CO 2RAR MTF
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Smith was born in Launceston in 1973. He enlisted into the Australian Regular Army in 1991 and attended the Australian Defence Force Academy where he gained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in history. In 1994 Lieutenant Colonel Smith attended The Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D).
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RSM 2 RAR MTF
Warrant Officer Class One John Pickett was born 30 December 1965 in Perth, Western Australia and educated at John Forrest High School. He was enlisted into the Australian Army and commenced recruit training in January 1985 and was allocated to The Royal Australian Infantry Corps. After successful completion of Initial Employment Training he was posted to The First Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment.
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IN THE NEWS
SBS - Shadow of the Towers (11/09/11)
SBS - On assignment with Australian troops (29/08/11)
News.com - Fallen soldier Private Matthew Lambert farewelled in Afghanistan (26/08/11)
SBS - Aussie troops under fire in Afghanistan (24/08/11)
Herald Sun - Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan (23/08/11)
SBS - On assignment with Australian troops (23/08/11)
Nine News - Two diggers injured in Afghanistan (14/08/11)
Ninemsn - Afghan, Aust troops extend Oruzgan safety (04/08/11)
The Australian - Help us help you: Diggers' quid pro quo (02/08/11)
The Australian - Afghan Army taking charge, Defence says (01/08/11)
MTF2/MTF3 TRANSITION OF AUTHORITY PARADE
At 7pm on the 24th June 2011, the responsibility for mentoring the Afghan National Army and for helping to provide a secure and stable Uruzgan Province passed from the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment led Mentoring Task Force - Two (MTF-2) to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) led MTF-3.
The Transition of Authority parade was attended by soldiers from a number of multinational forces, both the outgoing and incoming MTFs, the Deputy Commander of Australia's JTF 633 and the US Commander of Combined Team Uruzgan (CTU), COL Bob Akam. The venue, the Australian memorial on Camp Holland, Tarin Kowt, provided a sombre and timely reminder to all those present of the ultimate sacrifice which Australian soldiers have made in the conduct of the mission here.
With the sun setting over the mountains of the Hindu Kush, the Commander CTU reminded those present of the importance of the joint mission in Uruzgan Province in mentoring the Afghan National Army. He highlighted the loss of the three Australian soldiers during the MTF-2 tour and paid tribute to their professionalism and dedication, traits he said that Australian troops continue to demonstrate on a daily basis. He reinforced that their sacrifice was not in vain.
With the ceremony of the lowering of the MTF-2 flag for the last time complete, it was left to the CO of MTF-3; Lieutenant Colonel Chris Smith from Townsville based 2 RAR, to congratulate MTF-2 on a job well done. Lieutenant Colonel Smith praised their tenacity and professional spirit.
"You should be rightly proud of your achievements. You have left Uruzgan Province a better place". Lieutenant Colonel Smith said.
He then proceeded to address his own MTF-3 soldiers. "You haven't yet earned the right to stand shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers of MTF-2, but you will. I am confident that we will build on their successes and that each and every one of you will work hard to emulate and expand on their achievements" Lieutenant Colonel Smith said.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith warned the soldiers of MTF-3 that the coming months would be some of the most difficult that they would ever face; the austere living conditions, the changeable and sometimes harsh terrain and an elusive enemy will challenge every soldier throughout the deployment.
The MTF-3 battle group, comprising mainly of soldiers from across the Townsville based 3rd Brigade, is in Afghanistan to develop the Afghan National Army so that it can take the lead in providing security in Uruzgan Province as directed by the Afghan Government. As you read this article, soldiers from MTF-3 are working alongside their Afghan National Army counterparts in achieving their mission.
Letter To Families
To the families of the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Mentoring Task Force
I write to you a week after the death of Private Matthew Lambert. I am sure that his death has affected all of us in some way. It has caused most of us to reflect on the dangers and risks involved in the pursuit of our mission here in Afghanistan. Perhaps some of us had started to believe that it might be possible to get through this fighting season without a fatality. Any such thoughts were suddenly and brutally undermined early in the morning on 22 August 2011. Although it has been a very difficult week, Private Lambert's mates have dealt with the tragedy very well. Most were back into the fray within hours, and many were able to say farewell at a simple ceremony at the Tarin Kot base a few days later.
The soldiers continue to perform their duties without complaint in very difficult conditions. Many of them carry very heavy and uncomfortable loads in extreme heat for days at a time. Others labour under diesel engines in hot workshops. Others spend hours at the wheel of armoured vehicles, or scanning roads and tracks for explosive devices. Our doctors and medics treat horrible wounds and diseases daily. It gives me tremendous pride to see them go about their duties. Despite fatigue they rarely succumb to complacency; carrying out the correct techniques and drills as appropriate to the circumstances. They are operating from and using some of the best equipment and technology available. While this point has become a bit of clich?n recent years, it is certainly true for this Task Force. Consequently, the soldiers are about as safe as they can be in such an environment. You should have every confidence that your loved ones are being as careful as they can be.
The Task Force has integrated very well with the Afghan Brigade. Given the language differences, the strength of relationships and frequency of interaction is astounding. Accordingly, our soldiers have guided the Afghan soldiers through several operations that have achieved some very important successes. The arrest of an insurgent leader, the discovery of a couple of bomb-making facilities, and the rescue of a kidnapped local from the hands of the Taliban are just a few examples. The Afghan security forces have certainly maintained the upper hand during this fighting season, which bodes well for the future of Uruzgan Province.
You are aware, I am sure, of the headline-grabbing attacks in the centre of Tarin Kot on 28 July 2011. Despite their spectacular form, the attacks were a complete failure. The insurgents failed to kill any of their targets. All the attackers were killed by Afghan security forces, and their bombs had the counter-productive effect of killing and wounding many innocents, including several children from a local school. The attacks demonstrate the incidious character of the insurgency and the desperate measures that the insurgents are forced to take as they are slowly squeezed out of the important parts of the country. You should not regard these attacks as some sort of setback. On the contrary, they are indicative of a struggling insurgency.
Despite all the challenges, everyone is in great spirits. The attitude towards the task is positive and the soldiers are exploiting every opportunity to contribute to a successful mission. Most of all, they appreciate the great support they are getting from home.
The summer is starting to fade. The temperatures have dropped markedly and there has been the hint of clouds in the last few days. The valleys are thick with corn and other dense crops. The Ramadan period has just ended and the Eid-Al-Fitr celebration is just coming to a close. We are preparing ourselves for the steady decline into a cold and harsh winter over the next few months.
I said to many of you in the partner information evenings early this year, that while most of us would come back alive and unscathed, there was no guarantee of this for all of us. The same still applies and Private Lambert's death brings that point home once again. What I can say is that what will continue to see us through is our relationships - with our mates with whom and for whom we fight, and with you, our loved-ones, as you continue to support us and bear the load of keeping things together at home so that we can concentrate on the task at hand.
.
C.R. SMITH
Lieutenant Colonel
Commanding Officer