Middle East – Page 6 – CONTACT magazine

Friends and family watch a parade for deploying ADF personnel at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

Farewell parade for deploying troops

07/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3358 Views 0 Comments

Friends and family of more than 200 ADF personnel about to deploy to the Middle East said their goodbyes today during a parade at Robertson Barracks.

Australian Army Signaller Jacob Gatehouse is deployed with Theatre Communications Group at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal Nunu Campos.

Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations

Bookworm keeps lines of communication open

03/02/202003/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2219 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji

Self-proclaimed bookworm Sig Jacob Gatehouse has gone from reading military history to creating a chapter of his own while deployed to Iraq.

Australian Army radiologist Captain Julian Thompson was a professional artist before joining the military and now takes inspiration from his environment while deployed at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by US Army Specialist Caroline Schofer.

Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations

Artist sees through Iraq deployment

03/02/202003/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3073 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji

Imagery is so much part of one officer’s life that when the X-rays of his ‘day job’ get put to bed, the brush and paints of his passion come out to play.

An Australian Army Guardian Angel provides security while officer cadets at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA) undertake instruction at Qargha, Afghanistan. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Aussie commitment in Afghanistan cut

02/02/202003/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5415 Views 0 Comments Operation Highroad

Around 100 of the current 300 Australian Defence Force troops deployed on a training mission in Afghanistan are about to be brought home.

The crew of Mambo 21 stand in front of a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules at Baghdad International Airport. Flight Lieutenant Brendan Carraro, the aircraft captain, is pictured third from the left (wearing a cap).

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Air Force

Pilot honoured two years after Hercules near disaster

29/01/202029/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5464 Views 0 Comments

The safe resolution of an in-flight emergency over Iraq has led Flight Lieutenant Brendon Carraro to be recognised in the 2020 Australia Day Honours list.

Major Anthony Bartlett at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Captain Roger Brennan

Middle East Operations Overseas Thought provoking

Old warrior holds court in a biblical land

29/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2722 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji

On New Year’s Eve, smoke wafted from a pipe at the Taji Military Complex north of Baghdad to mark another year gone and a new one’s beginning.

Major General Susan Coyle takes command of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Change of command in the Middle East

20/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3274 Views 0 Comments

Major General Susan Coyle has assumed command of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, taking over from Rear

Officers and sailors on HMAS Toowoomba line the upper decks as to farewell family, friends and colleagues as the ship departs for Operation Manitou from Fleet Base West, Western Australia. Photo by Leading Seaman Ronnie Baltoft.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy

Toowoomba heads for Middle East patrols

13/01/202013/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2475 Views 0 Comments

Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba today departed her homeport of Fleet Base West for a six-month deployment to the Middle East.

An Iraqi Army M1A1M Abrams tank provides cover during a Junior Leaders Course combined-arms training assessment at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Able Seaman Chris Beerens.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Iran fires ‘more than a dozen missiles’ at coalition forces in Iraq

08/01/202008/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2443 Views 0 Comments Operation Okra, Task Group Taji

The Pentagonsays that at 1.30am local on 7 January, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq.

A member of TG Taji 9 is welcomed home to Brisbane after his deployment to Afghanistan. ADF photo.

Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations

Task Group Taji 9 home in time for Christmas

12/12/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2384 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji

Around 250 Australian Defence Force members from Task Group Taji Rotation 9 have returned home in time for Christmas following

Outgoing Force Commander of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai, Australian Army Major General Simon Stuart hands over the MFO flag to Ambassador Stephen Beecroft, Director General MFO, during the change of command parade in Sinai, Eygpt. Photo by Captain Jarrad Baldwin.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Aussie hands command to Kiwi in Sinai

11/12/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2730 Views 0 Comments

Australian Major General Simon Stuart has completed two and a half years as Force Commander of the Multinational Force and

David Savage, right, lies injured on the ground after the blast that nearly killed him in the Chora Valley, Afghanistan, in 2012. Photo supplied by David Savage to the ABC.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations Veterans

Civilian wounded in Afghanistan tells ABC the ADF blamed him in ‘coverup’

03/12/201903/12/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3370 Views 0 Comments

Tonight at 7.30 on the ABC, reporter Dylan Welch will present a story in which he claims that an ADF

NZDF Personnel deployed on the ninth rotation of Op Manawa to Camp Taji are welcomed home after six months away from friends and family. NZDF photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

NZDF’s second-last Taji rotation welcomed home

29/11/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2256 Views 0 Comments

The New Zealand Defence Force last night welcomed home the second-last contingent of personnel who have been serving as part of

President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and First Lady Melania Trump present Conan to the media outside the White House, while the dog's special-forces handlers maintain their anonymity by staying in the Oval Office. White House photo.

Middle East News Operations Overseas USA

Conan gets ‘medal’ at The White House

26/11/201926/11/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2763 Views 0 Comments

Conan, the military working dog wounded in a US special forces raid in which ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was

A RAAF P-8A Poseidon takes off on a mission from Australia's main operating base in the Middle East Region. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Air Force

Poseidon completes first and final mission in Middle East

24/11/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2434 Views 0 Comments

A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft has returned home to Australia after completing its final Middle East mission

A reduced contingent of Australian and New Zealand soldiers and officers parade (in an apparently less-than-salubrious setting) during their official farewell from Robertson Barracks, Darwin, before deploying to the Middle East as part of Task Group Taji - Ten. Photo by Corporal Carla Armenti.

Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations

Australia cuts Task Group Taji numbers

05/11/201905/11/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4374 Views 0 Comments

More than 100 Australian Defence Force personnel deploying to Iraq were officially farewelled yesterday by family and friends at Robertson Barracks.

A RAAF P-8 Poseidon flies over the Russell Offices 'chook on a stick' during the Chief of Air Force change-of-command parade. Other aircraft, all of which had been introduced into RAAF service during Air Marshal Leo Davies' tenure, also flew over – including EA-18G Growler, F-35 Lightning and Falcon 7X. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Cameron Martin.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Air Force

P-8A Poseidon deployed to Middle for a whole month

18/10/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2516 Views 0 Comments

A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft has arrived in the Middle East in support of the International Maritime Security

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail arrives at the Australian Defence Force's main operating base in the Middle East region for Operation Okra missions. Photo by Corporal Dan Pinhorn.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Air Force

Wedgetail back in the Middle East

15/09/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3186 Views 0 Comments

As part of Australia’s contribution to the US-led Global Coalition against Daesh, a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early

Australian Army Force Support Battalion during the Force Support Element 11 farewell parade at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Photo by Private Paensuwan.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Force Support Element 11 farewelled at Lavarack

08/09/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3279 Views 0 Comments

Around 85 Australian Defence Force personnel have been farewelled at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville ahead of their upcoming deployment to the

A 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, soldier stands at ease during a farewell parade for troops heading to the Middle East, at Robertson Barracks, NT. Photo by Corporal Carla Armenti.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Farewell parade for next NT contingent to Middle East

01/08/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3188 Views 0 Comments

More than 270 Australian Defence Force personnel were farewelled at Robertson Barracks in Darwin today ahead of their upcoming deployment