The eagle has landed as top tanker crew returns from Middle East

AIRF RCEVol. 60, No. 21, November 15, 2018 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

Pages 4-5

ORION’S 50thCold War recollections

Pages 12-13

BUILDING TIESExercise Bersama Lima

Pages 2-3

FILLED WITH PRIDE

HARRY’S HEROESInvictus mateship

Pages 16-17

KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport pilots FLTLT Ben Barden and FLTLT Daniel Camillo during an air-to-air

refuelling operation in the Middle East.Photo: SGT Mark Doran

E-7A Wedgetail crew members

arrive in the Middle East for their deployment.

Photo: CPL Carla Armenti

2 November 15, 2018RCEAIR FExercise Bersama Lima

THE nerve centre for this year’s Exercise Bersama Lima operated from the Changi Naval Base in Singapore.

Air Force committed its KA350 King Air, KC-30A, E-7A Wedgetail, P-8A Poseidon and a squadron of F/A-18F Super Hornets, which operated across Singapore and Malaysia from October 1-19.

The multinational air planning team facilitated the training serials, and the missions required high lev-els of coordination.

Combined Task Force Commander RADM Edwin Leong, of the Singaporean Navy, sat in on the air picture update each day to approve or deconflict the sorties.

Operations Officer No. 38 Squadron FLTLT Aaron Whittaker said the air plans room was one of the most exciting places to be dur-ing the exercise.

He said that during Bersama Lima one of their King Air missions was intercepted by a Malaysian F/A-18F, as part of the exercise, and forced down to the air base at Kuantan.

“We were also testing the sur-face action group’s operating pro-cedures in the South China Sea,” FLTLT Whittaker said.

The exercise serials delivered

great training value for all parties, including the ground forces at the airbase.

The feedback was provided to the exercise headquarters after each mission, which enabled les-sons to be captured and effective-ness to be measured.

The E7-A Wedgetail detachment commander operating from Subang, Malaysia, SQNLDR Brad Machan, said participants did not simply look at the training points from last year and repeat them.

“No. 2 Squadron deployed the E-7A to the Bersama series of exercises for several years, so we did not just re-identify the same lessons. We deliberately extended ourselves regarding exercise objec-tives,” SQNLDR Machan said.

“We conducted air-to-air refuel-ling (AAR) training and consolida-tion operations and the exercise also allowed us to train another AAR captain.

“It was very important to make the most of the opportunities these types of exercises provide.”

Air operations formed part of the multilateral combined task group, which included maritime strike, defensive and offensive counter-air, and AAR serials.

EDITORIALDirectorDavid Edlington

EditorLawrence Dutrieux: (02) 6266 7612

ReportersSGT Max BreeSGT Mark DoranCPL Bill SolomouCPL Sebastian BeurichCPL Julia Whitwell

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Challenge of keeping many balls in the air

International Engagement

TWO F-15 fighter jets emerged from their jungle hangars onto the runway at Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore.

Their engines roared to life before they took to the skies over the training area as part of Exercise Bersama Lima 2018.

Australian Contingent Commander GPCAPT Nicholas Pratt said the fighters were involved in an aircraft-versus-aircraft combat serial.

He said the fighters flew combat serials in Malaysian airspace and Air Force’s F/A-18F Super Hornets engaged them from their position out of Kuantan.

GPCAPT Pratt flew on a King Air sortie to visit the ADF contingent overseeing operations there.

The aircraft and crew had just returned from a training serial in which they harassed the international maritime task force.

King Air pilot FLTLT Tony Thorpe said they hailed ships to simulate a media agency on real-world opera-tions.

“We were imitating a news organi-sation and requested they stop using their radars so we could get closer and get footage,” FLTLT Thorpe said.

“You could hear the frustration in their voice through the communica-tions channel.”

The exercise included air, land and maritime training activities aimed at enhancing relationships and interop-erability of the Five Power Defence Arrangements members – the UK, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

Mission to harass and frustrate

Thumbs up from the aircrew of an Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet that took part in training serials on Exercise Bersama Lima.Photo: CAPT Roger Brennan

3November 15, 2018RCEAIR F Exercise Bersama Lima

THE Five Power Defence Ar rangement ’s Exerc i se Bersama Lima 2018 proved the relationship is stronger

than ever, according to Australian Contingent Commander GPCAPT Nicholas Pratt.

The multilateral combined joint task force exercise, from October 1-19, included defence personnel from the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia.

Established in 1971, the Five Power Defence Arrangement is the longest-standing in the region and Exercise Bersama Lima allowed mem-ber nations to put their air, land and sea interoperability on show.

GPCAPT Pratt said the exercise tested the member nations across a wide range of security activities.

“Our relationship has never been better,” GPCAPT Pratt said.

“We have been able to operate a combined task force from Changi Naval Base with assets disposed

throughout the region. The air, sea and land assets simulated maritime attack, amphibious lodgement and air-to-air combat serials, which afforded great training value for all personnel involved.”

The exercise, involving 800 ADF personnel, directly contributes to the security and stability of the region.

Chief of Staff for the Command Post Exercise on Bersama Lima, LTCOL Jim Ryan, said the exercise was increasingly significant for the region as it promoted multilateral cooperation.

“The exercise is important for Australia as it develops five-mem-ber nation security and my role here ensures we have the correct operation-al products and procedures to direct the combined joint task force,” he said.

The exercise is one of three Five Power Defence Arrangement activities conducted each year. The others are Bersama Shield and Suman Warrior.

Bersama Lima demonstrated the strength of the longest-standing arrangement in the region, CAPT Roger Brennan writes

Firming up the power of partners

Air operations planners from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia discuss future mission

profiles during Exercise Bersama Lima.Photo: CPL Matthew Bickerton

A ground crewman farewells a F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot before a training sortie. Photo: CAPT Roger Brennan

Aircraft technician CPL Brian Gurnett, of 33SQN, finishes postflight checks on a KC-30A. Photo: CPL Matthew Bickerton

An E-7A Wedgetail on the tarmac in front of a Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 Hercules.Photo: CPL Matthew Bickerton

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4 November 15, 2018RCEAIR FOperations

MAKING physical con-tact in mid-air might be the primary role of the Australian KC-30A, but

social contact between the pilots is also an important part of the exchange.

The day-to-day role of the Multi-Role Tanker Transport in the Middle East was to refuel coalition fighter aircraft engaged in the battle to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

Pilot FLGOFF Ben Price said the fighters could be in the air for up to eight hours and the tanker’s job was to refuel the aircraft so they could stay on station.

But it was not necessarily just the aircraft that needed refuelling. After so long in the air, the fighter pilots sometimes needed some con-versational sustenance.

“It’s great when we have a chance to chat with them and brighten their day, as they are flying a single-seat aircraft for eight to nine hours a day without the same comforts we have in our aircraft,” FLGOFF Price said.

Air Force’s six KC-30A aircraft are from No. 33 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Amberley.

Their latest deployment to the Middle East ended in October,

when they made way for the next rotation of the E-7A Wedgetail.

The KC-30A is fitted with an advanced refuelling boom system mounted on the tail of the aircraft and a pair of all-electric refuelling pods under each wing.

FLGOFF Price said the KC-30A could remain up to 1800km from its home base, carrying 50 tonnes of fuel to offload for up to four hours.

He said the tanker was well suited to its role in the Middle East because it could refuel most coali-tion aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafael.

“During this deployment we mainly supported US Marine Corps, US Navy, British, French and Italian aircraft,” FLGOFF Price said.

“We have to listen hard to some of the accents of the coalition pilots, but we all use similar procedures and drills.

“It has been incredibly reward-ing to be a part of Operation Okra and work with our coalition partners while flying an impressive piece of kit with a great crew.”

The KC-30A cockpit is equipped with both two- and three-dimensional screens and can seat a

pilot, co-pilot, air-refuelling officer and mission coordinator.

Air-refuelling officer SGT Michael Nester said when the KC-30A was airborne and in the area of operations, a rendezvous time was made with the receiver aircraft.

“They approach the tanker after making visual contact and we then trail our refuelling pods and they fly into contact to receive fuel,” he said.

“There can be challenges work-ing with the coalition partners because there’s a variety of ways they join our aircraft. English is often not their first language, as well.”

SGT Nester said the KC-30A extended the range of the fighter aircraft they refuelled. It also allowed the fighters to carry a heav-ier payload and to stay in the area of operations longer.

“The KC-30A is a great platform and I feel fortunate to work in such a tactical role,” he said.

“The highlight of my deploy-ment is being a part of a good crew and being able to rely on them to get the job done.”

Eamon Hamilton

NO. 33 SQUADRON’s maintenance team secured a perfect mission record during the latest deployment of the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport to Operation Okra.

Working through a summer in the Middle East, the heat was on the team to live up to the standards it set during its previous deployment, from September 2014 to February 2015.

During that time, the KC-30A earned the moniker of coalition tanker of choice due to the ease of refuelling operations.

That same deployment helped set up 33SQN for success during its latest four-month rotation.

Detailed preparation was conducted on how to best sustain the KC-30A away from home, according to the deploy-ment’s senior engineering officer, FLTLT Janetta Biscontin.

“This allowed for the safe and pro-ductive conduct of maintenance to sup-port a 100 per cent mission success rate,” FLTLT Biscontin said.

“Comprehensive planning meant we were able to adapt to a flexible flying program with minimal impact on air-craft serviceability even with additional tasking.

“It’s a testament to our maintenance personnel that the deployed aircraft returned to Australia with an improved level of serviceability and was available for tasking the following day.”

During the four-month deployment, 33SQN’s KC-30A clocked 776 hours of flying over Iraq and Syria, offloading 5.6 million pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft over 95 missions.

This amounts to an average of six missions a week flown with the one air-frame.

33SQN sent a 17-person mainte-nance and logistics team, providing two 12-hour shifts to keep the aircraft mis-sion-ready.

“The maintenance team was a self-sufficient contingent and conducted all maintenance on an operational flight-

Planning makes perfect

Rotation ends with unblemished record

Middle East Operations

Tankers reaching out with more than just a boom

SGT Mark Doran joined the crew of the KC-30A on one of the last missions of its latest rotation to the Middle East and learnt the value of making contact

‘ The team contributed to a 100 per cent

mission success rate with no safety

incidents, upholding a ‘mission first, safety always’

mentality.– FLTLT Janetta Biscontin, 33SQN senior engineering

officer

line alongside coalition partners,” FLTLT Biscontin said.

“The team contributed to a 100 per cent mission success rate with no safety incidents, upholding a ‘mission first, safety always’ mentality.”

The KC-30A is the largest aircraft in the RAAF fleet and its refuelling boom and pods must be carefully examined and serviced following each mission.

But more mundane systems can still affect the aircraft’s availability.

“One of the unique challenges was to conduct a complex windscreen change on an operational flightline during the middle of summer,” FLTLT Biscontin said.

“It was through comprehensive plan-ning and coordination, and the techni-cal ability of our people, that this activ-ity could be completed safely with no impact on the flying program.”

Forward planning by the logistics personnel was crucial to the aircraft’s serviceability, ensuring spare parts were available ahead of scheduled mainte-nance activities.

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5November 15, 2018RCEAIR F News

Eamon Hamilton

REFUELLING trials with the US Air Force (USAF) will clear No. 33 Squadron’s KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft to work with the advanced F-22 Raptor fighter.

Eight test flights between the two air-craft were conducted from Edwards Air Force Base in California in August and September.

The data is now being assessed to com-plete the standard procedures for refuel-ling activities involving both aircraft.

Serving as an air dominance fighter for the USAF, the F-22 combines stealth tech-nology with advanced manoeuvrability and high-speed performance.

It has an internal fuel capacity of 8.2 tonnes, and can supplement this load with air-to-air refuelling and by carrying external tanks underneath the wings.

The KC-30A, which has a fuel capac-ity of more than 100 tonnes, can use its 15-metre-long advanced refuelling boom system to connect with the F-22.

Commander Air Mobility Group AIRCDRE William Kourelakos said the refuelling trials were an important step towards future exercises and operations between Air Force and USAF.

“We’ve seen the F-22 deploy to Australia in the past, whether it’s been for the Enhanced Air Cooperation program or to the Australian International Air Show,” AIRCDRE Kourelakos said.

“Being able to refuel the F-22, whether it’s in Australia or elsewhere, increases our interoperability and enhances the reach and mobility of these aircraft.

“The KC-30A already has refuelling clearances for a number of unique USAF aircraft, such as the B-1B Lancer.”

A flight test team from the RAAF’s

Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) worked with its USAF counter-parts to plan the trial and collect data dur-ing flights.

Jeremy Sequeira, the Flight Test Lead with ARDU at RAAF Base Amberley, said the trial posed few challenges aside from the highly sensitive nature of the F-22’s security.

“Overall, there were few real issues as the KC-30A and F-22 are fairly mature platforms for aerial refuelling,” Mr Sequeira said.

“Much of the lead-up to the trials was spent planning to ensure we only hit the essential points in the trial to minimise the impact on the high-tempo KC-30A fleet.”

Refuelling test programs ensure the performance of the KC-30A and receiver aircraft are not adversely affected as they “couple” in flight.

The trials test whether both aircraft can safely manoeuvre together while connect-ed and with the receiver aircraft carrying different payloads.

“Data from other F-22 refuelling tri-als gave us a good expectation of how it would perform, and the aircraft met our expectations during the eight flights we conducted in this trial,” Mr Sequeira said.

“The KC-30A’s boom handled very well and the F-22 pilots consistently enjoyed flying with our tanker.

“We had a very good team behind us – the engineers at home who gave techni-cal clearances for the test, the ARDU and USAF test teams, our contractor air refu-elling officers and the technicians who got us airborne.

“It was a great trial to be a part of, and demonstrated the RAAF’s ability to con-duct safe and efficient tests to deliver an operational capability.”

Raptor and KC-30 a likely couple

International EngagementA US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet

receives fuel from an Australian KC-30A in the Middle East.

Photo: SGT Mark Doran

A US Air Force F-22 Raptor flies in formation with an Australian KC-30A during trials at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Air refuelling officer SGT Michael Nester, aboard a KC-30A, monitors the air-to-air refuelling of a US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet.Photo: SGT Mark Doran

Left: Air Force personnel welcome the E-7A Wedgetail and its crew to the Middle East as part of the new rotation.Photo: CPL Carla Armenti

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6 November 15, 2018RCEAIR FNews

CPL Sebastian Beurich

IF YOU needed any more confirmation dogs are man’s best friend, a moving presentation ceremony for the PDSA Dickin Medal to special operations mili-tary working dog (SOMWD) Kuga on October 26 would have convinced you.

Kuga, a Belgian Malinois who died in 2012, is the first Australian dog pre-sented with the medal, joining two other Australians – both WWII carrier pigeons – on a list of only 70 other animals world-wide.

On task in Afghanistan with his han-dler SGT J as part of an SASR patrol in August 2011, Kuga was shot five times while detecting and breaking an insurgent ambush, actions said to have saved the patrol.

SASR Senior Dog Liaison Officer RAAF SGT C was Kuga’s carer and first trainer when he came to the cell at eight months of age.

“Kuga was a strong-willed dog, intel-ligent and easy to train, but the bond he had with his handler would have certainly driven him forward until his training kicked in,” SGT C said.

“For him to be awarded the Dickin

Medal is pretty significant and I think he’s more than a worthy recipient.

“It took almost three years of work by a small number of people, including the PDSA, who did an enormous amount of work to have Kuga officially recognised.”

His actions meant the patrol would return home to their families, with SGT J saying he was proud of what Kuga did.

“Ultimately, he’s the one who chose to go forward, who chose to take bullets for both me and my mates,” SGT J said.

When CPL Mark Donaldson, VC, and retired SOMWD Odin accepted the medal on behalf of SGT J and Kuga at the Australian War Memorial. CPL Donaldson said it was a great recognition of not only Kuga’s efforts, but of all the canines and handlers for years of “blood, sweat and tears”.

“They say the Dickin Medal is like the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. I understand the responsibility that comes with that – you’re wearing it for other people who were there that day,” CPL Donaldson said.

“I’m pretty sure if Kuga were here today, he’d be pretty proud, walking around with his chest out, knowing his actions were for all of his canine mates.”

CPL Carla Armenti

A MEMORIAL to honour military working dogs killed on operations in the Middle East was unveiled at Australia’s main operating base in the MER on October 23.

A short service was held to mark the occasion on the ninth anniversary of the death of Explosive Detection Dog Nova in Afghanistan.

Commander of Australian oper-ations in the Middle East RADM Jaimie Hatcher said the dogs had been “partners in completing our important mission here” and deserved the recognition.

“It is important to remember and, on occasion, to commemorate the legacy of these military work-ing dogs alongside that of our ADF

personnel as we will do here in this memorial garden, in this special place, in the Middle East,” RADM Hatcher said.

LACW Jessica Holmes was the driving force behind the memorial.

She first deployed to the Middle East 18 months ago and noticed the Australian base had a memorial for soldiers who had died on operations but not for the dogs.

LACW Holmes said she wanted a reminder “that people would walk past every day and recognise the protection that dogs provide to us as a defence force”.

“We ask our military working dogs to do a lot, to work at a high tempo and in extreme environ-ments,” she said.

“The dogs would have saved dozens of people, including

Australian soldiers, on patrol and it is important to recognise how important a part of the ADF team they are,” she said.

Military working dogs have con-tributed to Australian operations in many ways since WWI as sentries, scouts, for casualty and evacuation and as messengers.

Today, dogs contribute through search and detection, tracking, crime prevention and attack roles.

The names of the 10 Australian dogs that have died on operations in the Middle East are written on the memorial, with an excerpt from a poem entitled The Working Dog.

The military working dog memorial stands alongside a memo-rial honouring the 43 Australians who have died on operations.

THE WORKING DOGMy eyes are your eyes,to watch you and protect you and yours,My ears are your eyes,to hear and detect evil minds in the dark,My nose is your nose,to scent the invader of your domain,And so you may live,my life is also yours.(Excerpt, author unknown.)

‘They saved many of us’

Military working dog memorial unveiled in Middle East

Kuga took the bullets for ‘me and my mates’

War dog awarded Dickin Medal

SGT J, then CPL, (left) with his military working dog Kuga preparing for a Special Operations Task Group patrol in Afghanistan.Photo: SOCOMD

LACW Jessica Holmes, a driving force behind establishing a military working dog memorial in the Middle East, places a purple poppy on the new plaque. Photo: CPL Carla Armenti

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7November 15, 2018RCEAIR F News

CPL Sebastian Beurich

A SMALL number of airmen bucked the trend of staying in the aircraft to jump from a C-130J Hercules with inflatable boats.

The activity, known as a parachute load-follow (PLF), involved Special Operations Training and Education Centre (SOTEC) trainees following F-470 Zodiacs out of the Hercules.

A PLF can be employed to insert equipment such as boats, vehicles or stores with special forces, and is one

of many techniques that commandos may employ to achieve an effect in support of a joint task force.

Parachuting alongside the crowd of soldiers on September 27 was LAC L, who said the PLF was one of multiple insertion techniques commandos were trained in as part of their reinforce-ment training cycle.

“It was a really good jump,” LAC L said.

“It was a bit stormy and rainy and the ocean was a bit lumpy, but everything went to plan and for

our first PLF, it was pretty successful.“We’d done quite a few jumps

by that stage, but it never really gets any easier. There’s a sense of doing something foreign, or unnatural, when you’re jumping out of a plane.

“But as soon as you take the first step off the plane and your chute deploys, it’s job on as usual and all the actions become second nature because you’ve been over it so many times.

“You don’t really have to think about it, you just do it.”

The amphibious operations com-

ponent is a small part of the 14-month reinforcement cycle, which covers skills for prospective combat control-lers and commandos.

“All of the training modules flow into each other quite smoothly; when you come off selection, you learn insertion skills and an extensive array of special forces weapons, then roll straight into commando team tactics, which then moves onto the precision strike and direct action recovery suite of courses,” LAC L said.

“Selection is in the forefront of

everyone’s mind – it’s seen as the big-gest hurdle from the outside looking in – but the reinforcement cycle is 14 months of constant assessment and performing at the highest level.

“It doesn’t cut the mustard to be just average, but it makes it a lot easier to stay motivated and keep going when you’re surrounded by a good team who have the same mentality and mindset.”

Commando reinforcement train-ing is one of a range of courses run by SOTEC, which functions as the SOCOMD schoolhouse.

Assault falls into place

Special Operations Training and Education Centre trainees, including airmen, parachute into the waters off

Manly, Sydney, during the commando amphibious operations course.

Photo: CPL Sebastian Beurich

Trainees prepare to jump from a C-130J Hercules during the parachute load-follow exercise. Photo: CPL Nunu Campos

Joint Warfighting

Special Operations Training and Education Centre amphibious course

MEET OUR SENIOR LEADERS

Look on bright side of lifeFROM an early age AVM Joe

Iervasi had always wanted to be a pilot. In fact, during his childhood he had model planes

dangling from his bedroom ceiling. “As I went through high school I

was looking at what I needed to get into aviation and flying. At that time, the Air Force seemed to be well beyond my reach,” he said.

“I was looking at going down the path of becoming a commercial pilot, but then I saw how expensive pilot les-sons were.

“By that stage I had worked out what jobs I needed to do that would pay enough so that I could be able to afford the lessons.”

Around that time a good mate of his, whose brother was already an Air Force pilot, asked AVM Iervasi if he wanted to tag along for a visit to Air Force recruiting.

“I said I would give that a crack. So, it was only by circumstance that I went to recruiting and I was fortunate enough to get in to Air Force,” he said.

Joining in 1985, he completed his flying training in 1989. He served at No. 3 Squadron as a junior pilot before proceeding on exchange to No. 5 Squadron RAF, flying the Tornado F3. Upon returning to Australia in 1995, he

served as a flight commander at both No. 77 and 75 Squadrons. Numerous command postings along the way included No. 81 Squadron in 2010.

AVM Iervasi has more than 3000 hours flying fast jets and is an A Category Fighter Pilot.

Growing up in NSW, AVM Iervasi’s father migrated from Italy in the ’50s, and his mother was born in Australia to Italian immigrants.

He is the first member of his family to join the ADF – effectively breaking the mould of family occupations.

“Technically, I am a full blood Italian, and the family had, of course, all the stereotypical jobs associated with migrants at the time,” AVM Iervasi said.

On his father’s side, they were farmers and green grocers and on his mother’s they were mechanics and truck drivers. “At one stage we owned a pizza shop,” he said. The Iervasi family dabbled in concreting.

“Good friends of mine would always joke that they could remember where they were by a concrete slab. They would know exactly the day, the time and what happened in the world when that slab was laid,” he said.

A keen sportsman, AVM Iervasi played both cricket and soccer.

Introduced to cricket by his neigh-bours, he would grow to love the sport and is the Air Force cricket team patron.

“I love Test cricket. You can associ-ate a lot of analogies with cricket and life, such as playing by the umpire’s rules and the game goes for five days – an example of adapting to change etc.”

Growing up in the ’80s, his all-time favourite cricket hero is Greg Chappell.

“Greg was a hero of mine. Not only for his performance, but I remember writing a letter to the Channel Nine commentary team on ways of improv-ing the game,” AVM Iervasi said.

“He was the only one to reply to me. In my eyes he was my hero.”

AVM Iervasi loves his job and enjoys the opportunity to lead a dynam-ic team at the Air Warfare Centre.

Outside of work, he enjoys garden-ing with his wife Donna and spending time with his twin daughters, Rosie and Lily.

As a Monty Python fanatic, it’s not surprising that his philosophy is: “Always look on the bright side of life.”

AVM Iervasi was promoted on November 2, and will deploy to the Middle East region in January 2019 as Commander JTF633.

AVM Joe Iervasi at his promotion

ceremony in Canberra.

Photo: SGT Rodney Welch

CPL Bill Solomou meets newly promoted AVM Joe Iervasi, a cricket lover and Monty Python fan, who is SADFO RAAF Base Edinburgh and CDR Air Warfare Centre

Feature RCEAIR F November 15, 20188

9November 15, 2018RCEAIR F Joint Operations

ACM Sir Angus Houston (retd), who trained on the C-130H, will be the guest speaker at an event to celebrate the Hercules’ 60th anniversary of Air Force service.

ACM Houston did pilot training on the C-130H Hercules in 1993 before his posting as OC No. 86 Wing at RAAF Base Richmond from 1994 to 1995.

The No. 37 Squadron Association is coordinating the function, at the Clarendon Tavern opposite RAAF Base Richmond, as part of a reunion to mark the anniversary.

Mr Col Coyne, a former loadmaster on the C-130E and president of the 37SQN Association, invited all past and present members of the RAAF Hercules community to attend.

“This December we celebrate 60 years since the arrival of the first C-130A Hercules, A97-205, at RAAF Richmond,” Mr Coyne said.

“This reunion is an opportunity for past and present C-130 Hercules aircrew, maintenance and support per-sonnel to reminisce on their Air Force careers and association with the vener-able Hercules.”

Four models of the Hercules have been operated by Nos. 36 and 37 Squadrons and a host of other units have been critical to their operation.

This includes maintenance and logistics support from No. 503 Wing, No. 486 Squadron and the Air Lift Systems Program Office, and essential support from agencies such as No. 285 Squadron and the Air Mobility Training and Development Unit.

Past members will also be able to visit 37SQN at RAAF Base Richmond on the day of the reunion.

Temporary CO 37SQN SQNLDR Adrian Willey said thousands of people had been involved with Hercules opera-tions in the past 60 years.

“Everyone who’s contributed to this capability has something to be proud of, whether it’s been directly on operations or from bases in Australia,” SQNLDR Willey said.

“The squadron today is proud to carry a legacy that began with 36SQN in 1958 and would be forged during operations in Vietnam and following Cyclone Tracy.

“More recent members of our Hercules community have contributed to airlift operations in the Middle East Region since 2003 as well as disaster relief missions in Indonesia.”

Bookings are limited and can be made at www.trybooking.com. For more information email raaf37sqnassoc@outlook.com or con-tact Col Coyne on 0402 815 015.

Celebrating 60 years of Hercs

Four models of Hercules have served Air Force in the past 60 years.Photo: FSGT Glen McCarthy

AN Air Force C-17A Globemaster III has played a major role in deploying ADF personnel for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Papua New Guinea.

The personnel, representing all three ADF services, arrived in Port Moresby as part of Australian Government suppor t to the Government of Papua New Guinea to deliver the APEC forum.

Over the coming weeks ADF personnel, as part of Joint Task Force 658, will support PNG to deliver a successful APEC, further enhancing the long-standing part-nership with the nation.

Senior ADF officer on the ground MAJGEN Paul McLachlan said the ADF’s arrival symbolised the commitment between neigh-bours to deliver a safe and secure APEC 2018 Leaders’ Week from November 12-18.

“The most visual aspect of what we have in country at the moment is HMAS Adelaide, which provides a maritime security effect in sup-port of the Papua New Guinea Joint Security Task Force,” MAJGEN McLachlan said.

“The relationships between the PNG Defence Force and the ADF, borne out of the Defence

Cooperation Program, have been really important in the planning over the last 18 months.

“We have continued our close bond by setting up a partnered operations centre to help coordinate security arrangements.”

The C-17A isn’t the Joint Task Force’s only Air Force contribu-tion to supporting APEC 18. Other aircraft include F/A-18F Super Hornets operating from RAAF Base Townsville, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport operating from Cairns as well as E-7A Wedgetail and P-8A Poseidon operating from the Northern Territory.

The ADF is also providing high-end security capabilities and assis-tance, including a partnered and joint headquarters, airspace and maritime security, and additional Army capabilities in support of Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

HMA Ships Adelaide, Glenelg and Larrakia have deployed to Port Moresby, as well as ground and avi-ation capabilities from Army.

PNG is hosting a program of APEC meetings throughout 2018, culminating in the Leaders’ Summit of presidents and prime ministers from 21 Pacific Rim member econ-omies.

Offering our supportOperation APEC 18 Assist

International Engagement

C-17A Globemaster III pilots SQNLDR Tim Smith and FLGOFF Alex Cavanagh descend into Port Moresby to drop off ADF personnel deploying on Operation APEC 18 Assist. Photo: AB Kieren Whiteley

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LIFE IN THE RAAFAll systems go

FLGOFF Belinda Scott meets an Aviation Systems Technician who thrives in a fast-paced environment

From maintainer, instructor and now designer, Aviation Systems Technician (AVSYSTECH) SGT Jason

Smith has embraced the diverse workforce that Air Force has to offer.

When he joined in March 2001 as an avionics technician (AVTECH), SGT Smith was inter-ested in aviation maintenance and being paid to train in that field was appealing for him at the time. He then successfully re-mustered from AVTECH to AVSYSTECH in 2011.

SGT Smith works within the Systems Design and Development (SDD) Flight of Air Warfare Engineering Squadron (AWE SQN) as an Avionics Designer, alongside both service and APS personnel, at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

“SDD Flight activities focus on the design and development of data acquisition and process-ing systems to measure aircraft, equipment and aircrew perfor-mance during flight test. This covers both airborne and ground-based systems,” SGT Smith said.

“I enjoy the challenge of solving problems. My work is primarily centred on finding a way to gather data required during specific flight and ground testing where the data either is not read-ily available or is not recorded in normal operation.

“Seeing a system that I designed gather the data that was required is extremely satisfying.”

SGT Smith said he relished working in a challenging work-place where “no two tasks have been the same”.

“Prior to posting into this position, I was involved in deeper level fault finding within No. 92 Wing. I found this role interest-ing and challenging as it deviated from the regular procedures and practices of regular aircraft main-tenance,” he said.

“I decided that I enjoyed this type of work and as such sought out a position within AWE SQN in order to continue working at a design level of avionics systems.”

Training for his current role involved the initial AVTECH Initial Employment Training (IET), and also a pre-requisite to

re-muster to AVSYSTECH, and a further two years completing an advanced diploma in electronics and communications engineering.

“My role within AWE SQN has required training on some of the specialist instrumentation sys-tems used within the unit, which has been really interesting,” SGT Smith said.

“The main challenges I face from day to day come from the late notice/short timeframe aspects of my position.

“Being able to complete a design in time while allowing manufacture, installation and testing activities to be conducted can be difficult at times but still rewarding.

“I’m fortunate to work with a great team.”

AWE SQN is part of the Air Warfare Centre, Test and Evaluation Directorate, focused on delivering specialist techni-cal advice, systems engineer-ing, design development, proto-typing and innovation services to enhance ADF integration, and enable the development of modern air power capabilities.

FeatureRCEAIR F November 15, 2018 11

Aviation Systems Technician SGT Jason Smith and Avionics Designer Tony Starkey work on a project inside the Air Warfare Centre Rapid Design Facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh.Photo: CPL David Cotton

12 13RCEAIR FOrion’s 50th Anniversary November 15, 2018

NEVER LOSING ITS FOCUS

HOW 92WG PLANS TO MARK ORION’s 50th ANNIVERSARY

NO. 92 Wing will host a series of events to mark the 50th anniver-sary of P-3 Orion RAAF service on December 1 including: 92WG Family Day: Starting

at 10am, past and present members and their families can attend this fun and informa-tive event featuring aircraft and memorabilia on display. The day will acknowledge the important contribution of families towards the success of P-3 Orion ser-vice. For access, pre-registration is required via the event website.

Formal dinner: Starting at 6.30pm at the Adelaide Con-

vention Centre, the dinner will showcase the contribution and achievements of Orion’s important maritime capability. It will bring into focus the dedica-tion, commitment, sacrifice and exemplary service of personnel who have supported P-3 Orion service past and present. Tickets are required to be pre-purchased from the event website by November 25.

For pre-registration, ticket purchases and more information visit www.50yearsofP3Orions.eventsmart.com

FOR those who have ties to the venerable P-3 Orion, fond memories are flooding back as the aircraft marks 50 years of Air Force service.

Thousands of former and current members are reflecting on the teamwork and mateship that develops during long sorties and even longer hours on the ground keeping aircraft serviceable and supporting operations.

Many are re-discovering photo collections that captured behind-the-scenes moments from working with P-3 aircraft over the past five dec-ades.

WGCDR Leigh Collins, of the History and Heritage Branch – Air Force, spent the 1980s as a sensor operator and then progressed through various roles with P-3 aircraft.

WGCDR Collins has shared some of the images he has captured during exercises across Australia and overseas with Air Force News.

He said some of his most fascinating and satisfying memories on P-3 aircraft included Cold War operations where there were regular encounters, both planned and unplanned, with Soviet units.

“These included nuclear submarines, major surface combatants, arms-carrying merchant ships and occasional aircraft going about their business of either opposing US activities in the Indian Ocean or South China Sea, or target-ing the continental US directly with patrolling nuclear ballistic missile submarines off the US West Coast, particularly during the 1980s,” WGCDR Collins said.

WGCDR Collins said equally satisfying for

him were Operations Caterpillar (June 1982) and Enquarter (March 1983).

“92WG P-3s and other support elements were deployed for extended operations at Cocos Islands to monitor the recovery of two Soviet BOR-4 space test vehicles being used to test heat-shield tiles for the short lived Soviet Buran space shuttle program,” WGCDR Collins said.

“The Soviet recovery fleet included a dozen or more support ships, space surveillance and tracking ships and major surfaces combatants operating near Cocos.

“During these two periods of about two weeks, we flew 24/7 over the fleet waiting for the re-entry and splashdown of the BOR-4s.

“The success of these operations was meas-ured in the quality of intelligence gained, in-cluding photography of the recoveries which was later displayed in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC as part of a display on the Buran program.”

CO No. 10 Squadron WGCDR Colin Smith said throughout its long and distinguished ser-vice life the P-3 Orion had always engendered strong feelings.

WGCDR Smith said there was an air of ex-citement building towards the 50th anniversary celebrations.

“It is wonderful to see the RAAF Maritime Patrol community sharing photos, reliving memories and reminiscing on the unique bond we have with the people and the extraordinary aircraft which is still making an important con-tribution 50 years on,” WGCDR Smith said.

Cold War encounters with the Soviets form just one part of the P-3 Orion’s colourful 50-year history with Air Force, writes FLTLT Tom Maclean

An 11SQN P-3 crew at RAAF Base Learmonth in January 1982.

Photo: WGCDR Leigh Collins

Air Force Orions (P-3B 300) and (P-3C 757) at the Cocos

Islands on April 27, 1981.

Crew members Scott England and Ed Korhonen in a P-3 in

May 1986.Photo: WGCDR Leigh Collins

A P-3 above HMY Britannia in March 1986.Photo: WGCDR Leigh Collins

A 92WG AP-3C Orion aircraft soars through the clouds during

a training sortie.Photo: CPL Shannon McCarthy

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15November 15, 2018RCEAIR F News

PREPARATIONS are now under way to ready the Air Force team for the Australian Army Skills at Arms Meet (AASAM) 2019.

After competing at AASAM for the past two years, LACW Rebecca Roach, Medical Assistant from RAAF Base Amberley, said she couldn’t wait to go back.

“I have been incrementally build-ing my basic marksmanship skills on the F88 and Browning since join-ing the team two years ago,” LACW Roach said.

“I’ve competed in a few marks-manship competitions while at the Army School of Health and take every opportunity I can to do the same at Amberley.

“I am lucky enough to be a part of Joint Health Unit South

Queensland, my CO LTCOL Corkeron, has been very supportive of my shooting and being Army, managed to get me qualified on the new EF88 which is not standard issue for Air Force.”

The Air Force Marksmanship Team team is made up of shooters from a diverse array of musterings who come together as a team due to their enjoyment of marksmanship as a core skill to the Profession of Arms.

“The best thing about competing at AASAM is of course the friend-ships you make,” LACW Roach said.

“You get pretty close to your team mates during the lead up and competition, as well as the other competitors you meet. We tend to

stick together particularly well and help each other out.”

With stand-down looming and nominations for AASAM open, the RAAF shooters are looking forward to 2019.

“The kind of shooting done at AASAM, particularly the combat shoots, are unlike anything you are likely to find anywhere else. Particularly among Air Force,” LACW Roach said.

Nominations and enquiries relating to the Air Force marksmanship team for AASAM19 can be emailed to the dsec-af@drn.mil.au inbox (attention Capability and Plans 1A) no later than February 8, 2019. The Air Force team captain is FLTLT Rowan McBride (rowan.mcbride@defence.gov.au).

Give AASAM a shot

FLTLT Tracey Li

THE covers have come off the RAAF Roulettes new colour scheme for the next generation of PC-21 training aircraft.

CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies unveiled the new livery at Fairbairn on October 17 with the new PC-21 flying in formation with the current PC-9/A Roulette example.

AIRMSHL Davies said the new “edgy” livery would set the aircraft apart from other aerobatic display teams.

He said it would also generate discussion

and interest for the next generation of pilots.“The livery uses the traditional colours

of the Air Force and the Australian nation-al flag to create a visually striking design that is unique to the RAAF and Roulettes,” AIRMSHL Davies said.

“The predominantly red top and side is contrasted against a deep blue underside. This design helps pilots distinguish whether an observed aircraft is viewed from above or below, aiding judgement of the flight path.

“When viewed from below, spectators will see one of Australia’s national symbols,

the Southern Cross, against representative deep blue of the night sky.”

Roulette leader SQNLDR Jay Tuffley said the Roulettes had been flying the PC-9/A since 1989 and he was very excited about the transition to PC-21.

“These PC-21 aircraft, as part of the new pilot training system being established under Project AIR5428, will allow the ADF to deliver pilots with skills that meet the requirements for our next generation air-craft,” SQNLDR Tuffley said.

“We have great people and they are

working hard as part of a team with our industry partners to move forward for the long term.

“We are confident the new pilot train-ing system will demonstrate its ability to increase pilot graduation numbers, generate pilot skills to operate highly advanced air-craft and meet the needs of ADF aviation for the next 30 years.”

The new pilot training being delivered under Project AIR5428 will commence at RAAF Base East Sale in January 2019.

Roulette Leader SQNLDR Jay Tuffley, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester, CAF AIRMSHL Leo Davies and Officer Commanding AFTG GPCAPT Dennis Tan with a PC-21 Pilatus aircraft at Fairbairn. Photos: SGT Rodney Welch

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16 November 15, 2018RCEAIR FInvictus Games

AFTER a week of inspira-tional athletic and human performance, the Invictus Games finished in Sydney

with a spectacular closing ceremony on October 27.

Though the Games focused on the recovery and rehabilitation of the wounded, injured and ill, they also highlighted the importance of family and friends.

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, said the Games were mag-nificent.

“Your example goes beyond the military community,” he told the competitors.

“It is about more than your inspiring stories of recovery from injury and illness. It is about your example of determination, of optimism, of strength, honour and friendship or, as the Aussies call it, mateship – a core value that has the power to inspire the world.”

In the final days of the Games at Sydney Olympic Park, Team Australia dominated with its results and sportsmanship during the two days of athletics competition in front of the home crowd.

Highlights included Heidi Joosten demonstrating her fitness to win the 100m, 200m and 400m finals and adding to her gold medal collection in the women’s long jump.

Daniel Parker achieved a per-sonal best and a silver medal in the 200m and followed up with another silver in the long jump.

During the IJ3 long jump final,

Michael Lyddiard reached out to spectator and fellow amputee 11-year-old Knox Gibson for help. Together they shared the silver medal and the unconquered spirit of the Games.

Matt Brumby pushed hard to win four gold medals in his wheel-chair for the IT4 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m finals.

The athletics team captain, Brigid Baker, claimed gold in the IF4 discus and shot put, while Peter Brown picked up bronze in the seated discus and Carrie-Anne Bishop threw a personal best in the women’s seated shot.

Damien Irish qualified fourth for the men’s discus final, but took the gold after a superb first throw.

In the athletics events, PLTOFF Nathan Parker won gold in the IT3 100m and silver in the 400m, and finished a strong fourth in the 200m.

He collected another gold in the mixed 4x100m relay along with Matt Model, Daniel Parker and Ben Yeomans.

PLTOFF Parker also achieved personal bests in the rowing events.

“I couldn’t have rowed any better and I used my tactics and strategy to win as well as enjoy it,” he said.

“It was great to be in front of the crowd and the atmosphere was crazy.

“My running results were unexpected, as I’ve never been a natural runner, but I’ve picked up a lot of skills from the people in the

team and our coach, CAPT Simon O’Reagan.”

Although he competed in Toronto last year, PLTOFF Parker said it was a long-term goal to be a part of the Sydney Games.

“It was special to have such a large team of Australians wearing the green and gold on our home soil and watch them achieve personal success,” he said.

“It was magical to share the experience with such a great group of people who have become a close family.

“Team Australia did extremely well and we have fantastic reasons to be proud of ourselves. We nailed it this year.”

Team Australia took home a swag of medals and personal bests from the archery competition.

Darren Peters won gold in the novice men’s recurve and Jocelyn McKinley won silver in the women’s open recurve, while Garry Robinson, Stewart Sherman and Steve Sandman collected silver medals in the men’s team com-pound event.

In one of the final competitions of the Games, the Australian team played the UK and the Netherlands in the wheelchair basketball pool matches on the same day.

Australia went down to the UK, 6-3, before beating the Netherlands, 15-8, in the next match and going on to win silver after losing to the US in the final.

And the winner is … mateship

SGT Mark Doran wraps up the Invictus Games, in which human spirit shone more brightly than the medals

ACW Jade Cannon, Joint Logistics Unit (E): “It was a highlight to see the families watching their sons, daugh-ters, brothers or sisters compete and it was a privilege to represent Air Force during the medal ceremonies.”WO Steve Weaver, HQ Air Command: “The Invictus Games gave Australians an understanding that regardless of someone’s length of service or if they have discharged we still treat each other as brothers or sisters. We’re one big family.”SGT Susan Robinson, No. 22 Squadron: “Supporting the Games was a rewarding way for me to give back and connect to the community

and our serving and former serving personnel. It was inspirational to see the competitors push through their emotional and mental barriers.”

CPL Shaun Connolly, No. 35 Squadron: “I love sport and helping out here was a great way to support the Invictus Games competitors. They inspired me and showed me how valuable sport is for rehabilitation.”

FLTLT Dana Pham, HQJOC: “It was an honour and a privilege to sup-port the Games, which showed how sport can be used for rehabilitation. The competitors are unconquerable despite their hardships.”

Thoughts from the support crew

CPL Shaun Connolly, left, SGT Susan Robinson, ACW Jade Cannon and WOFF Steve Weaver were part of the joint task force supporting the Invictus Games. Photo: SGT Mark Doran

Team Australia celebrates winning gold in the wheelchair

rugby at the Invictus Games.Photo: CPL Jake Sims

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17November 15, 2018RCEAIR F Invictus Games

CAPT Gregory Smith

BEHIND the scenes of the fourth Invictus Games, the ADF ceremonial and logistics support was coordinated by Joint Task Force (JTF) 646 on Operation Invincible.

With about 250 personnel, JTF646 provided a range of support to the Games, from medal presenters to baggage han-dlers, from way-finders to morale-raisers.

From the opening ceremony, the personnel of JTF646 seized every oppor-tunity to help, often going from one event to another and giving their time well beyond their scheduled tasks.

Placing an emphasis on personal inter-action with the competitors, their families and the public, JTF646 invested heavily in training its personnel in the lead-up to the Games.

The training helped them gain a deeper understanding of wounded, injured and ill veterans and the role played by adaptive sport in the physical and mental recovery process.

Commander JTF646 BRIG Michael Bond said the investment paid off and the personnel had a positive impact on

the competitors, their families and the conduct of the games themselves.

“The nature of the event meant they could lean well forward with uniformed personnel. And everyone loved it,” he said.

“The largest element of JTF646 was the part-time soldiers of the 5th Brigade.

“Their initiative, professionalism and suitability for public engagement tasks made them highly regarded by the com-petitors and sought after by the Games organisers and staff.”

BRIG Bond said the JTF’s centre of gravity was its people.

“They were invested in, given clear commander’s intent and trusted to deliver a professional and caring response,” he said.

“Much of what they did was out of the public eye, working behind the scenes to prepare venues or providing supportive words or company to the veteran competi-tors during tough times.

“The competitors and their families remained the focus of the operation and each JTF646 member contributed to the profound and far-reaching effect.”

AIR Force and other ADF per-sonnel were among the team of passionate volunteers who made the Invictus Games a memorable and inspiring experience for the competitors, their families and spectators.

The 1000 volunteers, wearing yellow shirts, helped at all venues with enthusiasm and smiles to ensure the Games’ success.

They travelled from as near as Parramatta and as far as the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Ghana and the Netherlands to be part of a unique experience and to give back to the defence com-munity.

Among those investing their time was LACW Sara Bennett, of

No. 41 Wing, who said her interest in supporting the Invictus Games began when she saw reports on the Games in London in 2014.

“I love sport. I’ve a background in disability sports and studied exercise science so I thought this was a fantastic way to assist with the rehabilitation of serving and former military personnel,” she said.

“I volunteered as soon as I heard they were looking for people to help in Sydney and became a member of the competitors’ ser-vices team.

“It was about ensuring every-one had fun and being the smiling face of the Games.”

LACW Bennett said highlights

included seeing the technical side of the powerlifting competition and assisting with the sitting volleyball matches.

“I was great to be face-to-face with the competitors and to wish them good luck,” she said.

“It was humbling to meet them, hear what they have been through and where they are now on their recovery journey.

“It was amazing watching the Australian girls in the powerlifting events. They were all down-to-earth, friendly and willing to chat.

“It’s good to know if something happens to me within Defence, sport is an option I can turn to for my own recovery.”

SGT Mark Doran

IT WAS a busy year for the Team Australia medical staff, especially with the 72 Invictus Games compet-itors requiring adaptive sport classi-fications and health screenings.

Classifications ensure the type and severity of a competitor’s impairment has a minimal impact on the outcome of a race, event or match.

Physiotherapist FLTLT Sue Pescud, of No. 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron, said baseline screenings showed where the par-ticipants were at the beginning of the year.

“By retesting them throughout their training we were able to see the changes in their weight, meas-urements, strength and flexibility,” she said.

“The best part was seeing these

changes. Preparation for the Invictus Games is a life-changing rehabilita-tion program, not just physically but psychologically as well. The com-petitors’ attitudes improved, they become more resilient and practised better people skills.”

FLTLT Pescud said the main lesson the staff shared with Team Australia centred on what they could do, not what they couldn’t do.

“The takeaway message from the Games was for the competitors to go home and become involved in sport with their local community and friends,” she said.

“Using sport to get people off the couch and involved with the community means they need to train and become part of a team, which in turn leads to mateship or, as with the Invictus Games, the chance to repre-sent Australia.”

Assistant archery coach

FLGOFF Kirsty Lewis, of Health Operational Conversion Unit, has represented Australia in archery championships and said she planned to trial for the next Olympic Games.

She said the sport was a power-ful instrument for recovery and rehabilitation.

“When we began training, some of the team couldn’t look at each other or handle crowds. But by the time they were in Sydney they were competing in a stadium with people clapping and cheering, and they were encouraging the competitors from the different nations,” she said.

“It was fantastic to see them succeed in the Games – it was like a proud-parent moment. The best thing about archery is it is a centring activity and it’s great for anger man-agement. There’s nothing like shoot-ing a target until you drill the centre out of it to get you grounded again.”

Top job in and out of the public eye

The personnel of Joint Task Force 646 went above and beyond the call of duty.

Wearing yellow shirts and smiles

‘It was like a proud-parent moment’

Team physiotherapist FLTLT Sue Pescud at the selection camp for the Invictus Games in Melbourne.

Photo: PLTOFF Aaron Curran

LACW Sara Bennett put her background in sport to good use as an Invictus Games volunteer.Photo: SGT Mark Doran

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Inspired WOFFs connect

Alisha Welch

INTRODUCING the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) into service is a key step in Air Force’s fifth-gen-eration transformation and a skilled workforce is needed to support its operations.

By the end of 2023, Australia’s 72 F-35A aircraft are anticipated to be operating from RAAF Bases Williamtown, in the Hunter region of NSW, and Tindal, in the Northern Territory.

F-35A Air Vehicle Sustainment Manager SQNDLR Nathan Draper, of the Air Combat Systems Program Office, is promoting Air Force careers in the Hunter, where most of Air Force’s F-35A aircraft will be based.

“I visit local schools as part of my involvement with the Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter team,” SQNLDR Draper said.

With a skills shortage in science, technology, engineering and math-ematics (STEM) fields, SQNLDR Draper knows it is important to engage with people early and get them thinking about Air Force as a career option.

“I paint a picture of my experienc-es in Defence, working on capabilities and future technologies like the F-111, F-35A and Super Hornet, so young people can connect and aspire to fol-low a similar STEM career,” he said.

SQNLDR Draper, who started his career 32 years ago as an apprentice air frame fitter and went on to gain

masters qualifications in engineering, began conducting youth group visits while posted to Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona.

“I talked about the RAAF and our partnership with US, as well as the F-35 program and what was happen-ing at Luke AFB with the international partnership. I also talked to school groups visiting Luke AFB.

“When I returned to Australia, it seemed like a natural progression to get involved with our schools and offer the same type of insights to ener-gise our youth. I was lucky that RDA Hunter had been working on STEM programs in the region and we have created a community partnership.”

During school visits SQNLDR Draper is usually joined by represent-atives from BAE Systems, Boeing, Jacobs Australia and others in a group of speakers who provide different per-spectives of similar roles.

He said his engagement with stu-dents was always positive.

“School groups and younger stu-dents understand new capabilities like the F-35A because they have grown up in a touchscreen world and are the ‘Xbox generation’,” he said.

“ICT and computers are second nature to them, so they are a perfect fit for the next generation Air Force.”

For information on the F-35A Project, visit defence.gov.au/casg/jsf. For information on Air Force careers, visit defencejobs.gov.au. For information on RDA Hunter, visit rdahunter.org.au

Skills out of the boxWOFF Christine Hill

MORE than 30 group, base and wing warrant officers from around Australia attended the inaugural Air Force Senior Enlisted Leadership Team (SELT) seminar in Canberra in July.

The seminar offered presenta-tions and speakers, along with a rare opportunity for the SELT cohort to engage and network.

WOFF-AF Robert Swanwick said he based the idea for the seminar on the highly successful Senior Leadership Team model sponsored by DCAF.

“I believe the SELT seminar had not only inspired thinking within SELT but had left WOFFs much more connected and cohered,” WOFF-AF Swanwick said.

The SELT seminar offered highly informative presentations on Plan Jericho, cyber, professional military education and mindfulness.

The seminar included a High Performance Behaviours pres-entation from the Directorate of Organisational Behaviour and Culture Director and Psychologist Tony Hewson.

After the success of the inau-gural SELT seminar, WOFF-AF Swanwick plans to make the event a biannual seminar which would dove-tail the movement of warrant officers in and out of the WOFF Continuum.

STEM skills will power a workforce including skilled aircraft technicians such as CPL Lorna Hill, who conducts maintenance on a Joint Strike Fighter at Luke Air Force Base. Photo: SGT Christopher Dickson

18 November 15, 2018RCEAIR FPeople CapabilitySeeking the next generation of personnel

Community Engagement

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19November 15, 2018RCEAIR F Personnel

FLGOFF Jasmine Kelsey

ACCESS to workplace flexibility will be further enhanced when the second stage of SERCAT 6 is implemented on November 29.

SERCAT 6 (Mature) follows on from SERCAT 6 (Interim), which was introduced in August 2019 as a replacement for part-time leave with-out pay (PTLWOP).

It extended the patterns of service beyond the PTLWOP model of days per fortnight, to allow the ability to work weeks per month with no change to pay and conditions of service.

Director General Personnel – Air Force AIRCDRE Geoff Harland said SERCAT 6 (Mature) supported CAF’s intent for Air Force to be more com-petitive as an employer of choice and to retain skilled, motivated people.

“The implementation of SERCAT 6 (Mature) enables permanent members with competing work-life priorities to serve more flexibly and assist in maintaining balance at critical times throughout an Air Force career,” AIRCDRE Harland said.

The transition to SERCAT 6 (Mature) extends the available patterns of service to include months per year and, by exception, a combination of the available patterns.

Flexible Employment Manager SQNLDR Adele Henry said Air Force recognised the changing needs of members and their families during dif-ferent life stages.

“SERCAT 6 (Mature) is available to members to assist them in coping with changing work-life demands,” she said.

Personnel can now submit their application through their chain of command using the updated webform AE427.

For more information on the application process refer to DGPERS-AF Message “Transition to SERCAT 6 (Mature)” of July 30. Information can also be found in the News & Resources section of the ADF Total Workforce Model website or the Flexible Employment section of the DP-AF website. Flexible work options can be discussed with individual Career Managers or contact persbr.afflexiblework@defence.gov.au.

Next step for work flexibility

FLGOFF Jasmine Kelsey

A COACHING culture to empower and support the organisation at all lev-els is being developed in Air Force.

WGCDR Steve Johnstone, a Certificate IV coach and coaching facilitator, said the coaching tech-niques taught through the Air Force 101 Coaching sessions directly sup-ported CAF’s intent and Plan Jericho aims, and encouraged members to embrace the attributes required to be

part of a fifth-generation workforce.“There are multiple benefits of

coaching conversations, including empowering coaches and those they coach to have ownership of solutions, be accountable and achieve per-sonal, unit and organisational goals,” WGCDR Johnstone said.

The latest Coaching 101 course, at ADFA in August, attracted 16 Air Force participants from a variety of ranks, musterings and specialisations.

Course participant FLGOFF

Katherine Gellini, from Personnel Branch – Air Force, found the course invaluable and recommended it to other Air Force members.

“The course not only taught me coaching techniques I can use in the workplace to assist and develop my team, it also made me more motivated and focused to achieve my personal goals,” she said.

Expressions of interest for the Certificate IV course from March 18-22 at RAAF Base Glenbrook are due on February 1.

Among the members from Personnel Branch – Air Force who attended the most recent Coaching 101 course were (back, from left) FSGT Ludovico Lico, LACW Jessica Dillon, FSGT Gregory Krieger, FLTLT Nathan Layton and SQNLDR Jeffrey Newton (facilitator); and (front, from left) FLTLT Olivia Quattrocchi, Anna Calder (facilitator), WOFF Lara Cluff and ACW Dulcie Gray.

Coaching the coaches

SERCAT 6

Complete your Application for Relocation (AFR) and Inventory online today. Go to www.tollgroup.com/movemaestro/defence to access and complete your AFR and Inventory. You’ll then be assigned a Toll Case Manager to help you relocate. Please contact your Case Manager or Toll’s Customer Service Centre on 1800 819 167 if you have any queries or concerns. We are ready to help you.

Don’t delay, complete your AFR and Inventory online today.

WarrantyToll’s Warranty extends to cover the contents of cartons unpacked by you (excluding breakables and PBO items). PBO items are not covered except in the case of loss or obvious damage to the carton caused by the removalist If there is damage, please ensure the carton is unpacked in your presence and damage noted on the eICR.

Toll’s Warranty Scheme allows for New replacement cover to be applied to items which fall within predefined categories and age limits. Like-for-like replacement or compensation cover will continue to apply to items which fall outside the specified age limits. Not every item that sustains damage will be replaced with a new item or compensation paid at new value. In the first instance damaged items will be repaired where practicable and compensation paid for minor damage.

Read the Warranty FAQs and Chapter 4 of the Relocation Guide on Toll’s Defence website.

The Toll Move Plan App - Download it TodayThe Toll Transferee Move Plan App gives you easy access to the details of your relocation itinerary. Download the Toll Move Plan App today and logon using the same valid username and password you use to access Toll Transitions’ website www.tollgroup.com/movemaestro/defence

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Read Toll’s “Your Defence Relocation Guide” Available on Toll’s Defence Website www.tollgroup.com/movemaestro/defence, the Relocation Guide will help you to understand your rights and responsibilities throughout your relocation. Please pay particular attention to Chapter 3 which provides you with the information you need to be appropriately prepared for your removal.

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21November 15, 2018RCEAIR F Personnel

THE annual review of ADF members’ housing assistance will be completed by the end of this year and new rates will be published early next year.

This includes contribution rates for service residences, rental allow-ance and living-in accommodation, rent ceilings and other allowances and charges.

Payments to, and contributions from, members are reviewed and adjusted annually where necessary.

The annual review of service resi-dence and rental allowance contribu-tions involves assessing the national average rent for Defence houses in each rent band. Contributions are then calculated on actual rent changes rath-er than forecast changes.

Director Military Conditions and Housing Policy Derek Cox said pro-viding housing assistance to ADF members was a long-standing policy.

“Defence undertakes the annual

review to ensure the Defence require-ment of sharing the national cost of housing with ADF members on a 50/50 basis is met each year,” Mr Cox said.

“The rent band method offers transparency for calculating contribu-tion increases based on actual rental increases rather than forecasts.”

Member contributions for living-in accommodation will be adjusted in line with the September 2018 Rents

and Utilities subcomponents of the Consumer Price Index.

Casual meal rates and fortnight-ly meal contribution will also be reviewed to ensure rates are based on the reasonable recovery of actual national average costs incurred by Defence in providing meals.

The new rates will be reflected in ADF members’ salaries six weeks after their release, expected to be early to mid-February.

IN BRIEF

THE Defence Force Recruiting Cen-tre Sydney has relocated from Par-ramatta to Rhodes Corporate Park. Defence Personnel Minister Darren Chester said the central position of the centre ensured better access for recruits from the broader Sydney metropolitan region. “The Defence Force Recruiting Centre Sydney is critical to driving ADF capability and is responsible for 12 per cent of the new recruits into permanent posi-tions each year,” he said.

Centre centralised

AS THE school year draws to a close, military volunteers are needed to present students with ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership and Team-work (YLT) Awards. At least 4000 students from more than 2250 schools are expected to receive the awards this year. ADF members are invited to visit www.adflongtan awards.gov.au and register to be-come a voluntary military presenter.

Presenters neededReview on the home straight

New rates for housing assistance will be released early next year. DEFENCE Minister Christopher

Pyne said the ADF would be better supported by a new high-tech facility in Sydney. At the official opening of Safran Electronics and Defense Aus-tralasia’s new state-of-the-art work-shop in Sydney on November 6, Mr Pyne said Safran already delivered and supported complex systems to a variety of ADF platforms, including the Collins-class submarines and the MRH-90 and Tiger helicopters. It has also developed apprenticeship programs covering mechanics and logistics.

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September and October trial resultsOFFICERDefence Force Magistrate1 x Unauthorised Access to Restricted Data – DFDA s 61(3) and Criminal Code (Cth) s 478.1(1)1 x Unauthorised Modification of Restricted Data – DFDA s 61(3) and Criminal Code (Cth) s 478.1(1)Member was accused of moving and modify-ing restricted data held in a computer. Member pleaded guilty to the charges and was found guilty of the charges. Member was severely reprimanded and fined $3600 (with $1800 suspended and the bal-ance to be paid in instal-ments).

OFFICERDefence Force Magistrate1 x Negligently Damaging Service Property – DFDA s 43(3)1 x Failure to Comply with a General Order – DFDA s 29(1)Member was accused of damaging service property by driving a service vehicle in such a manner that it collided with an object. Member was also accused of failing to comply with a general order. Member pleaded guilty to the charges and was found guilty. Member was convicted without pun-ishment and ordered to pay reparation to the Commonwealth of $272.00. Member also

forfeited seniority in rank and was fined $1000.

OTHER RANKDefence Force Magistrate1 x Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm – DFDA s 33A

Member was accused of assaulting another mem-ber, causing actual bod-ily harm to the member. Member pleaded guilty to the charge and was found guilty. Member was dismissed from the ADF.

All Court Martial and Defence Force Magistrate trial results are subject to command review and appeal. The results indicated are of trials across the ADF.

22 November 15, 2018RCEAIR FFlightline

Communication Electronic Technicians LAC Dougal Ford and LAC Junmin Zhang in the radio equipment room of the air traffic control tower at RAAF Base Richmond.Photo: CPL Casey Forster

No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit personnel and CanTeen members in front of an F/A-18B Hornet at RAAF Base Williamtown. The squadron has a long-standing relationship with CanTeen, a national support organisation for young people living with cancer, and it often holds fund-raising events for the charity.Photo: CPL Nicci Freeman

Returned and Services League – Western Australia volunteer Barry Welch (right), demonstrates poppy making to LAC Adrian Wisdom, of 25SQN. Photos: LS Kylie Jagiello

SGT Danny Brown, of 25SQN, sews a poppy head onto

a stem during a poppy making

workshop at RAAF Base Pearce,

Western Australia.Photo: LS Kylie Jagiello

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SGT Dave Morley

SIX teams, three ADF and three civilian, went head-to-head in a gruelling water polo tournament at Kapooka K-Series on October 27.

In a nail-biting grand final, the local Wagga Wagga Octopuses defeated ADFA Avalanches 1, 6-5.

Another Wagga Wagga team, Dolphins 1 defeated ADFWP Vipers 11-5 for third, with Dolphins 2 com-ing fifth and ADFA Avalanches 2 in sixth.

A D F W P Vi p e r s p l a y e r FLTLT Peter Spearman, a C-17A Globemaster pilot at No. 36 Squadron, has been playing water polo for 10 years and enjoyed being with his team.

“We only get together three times a year and it’s always a shock on a big day – it’s pretty intense,” he said.

“Water polo is awesome for fit-ness, it’s an awesome social envi-ronment and you get to travel around Australia – what more could you ask for?”

Patron of ADF Water Polo BRIG Stephen Jobson said the event was successful and everyone had a great time.

“In all of the many sports Kapooka runs, water polo tends to have fewer players in the field, which means the tempo is high, and water polo is the real winner at the end of the day,” he said.

BRIG Jobson said water polo was a tremendous sport and great for fitness.

“I started playing water polo in Townsville in the mid-1990s as an off-season sport and it really grew on me,” he said.

“It’s great for cardiovascular fit-ness. I’m an older brigadier and here

I am in the pool with these young men and women all going pretty hard but 20-plus years in the pool enabled me to keep pace with them.

“I’d encourage anyone who wants to both dramatically improve their fitness and wellbeing, and also play sport well into their service life, to get involved in water polo.”

BRIG Jobson said Kapooka had been committed to running sports for a couple of decades.

“I’m thoroughly impressed with how this event has been organ-ised and I take my hat off to the commandant and all the men and women on the staff at Kapooka who have put this together,” he said.

“It really matters and they make a difference.”

T h e Wa g g a Wa t e r P o l o Association provided referees for the day.

SGT Dave Morley

ARCHERY featured for the first time at the Kapooka K-Series held from October 29 to November 2 and com-petitors came from as far away as Darwin to compete.

ADF members took part with a Wagga Wagga civilian team, the Wagga Field Archers, who joined in to augment the competition.

Air Force was well-represented by LACW Yvonne Dennett, a medic from No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron at RAAF Base Darwin. It was her first time at the K-Series.

“The competition was fantastic, all the team were really inclusive, with some good banter that made the days go quite well,” LACW Dennett said.

LACW Dennett took up archery with her family in Gippsland when she was 15 and travelled extensively throughout Australia going to different shoots.

“I love the camaraderie of the sport – you can go any club in Australia and there’s always going to be someone you know,” she said.

“There are challenges, such as the places you go to and the environments you shoot in – it’s an all-weather sport, so it might be raining, or it might be dirty and dusty or it could be beautiful weather.

“You can be shooting on flat ground or uneven ground, which can change your distance estimation as well.”

LACW Dennett said archery was a sport where you could choose to spe-cialise or shoot multi-disciplinary.

“Archery is an emerging sport in Defence and once we get out there, and our platform is seen, I think we’ll get quite a few more women into the sport too,” she said.

LACW Dennett said she’d encour-age Air Force members to take up

Archery aims to please

Kapooka K-Series

Heat is on in the pool

CPL Julia Whitwell

PITTING states and services against each other, the ADF Lawn Bowls Competition came to an end on October 19 in Ipswich, Queensland.

State teams played one another for the first two and a half days of the tournament – with NSW placing first and WA coming second, then teams were selected to represent each service, with Army winning and Navy placing second.

SGT Gerard Harkins, of No. 22 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond, said he was unlucky against Army, but overall the Air Force team did their best with low numbers.

“I had a shocker. With bowls, 90 per cent of it is in your mind, so if everything’s clear and you just roll a bowl down, you can be pretty confi-dent,” SGT Harkins said.

“As soon as you start overthink-ing it, though, anything could hap-pen.

“We managed to get some of our better players up there for the competition.

“With each team made up of 16, though, we only had 14 RAAF play-ers on the green, so had to borrow some Army players.”

With a surplus of players to choose from, Army had a strong team to bring them to victory.

WO1 Mick Carley said their strategy was to work to the strengths and weaknesses of the whole team.

“Other teams tended to play by their rinks of four, whereas we approached it as a combined team of 16,” WO1 Carley said.

“We looked over the master board, at the scores across all four rinks. If one was down, we’d cover the losing one and in the end we won all rinks.”

From the inter-service competi-tion, selectors put an ADF repre-sentative side together, including five Air Force players.

Representative team member CPO Black, of HMAS Choules, said the ADF side proved strong against the local Ipswich players.

“We had our representative match against the local team, on the last day,” CPO Black said.

“We absolutely pounded them. One rink won 20-14, another 30-7, and the other two were 26-8 and 28-13. We gave them a fair touch up there.”

WO1 Carley said the competi-tion was intense, but friendly.

“There’s a strong commitment from the players and they’re very enthusiastic,” he said.

“It’s young, it’s lively, we have music playing and everyone is right into it.”

For more information on joining the ADF Lawn Bowls team, visit: collab/vcdf/org/ADC/ADFSC/ADF_Lawn_Bowls/SitePages/Home.aspx

Intense contests in lawn bowls

archery because of the sport’s inclu-sive nature.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or what you do – everyone can come along and try archery,” she said.

“Friendships made in archery, like most sports, can be lifelong.

“It is one of those sports that in no time at all, you’ll have friends all over Australia.”

Results: Teams event – Team Darwin (CFN Brad Hawkless of 101 WKSPS and LACW Yvonne Dennett of 2EHS); bowhunter unlimited – CFN Brad Hawkless; freestyle unlimited – Ken Morley; and bare bow – LACW Yvonne Dennett.

Airmen and airwomen interested in taking up archery within Defence, or taking part in the 2019 K-Series archery competition, should contact SGT Paul Portelli at paul.portelli@defence.gov.au

Archer LACW Yvonne Dennett. Photo: SGT Dave Morley

FLTLT Peter Spearman lining up a goal at the

Kapooka K-Series Fast Fives Water Polo on

October 27.Photo: SGT Dave Morley

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Archery makes its mark in K-Series

Page 23

LACW Yvonne Dennett takes aim during the Kapooka K-Series archery competition.Photo: SGT Dave Morley