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Welcome Home Parade For OP ANODE Soldiers

Commander 2nd Division, MAJGEN Craig Williams inspects contingent members during the welcome home parade.

More than 100 soldiers from the NSW-based 5th Brigade have returned home after a four-month peacekeeping operation with the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

The contingent's welcome home parade was held at Sydney's Victoria Barracks on 7 December.

Acting Commander of the 5th Brigade, Colonel Graham Stewart, said NSW can be immensely proud of the way these soldiers have upheld the reputation of the Australian Army in the region.

“Reservists like this contingent from NSW bring diverse life skills and maturity to this operation. They are very good at engaging with the local people and gaining their trust in a very short time,” he said.

The Australian contingent formed part of the Combined Task Force (CTF) for RAMSI, which also included troops from Papua New Guinea. The CTF's contribution included joint patrols with RAMSI's Participating Police Force and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

The mission, known as Operation ANODE, is primarily manned by highly-trained Reserve soldiers who take leave from their civilian jobs for the duration of the deployment.

Their specialist skills help them to engage positively with the local community and build relationships that are important to the mission.

The Reserve soldiers come from a diverse range of civilian occupations including police, university students, public servants and school teachers from the Sydney metropolitan area as well as southern and central NSW.

VICTORIA'S 4TH BRIGADE PREPARES TROOPS FOR EAST TIMOR

An instructor at the Helicopter Underwater Evacuation Training facility in Melbourne briefs members of Timor Leste Task Group 4 on the escape procedure before conducting the simulation.

Army Reserve soldiers heading off to Timor Leste as part of Operation Astute have been working hard over the past month with several activities and courses being held to further develop the skills they need for deployment early next year as Timor Leste Task Group 4 (TLTG4).

Courses such as Interim Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IIMV) driver training, Helicopter Underwater Evacuation Training (HUET), Public Order Management (POM), and Tetum language classes have allowed TLTG 4 soldiers to increase their proficiencies and be fully prepared for their tour of duty in Timor Leste.

As part of the International Stabilisation Force's commitment to the Government of Timor Leste, the soldiers' main task will be to assist the Timor Leste National and UN police in maintaining stability in Timor. The eight-month deployment will see the soldiers conduct patrols and maintain a positive public presence within Dili and regional districts, allowing them to develop a high level of trust and positive relationships across the community.

Puckapunyal Military Area has come alive over the past two weeks with the 4th Brigade Combined Arms Training Activity (CATA) being used as a platform for the soldiers to prepare for their role in-country. A series of scenario-based training exercises were carried out which relied on key skills learnt during their pre-deployment preparation. Role players were used to simulate real-life examples that may be faced in Timor Leste.

“Soldiers from the 4th Brigade have participated enthusiastically in this important opportunity to train our deploying soldiers in a range of activities to prepare them for operations,” said Brigadier Robert Marsh, Commander of the 4th Brigade.

Timor Leste Task Group 4 primarily comprises Army Reserve soldiers from the 4th Brigade (Victoria's Brigade) from a broad spectrum of civilian backgrounds.

Reserve Modernisation Review.

2nd Division is participating in the Reserve Modernisation Review as part of Project Beersheba, Army's modernisation plan.

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Remembrance Day Solomon Islands

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare attended a Remembrance Day service with Australian soldiers who are part of regional assistance efforts in the Solomon Islands.
Mr Clare attended the ceremony as part of a visit to thank Australian soldiers and Australian Federal Police officers for their efforts.
Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on Operation ANODE joined with their colleagues in the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to commemorate Remembrance Day 2011.
A small military service was held among the palm trees on the coastal side of RAMSI's headquarters near Honiara.
The service featured a catafalque party comprising Army Reserve soldiers from the New South Wales based 5th Brigade. Also in attendance were sailors from the HMNZS Resolution, alongside in Honiara at the time.