Edition 5206, April 15, 2010 - Department of Defence

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12 News AIR F RCE April 15, 2010 Humble techo scores award for top job on jet upgrade project FLTLT Skye Smith SERGEANT BEN Knabe was “honoured and humbled” when he was awarded a Head of Aerospace Systems Division (HASD) commendation recently. The commendation was awarded for SGT Knabe’s exemplary performance as an aircraft technician in the Hornet Upgrade (HUG) Resident Project Team at Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, California. Commander Air Combat Group AIRCDRE Mel Hupfeld presented the commendation on behalf of HASD, AVM Colin Thorne, during a visit to the Hornet Upgrade Resident Project Team. “Your contribution to the Hornet electronic warfare systems upgrade and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile integration projects has been exceptional,” AIRCDRE Hupfeld said on presentation of the commendation. “You possess a tremendous diversity of skills, knowledge and excellent trade knowledge and have successfully applied those skills to have a real impact on enhancing air combat capability. “Your ability to provide flawless maintenance capability across six Hornet trade groups with extensive system knowledge in each area is without parallel in your peer group and has been instrumental in the attainment of project objectives.” AIR FORCE BAND April 16: Force10 will support the RAAF Williams Autumn Ball at the Laverton Officers’ Mess. April 18: The Air Force Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Elmhurst Community Festival in Elmhurst, Victoria at 10.30am and 2pm. April 18: A band trumpeter will sound the Last Post and Rouse at an Anzac commemoration service at the Doncaster RSL Sub Branch at 3pm. April 19: A band trumpeter will support the Anzac Stand To Service at the Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital at 10.30am. Fleet Network Pty Ltd D/L No. 20462 AIRCDRE Hupfeld highlighted the importance of the work SGT Knabe has been doing and acknowledged the efforts of the whole project team. “It is impressive to see what the Resident Project Team is doing here and then see it reflected in the top level of capability on [the recent] Exercise Red Flag. “These excellent results achieved can be directly attributed to the hard work members such as SGT Knabe have undertaken throughout the entire life of the project.” SGT Knabe said: “It was an honour to be singled out for such an award, but this has been a team effort and I am just one member of the team doing my job like everyone else.” The Hornet Upgrade program is arguably the most comprehensive upgrade of any combat aircraft. It allows Air Force to maintain a qualitative edge over regional capabilities. HUG HAPPY: Awardee SGT Ben Knabe. April 21: The Ceremonial Band will provide musical support to the 1RTU graduation parade at RAAF Base Wagga from 11am. April 25: The Ceremonial Band will support the annual Anzac Day Dawn Service at the AFC Memorial, Point Cook from 6am. April 25: The Ceremonial Band will March in the Anzac Day parade through the Melbourne CBD. April 25: The Ceremonial Band will march in the Anzac Day parade down George street, Sydney. aviation faculty of science Get your seats allocated now! Upgrade your professional qualification@ UNSW Aviation: Programs in Aviation Management Bachelor of Aviation Find out more www.aviation.unsw.edu.au or call Jamie on (02) 9385-6767 TOP PILOT RECOGNISED: Pathfinder award winner FLTLT Dean Bolton of 36SQN in front of the C- 17 he captained on an aid relief mission to Burma. Photo: CPL Mark McConnell Workhorse a winner FLTLT Eamon Hamilton THE TOP award for Air Lift Group (ALG) aircrew excellence has gone to a pilot at the leading edge of our C-17A force. FLTLT Dean Bolton of 36SQN was honoured with the 2010 Pathfinder Award at a dining-in night on March 19. He was recognised for his efforts as Deputy Operations Flight Commander and Standards Officer with 36SQN. FLTLT Bolton’s citation read: “Drawing on his previous operations on C-130s he has demonstrated solid competence in his role, allowing the continued employment of the C-17A capability as it continues to expand.” The award is presented by the Pathfinder Association, formed from the Pathfinder Force which led night-time bombing raids over Occupied Europe in the Second World War. The Pathfinders were the ‘first in, last out’ over their targets, suffering devastating casualties and being among the most highly decorated units of the war. Today, ALG and the Pathfinder Association have a close relationship which is highlighted by an annual dining-in and award presentation. Veteran Pathfinders presented the 2010 award to FLTLT Bolton, who said he had no idea it was coming. “I was very humbled, particularly given the nature of the award,” FLTLT Bolton said. “ S p e a k i n g t o t h e o l d e r (Pathfinder) guys about the things they’ve done, to be recognised by CELEBRATION: From left, Ken Youdale, AVM Greg Evans, AIRCDRE John Oddie, WGCDR Carl Green and Cec Barlow at the Pathfinder of the Year dinner. Photo: LAC Michael Green them and considered in their world is a little overwhelming.” Joining the Air Force in 1999 and initially flying C-130Js, FLTLT Bolton converted to the C-17A in March 2007. “My goals were to get qualified on the aircraft as soon as possible and qualified for all the aircraft’s roles, which I’ve luckily managed to do,” FLTLT Bolton said. “I was the captain on the first C-17A missions in to Iraq and Afghanistan. Personally that was a pretty big deal – I’d flown it on Hercules before, but to fly it on a new platform for the very first time was special. “Captaining a task for Operation Burma Assist, and achieving my airdrop command, were both big highlights.” Receiving his award, FLTLT Bolton thanked his peers at 36SQN. “Introducing a new platform and bringing it in to theatre is not a one man show – it takes a lot of planning and support from executives and maintenance to get it all lined up and to go in,” he said. “We do our job as a duty and it’s often good fun, but we don’t do it for recognition. But when it comes through, it’s an unexpected but pleasant surprise. “The squadron has done a great job to get it all done.” CO 36SQN WGCDR Adam Williams said the nomination was the result of FLTLT Bolton’s high personal standards at the unit. “He is experienced, and demonstrates a very high professional level of flying capability and attention to detail,” WGCDR Williams said. “He’s a workhorse.” Your Vehicle Salary Packaging Experts 1300 738 601
AIR F RCE FLTLT Skye Smith April 15, 2010 Flip-fl opping for Relay for Life WITH his feet covered in blisters, FLTLT Joshua Smith perhaps epitomised the effort made by Air Force personnel this year for the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life. FLTLT Smith, who is serving in Afghanistan, set himself the task of running 100km in four days. The Heron UAV task unit raised nearly $3000 among the small contingent which is managed by Air Combat Group (ACG), and one of the event organisers, SGT Anita Godfrey, was amazed at FLTLT Smith’s effort. “FLTLT Smith said that if he was unable to run the 100km in the time period, then he would personally donate the money to make up the total amount set for his challenge,” SGT Godfrey said. After two days, FLTLT Smith’s feet were covered in blisters to the extent that he had to run in thongs for a portion of the challenge. “Through either stubbornness or stamina, or a little bit of both, FLTLT Smith ran 105kms and raised $329.40,” SGT Godfrey said. Relay for Life is a fundraising event for The Cancer Council to help defeat cancer. Funds raised through Relay for Life are spent on cancer research, education, support services and advocacy. Despite the extreme desert conditions, 17 members from the Heron UAV task unit also took up a treadmill challenge to run as many kilometres as they could over a four-day period. SGT Godfrey, a senior analyst, said the challenge was a team effort, using a log book as a baton to ensure only one person was on the treadmill at any given time. The relay was a personal challenge within the task unit to raise money and complete as many kms as possible. Over the four days the task unit completed 581.5km. “This was amazing considering we were working very long hours over the four days, so personnel had to take time out of their rest period to join in,” SGT Godfrey said. Some of the fundraising highlights include CPL James Reilly who shaved his hair for $109.80, and FLTLT Grant Leader who wrote a poem that had to include certain words selected by the task unit. FLTLT Leader’s poetic skill helped raised $410 towards the cause. The task unit made a t-shirt that states “for cancer I ran 100kms in four days” to reward FLTLT Smith for his fundraising efforts and provide a memento of his time on deployment. Task unit members also pulled together as a team to come up with sponsorship deals across the detachment. This included CAPT Phillip James raising $50 for completing 50km in the four days and then another $5 per km for every kilometre over 50. Through his efforts CAPT James contributed $100 to the cause. DRIVING FORCE: SGT Anita Godfrey from the Heron UAV task unit in Afghanistan which did such a great job. Photo: CPL Andrew Eddie 33SQN’s Purple power 33SQN’s Relay for Life team members proudly parade their cause before the fundraising event on March 27. From left, CPL Brooke Jacoby-Saunders, CPL Christopher Greenall, SGT Clare O’Drisoll and SGT Craig Dunn, took part in the 18-hour walk at Ipswich, along with nine other team members, seven from 33SQN. The team completed 184 laps of the 500m circuit, which equated to 92kms, raising more than $4700 for the Cancer Council. Photo: LACW Jessica Smith “The successes from this challenge were a team effort and Task Unit 633.2.7 are honoured that we were given the opportunity to show our support during a fellow member’s battle with cancer,” SGT Godfrey said. Task Unit 633.2.7 ADMINO, SQNLDR Trevor Alley, praised SGT Godfrey. “She was the motivator and catalyst for the event and what was achieved,” SQNLDR Alley said. Joint effort ACG, Surveillance and Response Group (SRG) and Task Unit 633.2.7 raised more than $9000 when they joined forces to participate in the Relay for Life. CO HQACG WGCDR Tammy Hodge set members the task of raising money and running for the cause to support a member recently diagnosed with cancer. The team of 15 members from RAAF Base Williamtown bound together under the banner ‘Find and Fight’ to participate in the Port Stephens Relay for Life. “The team name is representative of SRG’s surveillance or ‘find’ capability and ACG’s strike or ‘fight’ capability, as well as finding a cure and fighting cancer,” WGCDR Hodge said. LAC Robert Gibson from SRG took the lead in organising the event and motivated the group to ‘find and fight’. The task unit challenge coincided with the Port Stephens Relay for Life that ACG and SRG members participated in Newcastle. Smooth sailing ahead with our great rate personal loan defcredit.com.au IN BRIEF Enjoy more with a great rate and a choice of flexible payment options to suit your budget. To apply, call 1800 033 139 or visit defcredit.com.au or your local Defcredit branch. Terms and conditions, fees and charges, and lending criteria apply. The terms and conditions, and comparison rate schedule are available at any Defcredit branch. News 13 RSL starts online branch THE RSL has established an online sub branch to make membership, support and advice services more accessible to ADF members. CDF ACM Angus Houston said that the RSL continues to play an important role in supporting our ADF members past and present. The RSL online sub-branch www.rsldefencesubbranch. com.au is accessible from the Defence Restricted Network. AVM takes Legacy reins RETIRED AVM Chris Spence was installed on March 21 as the 85th president of the Melbourne branch of Legacy for 2010. AVM Spence enlisted in the Air Force in 1969 and retired in 2007. AVM Spence followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined Legacy in 2007, following his retirement from the PAF. Combet visits Williamtown MINISTER for Defence Materiel and Science Greg Combet visited RAAF Base Williamtown recently, meeting members of the Air Force’s Air Combat Group, Surveillance and Response Group and Combat Support Group. The visit included briefs on the Hornet Upgrade Project, future base plans, and maintenance of F/A-18, MK-127 Hawk and Wedgetail aircraft based at Williamtown. Mr Combet also inspected an F/A-18 static display at 2 Operational Conversion Unit and met students undergoing their final six months of conversion training before becoming qualified Hornet pilots. Magazine’s award winners SEVEN Defence and industry teams have won the 2009 Australian Defence Magazine’s DMO/Industry Team of the Year Awards for Excellence. The Head Maritime Systems Division RADM Peter Marshall and DCAF AVM Geoff Brown presented the awards at the annual dinner in February. Defence Force Credit Union Limited ABN 57 087 651 385 AFSL 234582 DEF1960_AANN (02/10)
Page 1 and 2: AIRR F RCE Vol. 52, No. 6, April 15
Page 3 and 4: AIR F RCE April 15, 2010 perations
Page 5 and 6: AIR F RCE LAC Aaron Curran April 15
Page 7 and 8: AIR F RCE April 15, 2010 ON TOP OF
Page 9 and 10: AIR F RCE April 15, 2010 Best of 20
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Page 17 and 18: 18 News AIR F RCE April 15, 2010 Ex
Page 19 and 20: Received your posting before 1 July
Page 21 and 22: 22 Flightline AIR F RCE April 15, 2
Page 23 and 24: Defence Relocation Services are cha
Page 25 and 26: 26 Finance AIR F RCE April 15, 2010
Page 27 and 28: A MilHOP, SKIP AND A JUMP TO A BETT
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