More Aussie soldiers deploy for Ukraine training
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South Australian-based soldiers from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, will depart Australia tomorrow to train Ukrainian recruits in the UK as part of Operation Kudu – Australia’s mission to train the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
FILE PHOTO (August 2023): An Armed Forces of Ukraine recruit scans for enemy during trench defence training, as part of Operation Kudu in the United Kingdom. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.
Deploying members will be farewelled at a ceremony at RAAF Edinburgh in Adelaide on Monday 8 January 2024, starting at 11am.
The farewell event will feature a Ukrainian Orthodox blessing to be performed by the 7RAR chaplain and a religious representative of the local Ukrainian community.
Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite is scheduled to be in attendance, along with Commander 9th Brigade, Brigadier Tim Orders and members of the South Australian government.
This 90-strong Operation Kudu contingent (increased from 70 in previous rotations) will be commanded by Major Michael Jack.
Australia’s contingent size is being expanded to include a junior leadership training program, focusing on areas such as foundation warfighting skills, including urban and trench warfare, combat first aid, explosive-hazard awareness and marksmanship.
This is the fifth rotation of Australian Army trainers to participate in Operation Kudu in England.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania and, of course, the UK are providing basic soldiering training to raw recruits from Ukraine.
To date, the training operations in southern England has seen more than 30,000 Ukrainians pass through since June 2022.
Australia has also provided vehicles, weapons, ammunition and humanitarian support to Ukraine in an overall assistance package valued at about $910 million, including $730 million in military support.
EDITOR’S NOTE: CONTACT wishes the 7RAR contingent God speed and good soldiering.
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Hey Glen, I get the money thing but a medal for training troops!!! Really!! we’ll have more medals than the Yanks before too long
It’s not a a medal for “training troops”, it’s a symbol of a service provided by members on behalf of the Australian people/government. Members who have left the families and friends ect, to provide that service on behalf of Australia. The current honours and awards system needs to be reviewed, and have a method to recognise all service abroad. Prior to the 1994 CIDA review, operation were classified as non-warlike and warlike, however the review created peacetime service. Which it alighted to the Nature of service framework, despite it have nothing to do with recognition. As result of that and numerous of reviews the honours and award system recognises some peacetime service with the ASM, Non warlike with the ASM and OSM, and warlike with the OSM (previously AASM). There’s quite a few other pieces of information and policy available but effectively what we have now, is some peacetime operations such as OP KUDU not being considered “worthy” of recognition despite a number of other peacetime operations receiving recognition. It’s pretty disappointing knowing that you can receive a gong for doing 4 years but don’t qualify for one when you deployed abroad on behalf of the nation.
Did you know that our troops conducting this training get no extra allowances or even a recognition medal. In fact they lose money by the time they get back
Settle down fella’s. They get incidentals and a trip to the uk. They aren’t hard done by.
After reading this article twice, I still can’t find anything about the 7RAR contingent being sent to fight any war, for anyone.
Only that they are being sent to the UK as trainers.
Are “Anonymous” and “Nick” commenting on a different story?
😉
They obviously are –
Build the coffins and dig the graves! Australia is fighting Uncle Sam ” democracy” war !!!
Next it will be a BATTALION !! Gradually sending OUR TROOPS to fight someone elses Wars !! as usual by sit at home POLITICIANS and of course UNCLE SAM ( biden)