It is with deep regret the Australian Defence Force announces the death of Lance Corporal Jared William MacKinney during operations in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal MacKinney was killed in action during an intense fire-fight with Taliban insurgents on the morning of 24 August.
Twenty-eight-year-old Lance Corporal MacKinney was from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.
Lance Corporal MacKinney leaves behind a loving family, his wife who is expecting their second child, and beloved daughter, Annabell. His family is currently receiving support from Defence.
Lance Corporal MacKinney was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory in 1982. He joined the Army in 2002 and in the same year successfully completed his recruit training. In 2003 he successfully completed his infantry training prior to being posted to the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. This was his third deployment to the Middle East.
Lance Corporal MacKinney was qualified as a commander and driver of the Protected Mobility Vehicle, an Assault Pioneer and a Sniper.
Lance Corporal MacKinney was awarded:
- the Australian Active Service Medal with clasps International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) and Iraq 2003
- the Australian Service Medal with clasp East Timor
- the Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- the Iraq Campaign Medal
- the Australian Defence Medal
- the NATO Non Article 5 Medal with clasp ISAF
- the UNMSET Medal
- the Infantry Combat Badge
- the Return from Active Service Badge.
During Lance Corporal MacKinney’s service in the Australian Army, he deployed on the following Operations:
- Operation Citadel (East Timor) – Jan 2004 – Apr 2004
- Operation Catalyst (Iraq) – May 2006 – Dec 2006
- Operation Slipper (Afghanistan) – Mar 2008 - Oct 2008, Feb 2010 – Aug 2010.
Statements and tributes
Lance Corporal MacKinney's family
The following statement is being released at the request of the family of Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, who was tragically killed in a fire-fight whilst on patrol in Afghanistan.
Jared was a much loved member of a very large extended family who remember him in many ways as a loving husband and father, and treasured son and brother.
His wife Beckie said in Jared’s eyes their three year-old daughter Annabell, his little princess, could do no wrong.
“Jared was a very loving Dad, a doting father, and nothing meant more to him than family. He was really the best husband and we shared the most amazing eleven years together.”
Beckie and Jared’s second child is due shortly, and Beckie said Jared had been looking forward to “meeting his little man” who would have been five weeks old when he returned.
Jared joined the Air Force Cadets at Amberley as a youngster and was named the Most Outstanding Cadet one year.
Jane, his mother, said Jared was patriotic and a dedicated soldier who was realistic about the risks.
“He was very competitive with himself and set very high personal standards.
“He played representative hockey for New South Wales when he was younger, but when he moved to Queensland took up rugby league. He was a passionate supporter of Canterbury Bulldogs,” Jane said.
Jared’s father-in-law, David, nicknamed him “Crash” at their first meeting, a name that quickly became a term of endearment in the family and the name he was known by to all his mates.
“Jared was a warm, caring and very selfless man who loved his whole family, he was a dedicated family man,” he said.