Anzac pride on show in Middle East

It isn’t surprising that Alex Heuston joined the Army, with Lone Pine Barracks on the doorstep of his family home in Singleton, NSW.

CAPTION: Captain Alex Heuston, from Singleton, NSW, is currently deployed as a military adviser and will be at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Anzac Day. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Ragless.

Now aged 28 and a captain with the Royal Australian Engineers, his temporary home is Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

Currently deployed as a member of Joint Task Force 633 on Operation Okra, Captain Heuston, or ‘Heuy’, said it was an honour to be serving in the Middle East on Anzac Day.

“I normally attend the Anzac Day dawn service wherever I am,” Captain Heuston said.

“I’ve always had a special interest in military history so I’m incredibly proud to participate in the 2021 Anzac Day service in Kuwait.”

Deploying from his home unit, the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment in Townsville, Captain Heuston is part of the Australian contingent embedded within the global coalition’s Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) where he works as a military planner.

His role is to lead and support joint planning teams and working groups through the military planning process in support of the ongoing efforts to strengthen Iraq’s security and stability.

He works side-by-side with military members from more than 30 nations – including the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

“I am honoured to be given the opportunity to represent Army and Australia in a multi-national headquarters,” Captain Heuston said.

“It’s an opportunity to learn from senior soldiers and officers from a diverse background and experiences.:

Captain Heuston said he has had the opportunity to see most of Australia since joining the Army in 2015.

“I’ve received excellent mentoring, made lifelong friends, been given the opportunity to progress my professional education and I am paid to do a job that I enjoy where I can see the results of my contribution to a team effort,” he said.

Captain Heuston said he was looking forward to visiting his home town with his wife Claudia on his return to Australia later in the year.

Following the twin challenges of deployment and the COVID pandemic, he said he was  particularly looking forward to seeing his family and taking his two dogs Roman and Salem for a run.

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