2010 Paulatim Magazine - RAAMC Association

Operation Resolute (TSE 53)
A Mixture of regular and reserve soldiers have completed an eventful
three months of “sea duty” with two Armidale class patrol boats.
The deployment from March 2009 was a part of the Transit Security
Element (TSE) 53. TSE 53 was assigned to Op RESOLUTE operating out
of HMAS Coonawarra and supporting the Navy by securing and
apprehending illegal foreign fishing and people-smuggling vessels.
TSE 53 provided escort parties for more than 250 asylum seekers and
participated in more than six boarding's.
17 CSS Bde provided personnel from many units, including 9 and 10
FSB, 3 HSB and 1 MP Bn. A wide variety of trades were represented,
with Air Dispatchers, Combat Engineers, Clerks, Combat Medical
Assistants and Drivers gaining their sea legs. A wide range of skills were
brought together and more were learnt as TSE personnel were involved
in boarding, steaming parties and keeping watch at sea.
Far from her job as a fourth year apprentice plumber in Adelaide, PTE
Kye Hall (Photo – top right), 3 HSB, enjoyed the unusual challenge of
undertaking Army Reserve service with the Navy. “Transporting
potential illegal immigrants from their vessels to HMAS Tobruk at night
was a little scary, but a great thrill” PTE Hall said.
Members of TSE 53 spoke highly of the Navy crews and said the Navy
lingo was a little hard to learn, but they were soon speaking like sailors
and would recommend the experience to others.
The 3 HSB members that deployed on OP REOLUTE (TSE 53) were as
follows:
WO2 C. Graham (RAAMC) – 3 HSB
PTE J. Di Santo (RACT) – 3 HSB
PTE S. Haeussermann (RAAMC) – 3 HSB
PTE K. Hall (RAAMC) – 3 HSB
PTE S. Thomas (RAADC) – 3 HSB
South Australia Cadet AFX
28 Sep to 3 Oct 09
It was that time of the year again, when the kids are on holidays, and
the Cadets get together for their annual camp.
This year the camp was held at Murray Bridge Training Area, and like
many other years the Army lent a hand to help it work. This year the
health support was provided by the medical team out of Hampstead
Barracks along with a team from 3 HSB. The HSB put in a large support
team this year including a 12 Bed holding facility, Resus bay and
Primary Health care team. All this support was provided by an excellent
crew of LCPL Frank, PTE Sims, PTE Crocker and PTE Lee-Justine. The
team was backed up by myself as the Health ops and team leader.
Was this camp worth supporting? That was the question asked of me
when I returned, and my answer is “ yes” it most defiantly was.
This activity was a chance for the medics to experience things that even
an ARA medic would be hard pressed seeing. Although we all like to see
our children as the future of the world, not all children are that way
inclined, unfortunately, some of the cases we saw stemmed to
depression, psych illness and dysfunctional families. However the
biggest achievements of the week were not what clinical cases we saw
but what other elements of support we performed. All the team got to
provide some level of support outside of the RAP, whether it was
guiding the cadets under the turning disc of a Blackhawk helicopter
(needless to say being the Marker panel as it approached, thanks
LCPL Christine Frank) to giving First Aid lessons to performing FFI’s at
the Range. Not only did this give the team a chance to hone their skills
in trade and instruction, it also gave them a huge boost in moral, taking
charge of a Coy and a time to teach. This not only excited all the CMA’s,
they loved it.
The best thing I saw as the team leader was the soldiers initiative in
monitoring the health of the whole camp and making sure water was
where it was supposed to be, something we had to really push because
of one reason or another. By the end of the week I was very impressed
with how the team performed and happy to see how professional all the
CMA’s are.
Well done Team!
By: SGT B. Callahan (3 HSB)
3 2 P A U L AT I M – M A GAZINE O F T HE R OYA L A U S T R A L I A N A R M Y M E DICAL C O R P S – 2 0 1 0