07 July 2008
Reconstruction Task Force 4 - latest operations
Reconstruction Task Force 4 is expanding its operations north from its base in Tarin Kowt, building a series of patrol bases for use by ISAF and the Afghan National Police and Army. The Task Force is now operating regularly north of Tarin Kowt, an area of great strategic significance to the Taliban Extremists in Oruzgan Province.
THE Australian soldier killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan was a "top bloke" who had been looking forward to returning for his second combat tour of the country, close friends say. SAS Signaller Sean McCarthy, a 25-year-old rugby-mad soldier from the Gold Coast, was killed when a bomb exploded near his vehicle, the Defence department has said. Two other Australian special forces soldiers were injured, along with a soldier from another country. Personnel who served with Signaller McCarthy, also known as "Seano", told NEWS.com.au he was a "bloody good bloke" and a talented soldier.One army mate, Aaron Pearce, said Signaller McCarthy loved a joke, loved taking care of children and would never let down a friend. "He was a big family dude - he used to play with my kids when they came around to the barracks,” Mr Pearce said. “He wasn’t a dad himself, but he certainly carried himself like that." He also had a great sense of humour and was very quick-witted, he said. Another former colleague told NEWS.com.au: "Sean was a great bloke who was very talented, he rarely complained and did his job to the best of his ability." CPL MJP of Canberra said: "Catch you later Seano. All out love. Certa Cito." |
Biography - Sean McCarthy BIOGRAPHY OF SIGNALLER SEAN McCARTHY Operational service includes: - SOCAUST commendation - Australian Defence Medal for service - International Coalition Against Terrorism Clasp - Afghanistan Campaign Medal - NATO Medal |
There aren’t many Army wives who get to experience what their husbands go through when they’re deployed overseas and conversely not a lot of soldiers know what it’s like to keep the fires burning on the home front for months at a time while a spouse is serving on operations.
David and Trish Grace know what it is like to walk in each other’s shoes, having both served in Iraq over the past year as well as doing a stint alone with their two children on the home front.
David and Trish, both Corporals in the Australian Army, are now based in Darwin; David as a medic with the 5th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment and Trish in the repair parts store at the 1st Combat Service Support Battalion, a workplace she describes as being “like an Army version of Repco”. Over the past two years, the couple has spent just four months together at home as a family with children Monique (14) and Dylan (10).
Trish is currently deployed as part of Security Detachment Baghdad (SECDET), the combat team which ensures the safety and mobility of Australian Government and Embassy staff in the Iraqi capital. Notice of her deployment came soon after David returned from a six month tour of duty with the Overwatch Battle Group. She was a late replacement for another soldier just weeks before the combat team left for Iraq. She runs SECDET’s spare parts shop out of a demountable hut and shipping container, a role that regularly sees her donning body armour and driving through Baghdad on re-supply missions.
Reconstruction Task Force 4 is expanding its operations north from its base in Tarin Kowt, building a series of patrol bases for use by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Afghan National Police and Army. The Task Force is now operating regularly north of Tarin Kowt, an area of great strategic significance to the Taliban Extremists in Oruzgan Province.
Australia has deployed an ADF Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), consisting of a combined arms team, to the Oruzgan Province in Southern Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. The RTF is in partnership with the Netherlands Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and forms part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. The RTF has a clearly defined role to work on reconstruction, improvement of provincial infrastructure and community based projects. The RTF also provides trade training to the local population and military engineering training to the Afghan National Army. This type of assistance is designed to benefit the people of Oruzgan Province well into the future and form building blocks of a stable and prosperous community. The RTF contains around 400 ADF personnel from predominately Brisbane and Sydney based units. It includes elements to provide command, security, engineering, and administrative support and is equipped with Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV), Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) and armoured engineer plant equipment. Australia's contribution to ISAF is an important component of the Australian Government's commitment to assist Afghanistan achieve a stable and secure future.
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