AIRF RCEVol. 61, No. 18, October 3, 2019 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

Centre

Air Force takes part in its first air combat exercise with Japan

An F/A-18A Hornet approaches Mount Fuji on its way to Chitose Air Base in Japan for Exercise Bushido Guardian.

ON GUARD

Exercise Paci�c AngelCombined humanitarian missionPages 4-5

Exercise Thai BoomerangStrengthening relationshipsPages 6-7

EDITORIALDirectorDavid Edlington

Managing EditorMyles Morgan

Acting EditorJessica Deotto: (02) 6266 7612

Deputy EditorMichelle Fretwell

ReportersSGT Max BreeSGT Dave MorleyCPL Sebastian BeurichCPL Veronica O’Hara

raafnews@defencenews.gov.auThe Editor, Air Force News, R1-GF-C037, PO Box 7909, Department of Defence, ACT 2600

ADVERTISING AND SUBSCRIPTIONSMarketing ManagerTim Asher: (07) 3332 7651 or

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2 News

FSGT Ben van den Akker

THE Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo comes to Sydney this month, with preparations well underway for the combined ADF Band’s involvement.

The upcoming production will feature more than 200 ADF per-sonnel, among a cast of more than 1500, in the largest Tattoo ever held in its 69-year history.

Director Music Air Force FLTLT Daniel Phillips and members of the Air Force Band have been busy planning the ADF display, which will feature Air Force, Navy and Army bands, ADF pipes and drums, stage band, choir, dancers and soloists. Nations from across the Pacific and the world will also be represented.

Writing the music score for such a large band display has been a big undertaking and will be pivotal to its success. FLTLT Phillips has worked closely with Air Force Band

saxophonist LAC Niels Rosendahl to develop the music score.

“Music is such a powerful force; it’s a huge privilege to arrange so much of this music that not only serves to represent the ADF, but also evokes a sense of pride in the Australian spirit,” LAC Rosendahl said.

LAC Rosendahl has written a number of music scores, includ-ing the soundtrack for Air Force’s Operation Christmas Drop 2018 video, but writing for such a large-scale international display has been an exciting challenge.

“Hearing and seeing it all come together – while also playing in the band – is what I’m most looking forward to. It’s going to be a great show,” he said.

Tickets are available for all performances from October 17-19, from $79. All cur-rent and former serving ADF members receive a 20 per cent discount. Visit edinburghtattoosydney.com.au/tickets for more information.

High score for tattoo

LAC Niels Rosendahl with the music score for the ADF display in the upcoming Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Photo: FSGT Barry Ramage

FLTLT Jessica Aldred

RESILIENCE training programs for Air Combat Group members and their families is forming the corner-stone for managing mental health and wellbeing, a critical part of the Air Force Implementation Plan for the Defence Family and Domestic Violence Strategy 2017-22.

Group Warrant Officer ACG WOFF Rudi Vitasz said the FEG has been proactive in supporting domes-tic violence prevention, mental health, diversity and inclusion, and Air Force values from the leadership level through to unit activities.

“Following the success of the resilience program in 2017, and the expansion to our family program in 2018, ACG will hold four serving member programs and three fam-ily programs in 2019,” WOFF Vitasz said.

“The family program, ‘Kinergy’, was designed and developed to pro-vide resilience and wellbeing train-ing to the ‘whole of family’, includ-ing children. We are also committed to running this at Amberley as well as Williamtown.”

ACG also conducts unit-based White Ribbon activities such as sports afternoons, individual fund-

raising and guest speaking arrange-ments organised by WOFF Vitasz. Diversity and inclusion activities include ACG members’ involvement in WINGS and support for the Air Force Indigenous Liaison Program.

WOFF Vitasz said all these activ-ities were underpinned by Air Force values, which form the foundation of the key behaviours expected by air combat personnel.

“Each of the values in their own right and as a collective send a pow-erful message when we discuss these initiatives,” WOFF Vitasz said.

“It is important to keep these ‘front and centre’ with our person-

nel. We are all busy and the organi-sation is continuously changing, and it is easy to get caught up in the ‘vortex’ of the job.

“Having these conversations and participating in activities allow peo-ple the head space to think about why it is important.”

The Air Force implementation plan has three objectives: to pre-vent family and domestic violence against or by Air Force personnel, to respond and to provide support.

For more information, visit the Personnel Branch – Air Force Family and Domestic Violence page on the intranet.

Vanguard of values

From left, WOFF Rudi Vitasz, CPL Trevor Connell and WGCDR Michael Duyvene de Wit promote

awareness of White Ribbon during a sports day at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Photo: CPL Nicci Freeman

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3October 3, 2019RCEAIR F Feature

Eamon Hamilton

PRECISION-guided airdrop will soon deliver a quicker means of sus-taining deployed forces over long distances.

Combining steerable parachutes with GPS-guidance, the next gen-eration of Joint Precision Air Drop Systems (JPADS) have been dem-onstrated in a joint trial between Air Force and Army.

OC No. 84 Wing GPCAPT Nicholas Hogan said JPADS could land on a drop zone (DZ) the size of a cricket oval or a road, depending on the delivery mode.

“Using JPADS significantly increases the areas that ground forc-es can be resupplied from, which increases their manoeuvre if they’re beyond the range of other resupply methods,” GPCAPT Hogan said.

“Ground commanders can also easily control JPADS while it’s in flight, effectively allowing them to move the DZ with them on the bat-tlefield instead of being tethered to a fixed point.”

Led by Air Mobility Training and Development Unit (AMTDU), the trials were conducted at RAAF Base Richmond, with a dem-onstration at RAAF Base Curtin, and involved members of No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron, No. 37 Squadron and the Army Logistics Training Centre.

CO AMTDU WGCDR Stephen Monypenny said a C-130J Hercules from 37SQN was used for the airdrop.

“We conducted three passes over two separate flights,” WGCDR Monypenny said.

“The first pass delivered a 226kg

load and the second pass delivered a combination of a 1814kg and two 907kg systems.

“We then repacked one of the 907kg systems and demonstrated its reusability by delivering it again on a second flight.”

A p p l i e d t o a C - 1 7 A Globemaster, JPADS could allow for the delivery of time-criti-cal cargo over intercontinental distances.

Alternatively, a C-27J Spartan or C-130J Hercules could fly intra-theatre missions from a forward air base in theatre, overfly terrain and surface-to-air threats and sustain deployed units.

Air Force is looking to roll out JPADS capability in conjunction with Army’s 176ADSQN, providing more options for supporting forces on the ground.

Trial in the drop zone

COMING back into Air Force with “fresh eyes” after being ADF’s Head Force Integration, AVM Stephen

Meredith is enjoying being back after a great joint experience.

Taking on the DCAF role in July, AVM Meredith said his focus is to continue to build a potent and capa-ble fifth-generation Air Force for the future.

“We need to be comfortable to grab technological and disruptive ways of doing business and push them for-ward,” AVM Meredith said.

“That might mean that change is something we’re going to have to accept, and we should be ready for it.

“Smart and clever and quick – while we’re small, we can be more nimble in order to embrace those things and drive the changes in.”

The DCAF role has changed slight-ly with the creation of the Head of Air Force Capability position.

“We separated out the capability aspect, which means I can focus on the people space and getting our force ready for those capabilities,” AVM Meredith said.

“The major platforms are all com-ing, so what do we need to glue all those together? What’s the blue glue and what’s the purple pieces, then how do we connect everything to have a coherent joint picture at the end of the day?”

AVM Meredith reflected on the Air Force he joined 33 years ago and its transformation.

“When I’m with counterparts around the world, they look on us with great envy,” he said.

“We’re in great shape with respect to our capabilities, and I think the key for us all is to unlock the capabilities; that’s about integration.

“Everyone needs to go into the joint or integrated force during their career to gain that understanding, because when you bring that experi-ence back, it makes us more powerful.

“My advice to anyone considering a joint role, is go.”

A desire to fly F-111s set AVM Meredith on his career path.

“I did a weapons systems course as a PLTOFF and it was very much sys-tems oriented,” he said.

“I was flying C-130s and wanted to move to F-111s and thought it would help. That six months was a significant piece of education that’s shaped the way I work and been key in shaping

MEET OUR SENIOR LEADERS

A vision for the futureDCAF is focused on getting Air Force ready to take on future challenges, CPL Veronica O’Hara writes.

my thought processes – to think of things as a system.”

After achieving the aim of flying F-111s and commanding an F-111 squadron, AVM Meredith became part of the team that brought the E-7A Wedgetail into service.

“Having a US 3-star say to you ‘that’s a good piece of kit’ and know-ing you helped set it on its path to a level of capability that’s now envied all over the world, was enormously rewarding,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed the different

opportunities we are presented within Air Force and working with motivated people that are committed to what we do.”

As a five-year-old, AVM Meredith came home from school one day with a flyer and said he’d like to play rugby.

He played for a few years before taking up cycling, but has always been a Brumbies supporter in Canberra.

“I like watching the game and going to the rugby is a family event, especially now my nephew has moved here to play at a higher level,” he said.

“Teaching my kids how teams perform – the teamwork, discipline, communication involved, and when it works, it’s lovely and when it doesn’t, it’s a mess – is an important life les-son, I think.”

AVM Meredith can be found with a fishing rod in his hands when he takes time off. “There’s usually a week each year when I’ll sit on a beach and fish and relax,” he said.

“My grandparents lived in Hervey Bay where we would catch whiting, and growing up in Cairns, putting crab

pots in and catching barramundi was always great fun.

“Fishing is something I’ve always liked – it’s cathartic and makes the world disappear.”

AVM Meredith and his wife Sue also like travelling with their daughter, Giaan and son, Benjamin.

“As a family, we quite like going on adventures so the destination is always somewhere different,” he said.

“The kids like it, to explore and eat and do different things, its good fun; I want to make them travellers.”

DCAF AVM Stephen Meredith, in his office, with LACW Madeleine Morosin at Russell Offices, Canberra. Photo: SGT Rodney Welch

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Exercises4

Pacific angels

THE final Pacific Angel exer-cise for 2019 concluded with a closing ceremony to celebrate the successful pro-

gram that has left the local com-munity in Lae, Papua New Guinea, healthier and stronger.

The RAAF, alongside the US Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), pro-vided free medical check-ups including dental, physiotherapy, optometry and infectious disease treatment, and refurbished four schools, from September 2-13.

Twelve RAAF personnel, mainly from Combat Support Group, sup-ported the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) activity.

Since its inception in 2007, Pacific Angel has evolved to an annual joint and combined humani-tarian operation that provides gener-al health and engineering assistance to nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

PNGDF Chief of Staff CAPT Philip Polewara thanked participat-

ing nations, volunteers and the local PNG community for their contribu-tions during Pacific Angel.

“Our Defence Force is small, but our people serve it proudly; hav-ing the opportunity to work along-side and learn from our US and Australian partners was very spe-cial,” CAPT Polewara said.

“We look forward to more fre-quent visits and a continued rela-tionship with our friends and part-ners.”

OIC Australian Contingent and Environmental Health Officer SQNLDR Evelyn Wright said the strong relationship with PNG was important for peace and security in the region.

“Our countries work together on several issues including improving transparency and good governance, combating human trafficking, pro-tecting fisheries, improving public health and promoting gender equal-ity,” SQNLDR Wright said.

“Pacific Angel specifically helps the local government and interna-tional aid agencies establish impor-

Exercise Pacific Angel has improved the health and lives of locals in PNG, writes FLTLT Bel Scott.

Exercise Pacific Angel

Australian and US Air Force personnel, together with Navy and Papua New Guinea Defence Force members, at the completion of a Health Services Outreach activity during Pacific Angel.

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ExercisesOctober 3, 2019 5

IT’S lunchtime at the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Igam Barracks Primary School, sounds of children play-ing and laughing fill the playground and weathered buildings.

Classrooms nearby have a different sound, those of hammering, drilling and sawing with curious children peering through the windows eager to participate in the action.

RAAF and US personnel are working hard on the tools to refurbish the school as part of the Engineering Civic Action Program for Exercise Pacific Angel.

The PNGDF-nominated Lae schools, Bowali Primary School, Huonville Primary School, Igam Barracks Primary School and Butibam Primary School, received materials and engineering sup-port for community-based construction from visiting Defence forces’ highly skilled workforce to upgrade schools.

Project manager SGT Leigh Eastwell, of No. 65 Squadron, said all trades were on hand to help strengthen the foundations for learning.

“These classrooms were quite rundown but we’re putting in plenty of elbow-grease to improve the environment for the local kids,” SGT Eastwell said.

“We have electricians fixing the lights and fans, plumbers re-connecting piping to improve the toilet facilities, carpenters replacing the broken doors and local con-

tractors repairing the roof and external walls. We’re working with our PNGDF and United States mates, Air Force and Marine Corps, to renovate and improve current facilities.

“We have different uniforms, but we work seamlessly together.

“I’ve been to PNG six times through-out my RAAF career; I enjoy the friendlessness of the people especially the children.

“Catching up with the PNG locals, and my USAF and PNGDF brethren is always a highlight.”

PNGDF Electrician SPR Arnold Numa is part of a five-strong team on the school project.

“Working with Australia and the United States is a great and different expe-rience, we learn from each other about our skills and culture,” SPR Numa said.

“The children are very excited to see us, some of them have never seen a uni-form before especially from other coun-tries.

“It’s my first time on Pacific Angel and I would really like to do many more together.”

The Bowali Primary School facilities and Igam Primary School upgrades are complete with the USAF working closing with PNGDF and the local PNG com-munity to ensure the other schools will be completed in the near future.

Pacific angels

tant relationships to increase response abilities during a cri-sis. I’m so proud of our people, together with the United States and PNGDF medical teams, who treat-ed more than 3861 cases over five days at the medical pop-up clinic at Bowali Primary School.

“We will return to Australia with wonderful memories and full-er hearts knowing we have helped the community with free health services, improved school facili-ties, and additional medical sup-plies and equipment for the local hospital.

“Our health services personnel include dentists, a nurse, a medi-cal assistant, a pharmacist, den-tal assistants and environmental health, comprising full-time and reserve Air Force personnel.

“Word has spread across the communities and they have welcomed us with open arms. It’s great to see free health ser-vices bring the PNG community together.

“It’s also a great way to share

knowledge and connect with our partner nations while giving back to the PNG community – if we have to come together in the future for HADR situations, we can hit the ground running.

“Our participation in Pacific Angel demonstrates the com-mitment of our countries and its people to a trusted and enduring partnership.”

USAF MAJ Ryan Frederiksen is part of the multilateral medical team.

“The language barrier hasn’t been that difficult but when we have had a few challenges with local dialects, the Red Cross vol-unteers have been able to inter-pret and assist with communi-cating medical prognosis,” MAJ Frederiksen said.

“Our relationship with the PNGDF is excellent, they’ve been able to provide advice particularly around cultural differences which has benefited both USAF and our Aussie mates from the RAAF.

“The Australian contingent has

a lot of knowledge to share and it’s been fantastic to work with them again, we are so happy they are here.”

PNG residents, Stacey and her daughter Starsha, travelled a long distance to visit the Pacific Angel doctors.

“I found out about the free health services from my family,” Stacey said.

“I’ve always had trouble seeing but haven’t been able to afford the eye doctor for 20 years.

“I very much need eye exami-nation and my daughter has a lump on her neck that makes me worry.

“I’m so happy to see Australia and America working with our people, they’re doing a great job.

“Seeing smiles on my people’s faces makes me feel proud and safe.”

Stacey left with new glasses and a USAF doctor treated her daughter.

Australia has partnered with PNGDF for 40 years and this is the second Pacific Angel in PNG.

Back to school

Dental Assistant CPL Kellie Peters hands out exercise books and pencils to students during the closing ceremony.

US Air Force and Navy, RAAF and Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel at the Pacific Angel closing ceremony at Bowali Primary School in Lae, Papua New Guinea. Photos: CPL David Cotton

To watch video of the exercise, visit: video.defence.gov.au/play/6335#

RCEAIR F

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6 Exercises

SIX Super Hornets and more than 120 personnel from No. 1 Squadron participat-

ed in Exercise Thai Boomer-ang from September 2-28 at Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Base Korat.

The opening ceremony for the bilateral fighter exer-cise was presided over by Allan McKinnon, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, alongside the RTAF Assistant Commander in Chief, ACM Thawonwat Chantanakom.

“We have a long history of cooperation with Thailand and we continue to strive for innovation and opportunities

that deliver value to both our countries,” Mr McKinnon said.

“That is why we are excited for this iteration of Thai Boomerang, which – for the first time – includes Australian Super Hornets.

“Our hope is this will pro-vide a new edge to the highly successful, long-running air-to-air combat training we conduct together.”

Mr McKinnon said the exercise built on a strong 12-month period of engage-ment between the two air forces.

“In April, CAF visited Thailand and was kindly hosted by his counterpart

RTAF Commander in Chief, ACM Chaiyapruk,” he said.

“And in August last year we were pleased to see a strong level of RTAF par-ticipation in Australia’s multi-national air combat activity in Darwin, Exercise Pitch Black.”

Exercise Director GPCAPT Stephen Chappell said exercises like Thai Boomerang demonstrated the close relationship Australia has with its regional partners.

“The focus of regional exercises like Thai Boomerang is integration and interoperability,” GPCAPT Chappell said.

“Our personnel have the opportunity to integrate in a partnered environment while building both professional and personal networks that will enhance and strengthen our partnerships into the future.

“Exercises like Thai Boomerang are also impor-tant for the development of our people and are opportu-nities to challenge the team in an unfamiliar and often demanding environment.”

RAAF Super Hornets from 1SQN conducted air combat readiness training against RTAF F-16 aircraft from No. 102 and No. 403 Squadrons.

Double the strength Exercise Thai Boomerang

F/A-18F Super Hornets, of No. 1 Squadron, in

formation with an F-16 from the Royal Thai Air Force, during Exercise

Thai Boomerang.

Air Force personnel have reinforced their strong relationship with Thailand during Exercise Thai Boomerang, FLTLT Alyssa Vickridge reports.

FLGOFF Clarice Hurren

AIR dropping heavy equipment out of a C-17A Globemaster is no small feat.

However, the Air Force team deployed to Exercise Mobility Guardian from Air Mobility Training and Development Unit (AMTDU) and Army’s 176 Air Dispatch Squadron have done just that.

The team of air dispatchers, loadmasters and engineers have been kicking interoperability goals at the US Air Force Air Mobility Command’s large scale mobility exercise hosted by the 92nd Air Refuelling Wing at Fairchild Air

Force Base, Washington State. The ADF personnel worked

as an integrated team with their counterparts from the USAF, Royal Canadian Air Force and New Zealand Defence Force.

SQNLDR Rickesh Sunwar said AMTDU and 176ADSQN have suc-cessfully worked on standardising airdrop and drop zone procedures with the other nations to establish a solid foundation for seamless joint operations in the future.

“Mobility Guardian provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with our partners and enhance our interoperability to produce rapid global mobility effects in response to international crises,” SQNLDR

Sunwar said. “Our key objectives for the exercise were to validate the Air Force Interoperability Council air standard for container delivery systems, evaluate techniques and procedures for heavy equipment air drop and ensure combined drop zone operations and surveying.”

Air Dispatcher LCPL Mikayla Wray, from AMTDU, said learning with specialists from other countries has been an important opportunity.

“This exercise has enabled us to know each other’s aircraft rigging, loading and drop zone procedures, so we can work together more effectively in the future,” LCPL Wray said.

See footage at: video.airforce.gov.au/play/6338#

Strong hold Australian Army dispatchers,

LCPL Jesse Ablett, left, and PTE Andrew List, weigh an Australian

Army rough-terrain vehicle.

7October 3, 2019RCEAIR F Exercises

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AIR Force personnel participating in Exercise Thai Boomerang took time out from their busy exercise schedule to visit a primary school in the local area of Korat, Thailand.

The visit was an opportunity to donate 40,000 baht raised by both RAAF and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) exercise attendees, with the funds to go towards refurbishing the school playground.

The school children participated in traditional performances to say thank you and immerse personnel in the local culture.

CO No. 1 Squadron WGCDR Richard Peapell said community engagement was an important part of Australian participa-tion in international exercises.

“We are given an important training opportunity when we participate in inter-national exercises; we are always looked after so well by the host nations, so it is

nice when we have the opportunity to give something back,” WGCDR Peapell said.

“This activity is another demonstra-tion of the good relationship that has been fostered over the years between the two countries.”

Aircraft Technician SGT Ryan Whelan said the team also assisted with a primary school English class as part of the visit.

“I’m not sure how great we were as teachers, but the kids were certainly enter-tained by our efforts and they took the opportunity to try and improve our very basic Thai,” SGT Whelan said.

“Although the visit has made me think of home, I think it is important to take the time to get involved in whatever commu-nity we’re working in.

“We might not always be able to understand each other’s words, but fun is a universal language.”

Child’s play

LAC Sean Bland, of No. 1 Squadron, interacts with students from the Ang Huai Yang School. Photos: CPL Colin Dadd

CO No. 1 Squadron WGCDR Richard Peapell presents a gift to a student from the Ang Huai Yang School.

OC No. 82 Wing and Exercise Director GPCAPT Stephen Chappell listens in during the official opening of Exercise Thai Boomerang.

Exercise Mobility Guardian

FLGOFF Clarice Hurren

PERSONNEL from No. 383 Contingency Response Squadron were flown into Selah remote air-field at Yakima as part of combat support and aeromedical training during Exercise Mobility Guardian from September 9-28.

The team of airfield engineers, medical and movements person-nel from RAAF, the US Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force demonstrated its ability to plan and execute an integrated contribution to multi-national forward operating bases and landing zones.

CO 383CRS WGCDR Alan Brown said Mobility Guardian had confirmed Air Force’s ability to execute an aeromedical evacua-tion though an integrated coalition aeromedical evacuation system.

“This exercise has tested inter-operability agreements and provid-ed opportunities to take the lead on combined airfield operations, including securing, assessing, surveying, defending and handing over,” WGCDR Brown said.

“We utilised deployed supply

chains and established life sup-port systems.”

Echoing this, Combat Support Group Capability Manager WGCDR George Hodgson said Mobility Guardian had provided unique opportuni-ties to learn and train with inter-national partners in both air and ground environments.

“Mobility Guardian has allowed us to observe and

discuss the benefits of differ-ent ground equipment that are operated at a main operating base and also in an expedition-ary setting,” WGCDR Hodgson said.

“We have been able to understand the interoperability issues and come up with solu-tions to recognise our abilities and what each nation can bring to the ‘fight’.”

A C-17A Globemaster III taxis along the Selah airstrip at Yakima Training Centre Army Base in Yakima, Washington State, during Exercise Mobility Guardian. Photos: CPL Nicci Freeman

Contingency response operations

See footage at: video.airforce.gov.au/play/6346#

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Open Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 12 noon – 5pmEaston Drive, Gawler East

FOLLOWING in his father’s footsteps, SGT Pete Joyce joined the British Army at age 17 as a vehicle

mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

In 2005, he laterally transferred to the same corps in the Australian Army and, in 2013, transferred to Air Force as a loadmaster.

Throughout his career, he took every opportunity he could to learn a new language.

“My language skills started with French at school, but started to expand out of necessity,” SGT Joyce said.

“Firstly, a posting to Germany where I completed the basic lan-guage course, then on to Hong Kong.”

His 1989 Hong Kong posting ended up being a highlight of his career, as it gave SGT Joyce the unique opportunity to serve with a brigade of Gurhkas and attend an intensive Gurkhali-Nepali collo-quial language course.

“Seeing as I was living in Hong Kong, it seemed natural that I should also acquire basic Cantonese to assist in communicat-ing with the locals,” he said.

“Fortunately for me, my future wife had left Thailand and was working in Hong Kong as well.

“After meeting her, I suddenly

SGT Pete Joyce’s military career has seen him work across multiple languages, FLTLT Alyssa Vickridge writes.

LIFE IN THE RAAF

found my focus change and my energy was put towards honing and improving my Thai.”

SGT Joyce picked up his first job as a Thai interpreter in 2007 with Rifle Company Butterworth, which allowed him to go to Thailand for Exercise Chapel Gold.

“At the time I had never received any formal education in the Thai language and I realised how different military terminology is in any language,” SGT Joyce said.

“The exercise proved to be a steep, almost vertical learning curve.”

From that exercise, he com-pleted a year-long Thai general course at RAAF Base Williams,

graduating with scores high enough to ensure a spot on the six-month advanced language training in Thailand.

After the intensive Thai lan-guage training, opportunities started to emerge to test his skills as a linguist.

“In addition to supporting mul-tiple exercises, I also completed overseas language study tours and two yearly language currency test-ing, which has allowed me to main-tain my language skills,” he said.

“My first event in the RAAF came in 2013 when No. 285 Squadron hosted a visit from the Thai Air Attaché and four Thai C-130 Hercules pilots.

“My second interpreter task came shortly after when I was asked to assist DFAT to run an exercise with the Thai Police in the centre of Sydney.”

The first major exercise he supported as a RAAF linguist was Exercise Thai Boomerang 2017, a biennial joint Australian-Thai fighter exercise held in the provin-cial town of Korat.

He will retire at the end of the year after 37 years of full-time ser-vice, becoming proficient in several languages, deployments to more than 20 countries and careers in two armies and an air force.

Career talking the talk

SGT Pete Joyce talks with a Royal Thai Air Force member. Photo: CPL Colin Dadd

9October 3, 2019RCEAIR F News

10 News

FLGOFF Claire Burnet

O N S E P T E M B E R 1 5 , C A F AIRMSHL Mel Hupfeld laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in Hobart to com-memorate the 79th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

AIRMSHL Hupfeld said the ser-vice provided an opportunity for Air Force members and the public to rec-ognise the Australian airmen who flew with the Royal Air Force in defence of Britain.

“ I c o m m e n d t h e R A A F Association Tasmania Division for its commitment to recognising the

importance of the Battle of Britain,” AIRMSHL Hupfeld said.

“It was the world’s first major mili-tary campaign fought entirely in the air, and by an air force barely older than the brave young personnel who defended Britain against invasion.

“It was so important to the defence of Britain that it inspired the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to say those immortal words to the British Parliament: ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’.

“Those few included a small num-ber of Australian pilots who joined air-

men from across the Commonwealth to defend the same values that we in Air Force still defend today.”

Chairman of the Tasmanian Battle of Britain Commemoration Commit tee AVM Peter Scul ly (retd) said the RAAF Association in Tasmania has been recognising the importance of the Battle of Britain by holding annual commemorations for 40 years.

“The RAAF Association is most grateful for the entire Air Force con-tribution including the support of CO WGCDR Ben Cullen and members of No. 29 Squadron in Hobart who

Battle from the air

An Air Force member salutes during the 79th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Britain in Hobart as a 1943 WWII Harvard aircraft conducts a flypast. Inset: CAF AIRMSHL Mel Hupfeld makes an address during the commemorations. Photos: CPL Jesse Kane

See footage at: video.defence.gov.au/play/6332#

helped conduct these commemora-tions,” AVM Scully said.

The weekend commemorations began with a service at St David’s Cathedral followed by a dining-in night, and concluded with a service at the Cenotaph with a flypast by two

Hawk-127 Lead-in Fighter jets from No. 76 and No. 79 Squadrons, and a P-8A Poseidon from No. 11 Squadron.

Onlookers were also treated to an aerobatic display by ex-RAF fight-er pilot, Jethro Nelson, in a genuine WWII Harvard fighter trainer aircraft.

Eamon Hamilton

AN INCREASE of airlift training in regional Queensland has provided the opportunity for Air Force to engage with remote communities.

In early 2019, No. 35 Squadron relocated from RAAF Base Richmond to Amberley, bringing with it a fleet of C-27J Spartan bat-tlefield airlifters.

With the move came a require-ment for airlift training to remote air-fields, including the town of Wondai, some 160km northwest of RAAF Base Amberley.

Last month, 35SQN opened up the ramp of a C-27J Spartan bat-tlefield airlifter for the Wondai com-munity, with more than 600 people taking part.

FLTLT Thomas Johnston, 35SQN pilot, said the response from Wondai was extremely positive.

“It was clear they were interested in the aircraft, what we were there to accomplish and thankful for the opportunity to speak with us,” FLTLT Johnston said.

“There were also the questions that come with touring a transport aircraft – how much can we carry, what do we use it for, basic stats about the aircraft, and what all the buttons do.

“There was definitely a sense that they wanted us to do activities like this more often.”

Ordinarily, the Spartan covers the distance from RAAF Base Amberley to Wondai in a 25-minute flight, and

conducts a series of landings and take-offs from its airstrip.

That proximity and the condition of its airstrip make it ideal for training Spartan crews.

“It’s an unsealed airfield and its size allows us to conduct initial train-

ing for austere operations,” FLTLT Johnston said.

CO 35SQN WGCDR Ben Poxon said community engagement of this kind worked to the Spartan’s strengths. “Engagement is important to us being able to continue training

in that area, which in turn allows us to support operations domestically and abroad,” WGCDR Poxon said.

“The Wondai community might not realise it, but its support ensures 35SQN can deliver aid during disaster relief operations.”

Airlifter drops into Wondai

The Wondai community line up for a tour of a No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan during a community engagement visit.

WORLD Mental Health Day on October 10 encourages Australians to look at mental health in a more positive light to reduce stigma and make way for more people to seek the help and support they deserve.

The mental health and wellbe-ing of our people can have a direct impact on overall capability. Defence is committed to providing programs and services that are responsive to the changing needs of our people, from basic self-care to complex inter-ventions. “We are a high-performing team and a tight-knit community. It’s important that our people and their families know they do not have to deal with mental health issues on their own,” VCDF VADM David Johnston said. Defence encourages staff participation in events and activities in support of World Mental Health Day throughout the month of October. Access the ADF Health and Wellbeing Portal here: defence.gov.au/health/healthportal/

Support mental health

IN BRIEF

Quilts for our heroesAUSSIE Hero Quilts will be holding their annual Thank You Dinner at Old Parliament House in Canberra on November 2. It is a chance for personnel who have received a quilt to meet the volunteers and thank them for their quilting work. It is also open to anyone who wishes to sup-port Aussie Hero Quilts in their work.Tickets are available from TryBook-ing: www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=535797&

Air Force’s first air combat exercise with Japan aims to enhance defence cooperation and mutual understanding, FLTLT Kat Trimble writes.

NO. 77 Squadron and Air Mobility Group flexed their combined muscle with the deployment of 140 personnel, six fighter jets and 61,000kg of cargo

across the globe to Chitose Air Base in Japan for Exercise Bushido Guardian from September 11 to October 8.

Bushido Guardian is the first air combat exercise with Japan and includes RAAF F/A-18A/B Hornets training in tactics and manoeuvres alongside Japan Air Self-Defense

Force (Koku-Jieitai) F-2A and F-15J fighter aircraft.

Logistics Officer FLTLT Gemma Donald said getting the required amount of cargo, person-nel and aircraft all the way to Japan was an enormous undertaking.

“To put it in perspective, 61,000kg of cargo equates to about 435kg of excess baggage per person on this exercise – it’s a lot of gear,” FLTLT Donald said.

“There was a lot of planning and logistics

that went on behind the scenes to get the gear we needed moved across the globe from RAAF Base Williamtown to Chitose.

“The jets depended on the KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft, which acted as a ser-vice station in the sky. It enabled multiple refuels as well as carried a large number of personnel.

“Our support equipment was delivered via a C-130J Hercules and three loads of C-17A Globemasters.

“We relied on the muscle of the aircraft and

the expertise of the crew to ensure the gear arrived both safely and successfully.”

Once the cargo arrived, Koku-Jieitai and RAAF personnel worked together to off-load pallets and containers.

FLTLT Donald and her Koku-Jieitai counter-part, Transport and Supply Officer 1LT Tsugiaki Nagatomo, had to overcome barriers in each other’s equipment and language.

“I think there are some things we don’t understand because this is the first joint

training with the RAAF, but we are all working hard together to achieve the same goal,” 1LT Nagatomo said.

FLTLT Donald said not speaking the same language could be challenging, but this was overcome by taking time to understand each other’s procedures, using linguist support and non-verbal cues such as hand signals.

“It’s the strong person-to-person bonds formed on exercises that truly strengthen our ability to be interoperable,” FLTLT Donald said.

FLTLT Kat Trimble

SIX F/A-18A/B Hornets and crews, with personnel from across Air Mobility, Air Combat, Surveillance and Response and Combat Support Groups, received a warm welcome after landing at Chitose Air Base, Japan, for Exercise Bushido Guardian.

It will be the first air combat exercise involving the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku-Jieitai) and the RAAF.

Koku-Jieitai personnel lined the hardstand of Chitose Air Base, proudly displaying their unit flags to welcome the

RAAF and mark the official commence-ment of the exercise on September 20.

In his welcome address, 2nd Air Wing Commander MAJGEN Koichi Tokushige said the base had been eagerly looking forward to the exercise, especially since last year’s training had to be postponed following the Hokkaido earthquake.

“I hope to further deepen the Japan-Australia defence relationship through this exercise,” MAJGEN Tokushige said.

“Let’s make Bushido Guardian a fruit-ful one and enjoy it.”

RAAF Detachment Commander, CO No. 77 Squadron WGCDR Jason

Easthope, said it was an honour to receive such a cordial reception from Japan.

“We are all part of the history records today, as together we begin the first ever bilateral air combat exercise between our forces,” WGCDR Easthope said.

“We look forward to working along-side the Koku-Jieitai, learning from each other and building new friendships.”

The journey to Japan was made extra special as both the F/A-18s and person-nel travelling on the KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft witnessed a spectacular view of Mount Fuji through the clouds.

Warm welcome for RAAF in Japan

CPL Veronica O’Hara

CAF AIRMSHL Mel Hupfeld greeted dignitaries and members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku-Jieitai) and RAAF with a confident “konnichiwa” at a hangar ceremony marking the start of Exercise Bushido Guardian in Chitose, Japan on September 25.

During the ceremony, AIRMSHL Hupfeld said it was a pleasure to witness the strength of friendship between Aus-tralia and Japan and the growing bonds between the two air forces.

“We are here today because of a mu-tual desire to pursue broader and deeper defence ties, with Bushido Guardian achieving that and more,” he said.

“Together, we are not only conduct-ing our first bilateral air combat exercise, we are also taking a significant step forward in our military relationship and our airmen and airwomen are forging strong personal bonds.”

AIRMSHL Hupfeld was confident the new friendships would continue throughout their careers.

“I have no doubt you’ll earn each other’s respect and admiration for your professionalism and skill,” he said.

“Working alongside other air forces allows each of us to gain critical insights and understanding, and unlocks more ef-fective interoperability between friends and allies.

“The realistic and challenging train-ing scenarios will greatly enhance our individual and joint preparedness for operations in support of our national and regional interests.”

AIRMSHL Hupfeld thanked every-one for their dedication and hard work and said he looked forward to joining them in the air for an exchange flight in a Koku-Jieitai F-15J.

In 2017, then Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to pursue deeper and broader defence exercise cooperation.

Postponed due to the Hokkaido earth-quake last year, Bushido Guardian is a first-of-type bilateral fighter deployment to Japan and focuses on interoperability.

Strengthening air force bonds

MAJGEN Koichi Tokushige, 2nd Air Wing Commander from the Koku-Jieitai, welcomes CO No. 77 Squadron WGCDR Jason Easthope to Chitose Air Base in Japan for Exercise Bushido Guardian. Photos: CPL Craig Barrett

F/A-18A/B Hornets from No. 77 Squadron fly alongside and refuel from a No. 33 Squadron KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft on their way to Chitose Air Base, Japan.

IT TAKES TWO

CO No. 77 Squadron WGCDR Jason Easthope, inside aircraft, leads the squadron’s F/A-18A/B

Hornets into Chitose Air Base for the start of the exercise.

12 13Exercise Bushido Guardian October 3, 2019RCEAIR F

See footage at: video.airforce.gov.au/play/6347#

See footage at: video.airforce.gov.au/play/6345#

CAF AIRMSHL Mel Hupfeld is welcomed to Chitose Air Base in Japan by the Chief of Staff Koku-Jieitai GEN Yoshinari Marumo during Exercise Bushido Guardian. Photo: SGT Guy Young

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15October 3, 2019RCEAIR F Interfet 20th anniversary

MORE than 150 Australian veterans returned to Dili for the 20th anniversary on September 20 of the

International Forces East Timor (Interfet) mission.

Veterans who put boots on the ground between 1999 and 2000 in Timor-Leste participated in the com-memorative ceremony at the Palacio do Governo, followed by an official Parade of Remembrance to the Dili Convention Centre.

Michael Williams, a former forward observers assis-tant to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, on the Interfet mission in 1999, said the Timorese people had shown “amaz-ing generosity” to the visiting veterans.

“Twenty years ago Dili was a vastly different place. The buildings had been destroyed and it’s good to see how far they have come. It was one thing I wanted to see coming back,” he said.

Interfet Commander and former Governor-General GEN Sir Peter Cosgrove (retd) addressed the com-memorative ceremony.

“In Interfet and all over the world, we saw what you had endured over many weeks in 1999,” Sir Peter said.

“Mob violence, fire, destruction and death. Our hearts were sad, our sense of decency outraged.

“We wanted to help. Many of our young soldiers, the first from Interfet’s 22 nations, were anxious, alarmed by what they had seen.

“They fell back on their training, their pride in their training, their pride in their nations, their trust in their comrades. My thanks again to them all, to all of their nations.”

Sir Peter also thanked the peo-ple of Timor-Leste for embracing the soldiers during the Interfet mission.

“That time in your history was never about 22 nations; just about one nation – Timor-Leste,” he said.

“May I say, on behalf of the 11,500 men and women of Interfet, to the people of Timor-Leste, we saw your suffering but we saw your cour-age. We came to help you but you inspired us all.

“Twenty years later, we have returned, happy to be here to wish you well and to thank you for the honour you do us now.”

Among those at the commemora-tions in Dili were Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Darren Chester, CN VADM Michael Noonan, Commander 1st Division MAJGEN Jake Ellwood and members of the Australian Federal Police.

Interfet veterans found a different nation on returning to Timor-Leste 20 years on, FLTLT Chloe Stevenson writes.

FLTLT Chloe Stevenson

AMONG the chaos of burning build-ings, a multinational military force, local unrest and anti-independence militia in Timor-Leste, 1999, one Air Force couple improvised a wedding.

Twenty years later, as the nation celebrates the 20th anniversary of its referendum and International Force East Timor (Interfet) mission, WGCDR Melissa Neilson and FSGT David Neilson are celebrating their own 20th anniversary.

Their Timor wedding wasn’t offi-cial – the couple were properly mar-ried in Tasmania a few weeks later – but it was still special in its own way.

WGCDR Neilson said she never expected to be saying a Timor “I do” in a disposable medical sheet with a pistol strapped to her hip.

“Personnel slept in hootchies on the side of Comoro Airfield, a long-

drop toilet was available but there were no shower or laundry facilities. Safe to say, it was the last place you’d expect to have a wedding, even a fake one,” she said.

“In true Aussie spirit and creativity, lots of people became involved creat-ing the wedding costumes, setting up a mock chapel and having lots of laughs in between,” WGCDR Nielson said.

“The wedding dress was made from a disposable medical sheet with tissues attached in the shape of min-iature roses, a large bow made from bubble wrap, and the train was a plas-tic sheet from an aircraft pallet. The veil was a piece of green scrim and the entire outfit was completed with my pistol strapped to my side.

“The groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen all wore Hawaiian shirts and the ‘father of the bride’ had a jack-et made from disposable overalls repli-cated to look like a mess jacket.”

The bridal party moved from the medical tent to the “church”, which involved two gun vehicles from RAAF security forces.

“On completion of the ceremony, we were driven to the reception in the back of the ambulance with an ‘almost married’ sign and had empty water bottles dragging behind,” she said.

“The whole event provided an opportunity for plenty of laughter, which I think was important following many weeks of long and arduous work setting up the airfield and maintaining 24/7 operations.”

FSGT Neilson said a highlight was the Haka performed by members of the New Zealand Defence Force on the tarmac “as a challenge for us to have a strong relationship and marriage”.

FSGT Neilson is deployed in the Middle East and the couple will cel-ebrate their two decades of marriage when he returns home.

Smiles in place of violence and fire

The bride wore plastic and a pistol

‘Our hearts were sad, our sense

of decency outraged. We

wanted to help.– GEN Sir Peter Cosgrove

(retd) Interfet Commander

WGCDR (then LACW) Melissa Neilson alights from her “wedding

car” in Timor-Leste in October 1999; and, inset, joins husband-

to-be FSGT (then LAC) David Nielson at the “church”.

Above: Interfet veterans, from left, SQNLDR Jacqui Miers, GPCAPT Sandy Turner and WOFF Jen Riches arrive at Dili International Airport.

Left: Interfet Commander and former Governor-General GEN Sir Peter Cosgrove (retd) speaks at the commemorative ceremony in Dili. Photos: CPL Tristan Kennedy

Below left: Interfet Air Medical Evacuation Coordinator FLTLT Sandy Riley treats children at a street clinic in Suai in October 1999; and, below, an Air Force C-130 Hercules takes-off from Komoro Airfield, near Dili, on a sortie between the Interfet Command and Darwin.

See footage at: video.defence.gov.au/play/6343#

17October 3, 2019RCEAIR F Personnel

Have your say in survey

CPL Veronica O’Hara

BREAST cancer “thriver”, LACW Allisha Harvey believes being aware of her body and breasts probably saved her life.

In 2016, LACW Harvey noticed a lump in her right breast while showering, two weeks before completing her initial employment training.

She soon had the news a 24-year-old doesn’t expect to hear – stage 2B breast cancer.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, breast cancer is the leading cause of death among ADF women, and LACW Harvey wants to help as many of those as possible by shar-ing her experiences during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

The hardest part of treatment was the impact it had on her active lifestyle.

“As the chemo went on, I really noticed a change in how I felt and the more strength I lost,” she said.

“I’m a pretty active person and not being able to run and do the things I wanted to do was really difficult, with the treatment making me feel light-headed and dizzy a lot of the time. It was really unnerving.”

But health and fitness played a huge role in LACW Harvey’s recovery.

She was the first person to complete the Calvary Walkerville Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Program, which focused on getting her fitness back.

“I have a pretty active job that requires me to be on the go so it was really impor-tant for me to keep on top of my health during and after treatment,” she said.

Three years later and cancer-free, LACW Harvey reflected on her experi-ence. “The biggest lesson I got out of the experience is you need to take control,” she said.

“I encourage every woman to get to know their body and especially their breasts. The best chance for survival is early detection.

“Along with support from close friends, I credit my recovery and ongo-ing good health to my medical officer and team of specialists. If anybody in the medical profession doesn’t take you seri-ously, find a new physician.”

LACW Harvey is now aware breast cancer can happen to anybody.

“I was 24 and had no family history of the disease. I wasn’t expecting at this point of my life to be diagnosed with can-cer,” she said.

“If I had ignored the lump, or my med-ical officer didn’t take it seriously, I prob-ably wouldn’t be here today.”

Cancer Council SA Education Project Officer Tamara Thorpe stressed the importance of breast awareness.

“Getting to know your body by being breast aware at any age is important and every woman should look at and feel her breasts regularly,” Ms Thorpe said.

“It is important to know what is nor-mal for you and see your doctor if you notice any unusual changes or have con-cerns. If you are aged 50 to 74 you can take part in two-yearly screening mam-mograms.”

Screening mammograms are also available to women 40 years and over, even for those with no symptoms.

For 80-90 per cent of women diag-nosed, there is no family history of the disease. Genetic variations account for only 5-10 per cent of diagnoses.

The Cancer Council estimates health-ier lifestyles could reduce breast can-cer by up to 40 per cent. Survival rates are improving in Australia, where 89 in every 100 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer survive five or more years.

Changes you can’t ignore

Prevention Lifestyle factors for prevention of breast cancer: Maintaining a healthy weight Limiting alcohol Being physically active A balanced diet

Early detectionThe following changes should be reported to your doctor immediately: Lump, lumpiness or thickening of the breast Changes in the skin of a breast, such as

puckering, dimpling or a rash Persistent or unusual breast pain Changes in the shape or size of a breast Discharge from a nipple, a nipple rash or a

change in its shape

Resources Cancer Council Australia 13 11 20 –

cancercouncil.com.au/breast-cancer BreastScreen Australia 13 20 50 –

breastscreen.org.au cancerscreening.gov.au

Breast Cancer Network Australia 1800 500 258 – bcna.org.au

KEEPING ABREAST

LACW Allisha Harvey shares her breast cancer

experiences with her closest support person,

LACW Angelique McMillan, at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

Photo: CPL Bill Solomou

Josh Williams

CN VADM Mike Noonan joined CAF AIRMSHL Mel Hupfeld to present a number of service medals to the White brothers – Paul, Derek and Mark – who, between them, have accumulated 82 years of service.

CMDR Derek White, who received the fourth clasp to his Defence Long Service Ribbon, works with Joint Operations Command.

CMDR White said family had always been a focus.

“Having the support of family is so important, not just in the ADF but in every career,” he said.

“We all joined within five years of each other and have given each other incredible support.

“Having that connection and a sup-portive family has enabled us to have long careers in the ADF.”

Former LS Mark White received the Australian Defence Medal, which is award-ed after four years of service.

LS White had given seven years of service.

WGCDR Paul White received the Federation Star for an impressive 40 years of service.

WGCDR White, who is Deputy Director of Force Structure Design – Air

Force, said he was excited when thinking about those just starting their career in the ADF.

“When I started, we didn’t have a lot of the benefits and equipment that we do now,” WGCDR White said.

“Parental and maternity leave didn’t exist and we didn’t have access to the cutting-edge technology and platforms that we do today.

“I feel honoured to receive this award. I couldn’t have achieved what I have with-

out my family and all the people that I’ve served alongside.” At the small ceremony held in the Chief of Navy’s Canberra office in September, VADM Noonan praised the dedication of the three brothers.

“It is an incredible achievement and sacrifice from the White brothers and their families,” VADM Noonan said.

“It was great to recognise their ser-vice with the Chief of Air Force and have a chance to congratulate them on their careers so far.”

The three brothers, from left, CMDR Derek White, WGCDR Paul White and recently retired Mark White, at the presentation of their awards. Photo: CPO Cameron Martin

Family the key to success

ADF members are invited to participate in a survey to share their views on the Defence Employment Package.

The package includes a range of financial and non-finan-cial benefits, such as pay, work-life balance and training.

The research aims to identify which aspects of the pack-age matter the most to members, enabling Defence to design an employment package that best meets the needs of current and future members.

Head People Capability MAJGEN Natasha Fox said it was a great opportunity for members to share their views.

“Your feedback will be important in shaping the future of ADF pay

and conditions for all members,” MAJGEN Fox said.

Members selected at random will receive an email from the Directorate of People Intelligence and Research inviting them to participate. The vol-untary survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete.

“I encourage those members invited to par-ticipate to provide their confidential feedback on the employment pack-age as your responses will enable Defence to develop a package which best meets your needs,” MAJGEN Fox said.

For more information, contact the Directorate of People Intelligence and Research at DPI.Research@defence.gov.au

NAVY AIRCREWMANSELECTION BOARD DATES

10–15 FEB 202022–26 JUN 2020

Applications open for Navy, Army, Air Force and Active Reserve Personnel

http://drnet/navy/FAA/Aircrewman/Pages/Aircrewman.aspx

FLTLT Dion Isaacson

AS A boy, LAC Anthony Everitt admired the F/A-18A Hornets that flew past the headlands near his home in Tea Gardens, NSW. Now, he is an avionics technician in the Air Force.

LAC Everitt said it was a family tradition of service that inspired him to start his career.

“My grandfather was in the RAAF and served through World War II and in Korea. He took me to my first air show,” LAC Everitt said.

“I remember when I first started working on the Hawk 127 and saying to myself, ‘Wow, I am doing this; this is my job now’.”

LAC Everitt was deployed to the Middle East Region to maintain one of Air Force’s KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft, which does air-to-air refuelling missions with coa-lition partners.

“My job is to work on all the elec-trical and communication systems on the aircraft, including some of the most advanced air-to-air refuelling systems in the world,” he said.

“You work in small teams here so you need to work out everyone’s strengths and weaknesses early on and work with them to get the job done safely and sustainably.”

He said it is vital for the Australian team in the Middle East to do the job properly because other coalition aircraft depend on them for mission support.

Australians work alongside the US

Keeping it in the family

Air Force in the air and on the tarmac, and LAC Everitt said he enjoyed shar-ing stories with coalition partners on the flightline. “I had someone ask me

this morning what ‘cobber’ meant and if he should be excited or offended when an Australian said, ‘Hey, cobber’ to him,” LAC Everitt said.

18 Personnel

Above: Avionics technician LAC Anthony Everitt, right, conducts a handover procedure before a RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft departs for an air-to-air refuelling mission as part of Operation Okra. Photo: SGT Kirk Peacock

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19October 3, 2019RCEAIR F Safety

Tim Bowden

OCTOBER is Air Force Safety Month and is an opportunity for members to reflect on the safety performance of themselves and their team, and to openly discuss areas for improvement.

HQ Air Command XO Safety, WGCDR Russ Barton said safety month was important.

“Air Force has a vision of having no workplace injuries, illnesses, exposures or accidents. While all visions are aspirational, we can certainly do better than our current average of hospitalising 30 members each year and seriously injuring more,” WGCDR Barton said.

“Safety month is cru-cially important because it challenges us to take time to fully engage in iden-tifying and implementing safety-related improvements – making the headspace to improve safety in everything we do.”

This year’s theme will be aligned to the Defence Work Health and Safety Branch theme of ‘be a safety champion’.

“Being a safety champion means being an influential role model, regardless of your rank, location or situation,” WGCDR Barton said.

“It’s about incorporating safety into everything that you do, safety always really. With a safety always mindset, you will be more conscious of all the aspects of each task and the working environment you and your mates are in. And conscious of what could go wrong or what doesn’t feel right.

“Safety champions are those that speak up, raise and act on their concerns.

“They are critical to the reduction of preventable, repeatable and foreseeable inci-

dents that we are experiencing. “They are people

who do not want to regret that they didn’t speak up in time.”

During safety month, each unit will run an activity designed to assist members to be safety champions.

It will encour-age open discussion regarding hazards, risks and controls,

with the aim of continuous safety improve-ment as Air Force strives toward the vision of no workplace injuries, illnesses, exposures or accidents. Safety can always be improved and is not restricted to this month.

If you identify a hazard or risk, or an improved control to increase safety, speak up now.

Be a safety champion

Members display Air Force safety personal protective equipment at RAAF Base Edinburgh.Photo: CPL Brenton Kwaterski

‘With a safety mindset, you will be more

conscious of all the aspects of each task.

– WGCDR Russ Barton, Headquarters Air Command

XO Safety

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What is a Pre-Removal Visit (PRV)?The purpose of the PRV is to clarify all the particular needs of your removal, such as access conditions, whether items need attention, confirmation of the size of your move and your unpack election. If your move requires a PRV your Case Manager will advise you and a Toll Transitions Consultant will call you to arrange a suitable time to visit your home. It’s important you make yourself available for a PRV should your move require one.

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Read Toll’s Defence Relocation GuideToll’s Defence Relocation Guide is a useful resource for you to understand the details you need for a successful relocation. For example, in preparing for your removal, washing machines and refrigerators must be drained, wiped dry and cleaned. Washing machine bowls should be secured by you (refer to the manufacturer’s instructions).

Complete your Application for Relocation (AFR) and your Inventory Go to www.tollgroup.com/movemaestro/defence to access and complete your AFR and Inventory. Contact your Toll Case Manager or Toll’s Customer Service Centre on 1800 819 167 if you have any queries. If you have moved with Toll previously, you will be able to access your previous Inventory of household goods and personal effects at www.tollgroup.com/movemaestro/defence and can update and edit it as required for your new move.

20 Training

FLTLT Tracey Bowman

OFFICERS’ Training School (OTS) train-ees have consolidated their knowledge on air power and joint operations during a visit to RAAF Base Amberley, Gallipoli Barracks and the Army Aviation Centre.

The joint capabilities tour, from September 16-20, known as Exercise Dauntless Horizon, gave trainees the chance to learn about the training and integration required to employ ADF capabilities.

CO OTS WGCDR Daniel Cassilles said the experience was invaluable for the new junior officers as the organisation moved towards a fifth-generation Air Force.

“Traditionally, lessons on air power and joint operations are taught in the classrooms but it is definitely more beneficial for train-ees to go out to operational bases and learn about how the three services are integrated in real life,” WGCDR Cassilles said.

“Exercise Dauntless Horizon allowed trainees to see capabilities that many Air Force personnel with significantly greater experience and time in uniform would not have been exposed to.

“The exercise highlighted that ADF operations were delivered by elements from all services and we are all part of a dynamic team.”

WGCDR Cassilles said all the trainees “soaked up knowledge on Australia’s global operations, strategic planning, command and control arrangements, ADF capabilities, interoperability and Australia’s historic air operations”.

“The support from all joint and service units, force element groups and squadrons has been absolutely incredible,” he said.

OFFCDT Daniel Arnold, a direct entry officer, said the exercise was eye-opening and had given him a sense of how Air Force and wider ADF operated from the ground up.

“The close-up and hands-on introduc-tion to a broad range of air power capa-bilities and platforms really helped me to appreciate just how much can be achieved through the cooperation and integration of the different elements of Air Force, Army and Navy,” OFFCDT Arnold said.

He said he was inspired by the passion of the subject matter experts.

“From Combat Support Group and C-27J Spartan transport crew right through to the Growler pilots and No. 4 Squadron joint terminal attack controllers, everyone we met on exercise was incredibly enthu-siastic about their roles and contribution to Australia’s air power, and that really impressed me,” he said.

Soaking it all up on a power tour

Loadmaster SGT Jay Goggin, of No. 35 Squadron, briefs Officers’ Training School students on the

C-27J Spartan during their visit to RAAF Base Amberley.

Photo: SGT Peter Borys

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21October 3, 2019RCEAIR F Flightline

Above: Defence Minister Senator Linda Reynolds, right, thanks Air Force members for their support during the Legacy ‘Badge Day’ in Perth, Western Australia. Photo: LS Kylie Jagiello

Above: ACW Bonnie Grynglas, of No. 29 Squadron, fits a fighter pilot helmet to Phineas Gray during the Anglesea Barracks Open Day in Hobart. Photo: CPL Jesse Kane

Left: A No. 3 Squadron pilot conducts shut down procedures on the F-35A Lightning II aircraft after arriving at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo: CPL Craig Barrett

Imagery Specialist CPL Casey Forster, of No. 28 Squadron, on the ramp of a C-130 training fuselage at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo: CPL David Said

Imagery Specialist SGT Brett Sherriff, of No. 28 Squadron, operates a video camera to capture footage for the 79th Battle of Britain commemorations. Photo: CPL Jesse Kane

LACW Samatha Fraser, of No. 37 Squadron, indulges in a warm coffee from the Trojan kiosk at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo: CPL Casey Forster

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22 Sp rt

ADF finished on a high in placing fifth at the International Defence Rugby Competition in Japan from September 9-23.

The team wound up the tournament strongly with a 63-12 win over Georgia and a 45-12 defeat of Japan in its final games.

Head coach WO Dave Carter watched Georgia play the United Kingdom ahead of his side’s contest and knew they would be physical at the breakdown.

“We prepared well by maintaining possession with good structure that provided a clean ball to loose forwards and our playmakers,” he said.

“The team remained composed and when the replacements came on with 25 minutes to go we stepped up the speed of the game, resulting in some excellent tries.”

CPL Peatrie Birney said they had to press hard for the win.

“It was a physical game against a strong Georgian team,” he said.

“Which was a new challenge for ADFRU, but we pulled it together and finished with a solid win.”

Japan had the backing of a huge home crowd as the ADF ran on for its final game of the competition.

Blustery conditions on the edge of an incoming typhoon made it difficult for both teams.

“The game plan was to keep it simple in close and retain the ball and be composed,” WO Carter said.

“After many phases the game opened up, opportunities started to present and we finished well.

“The team responded to broken play really well and scored some spectacular tries, making it a great way to end the tour.”

CPL Birney said the Japanese team put up a commendable performance.

“Tough and hard defence proved to be our strength against a well-drilled and accurate team,” he said.

“Coupled with great game play, we ran away with it in the end. However, the Japanese should be commended for their fighting spirit and not letting us get easy points.”

All’s well that ends well

A pack forms in the ADF game against New Zealand at the International Defence Rugby Competition in Japan.

CPL Sebastian Beurich

AN UNDERDOG Air Force team faced some of the best skiers and snowboarders Navy and Army had to offer during the ADF Snowsports competition earlier this month, fin-ishing as the overall service champi-ons for the first time.

The competition, held from September 1-6 at Perisher, NSW, fea-tured the female ski team winning overall champion – for the first time in 20 years – and the male ski team winning overall champion and taking home both top skier spots.

First-time competitor, ACW Henriette Anton, said Navy and Army brought their A-teams, making for a tough playing field.

“I think it ended up being quite close between Navy and us, but it

was a really good environment – the other competitors created a friendly but competitive atmosphere,” she said.

“I was very humbled to take out the title, but more excited that I was able to contribute to both our female team and Air Force winning overall.

“It really was a team effort and everyone put in their best.”

The skiers competed in giant sla-lom, slalom and ski-cross.

“Ski-cross was my favourite. It’s a lot of fun and you get to race against three other skiers on the course, which adds intensity to the race,” ACW Anton said.

After 14 years off race skis, FLTLT Angus Robertson managed to beat the field for top spot in the male competition.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic about

RAAF taking home the title – it was incredible to be part of the team that took it out for the first time in his-tory,” he said.

“Navy and Army had some really top-notch skiers, and on top of that we had some British Armed Forces competitors who take ski racing real-ly seriously.

“I had no expectations to beat either of them, so I’m extremely proud that I managed to, especial-ly considering I hadn’t raced in so long.”

ACW Anton said it “was the best two weeks”.

“I jumped at the opportunity to take part,” she said.

“I’ve been lucky enough to ski pretty much my whole life, so as soon as I heard about it, I had to get in on it.”

Underdogs snow their skills

ACW Henriette Anton in the slalom event during the ADF Snowsports competition in September.

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23October 3, 2019RCEAIR F Sp rt

LS Craig Walton

TOUCH football players from across Australia met at Randwick Barracks for the Defence Nationals open com-petition, from September 9-12.

Men’s and women’s teams went head-to-head over three days and hard work and pure grit paid off for some teams.

The men’s North Queensland A-grade team knocked out reigning champions South Queensland in the semi-finals of the men’s open but lost to ACT/Country in the final.

Men’s open squad member SGT Richard Bilton said it was the upset of the tournament. “South Queensland has won the Defence Nationals seven years in a row,” he said.

“The finals were a very tight affair. No team could pull away from the other.”

The Sydney Metro women’s side were undefeated in the tournament and CPL Nicole Petrovic said she was proud of her team.

“We trained hard and it all paid off. We were the first Sydney team ever to win the championship,” she said.

PTE Nicole Dorrett

AIR Force players shone in a tough field of 50, including many new-comers, in this year’s ADF Squash Championships at Nerang Squash and Fitness Centre on the Gold Coast from August 18-23.

CPL Aaron Fyfe, who won the men’s open for the fourth year run-ning, said the mix of new and expe-rienced players made for a challeng-ing but enjoyable week – even though Navy won the overall honours.

“I think 40 per cent of players were first-time national players,” he said.

“We had a really strong game this year. RAAF did quite well. I do love the interservice competition feel about it. Navy has always had a strong team, which makes it really hard and this year they came through with the goods again. But it was a great environment between the three services – a bit of sledging and a bit of banter.

“I love getting down there and playing. It’s been really good having the new guys come in and I’m looking forward to next time.”

Having won the individual title for a fourth time, CPL Fyfe laid down the challenge “for some of the new guys to come in and step up”.

Women’s open runner-up LACW Teagan Slekenics said she trained hard and was happy with her result against

Squash makes room for more

strong opposition. “The competition was very fierce this year, but everyone come off the court with a smile on their face,” she said.

“I was impressed with the outcome I achieved, but hopefully I can get a better outcome next year.”

Pure grit pays offADF Squash Championships

men’s open winner CPL Aaron Fyfe, right, with runner-up LEUT

Benjamin Couch; and women’s open runner-up LACW Teagan

Slekenics, left, with winner AB Brook Shoebridge.

Photos: SGT Peter Borys

ACT/Country open women’s captain CPL Cheyenne Patena-Edmonds, left, is too late to stop a try during the touch football Defence Nationals.

SP RTOctober 3, 2019

HEAD TO

HEAD

Page 22

ADF finishes on a roll at international rugby tournament

The ADF forwards pack down against New Zealand in the

International Defence Rugby Competition in Japan.