recog-nise that corporals are our most junior leaders and leadership belongs at every level of Air Force.”

AIRMSHL Davies said a total fifth generation Air Force would not be real-ised, or would take longer to deliver, without a strategy to guide the service.

He said infrastructure was one of the vectors because Air Force’s demographic was changing rapidly.

“Today we have over 1000 mem-bers who are classed as ‘married with dependents working unaccompanied’. This means they are geographically dis-located from their families for the whole duration of a posting,” he said.

“We need to understand our work-force better, in terms of their needs and their desires, and match our infrastruc-ture to best suit. It is about who they are,

where they can work, and how we can work to ensure they stay with us as part of Air Force’s future.”

AIRMSHL Davies said 19.2 per cent of Air Force personnel were women and 1.1 per cent were indigenous, meaning the service did have the best Australia had to offer.

“We have established a clear vision to grow female representation to 25 per cent by 2023, as a minimum and not as a goal,” he said.

Air Force would start tackling the international engagement vector by strengthening its relationship with the International Policy Division in order to support the implementation of the Defence White Paper.

“This will include increasing the priority Air Force places on broader Defence international engagement activi-ties,” he said.

“Air Force will also continue to pur-sue international engagement opportuni-ties through individual and collective training and exercises to build transpar-ency and trust with other nations, espe-cially those in our region.

AIRMSHL Davies said in coming months he would release a formal strat-egy and “I welcome your feedback in the interim as we finalise this work”.

Power of five drives our futureCAF lays down the ‘vectors’ to measure our progress towards a fifth-generation force

Brooke McEwan

TWO Air Force personnel with a combined 56 years of engineering and maintenance experience are key appointments to the first Australian F-35A operational squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown.

SQNLDR Leigh Tinker was selected as the first senior mainte-nance manager for No. 3 Squadron and WOFF Guy Erba as the first WOFF Engineering.

SQNLDR Tinker said he was excited and privileged to be taking on his new role.

“The opportunity to shape and influence how Australia’s F-35A capability will be maintained and supported into the future will be the highlight of my career and I realise just how fortunate I am,” he said

WOFF Erba was also keen but acknowledged that integrating a new capability would be challenging.

“To say that I am excited is an understatement. Having said that, I am a realist and this will definitely be a roller-coaster ride. It will no doubt be a rewarding, but at times a very challenging, frustrating and demanding job,” he said.

Both SQNLDR Tinker and WOFF Erba have just returned from the US, where they attended

the F-35A Partner Maintenance Working Group at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

The working group gave the Air Force members a valuable insight into how other nations are experi-encing the F-35A from a mainte-nance and logistics perspective.

SQNLDR Tinker said it became evident that a large percentage of F-35A maintenance could be per-formed by any trade group.

“Cross-trade employment of the technical workforce will be a promi-nent feature of F-35A maintenance, enabling greater use of the work-force across multiple disciplines,” he said.

The introduction of the F-35’s autonomic logistics information sys-tem (ALIS) is expected to increase productivity, and both officers were looking forward to the efficiencies to be gained from this next genera-tion technology.

ALIS provides the information system infrastructure (hardware, software and data) that performs maintenance management, fault diagnostics, supply support, mission planning and training management across the F-35 weapon system.

“Adopting and exploiting these new technologies and systems while resisting the urge to adapt them to

the way we’ve always done busi-ness will be challenging. We have to look at it as a great opportunity to increase efficiency and effective-ness,” SQNLDR Tinker said.

“This is as much about cultural change as it is about technology advancement. I have no doubt our workforce is well positioned to take on this challenge and set a very high benchmark for others to emulate.”

WOFF Erba also stressed the importance of using ALIS to its full potential. “Any work-arounds or band-aid solutions will defeat the purpose of this exceptional technol-ogy,” he said.

Both members are working with the Air Combat Transition Office within the Joint Strike Fighter Division, and will start their new roles by leading a JSF transition team to the US from early 2017.

This team will be responsible for the safe introduction of the F-35A into service in Australia.

Initially, the JSF transition team will undergo training at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida before mov-ing to Luke AFB, where Australia’s first two jets reside at the F-35A International Pilot Training Centre. Here the team will experience F-35A operations in a high-tempo environment.

Tech leaders keen to strike while the fighters hot up

CPL Nicci Freeman

AIRCDRE Antony Martin has handed over command of Air Task Group 630 (ATG 630) to AIRCDRE Philip Gordon at a Change of Command ceremony at the Combined Air Operations Centre in the Middle East region.

AIRCDRE Martin said the past six months, as commander, had been the highlight of his career.

“I cannot help but feel incredibly proud of everything that the Air Task Group has achieved,” he said.

“I have always been impressed by our ability to just get things done and, of course, it’s our people who make this happen.

“I would like to take this oppor-tunity to sincerely thank everyone across ATG 630, Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 and our US and coalition partners, who have all contributed to our success.”

“This deployment has provided me with an opportunity to visit new places, develop new friendships and, perhaps most significantly, provided me with a host of memo-ries that I will remember fondly.”

AIRCDRE Martin wished his suc-cessor all the best.

“I know I am handing the ATG to someone with a wealth of experi-ence in fast-jet operations who will undoubtedly take the Task Group’s performance to the next level.

Handing over with fond memories

AIRCDRE Philip Gordon, left, and AIRCDRE Antony Martin sign the Change of Command certificate as AVM Tim Innes looks on. Photo: CPL Nicci Freeman

SQNLDR Leigh Tinker, left, and WOFF Guy Erba with an F-35A at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

4 July 28, 2016RCEAIR FNews

Eamon Hamilton

THIS YEAR’S major Army readiness exercise allowed Air Force to practise air-land integration techniques in South Australia.

Exercise Hamel began under a cover of darkness on June 28, with a No. 37 Squadron C-130J Hercules airdropping Army personnel to Whyalla Airfield to start force projection into the area of operations.

Over the following three weeks, more than 8000 personnel were involved in the exercise in Whyalla, Port Pirie, and the Cultana Training Area.

It was the first time it was conducted in South Australia.

Participants included all three ser-vices, along with members of the US Marine Corps, the US Army (Pacific Command) and New Zealand Army.

Exercise Hamel this year evaluat-ed the war-fighting skills of Darwin’s 1st Brigade, ensuring its readiness for potential future deployments, from humanitarian assistance missions through to high-tempo war-fighting operations.

Re-creating these scenarios called on Air Force to provide AP-3C Orions from RAAF Base Edinburgh, which flew overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

From Port Pirie airfield, a pair of No. 4 Squadron PC-9s conducted mis-sions in support of Army units, while a pair of F/A-18F Super Hornets flew a

3200km sortie to the exercise area from RAAF Base Amberley.

Throughout Hamel, Air Force Hercules were deployed to RAAF Base Edinburgh to enable Army manoeuvring and sustainment.

WOFF Ryan Bowden, a loadmas-ter with 37SQN, said the Hercules sup-ported the land forces through airlift of troops and vehicles as well as airborne insertion of paratroopers.

“The exercise also provided a great opportunity for some of the more junior loadmasters to continue their develop-ment, mentor them and expose them to how a major operation like this would run,” WOFF Bowden said.

“It is satisfying to know that in the future these junior loadmasters will be providing the same mentoring and development to someone else who’s new.”

Airdrop of supplies is a cornerstone mission for 37SQN crews, and during Hamel they were supported by Army’s No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron.

“The Army is waiting for these sup-plies – this is what they’re going to eat, drink, fuel their generators or vehicles, and fight with,” WOFF Bowden said.

For FLGOFF Daniel Armstrong, a co-pilot with 37SQN, the exercise illus-trated the benefits of providing an Army Battle Group with a mass amount of airlift support in a short period of time.

“The other day, we were taking 80 passengers back and forth between Port

Augusta and Whyalla, and airlift was the quickest way to move them.”

During frontline operations, ground units transported by road may be subject to attack, or confronted by geographic obstacles.

“Instead of taking hours to trav-el 150km by road, we can fly Army units there in 11 minutes,” FLGOFF Armstrong said.

“We’re like the lifeline, so we can resupply Army with anything that they need, and we can get it there by landing at an airfield or airdropping to a drop zone.”

While the primary aim of Exercise Hamel is for Army to maintain its readi-ness, the opportunity to practise air-land integration is of benefit to Air Force too.

“The airdrop we were flying in Exercise Hamel supplied the Army, but it also benefits us because they learn how to utilise the capabilities and options air mobility gives a land force,” FLGOFF Armstrong said.

“We get to practise integrating with Army and honing the necessary skills to achieve the mission.”

Re-creating high-tempo operations at Hamel ensures units such as 37SQN can support Defence at a moment’s notice.

“We’re all about preparedness, so if we get the call to support the joint force, we’ll be ready to go and do it,” FLGOFF Armstrong said.

Exercise Hamel’s high-tempo operations highlight the importance of air support to forces on the ground

No. 37 Squadron co-pilot FLGOFF Daniel Armstrong returns to RAAF Base Edinburgh after a mission to the Cultana Training Area as part of Exercise Hamel.Photo: Brett Williamson (ABC)

A LIFELINE TO THE LAND

LAC Martin Hannelly, of No. 383 Squadron, processes an “evacuee” at the evacuation handling centre.Photo: AB Chris Beerens

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5July 28, 2016RCEAIR F News

SEVENTY personnel from 3SECFOR broke new ground when the unit deployed to Port Pirie airfield to establish and con-duct airbase security as part of Army’s Exercise Hamel.

3SECFOR formed Combat Team Scorpion and was charged with securing “Battlegroup Griffin” – Army’s aviation battlegroup.

The name Combat Team Scorpion was derived from the Flinders Ranges’ scorpi-on, which is part of the 3SECFOR’s crest and depicts the unit’s motto: “Resolute in Defence”.

3SECFOR deployed an integrated security force that consisted of Airfield Defence Guards, Air Force Security, Air Force Police and Ground Defence and Security Police Officers.

These were supported by the squad-ron’s integral administration and logistics personnel, and attached intelligence and communications personnel.

The security forces team built partner-ships with members from the US Army, and the other Australian Army combat teams that formed Battlegroup Griffin.

Learning to operate as part of the Army battlegroup required adaptability and gave Air Force an insight into the other services’ modes of operation.

The exercise was an opportunity for 3SECFOR to break new ground as it used Battlegroup Griffin as the focus for a security effort traditionally focused on Air Force assets.

3SECFOR detachment commander SQNLDR Jodie Dell said Combat Team Scorpion provided Battlegroup Griffin with a surveillance and response capabil-ity and access control in order to provide vital asset protection and tactical area of responsibility (TAOR) control.

“Airfield Defence Guards conducted TAOR surveillance, mounted in sur-veillance and reconnaissance variant G-wagons, and identified and assessed the approaches to the airfield in order to create standoff,” SQNLDR Dell said.

“A rifle flight of quick response force (QRF) personnel mounted in protected mobility vehicles provided a response capability on the airfield and approaches, as well as conducting deliberate patrol-ling and clearing tasks into the Port Pirie community.

“Embedded with the QRF were mili-tary working dog teams, which enhanced the deterrence, detection and response capability.

“Air Force Police provided access control and deployed integrated policing in support of Battlegroup Griffin, as well as local liaison to the exercise host nation, Cultania.”

The Force Protection Operations Centre (FPOC) served as the focal point for base defence and security operations.

OIC FPOC FLGOFF Dominic Haynes said the ability to integrate with joint effects for air support, providing airbase security, enabled the squadron to exercise its full spectrum of capabilities in a com-bined joint task force.

QRF Flight undertook some joint clearance patrols incorporating mem-bers from the US Army’s Long Range Surveillance Platoon.

Combat Team Scorpion’s QRF SNCO, SGT Cameron Angus, said conducting dismounted and mounted urban and field clearances with the Ranger-qualified team was a good opportunity to share knowl-edge and experience.

No. 87 Squadron support staff, who were attached to Combat Team Scorpion, said the exercise was rewarding as they were able to integrate security at the tacti-cal level by providing direct intelligence into tactical planning.

Chief of Army LTGEN Angus Campbell visited Battlegroup Griffin dur-ing the exercise and it was highlighted that this was the first time many Army personnel had experienced working with Air Force ground security forces to secure their personnel and assets.

This fact was not lost on many par-ticipants.

“I look forward to continued future engagement between Air Force security forces and Army, especially in support of aviation deployments and missions in similar space and construct,” SQNLDR Dell said.

“The opportunity to promote interop-erability, reinforce strong relationships and demonstrate cooperation between Army and Air Force is strongly wel-comed.”

3SECFOR has now been assessed and certified as achieving full operational capability – the first SECFOR to do so since the SECFOR implementation com-menced in 2014.

This ensures 3SECFOR is trained and equipped to deploy on any future contin-gency operations as it enters the ready phase of the force generation cycle.

FLGOFF Alyssa Vickridge

NO. 383 Contingency Response Squadron (CRS) welcomed the chance to work with Army at an operational and tactical level while taking part in Exercise Hamel.

The squadron conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation during the exercise in South Australia.

A team of 24 was placed at Whyalla airport with the 5th Battalion, Royal Aus-tralian Regiment, to activate an evacuee handling centre (EHC).

This task was in response to the destabilisation of fictitious country East Cultania, requiring the evacuation of Australians and approved foreign na-tionals from the area.

CO 383SQN WGCDR Jim Xinos said the exercise allowed integration with Army elements at the operational and tactical level.

“For many members of the team, the highlight of the exercise was the opportunity to rehearse joint, combined and inter-agency operability,” WGCDR Xinos said.

“In particular, representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked as part of the EHC to pro-vide realistic policy advice and insight from their own overseas experiences.

“Not many of our squadrons have had the opportunity to train to this level of detail. It has been extremely benefi-cial to rehearse our tactical operations and integrate with Army.”

During the exercise, the team moved quickly and was able to process and re-move 400 “evacuees” in 36 hours from East Cultania.

LACW Emma Chapman said this was her first time on Exercise Hamel and she wasn’t sure how well her unit would fit with the Army.

“Overall, it was pretty great. The sol-diers worked with us really well to make sure we had everything we needed,” she said.

“I think everyone learnt something from the experience.”

The scenarios developed by No. 295 Squadron (Training and Standards) were set to test the team’s response to different situations and included esca-lating threat, the sensitivities involved when working with vulnerable people and the administrative issues related to evacuees’ missing identity documents.

Many of the evacuee role players were from the local community, which brought more authenticity to the train-ing.

Whyalla local Bruce Ledo said role playing “is good fun for the civilians, but it has a serious component as well – you may have to do it for real in the future”.

“In a real situation, Defence is going to be confronted by civilians, not military people acting as role players,” he said.

WGCDR Xinos said such rehearsals were “invaluable to the CRS’s prepared-ness to conduct these types of tasks in real-time operations”.

Teamwork and practice pave way for quick evacuations

Scorpion provides sting in the tail

3SECFOR’s LAC David Dalton reviews convoy orders during Exercise Hamel.

Combat Team Scorpion Surveillance Section conducts an orders group in the Hamel area of operations.

See footage at: http://video.defence.gov.au/play/4768#

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6 July 28, 2016RCEAIR FNews

FINAL TIME AT RIMPAC

FLTLT Shaun Donnelly

THREE AP-3C Orion aircraft have arrived in Kaneohe Bay, on the Hawaiian island of Ohau, to partici-pate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) for the last time.

Air Force Orions have been a mainstay of the exercise for 25 years, but will make way for P-8A Poseidons in future.

The involvement of No. 11

Squadron, from RAAF Base Edinburgh, in the exercise will pro-vide crews with joint anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare training and warfighting qualifications.

Detachment commander for the deployment SQNLDR Adam Saber said the exercise would allow aircraft crews to consolidate their skills.

“We have been building up our training at the squadron in the lead-up to the exercise to ensure we seam-

lessly integrate into the environment,” he said

“The serials we are flying will allow us to test and refine our skills and perform in a real-time warfight-ing scenario.”

An Australian Orion will fire a harpoon anti-ship missile in a coordi-nated firing between a US Navy P-8A Poseidon during the exercise.

SQNLDR Saber said 11SQN first joined the exercise in 1971 and the

Air Force had deployed aircraft to every Rimpac since.

From 2018, when the exercise is next held, it is planned to operate the P-8A Poseidon as part of the progres-sion to final operating capability.

“Rimpac 16 is the last time that the Orion aircraft from the RAAF will deploy for the exercise as they are soon to be retired from service,” SQNLDR Saber said.

“The Orion is still a great aircraft

able to conduct a wide range of mis-sions. The introduction of the P-8A will significantly enhance our capa-bilities.”

The three Orions in Kaneohe Bay are supported by three crews and 65 maintenance and support staff.

Exercise Rimpac, from June 30 to August 4, is the world’s largest mari-time exercise and includes more than 25,000 personnel from 26 countries.

A 11SQN AP-3C Orion lands at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. Inset: Detachment commander SQNLDR Adam Saber.Photos: LS Lee-Anne Mack

FLGOFF Natalie Giles

THE largest Air Force-led joint per-sonnel recovery exercise wrapped up in July with a realistic IED mass-cas-ualty “event” at the Townsville Field Training Area.

Exercise Angel Reign 2016 was a bilateral exercise held from June 28 to July 7.

The Air Force Training Group’s large scale, two-week field training exercise involved Air Force, Army, civilian agencies and participants from the US.

The exercise provided combat search and rescue training for combat crews to ensure that any aircrew who become isolated could be recovered.

SQNLDR Ashley Hill, CO of Combat Survival Training School (CSTS) and deputy exercise director, said a lot of training targets had been achieved.

“This has been a very successful exercise,” SQNLDR Hill said.

“We’ve conducted a range of oper-ations that have involved Australian and US aircraft and personnel, and the ability for us to work together and

achieve outcomes has been the success of this exercise.”

While the exercise was not spe-cifically targeted at personnel who were deploying, the training outcomes aligned with a very real situation that could occur on deployments.

“The scenarios we have been doing have been based on real-time events that have occurred in the past,” SQNLDR Hill said.

“While we haven’t conducted a lot of combat search and rescue recently, they are things we always plan for, so these training activities replicate what could happen in real time.

“We’re doing this to keep our peo-ple safe. We put them in harm’s way [on deployment] and it is our duty to respond and recover them so they can come and fight another day.”

CSTS instructor WO1 Gregory Hains said the exercise had been great training for the instructors.

“It gives us a good look at what will actually happen overseas should one of our aircraft be shot down or crash. This way we can ensure we are teaching our aircrew the most up-to-date procedures,” he said.

Eamon Hamilton

RAPID planning during Exercise Angel Reign delivered a successful conclusion to a search and rescue scenario (SAR) on July 1.

Off the Townsville coast, eight Air Force personnel were awaiting rescue after they had been forced to “eject” from their aircraft as part of a scripted exercise scenario.

This required a short-notice response from a number of RAAF and US Air Force (USAF) aircraft participating in Exercise Angel Reign at RAAF Base Townsville.

FLTLT Travis Thripp led the C-130J contingent from No. 37 Squadron in the SAR scenario.

“The scenario was that a flight of F/A-18 Hornets and a KC-30A tanker took off with contaminated fuel,” FLTLT Thripp said.

That contaminated fuel led to the Hornet crews having to eject over the Coral Sea, requiring a quick rescue.

As with a real-world SAR operation, the 37SQN crew was given little notice that it was participating in the exercise.

At RAAF Base Townsville, USAF personnel worked with their RAAF counterparts as well as civilian agencies to determine the best SAR plan.

“Angel Reign took a multi-ele-ment force approach to the SAR sce-nario, with the aircraft in the search area coordinating with the SAR agencies in Townsville,” FLTLT Thripp said.

“We provided airborne SAR standby along with the AP-3C Orion, and a Wedgetail providing mission commander duties, linking to the SAR agencies in Townsville.”

Most SAR missions for a civilian rescue in Australia’s immediate region are coordinated from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

“The main difference in this exercise was the dedicated command and control provided by the Wedgetail, as this was military SAR,” FLTLT Thripp said.

“We normally would rely more heav-ily on high-frequency radios to civilian agencies like AMSA, but having the Wedgetail in location provided more immediate feedback.

“We flew SAR patterns and dropped both the compact rescue system and the air-sea rescue kit into the water.”

At the search area, the RAAF assets were complemented by a USAF MC-130 Hercules, a dedicated SAR variant of the transport aircraft, which is capable of refuelling helicopters in mid-flight.

With the survivors located and rescue packs delivered, US Guardian Angels were dropped into the water from HH-60 Pave Hawk combat SAR helicopters.

The personnel in the water were then winched to safety and returned to RAAF Base Townsville.

While Exercise Angel Reign brought in RAAF and USAF experts in maritime SAR, it was other participants’ first expe-rience of a dynamic scenario.

“I personally had no real-world SAR experience prior to Exercise Angel Reign, beyond the basic SAR quali-fications and exercises we conduct at 37SQN,” FLTLT Thripp said.

The addition of satellite communica-tions and Link-16 network connectivity to the C-130J will assist SAR missions in future, providing communication redundancy and increasing the situational awareness of the crew.

7July 28, 2016RCEAIR F News

Help on its way at short notice

SO NO MEMBER IS LEFT BEHIND

Search and rescue exercise prepares combat crews for real-time events

See footage at: http://video.defence.gov.au/play/4752#

A 10SQN AP-3C Orion prepares to drop a helibox containing drinkable water for a downed pilot off the coast of Townsville during Exercise Angel Reign. Photo: CPL Glen McCarthy

WOFF Rex Trow, from Combat

Survival Training School, gets help

from a US Air Force Guardian Angel during Exercise

Angel Reign. Photo: CPL Steve Duncan

‘We’re doing this to keep our people safe. It is our duty to respond and recover them so they can come and fight another day.

SQNLDR Ashley HillCO SCTS

8 July 28, 2016RCEAIR FNews

FLTLT Bruce Chalmers

THE ADF Basic Flying Training School (BFTS) has celebrated 250,000 flying hours in the Pacific Aerospace CT-4B Airtrainer aircraft, a significant mile-stone for both the unit and the aircraft.

Operated by BAE Systems Australia, under contract to provide triservice training at Tamworth since 1999, the CT-4B averages about 15,500 hours’ fly-ing time a year.

The 250,000-hour milestone incor-porates all CT-4B flying since the ADF BFTS contract commenced in 1999.

The school’s executive officer, SQNLDR Michael Del Mastro, said pilot training typically consisted of 62.8 flying hours, focusing on basic general, instrument, night and navigation flying, and followed the flight screening pro-gram also conducted on the CT-4B.

“The flight screening program is a flying-based assessment of ADF pilot candidates. Flight screening courses encompass roughly 10 hours of flight time and are two weeks long,” he said.

Thirty per cent of Air Force’s fly-ing hours are conducted by Air Training Wing within Air Force Training Group (AFTG).

Commander AFTG AIRCDRE Geoff Harland said the milestone was a team

effort between BAE Systems, AirFlite and ADF BFTS at Tamworth.

“AFTG will continue to work with its partners in all aspects of training to deliver air power for Australia through the required technical mastery to sup-port and operate our advanced air power systems and the professional mastery to ensure that our systems are utilised to best joint effect,” he said.

The CT-4B is a two side-by-side seater, single-engine, low-wing, all-met-al monoplane with fixed tricycle under-carriage. It is able to operate under both visual and instrument flight rules.

Known for its light, well balanced and responsive handling, the CT-4 is an ideal platform for basic military training.

The CT-4B remains the lead-in train-er for ADF pilots.

Pierre Steyn, from BAE Systems Australia, said about 23 staff were responsible for maintaining the aircraft. Most maintenance was done in-house over three shifts a day, ensuring aircraft availability.

“With a fleet of 29 aircraft, and three to four of those deployed at East Sale, where they are maintained on our behalf by AirFlite, we aim to ensure 20 to 21 aircraft are on line daily to satisfy train-ing requirements,” he said.

AFTER months of planning, an Air Force C-17A Globemaster III, from Amberley-based No. 36 Squadron, touched down in Juba, South Sudan, for the yearly supply run.

The C-17 delivered much-needed supplies on May 23 to ADF personnel deployed on Operation Aslan, the ADF contribution to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Also intended for a New Zealand contingent working in UNMISS, the flight carried items such as person-nel protective equipment, rations, bulk water, weapons and ammunition, as well as other stores that are not readily avail-able in the landlocked country.

The flight was also used to return ADF equipment to the national support element (NSE).

The landing of the C-17 was the cul-mination of efforts spearheaded by the Operation Aslan NSE.

Officer in command NSE FLTLT Donna Watts-Endresz said her small

team, including SGT Graham Schnaars (Air Force) and SGT Anthony Huxtable (Army), punched above its weight to complete the task on time.

“Coordination between UNMISS, the government of South Sudan, Sudan People’s Liberation Army, HQ JTF 633 and local contractors required patience and good communication, especially with the language difficulties,” FLTLT Watts-Endresz said.

“It was a challenging task to com-plete but prior planning and engagement was key to a smooth operation on the day.”

Operation Aslan is usually support-ed by the Juba-based NSE through the 39th Operational Support Battalion in Randwick, with deliveries by contrac-tors. This arrangement works for minor items but is limited when secure, heavy or bulky items need to be delivered.

It is a key responsibility of the NSE to plan and prepare in detail this annual sustainment flight.

Complex delivery done and dusted

Milestone for top trainerPilots’ lead-in training aircraft notches up a quarter of a million hours in the air

CT-4Bs from the Basic Flying Training School fly in formation over Tamworth and, inset, SQNLDR Michael Del Mastro in a training aircraft.Main photo: CPL Oliver Carter

UNMISS personnel, including (from second left) SQNLDR Greg Sorensen, FLTLT Adam Wilson and FLTLT Donna Watts-Endresz, and WOFF Gavin Willmett (second from right), with the C-17A at Juba, South Sudan.

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9July 28, 2016RCEAIR F News

Eamon Hamilton

A ROYAL tour of the Air Force’s KC-30A multi-role tanker transport was a highlight for No. 33 Squadron during the world’s biggest military air show.

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) was held from July 8 to 10 at RAF Fairford in England, and 33SQN took its tanker to the party.

Among the 150,000 people who attended this year’s air show were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their son, Prince George.

While the Royal Family were there to look at Royal Air Force air-craft at RIAT, they also took a tour through 33SQN’s KC-30A.

It was not the first time the Duke had been a guest of the squadron.

During a royal tour of Australia in March 1983, a nine-month-old Prince William travelled on board a 33SQN Boeing 707 with his parents.

CPL Peter Blogg, a crew atten-dant with 33SQN, spoke with the Duchess of Cambridge during the royal visit at Fairford.

“She asked how long we had been away and where we were going next,” he said.

“She mentioned how much she appreciated the RAAF, as her last journey to Australia had been made memorable by the hospitality she received from 33SQN.”

Just shy of three years old, Prince George was demonstrably excited to visit the KC-30A and RIAT.

“Prince George hopped into the co-pilot seat and played with controls, and waved to the crowds below,” CPL Blogg said.

“He said he was looking forward to seeing the Red Arrows.”

FLTLT Nic Barnes, of 33SQN, said the public was enthusiastic about the tanker’s debut appearance at RIAT.

“Some of the attendees were waiting in line for an hour to see inside the KC-30A,” FLTLT Barnes said.

“They still appreciated the opportunity, and were very grateful to the crew for bringing the aircraft over from Australia.”

The nature of RIAT means that military aircrew can speak to their counterparts from foreign air forces.

For 33SQN, this is especially important given that the KC-30A frequently operates alongside coali-tion tankers during exercises and operations.

“There is strong camarade-rie across the tanker community,” FLTLT Barnes said.

“It was great catching up with tanker crews from the UK, US and Japan.”

RIAT began in 1971 and has grown to become the world’s largest military air show.

Leigh Watson and Ian Doyle

AUSTRALIA’S first CO of the F-35A had his first opportunity to see the F-35 up close when he attended the Royal International Air Tattoo in England.

WGCDR Darren Clare, who is post-ed to the UK to complete the Advanced Command and Staff Course, said he was looking forward to starting his appoint-ment as CO No. 3 Squadron next year.

“I am incredibly proud and humbled to be selected to lead 3SQN when it receives our first F-35A into Australian service.

“It’s a big responsibility, but one that I’m excited to have. The F-35A will pro-vide Australia with some amazing oppor-tunities to build a fifth-generation Air Force,” WGCDR Clare said.

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies said WGCDR Clare would have a significant role.

“The aircraft will bring a new capabil-ity to the Royal Australian Air Force, and Darren will have a lot of responsibility to develop the tactics, techniques and proce-dures for the F-35A to the Australian con-text, and ensure the F-35A is integrated into our fleet through Plan Jericho,” he said.

Variations of the Lockheed F-35 Lightning, which debuted on UK soil,

were showcased during the tattoo at RAF Fairford.

Known as the Lightning II, the F-35 has three main models: the F-35A con-ventional landing and take-off, the F-35B short take-off and landing, and the F-35C carrier-based, catapult-assisted take-off variant.

The US Air Force flew a pair of “conventional” F-35A variants from the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke, Arizona, and two F-35Bs from the US Marine Corp VMFAT-501, based at Beaufort, South Carolina.

The show provided the first opportuni-ty for the RAF to demonstrate the F-35B, which also has “jump jet” capability, to an array of military defence chiefs and military observers.

These included senior members of the RAAF, who were among a sell-out crowd over three days of 153,000.

More than 230 aircraft from 24 coun-tries participated in the tattoo.

Among the highlights were dis-plays by the Lightning, the F-22 Raptor, a Polish MiG-29, a RAF Typhoon and Chinook, a French Rafale and the Turkish Air Force F-16 Solo Turk.

Flypasts included a unique formation of the Red Arrows – an F-35B and two RAF Typhoons.

First boss meets his new fighter

A tanker fit for a prince

Australian KC-30A gets the royal wave of approval

Crowds queue for a look inside the KC-30A at the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Prince George enjoys the view from the cockpit of

33SQN’s KC-30A.Photos: CPL Brenton Kwaterski

WGCDR Darren Clare with the F-35A at the Royal International Air Tattoo. Photo: CPL Brenton Kwaterski

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FeatureRCEAIR F July 28, 2016 11

100 years on and the memory of Fromelles is still etched firmly in our mindset, Claudia Harrison writes

IT WAS a solemn day for the crowd of about 2500 people who came to Fromelles, France, for the com-memoration and headstone dedi-

cation at Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery on July 19.

A smaller, more intimate commem-oration at VC Corner also took place later that evening to officially mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles.

The Battle of Fromelles took place from July 19 to 20, 1916, and was the first battle fought by Australians on the Western Front. It became known as Australia’s bloodiest 24 hours, with 5533 Australian casualties, including 1917 lives lost.

The Western Front was a crucial theatre of WWI. Between 1916 and 1918, 290,000 Australians served on the Western Front, where about 47,000 Australian lives were lost and more than 130,000 Australians were wound-ed.

Members of Australia’s Federation Guard provided a catafalque party for both services and were also involved with laying wreaths and raising both the Australian and the French national flags.

Federation Guard detachment OIC FLTLT Mark Schmidt said the guard was “outstanding” on the day.

“It was very hot and very steamy and a long day,” he said.

“They performed very well at both the Pheasant Wood and VC Corner ceremonies. I could not be happier or more proud of them.”

The music for the service was pro-vided by members of the Voices of Birralee choir, of Brisbane, and the Australian Army Band played and sang at the commemorative event.

Chief of Army LTGEN Angus Campbell attended both events in Fromelles as the senior ADF repre-sentative in France and said it was important for today’s ADF to continue to recognise and remember the ser-vicemen and women of 100 years ago.

“In WWI our nation sustained loss of life and injury on a catastrophic and unprecedented scale. Barely a home or

a family in Australia was untouched by loss or grief,” LTGEN Campbell said.

“The Australians who served on the Western Front – those who gave their lives together with those who returned home – helped shape not only the course of world history but also our sense of nationhood.

“One hundred years on, their ser-vice continues to resonate with today’s sailors, soldiers and airmen. The near-ly 300,000 Australians who served on the Western Front continue to hold a special place in Australia’s history.”

The ceremony at Pheasant Wood included a headstone dedication and roll call of six newly identified sol-diers. They were 2nd LT James Benson, PTE Justin Hercules Breguet, PTE Clifton Sydney Brindal, PTE Sidney Broom, PTE William Burke and PTE Robert Thomas Maudsley.

In May this year, the Australian Army confirmed the identifica-tion of the six soldiers from the 250 Australian and British WWI soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009.

Descendants/relatives of four of these six newly identified soldiers were at the ceremony.

As the soldier’s biography was read out, a local school child and a uniformed member walked out to the named soldier’s headstone and removed the shroud from the head-stone. A rose was then placed on the grave by the child.

As each headstone was unveiled, and the crowd listened to the soldier’s story, the significance of the event was undoubtedly realised by each and every person there, not just the fami-lies. It was hard not to feel the emotion of the event.

“The six men, who were until now amongst the thousands of Australians on the Western Front with no known grave, can today have their final resting place honoured,” LTGEN Campbell said.

Our march at the French National Day Parade: Pages 12-13

AIR Force personnel at the High Commission in London attended an overnight vigil at Westminster Abbey for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

The vigil members comprised defence and civilian members of the UK, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand defence forces.

HQ London District delivered the ceremonial event at the Abbey from June 30 to July 1.

This consisted of an evening

service in the Abbey with Queen Elizabeth II, followed by an overnight vigil with commentary, culminating in an early-morning service and a salute fired from Parliament Square.

ADF members undertook four vigils between 10pm and 7am. They consisted of both Australian High Commission staff and members post-ed on exchange in the UK.

Ass is tan t Defence Adviser (Strategy) WGCDR Ruth Elsley said all those present were both honoured

and humbled to take part in such a solemn and poignant ceremony.

“The Abbey was open to the pub-lic throughout the night and the feel-ing throughout the vigil was one of silent contemplation and reverence for those who gave the ultimate sacri-fice for their country and the freedom that we all hold so dear,” she said.

“It is one of the privileges of the posting to the UK that we are able to participate alongside our fellow Commonwealth nations.”

Photos: Andrew Dunsmore of Picture Partnership.

Honouring their sacrifice

Somme vigil was ‘humbling’

See footage at: http://video.defence.gov.au/play/4781#

CPL Mathieu Matteucci with ADF members and French military personnel during the commemorative service of the Battle of Fromelles at Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, France, on July 19. Photo: SGT Janine Fabre

12 13RCEAIR FCentrepiece July 28, 2016

See footage at: http://video.defence.gov.au/play//4769#

‘I had goose bumps standing at the Champs-Élysées and being able to march on such sacred ground was amazing – I loved it.

CPL Shane Prime CETECH, 462SQN

STORIES: CLAUDIA HARRISONPHOTOS: SGT JANINE FABRE

CPL Joao Silva, Air Surveillance Operator,

3CRU

SQNLDR Andrew Grace, Air Force Contingent

Commander for French National Day Parade

REPRESENTING Air Force at the French National Day Parade is a long way from a childhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil. However, for CPL Joao Silva, travelling to Paris to take part in the parade was a milestone for both his career and life in Australia. “Taking part today, as a member of the Air Force contingent for the French National Day Parade gave me an immense sense of gratitude for being rewarded with this unique opportunity,” CPL Joao Silva said.

“Marching in the parade, I felt a great pride to represent my unit, the Air Force and Australia. This whole deployment to France has been a unique experience, one I will never forget.”

SQNLDR Grace said taking part in the parade revealed how important the day was for the French people.

“It was a great honour for the ADF to be first to march off for the French National Day Parade,” he said.

“The Royal Australian Air Force contingent has repre-sentatives from a number of squadrons, namely 2, 3 and 4SQNs for their particular involvement at the Western Front in the First World War,” he said. “I am very proud to represent the Royal Australian Air Force as the Commander for the Air Force contingent, who paraded the ‘Queen’s Colours’ for the Air Force on this momentous occasion.”

AS a third-generation Air Force member, CPL Adam Mitchell was proud to represent Air Force at the French National Day Parade.

“Today gave me a chance to pay my respect to mem-bers of my family who fought and sacrificed their lives on the Western Front during WWI,” CPL Mitchell said.

“My great-great-uncle Charles Niblett was killed in action and laid to rest in the Vis-en-Artois Cemetery in France. I was really excited about coming to France for the French National Day Parade. The experience today was honestly very humbling. I wasn’t just representing Air Force and Australia, but my family as well.”

SGT Kristy Nichols was the colours escort for Air Force’s Queen’s Colours at the French National Day Parade. Currently posted to 3SQN, she is proud of her squadron’s history and its connection to WW1.

“By the end of the war, 3SQN was considered the best Allied reconnaissance squadron,” SGT Nichols said.

“As my fellow 3SQN members continue the tradition of serving with distinguish overseas on operations, I am proud to represent them here at the French National Day Parade as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Western Front.”

GROWING up on the Gold Coast, LACW Pia Sadler-Eriksson aspired to one day serve in the ADF like her great-grandfather, James Rudolph Sadler, who served in the 46th Australian Infantry Battalion (AIF). This year, she was selected to attend the French National Day Parade and represent Air Force on the global stage.

“Today was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. My great-grandfather fought in the Battle of Hamel, he was a stretcher bearer. He won the Military Medal for his service there, as during that conflict he went in front of the fire line to tend to some casualties and saved multiple lives,” LACW Sadler-Eriksson said.

CPL Adam Mitchell, Military Working Dog

Handler, RAAFSFS

SGT Kristy Nichols, Personnel Capability

Specialist, 3SQN

LACW Pia Sadler- Eriksson, Air Surveil-lance Operator, 1RSU

CPL Timothy Chatterton, Avionics Technician,

75SQNWORKING on cars as a child with his dad in Townsville inspired CPL Timothy Chatterton to become an Avionics Technician in Air Force for the chance to work on some-thing much bigger. Participating in the French National Day Parade was a great honour for him.

“I have family links to both world wars and my partici-pation in the parade has made me reflect on how much individuals and their families sacrificed to protect Australia. As a past 3SQN and current 75SQN member, I am in awe of the bravery and dedication of these men on the Western Front in WWI and the Africa campaign in WWII,” CPL Chat-terton said.

FOR the first time in the 136-year history of the French National Day Parade, the ADF led the march down the Champs-Élysées

in Paris on July 14.The pride at participating in the

parade was replaced by sorrow later in the day at the killing of 84 people in the French city of Nice, when a truck was driven through crowds at a Bastille Day fireworks display.

VCDF VADM Ray Griggs, who was in France for the French National Day Parade and Western Front centenary commemorations, expressed deep sym-pathy for the victims and their families.

“On behalf of ADF members in France for the parade and the WWI cere-monies, our hearts go out to all impacted by the awful attack in Nice,” VADM Griggs said.

Contingent commander LTCOL Jim McGann said ADF personnel had been profoundly moved by the appalling attack.

“We honour the victims and our thoughts are with their loved ones. We stand as one with the people of France at this time of immense suffering and grief, just as our two nations stood together 100 years ago during WWI,” he said.

The ADF contingent of 160 men and women – comprising 30 RAN person-nel, 80 Australian Army personnel and 30 RAAF personnel – proudly marched in front of the French President, officials and foreign guests.

The famous avenue was lined with people and the rest of the world was watching as the event was broadcast around the globe.

A triservice flag party bearing the Australian National Flag and the ADF Ensign led the ADF contingent. The Air Force contingent was drawn from RAAF bases Australia wide, and marched behind the RAAF’s “Queen’s Colours” for this occasion.

The three personnel comprising the Air Force Colours Party for the French National Day Parade were rep-resentatives from Numbers 2, 3 and 4 Squadrons; which is of significance, given their historical links to World War I in France.

“Following the establishment of No. 1 Squadron by the Australian Flying

Corps in early 1916, which was sent to Egypt, 2, 3 and 4SQN were progressive-ly sent to France from mid to late 1917,” FLTLT Kirsty Cross said, who carried the Air Force’s “Queen’s colours” during the Parade.

“All conducted a significant amount of missions during WWI and received Battle Honours for their achievements.”

For FLTLT Cross, 32, being in France was a poignant time in the E-7A Wedgetail pilot instructor’s career, as she followed in the footsteps of her great-grandfather, who served in France at Pozieres, with his battalion during WWI. FLTLT Cross represented 2SQN at the parade on July 14.

“Being involved in the French National Day Parade was a great honour and very significant for me. My great-grandfather fought here and while I don’t know a great deal about his history, being here has inspired me to find out more,” FLTLT Cross said.

“Also, this year 2SQN celebrates its 100th anniversary and I am proud to represent all those who have served in 2SQN, right back to WWI on the Western Front,” she said.

This year is an important one for Air Force. All four squadrons represent-ed at the French National Day Parade are commemorating their centenar-ies, and are coming together at RAAF Williamtown on October 28 to mark this important anniversary.

On being in France for the Fête de la Fédération, which celebrated the unity of the French people on July 14, 1790, and interacting with the French Armed Forces, FLTLT Cross, said it was a thor-oughly enjoyable experience and one she will never forget.

“The French have been so good to us from the moment we arrived. Their hospitality, warmth and professionalism have been outstanding,” she said.

“For the French to have invited us to be here, to lead their parade in the posi-tion of honour, is incredible.”

FLTLT Cross said she felt extreme-ly fortunate to be at the front of the Air Force contingent. “Who else gets to stand in the middle of the Champs-Élysées with no traffic and just soak up all of the atmosphere of Paris?”

THE DAY OUR HEADS WERE HELD HIGHSorrow and pride for the ADF at the French National Day Parade

CPL Shane Prime at the French National Day Parade in Paris.

WOFF Lloyd Hamilton, of 26SQN, marches with the ADF contingent down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris to commemorate the French National Day Parade on July 14.

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Feature RCEAIR F July 28, 201614

COMPLETING the Pilatus PC-21 conversion course in Switzerland was “an amazing personal experience”, accord-

ing to one of five Air Force pilots who took part.

SQNLDR Jay Tuffley said he was trained up and ready to go after finish-ing the course with the world’s most advanced pilot training aircraft.

“It was an amazing experience

both professionally and personally,” SQNLDR Tuffley said.

“The ADF is approaching an excit-ing new era in pilot training capability, and for me to assist with the training development is both a challenge and honour.”

SQNLDR Tuffley said the training provided by Pilatus between April and May was highly professional, as it was administered by highly experienced

former Swiss Air Force instructors.“I greatly appreciated the oppor-

tunity to represent Australia in Switzerland and become one of the first RAAF trained PC-21 pilots,” SQNLDR Tuffley said.

“The conversion afforded first-hand experience in understanding the aircraft’s piloting characteristics and capabilities, with the aim that this knowledge will assist in optimising the

PC-21 as a training platform for the ADF,” he said.

The first PC-21 will arrive in Australia in April 2017.

The aircraft will become the new platform for the RAAF and RAN to conduct a 13-month, all-through PC-21 pilot training course. It will also perform the role of initial airborne training for Army pilot trainees over a 23-week course.

SQNLDR Tuffley said the new pilot training system would be an evo-lution of the current system, with the aim to provide world-leading training on high-performance aircraft and an advanced simulator.

“The PC-21 Pilot Training System should be more efficient at graduating ADF pilots who are better prepared for conversions of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft,” he said.

Soaring to new peaksOne pilot relished the chance to be among the first trained to fly the PC-21, CPL Bill Solomou writes

SQNLDR Jay Tuffley with Pilatus PC-21 instructor Reto Amstutz. Below: SQNLDR Tuffley straps himself in for a training flight over the Swiss Alps.

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FeatureRCEAIR F July 28, 2016 15

THE freezing and windy conditions of a Canberra winter did not slow down the senses of Air Force explosive detection dogs (EDDs) and their handlers during

Exercise Taipan Detector 2016.The week-long annual certification exercise

is for both the dogs and the handlers.Held in Canberra from July 3 this year, the

exercise involved seven EDD handlers and 11 EDDs from RAAF Bases Williamtown, Edinburgh and Amberley.

The exercise also aims to further develop inter-agency relations with federal and state law enforcement groups, so it included EDD teams from Queensland Police, Tasmania Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and NSW Police.

Handler LAC Daniel Johnson, from 1SECFOR, achieved certification with his new

dog, Vito. LAC Johnson had the rare opportu-nity of picking his new “best friend” while on the US Military Specialised Search Dog course in San Antonio, Texas, last year.

Vito is a labrador retriever with a unique background.

“Prior to joining the US Army and subse-quently being trained as an improvised explo-sive detection dog, Vito was originally a water-fowl hunting dog. He deployed to Afghanistan on three tours,” LAC Johnson said.

Exercise Taipan Detector provided the dogs and handlers with various real-time search sce-narios, from the CAFs office and the Canberra football stadium to ADFA, No. 34 Squadron at Fairbairn and the Majura Training Area.

Two pseudo-target odours were placed with-in the CAF’s office space.

SGT Heath Webber, from 3SECFOR, said

two EDDs that had received different training (EDD Vito was trained in the US and EDD Esky was trained in Australia) were on display.

“This was to showcase the training brought back from overseas EDD courses,” SGT Webber said.

“Both EDDs easily located the target odours and adopted a passive response, which is a ‘sit’,” he said.

He said the exercise was successful in a number of ways.

“The first priority of certifying explosive detector dog teams in all aspects of search areas and all required target explosives, weapons and ammunition odours was achieved,” he said.

“We also certified a number of recruit dogs, so they are now in the EDD program.”

AIR FORCE dogs are located at most RAAF bases around Australia and fill various roles, including protection of property, detection of unauthorised individuals, and providing a deterrence, search and surveillance capability for Defence assets.

The primary role of Air Force Security (AF-SEC) military working dog (MWD) teams is to detect, deter and deny unauthorised intrusion on military bases and aircraft operating areas.

The teams can also be used by Air Force security squadrons for close-combat patrolling and airbase protection duties.

AFSEC explosive protection dogs (EDDs) are used to detect and locate explosives, ammunition and firearms in a wide range of environments on peacetime, contingency and warlike operations.

EDDs provide a non-invasive search func-tion using on- and off-lead techniques.

Each dog is teamed with a handler for the duration of its career to create and foster a bond between the handler and the dog.

This bond is important, as a dog’s behav-iours can change slightly depending on the type of event encountered.

The behaviour may be so subtle that only a handler who knows the dog well can pick up the change. Noticing this slight change may be the difference between the success and failure of a task or mission.

On retirement, MWDs and EDDs are placed in a home environment, generally that of the handler.

As they approach retirement, MWDs undergo extensive testing to evaluate their suitability for release from the Air Force.

Each dog must also pass the RSPCA re-homing test for temperament and suitability for placement in a home.

Only when a MWD has been evaluated as unsafe and unsuitable for release from the Air Force is that dog euthanised.

EDDs are not subjected to the RSPCA assessment or euthanasia on retirement. An EDD will only be put down if it is seriously injured or unwell and cannot be rehabilitated to full health.

A NOSE FOR THE JOBWorking dogs and their handlers earn their stripes, CPL Bill Solomou writesVARIETY’S THE SPICE

OF DOGS’ LIVES

EDD Vito, with handler LAC Daniel Johnson, checks out the office of Acting Deputy CAF AIRCDRE Peter Yates during Exercise Taipan Detector.Photo: LACW Katharine Pearson

Rudder, an Air Force EDD from 2SECFOR, clears a KC-30A during a training exercise, which was a prelude to Exercise Taipan Detector. Photo: CPL Casey Gaul

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NAIDOC Week RCEAIR F July 28, 201616

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies be-lieves two essential ingredients for a building a strong Air Force are physical fitness and diversity.

So, just before NAIDOC Week, it was appropriate that indigenous personnel capability specialist ACW Lateesha Barlow was the guest participant in his weekly physical conditioning class with his team.

AIRMSHL Davies invites a junior member along to the session each week as a small reward for demonstrating an exceptional work ethic and Air Force values.

Significantly, the senior physi-cal trainer who leads the class, WOFF Steve Weaver, is also an indigenous member.

AIRMSHL Davies recognises the benefits of having such a

diverse and culturally accepting workforce.

“The acknowledgement of our cultural identity, recognition of our heritage and continuing to embrace diversity are essential ingredients to a strong Air Force,” he said.

WOFF Weaver said he had seen enormous changes in the attitudes of the ADF over his 30-year career.

“I am proud of my indigenous background and the contribution Indigenous members have made to the Air Force,” he said.

ACW Barlow said spending time with the CAF was a “fantas-tic opportunity”.

“I look forward to contributing to Air Force and would one day like to commission and become a pilot,” she said.

PT session is an exercise in fitness and diversity

CULTURAL activities, parades and flag-raising ceremonies took place around the coun-try as Air Force bases marked

NAIDOC Week in early July.RAAF Base Edinburgh, Adelaide,

celebrated with a cultural sharing day between elders and families from the Kaurna Nation, students from the Kaurna Plains School and Kildare College, and Defence members.

In keeping with this year’s NAIDOC Week theme of “Songlines: the liv-ing narrative of our nation”, the event included dances by the Marltu Rendi youth dance group.

GPCAPT Greg Weller, temporary SADFO – Edinburgh Defence Precinct, spoke about three indigenous Air Force members who had served in WWII, and whose stories had been captured in an Air Force Pathfinder article.

He also highlighted the work done in the past 18 months “to build a better, stronger relationship” between the base and the Kaurna Nation.

CPL Tara Enchong, the first Torres Strait Islander woman to be awarded the AVM B. A. Eaton Airman of the Year award, talked about her family’s history in the ADF and what it meant for her to continue that legacy.

“My grandfather was in the Army, and served in Korea, Borneo, Malaya, then later as an instructor at Kapooka. My father was in the RAAF, and my younger brother and I are now both in the ADF.

“Together, our family has over 100 combined years of service in the RAAF and Army,” she said.

Kildare College students presented the work they had done on the booklet Generations of Service, which explores eight different indigenous families and the generations of those families who had served in the ADF.

Guests visited the base’s flightline, where they toured an AP-3C Orion from No. 92 Wing.

In the west, CO No. 79 Squadron and SADFO RAAF Base Pearce WGCDR Graham Williams represent-ed Air Force at Fremantle’s Artillery Barracks for the first Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies to be held on an Army base in Western Australia.

This event, held in Noongar country, paid respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have contrib-uted to the defence of Australia.

“It’s long overdue to honour their service across the ADF,” WGCDR Williams said.

“There have been many notable Aboriginal airmen who have served with distinction. It gives me enormous pride and pleasure to be here representing RAAF Base Pearce and the Air Force.”

RAAF Base Glenbrook, in NSW, hosted a NAIDOC Week activity with members of the local Darug people.

FLTLT Margaret Traill, the base’s indigenous liaison officer, introduced Aunty Jacinta Tobin, Aunty Valerie Tobin and Chris Tobin, who spoke about their culture and NAIDOC Week, before inviting personnel to participate in a smoking ceremony.

Worimi Community members per-formed dances at the NAIDOC Week event at RAAF Base Williamtown, in Newcastle. Base personnel took part in cultural activities, such as weaving, while Worimi guests were introduced to the “Worimi” F/A-18A Hornet.

Air Force personnel from RAAF Base Tindal took part in a NAIDOC Week walk down the main street of Katherine, Northern Territory.

Meanwhile, flag-raising ceremonies were the centre of attention at RAAF Bases Williams, in Laverton, Victoria, and Townsville, in Queensland.

Meanwhi le , members of the Woomera Test Range’s Compliance Management Flight attended the NAIDOC Youth Ball in Coober Pedy.

For the past three years, personnel from the Air Warfare Centre have donat-ed clothing so the young people can dress up for the ball, which honours young leaders in the community.

Ball guests SQNLDR Darren Shorter and FSGT Trevor Seebohm delivered dresses, suits and shoes to the Youth Shed in Coober Pedy before the ball and had the honour of selecting the King and Queen of the ball.

“It is a small thing we do to assist in this way and it is evident that this contribution goes a long way to promot-ing self-esteem and confidence in these young people,” SQNLDR Shorter said.

Woomera Test Range received an Air Force NAIDOC Unit Award recognis-ing its outstanding efforts in building relationships with local indigenous com-munities.

Story contributions from PLTOFF Oliver Jiang, FLTLT Stephanie Anderson, FSGT Trevor Seebohm and SQNLDR Gavin Briggs

Raising a flag to strong relationshipsNAIDOC Week comes alive with colour and ceremony around the bases

ACW Natasha Budda-Dean raises the Australian Aboriginal Flag at RAAF Base Townsville. Photo: CPL Glen McCarthy

WOFF Stephen Weaver and LACW Lateesha Barlow during the CAF’s physical training session.Photo: SGT Guy Young

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Raising a flag to strong relationships

ACW Natasha Budda-Dean raises the Australian Aboriginal Flag at RAAF Base Townsville. Photo: CPL Glen McCarthy

AC Arnold Kashaba and LACW Asha Appleby, from RAAF Base Tindal, with the Sunrise Aboriginal Health Services mascot, Moonda Man, after the street parade in Katherine. Photo: SGT Andrew Eddie

Worimi Community members perform cultural dances for personnel and their families at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo: FSGT Craig Sharp

Above: LAC Jason Gaskell talks about the AP-3C Orion to students from the Kaurna Plains School at RAAF Base Edinburgh.Photo: CPL Colin Dadd

Left: SQNLDR Darren Shorter and FSGT Trevor Seebohm presenting the King and Queen of the NAIDOC Youth Ball in Coober Pedy.

WGCDR Graham Williams, from RAAF Base Pearce, takes part in the smoking ceremony at Fremantle’s Artillery Barracks. Photo: David Nicolson

FLTLT Tambra Simpson and FLTLT Vivienne Clark participate in a smoking ceremony at RAAF Base Glenbrook. Photo: AC Lindsay Rainey

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Feature RCEAIR F July 28, 201618

THE RAAF Ins t i t u t e o f Aviation Medicine (IAM) continues to push the limits of training and research to

ensure ADF aircrew are best equipped to undertake their vital roles.

This was one of key messag-es from ADF Surgeon General and Commander Joint Health, AVM Tracy Smart, who gave a formal address dur-ing an event to mark the 60th anniver-sary of the institute’s formation.

Former and serving Air Force per-sonnel as well as invited guests took part in the celebration at RAAF Base Edinburgh on July 1.

AVM Smart – a former Chief Instructor and Commanding Officer of the institute – said the IAM contin-ued to look towards the future through the recent aviation medicine capability project to ensure that it could meet the challenges presented by a fifth genera-tion Air Force.

“Although we think the aviation world is faster, more complex and more technical these days, in reali-ty the team of today is doing what their forebears have done – pushing the limits of training and research to ensure ADF aircrew are best equipped to undertake their vital roles,” AVM Smart said.

“In this way the IAM motto ‘salus per scientiam’ or ‘safety through knowledge’, is as relevant now as it was 60 years ago.”

The IAM began life as the School of Aviation Medicine at RAAF Base

East Sale in 1956, but was renamed an institute in 1960 and later moved to RAAF Edinburgh.

The RAAF IAM is part of the Test and Evaluation Directorate (TED) within the Air Warfare Centre (AWC). The unit is currently staffed by a mix-ture of uniformed and civilian person-nel bringing with them diverse skills in aviation medicine, human factors and aeronautical life support.

AVM Smart said IAM, or AVMED as it was affectionately known, occu-pied a special place in the ADF.

“AVMED still influences the prac-tice of many ADF health personnel and, of course, all RAAF and many Navy and Army medical officers,” AVM Smart said.

“For some of us ‘old and bolds’ AVMED was our introduction to the RAAF when we visited as undergradu-ates as part of our university vacation familiarisation.”

AVM Smart said the institute had also played an extremely influential role for all ADF aircrew.

“Although aircrew and especially pilots usually live in morbid fear of anything remotely resembling a doc-tor, AVMED touches them all. For example, from recruitment to training, through research, development, testing and evaluation of new equipment, to fitness to fly assessments and beyond,” she said.

“It is through these roles that the institute is not only a force enabler, but a true force multiplier in its role of

Fine picture of healthSixty years on and the Institute of Aviation Medicine is busier than ever ‘enhancing’ ADF aircrew

protecting and enhancing the human in the aviation system,” she said.

AVM Smart said IAM continued to evolve in its new home at the AWC and training continued for aircrew and health personnel of all three services.

“The institute is doing more air-crew medical boards than ever before but still manages to treat each aircrew member on a case-by-case basis,” she said.

Left: COL John Turner, a former CO, and GPCAPT Mike Seah, a former chief instructor, at the 60th anniversary of IAM.Flashback: Air Force pilot trainees (above) indicate all is going smoothly during a Combined Altitude Depleted Oxygen validation study in 2006.

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JUNE TRIAL RESULTSNCODefence Force Magistrate1 x creating a disturbance – DFDA s 33(b)The member was accused of creating a dis-turbance by behaving aggressively towards a subordinate member. The member plead-ed guilty to the charge and was found guilty of the charge. The member was fined $1000 (to be paid in instalments).

Restricted Court Martial8 x unauthorised access to restricted data – DFDA s 61(3) and Criminal Code s 478.1(1) 1 x unauthorised modification of restricted data – DFDA s 61(3) and Criminal Code s 478.1(1) 2 x prejudicial conduct – DFDA s 60(1)

The member was accused of the unauthor-ised access to, or modification of, restricted data held in a Defence computer. The mem-ber was also accused of prejudicial conduct by accessing a computer application of other members. The member pleaded not guilty to the charges but was found guilty of the charges. The member was severely reprimanded, reprimanded and convicted without punishment (on good behaviour con-ditions).

OFFICERDefence Force Magistrate

1 x absence without leave – DFDA s 24(1) 1 x prejudicial conduct – DFDA s 60(1)

The member was accused of being absent without leave. Member was also accused of directing a subordinate member to conceal the absence. The member pleaded guilty to the charges and was found guilty of the charges. The member was reduced in rank.

All Court Martial and Defence Force Magistrate trial results are subject to command review and appeal. The results are of trials across the ADF.

Claims made easyAPPLICATIONS under the Employer Support Payment Scheme (ESPS) can now be lodged online.

From July 18, the online claims system replaced web forms AD138-1 to AD138-4.

The ESPS provides finan-cial assistance to Australian employers to facilitate the release of their employees for reserve service

In the past, a claim was lodged using a paper-based system to a number of ESPS locations around Australia.

Head Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division (CRESD) MAJGEN Iain Spence said there had been a change in recent years in community expectations and government standards with respect to the provision of online services to the com-munity.

“The ESPS claim system will enhance the claimant’s experience with an e-business context,” he said.

“The ability to submit claims online provides a modern and efficient sys-tem for employers and self-employed reservists allowing them to lodge their claims faster and easier while pro-

v id ing on l ine p rogress updates.

“ Improved cus tomer experience will be achieved by using smart forms, which means business rules are applied early in the process to prevent the submission of claims that fail to meet speci-fied eligibility requirements.

“The online claim system will fundamentally enhance the overall experience for the claimant, and will direct-ly assist with achieving the objective of the ESPS – developing employer sup-port.”

The services have now assumed full responsibility for all ESPS claims, allow-ing CRESD to continue to provide specialist advice and offer a centre of expertise to claimants and the services.

The previous paper-based claims submission process will remain in place until July next year, after which it’s expected all claims for ESPS will be submitted online.

For further information, go to www.defencereservessupport.gov.au

Defence is streamlining its support by making ESPS applications for employers

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19July 28, 2016RCEAIR F Personnel

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20 July 28, 2016RCEAIR FPlan Jericho

DEPARTURE LOUNGEWho’s leaving after 20+ years’ service

Name Must/Spec Last day YearsGPCAPT Fiona Dowse LOG May 31 40WOFF Perry Thomas ARMTECH June 1 36FLTLT Steven Lewis ELECTR May 2 33FLTLT Kevin Smith ACO May 10 31FSGT Barry Bransgrove ARMTECH May 26 29SQNLDR Michael Dillon TSO May 26 27WGCDR David Lindsay TSO May 2 27FSGT Todd Blachford SUP May 11 26SGT Adrian Allison ATECH May 14 25SGT William Burnett WKSSPVR May 2 25WGCDR Emily Cameron PCO May 30 22FSGT Nicole Turnbull PCS May 9 21SQNLDR Anton Vojkovic AERO May 23 21FLTLT Michael Perry PLT May 30 20

FLYING out of RAAF Base East Sale in No. 32 Squadron’s Beechcraft B350 King Air turboprops, trainee air combat officers (ACOs) in the front right-hand seat or at consoles in the rear crew stations are train-ing with systems and procedures similar to those they might use in a F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, P-8A Poseidon or MH-60R helicopter.

A new era in ACO and Aviation Warfare Officer (AvWO) training has begun at No. 1 Flying Training School (1FTS) at East Sale.

Project AFM1029 has delivered software, equipment and training – as a result, this has implemented an improved air combat offic-er training system (ACOTS) that enhances training delivery at 1FTS.

ACOTS focuses on systems and informa-tion management by emulating operational environments and battlespace, allowing stu-dents to train in a contemporary context from the outset.

The delivery of the ACOTS result-ed from collaboration between Air Force Training Group (AFTG), Aerospace Training Development Team, 1FTS, Training Aircraft Systems Program Office, and service provid-ers Cirrus, BAE, Hawker Pacific and more.

This capability will be the foundation of Plan Jericho at work within ACO training and AFTG.

OC Air Training Wing GPCAPT Mark McCallum said: “What we learn from this system, with its potential to link simulators and aircraft in a live, virtual, and constructive environment could have application across Air Force.”

Cirrus provided the 1FTS air combat officer training system, a package of ground-based and airborne emulation systems that immerse future Air Force ACOs and Navy AvWOs in a simulated battlespace while operating a real aircraft.

The ACOTS simulates various radars, combining real-time radar returns from ground features with synthetic contacts intro-duced as part of the training scenario.

Trainees learn to recognise and respond to factors such as radar properties, aircraft alti-tude, weather conditions, processing gain and terrain slope on the ability to detect contacts.

Apart from using radar, trainees identify contacts using electro-optical systems such as TV and infrared, mark them on their tacti-cal situation display, accept off-board link

contacts, send contacts via link and manage their own missions.

ACOTS solves the problem of how to start training the future ACOs or AvWOs to effectively fight using an advanced platform without taking that platform offline.

The rollout of ACOTS has been a success. AFM1029 was completed under budget and ahead of schedule, and exceeded all targets and expectations.

1FTS has seamlessly transitioned ACO training onto the new system immediately.

The project included supply of updated software, eight part-task trainers for individ-ual use in visual flight training, an introduc-tion to flight deck systems and mission-relat-ed training, 12 synthetic navigation train-ers, the reconfiguration of five air navigation trainers, 15 artificial intelligence gaming computers to enhance individual prepara-tion, three systems synchronisation modules that power up and re-align ACOTS devices, 30 ACOTS tablets and instructor training for ACOTS software version 4.5.

The eight part-task trainers simulate the front right-hand seat of the King Air, allow-ing ACO and AvWO students to prepare for visual navigation and mission-related train-ing without needing to access the aircraft.

GPCAPT Stephen Longbottom, leader of the aerospace training and development team, said the part-task trainer created within AFM1029 looked like a flight simulation device.

“But it’s actually for training the opera-tor in the right-hand seat of the cockpit – the person who’s there not to fly the plane but to conduct combat. It allows that person to see the portion of the aircraft instruments that are relevant to that role, such as the navigational and mission-related avionics.

“It also allows them to access, via a mod-ern ‘swipe, tap and pinch’ tablet application, all of the sensor and tactical picture compila-tion tools, so it simulates the radars and the optic sensors.”

This system prepares students for a net-worked Air Force operating fifth-generation platforms. Once on the new platforms gradu-ate aircrew will be able to select and priori-tise information from many sources to sup-port optimum and timely mission decisions.

ACOTS is one of a few systems in the world optimised for training mission special-ists.

Right kind of lessonsFlying training school launches into a new era

THE thought of seven to nine weeks of slideshow presentations and binders full of notes is enough to put anyone off starting their initial employment training.

However, the prospect of a learning environ-ment in which students are empowered to research through different methods, collaborate with their course peers, build their network and finish with a simulated activity is much more inspiring.

This is the RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training’s (RAAFSALT) vision, and plans are in place to modernise the delivery of train-ing for all ranks at the school and contribute to Plan Jericho.

SQNLDR Nicola Frost, OIC of Personnel Capability, Instructor and Assessor Training at RAAFSALT, said the Personnel Capability Officer Initial Course (PCOIC) would be the first at the school to start implementing the evolving concepts.

She said PCOIC had completed phase one of this modernised approach.

“The course content has been reviewed and adapted to better reflect the role of the PCO, in line with the five pillars of personnel capability and the vision of A1.”

SQNLDR Frost said integration with the catego-ry sponsor and understanding the vision had been vital to ensuring all personnel capability staff were trained as they were required to fight.

“It is fundamental to provide the grass roots with the education and nurturing needed to implement the role that Air Force now requires of our person-nel capability staff. In turn, this education and nur-turing empowers them to pass on their knowledge to the wider workforce.”

SQNLDR Frost said the next phase for person-nel capability training was finding different ways of delivering the content.

“As humans, we are all tuned differently. Let’s face it, that is why every day is different for a unit administrative officer. If we are all tuned differently, we all probably learn in different ways,” she said.

No matter what style of learning Personnel Capability Officers and Specialists had, we needed to make sure they entered the workforce confident, equipped and knowledgeable in their field.

“So how do we create the best learning experi-ence for each one of our future workforce mem-bers? That’s where the fun begins for the Personnel Capability and Instructor and Assessor Training staff at RAAFSALT,” SQNLDR Frost said.

“Working with Ground Training Wing, and with the assistance of an external agency, RAAFSALT is looking to deliver training that is in line with Australian schools, TAFEs and universities.

“Using methods that the student is already familiar with, makes sense. Today’s student is tech-savvy. They do not know life without a smart phone, a tablet or a laptop, and to study in an edu-cation establishment that is not wired up for wi-fi connectivity is archaic.

“Learning via podcasts, TED talks, YouTube, Google searches, presentations, visits, group semi-nars, role plays,and simulators is far more engaging and productive for the different learning styles.”

SQNLDR Frost said staff at the school were highly motivated to find new ways to deliver their courses and see the response from the students.

“To have that opportunity to help shape and influence our future workforce is exciting.”

Ways to stay on course

A part-task training station at 1 Flying Training School and, inset, a screen shot from a tablet simulating the front right-hand seat of a cockpit.

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21July 28, 2016RCEAIR F Flightline

CPL Mark Martin, of 11SQN, at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, for Exercise Rimpac. Photo: LS Lee-Anne Mack

No 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron’s LACW Lynette Hulls, above, checks the radio reception in an Air Force ambulance while, below, 26SQN’s LACW Kirby Whelan refuels an F/A-18 Hornet at RAAF Base Williamtown in preparation for Exercise Pitch Black. Photos: FSGT Craig Sharp

Above: 33SQN’s CPL Dylan Drummond (left) and LAC Oliver Field with crowd member Thomas, and, left, CPL Evan McGillivray with Sophie on the KC-30A during the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in England. Photos: CPL Brenton Kwaterski

LAC David Darnell, from Australia’s Federation Guard, holds a photo of his great-grandfather, CPL Harold Keable, at VC Corner, Fromelles, during the 100th anniversary commemorations in France. Photo: SGT Janine Fabre

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You will now be able to login to Online Services and activate yourPreview access 24/7. You won’t need to contact us to startlooking for your next home.

Access Online Services for your next posting.

Applications for payment under theEmployer Support Payment Scheme(ESPS) can now be lodged online.

The ESPS provides financial assistanceto eligible employers of Reservists andself-employed Reservists when theReservist is absent on Defence service.

The online claims system replacesWebforms AD138-1 to AD138-4.

For further information please visit:http://www.defencereservessupport.gov.au/

EMPLOYER SUPPORTPAYMENT SCHEMENOW ONLINE

DPS JUN037-16

EVERYONE’S guilty of helping themselves to the soft drink and chocolate bar fridge or vending machines at work, but how often

is too often? It’s okay if you’re physically active

throughout the day, but for someone with a desk job, it might not be so great for the waistline.

So how many calories do you need to burn each day without exercise? That depends on your body type; as things like muscle uses more energy than fat.

Each person will burn through a number of calories each day without exercise, this is called the basal meta-bolic rate (BMR).

You can calculate your BMR using height, weight, age, and sex; although, what it does not take into consideration, is lean body mass.

Therefore, the equation will be accurate overall, except for extremely muscular people where it will underes-timate caloric needs or the extremely overweight where it will overestimate caloric needs.

But the average person can see if they are consuming more calories than they are burning, meaning excess calo-ries will likely be stored as fat.

Try to avoid the sugar fix by doing the following:

Don’t skip breakfastIf you are trying to cut back on carbs,

this is the meal where you should be getting the most carbs in so you burn them during the day.

Eat only when hungryGo for healthy snacks like nuts,

muesli bars or a piece of fruit.

Drink lots of waterCold chilled water suppresses your

appetite, so if you want to lose weight, drink lots of cold water before a meal.

Try to avoid the vending machineWe are all guilty of it. It’s okay to

Food/drink Size Calories Walk Cycle Swim Run

Packet of chips 100g 545 3hr 1hr 40min 1hr 20min 1hr 5min

Chocolate bar 60g 270 1.5hr 50min 38min 33min

Ice-cream 80g 256 1hr 26min 48min 37min 31min

Energy drink 600ml 538 3hr 24min 18min 16min

Regular soft drink 600ml 244 1hr 22min 45min 35min 30min

Male: BMR = 66 + (13.7 x weight in kg) + (5 x height in cm) – (6.8 x age in years)Female: BMR = 655 + (9.6 x weight in kg) + (1.8 x height in cm) – (4.7 x age in years).Example for a 30-year-old man weighing 85kg and 184cm tall. BMR = 66 + (13.7 x 85kg) + (5 x 184cm) – (6.8 x 30 years) = 1946.5 calories/day.You can then calculate your total daily energy expenditure by mul-tiplying BMR by your activity level calculation

Daily Activity Level calculationSedentary = BMR X 1.2 (little or no exercise, desk job)Lightly active = BMR X 1.375 (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk)Moderately active = BMR X 1.55 (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/wk)Very active = BMR X 1.725 (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/wk)Extremely active = BMR X 1.9 (hard daily exercise/sports and physical job)

CPL Heidi Joosten says you should think before hitting the vending machines

BMR FORMULA

Weigh up unhealthy options

treat yourself once in a while, but con-sider how much it will take to burn that off later.

Don’t rush your foodAllow yourself time to chew your

food up to 32 times which activates your body to generate signals of fullness.

Eat fewer caloriesIf your goal is to lose weight by burn-

ing off excess body fat, aim to eat 500 fewer calories a day than your needs and maintain or increase your exercise activity.

WORKING OFF BAD SNACKS

Think of the consequences before you choose.

22 July 28, 2016RCEAIR FHealth & Fitness

1300 131 050www.stratton.com.au

TRANSPARENTNOVATEDLEASING

AIRF RCEThe official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air ForceThe

SEND YOURSPORTS

STORIES TO:max.bree

@defencenews.gov.au

BEAPARTOFTHESTORYIf you have something

newsworthy youwould like to see

in your paper,phone the editor on

(02) 6266 7612 oremail: raafnews@

defencenews.gov.au

23July 28, 2016RCEAIR F Sp rt

LS Jayson Tufrey

THE wounded, injured and ill can now try their hand at a new adaptive sport with the recent ADF announcement of wheelchair Aussie rules as an official sport.

The ADF has been an active par-ticipant in development of the sport with Disability Sports Australia (DSA) and the AFL.

Since participating in the inaugu-ral DSA-ADF National Wheelchair Aussie Rules Carnival in April, sol-diers from 1st Brigade Darwin Soldier Recovery Centre have initiated a weekly competition.

Army comprised the first ADF side to have a convincing victory over Victoria in an exhibition match of wheelchair Aussie rules at the state netball and hockey centre in Parkville, near Melbourne, on July 19.

The DSA-Victorian side, which came runners-up in last year’s com-petition, was soundly defeated 27-11 by the ADF in what was a physical, highly contested match.

Chair of the ADF Aussie Rules Association Brig Matthew Hall said participation in events like this offered a great opportunity to promote the important role sport played in physical and psychological rehabilitation.

“The flow-on effect should be inspiring other wounded, injured or ill personnel, their families and the veteran community to engage in this newest adaptive sport,” he said.

“One of Defence’s highest priori-ties is its commitment to promoting positive mental health, and provid-ing the necessary care, rehabilitation and support to ADF personnel who require it.”

For more information on wheelchair Aussie rules visit: http://www.sports.org.au/wcaussierules/

Wheelchair footy gets nod

WHEELCHAIR Aussie rules has been developed to provide all Australian football enthusiasts – with or without a disability – with an Aussie rules experience that has strong parallels with the tradi-tional game.

Based on AFL rules and played on a basketball court, wheelchair AFL (WCAFL) is open to anyone to play.

Importantly, WCAFL is easy to play, and provides an environment whereby participation, enjoyment and safety are a priority.

WCAFL has many applications in the community, particularly in

rehabilitation, school and social environments.

Fundamentally, WCAFL ena-bles people of all ages and dis-ability levels to participate in male, female or mixed competitions that fit around their busy lives and pro-vide a social and fitness outlet.

How to play WCAFLThe game is played between two teams of five, with interchange players.

The field is an indoor basket-ball or netball court, and is di-vided into three zones – a centre zone and two scoring zones.

Teams score by handballing (kick) or passing the football into their attacking scoring zone to the designated scorer who can score a goal or behind by handballing the ball between the goal posts.

A mark is awarded when the ball has travelled three metres.

There is no kicking of the ball. A handball is equivalent to a kick as per AFL and a thrown ball is equivalent to a pass. The ball may not be thrown overarm.

WCAFL is a totally inclusive sport.

WHY THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN SET IN MOTION

Cohesion key to successADF volleyball side to focus on teamwork

CPL Max Bree

SOME of Air Force’s top volleyballers are gearing-up for ADF’s entry in the Queensland state competition in Brisbane from July 29-31.

They joined players from Army and Navy for a pre-competition train-ing camp at Enoggera Barracks the week before the contest.

FLTLT Adam Borgh, who was selected for the ADF team for the fourth time, said team cohesion was most important heading into the com-petition.

“Because we have a combined ser-vices side, it’s important that all the members gel together,” he said.

“It’s nothing like basketball or soc-cer, where a superstar will get on and dominate.

“You can be the best player on the court, but if you don’t have teammates you can work with, you won’t play very well.”

The ADF sides will go up against teams from the Brisbane state league, along with regional sides from cit-ies such as Toowoomba, Cairns and Townsville.

FLTLT Borgh said increased player availability should help the ADF field a strong male team.

“The men’s side is looking pret-

ty strong because we’ve got a higher release rate than what we normally manage,” he said.

“Though with the women’s side, we’ve struggled a bit with a lot of Army and Navy players on deploy-ments.”

The team was picked after last year’s volleyball combined services national tournament, but FLTLT Borgh said they also looked at player perfor-mance elsewhere.

“We don’t typically have a great idea of people’s form so their perfor-mance in civilian competitions is also important,” he said.

Despite being selected in the ADF team for the past four years, FLTLT Borgh wasn’t able to play due to deployments and cancelled tourna-ments.

FLTLT Borgh said Defence vol-leyball was set for a revamp in the coming years.

“ADF volleyball has struggled for the past few years and the number of players is on the rise,” he said.

“We also have a fresh committee to assist with management,” he said.

“We’re also planning on separat-ing beach volleyball from indoor. At the moment we are focused heavily towards the indoor competion.”

AN opportunity for ADF members to play wheelchair Aussie Rules is now open. CPL Shane Anderson, centre, of 1st Brigade Soldier Recovery Centre Darwin, contests the ball during a wheelchair exhibition match at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville. Photo: LS Jayson Tufrey

Action from Air Force versus Army at the

National Inter-service Volleyball Tournament.

NEW ENEMIES FOLLOW OUR veterans HOMEMany returning veterans come home only to face new enemies – enemies they’ve never been

trained to fight. DefenceCare helps them with these battles.

To give $5, please text ‘CARE’ to 1990 1111. fightingnewenemies.com.auJames DallasAustralian VeteranClaims Manager, DefenceCare

Peter Hartung German WW2 Veteran

SP RTJuly 28, 2016

AFL with a wheel twist

P23

IN FULL FLIGHT

Air Force volleyballers bolster ADF

squad PAGE 23

SQNLDR Gavin Oakley, right, who will play for the ADF in the Queensland state volley competition in Brisbane from July 29 to 31, in action against Army at last year’s National Inter-service Volleyball Tournament. Photo: CPL Nicci Freeman