Exercise Pitch Black takes to the skies in the Top End

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2 AIR F RCE August 2, 2012 News Drop in and save lives CPL Mark Doran UNTIL November last year, SGT Andrew Kleef, of 81WG, had never donated blood. This year, SGT Kleef is Air Force’s blood challenge ambassador and says it has provided him with an opportunity to help educate and encourage people to donate blood. “I can do this by sharing my family’s story about how much it has helped us and made a difference to our ives,” he said. “I had not even thought about onating until November last year. “I didn’t understand how many uses blood had and how many people t helped and the lives it saved.” SGT Kleef said when he and his ife Tracy decided to have children hey discovered they would need to use in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). “It took eight attempts to conceive our first child, Mitchell, and three for Nathan,” he said. “Nathan was diagnosed in August 2011 with X-linked hyper IgM syndrome which is a primary immune deficiency. “He was only 13 months old.” X-linked hyper IgM syndrome is a condition that affects the immune system and occurs exclusively in males, affecting one in 500,000 children. Individuals with the syndrome begin to develop frequent infections in infancy and early childhood. Without treatment, this condition can result in death during childhood or adolescence. People with the syndrome have abnormal levels of proteins called antibodies or immunoglobulin. Antibodies help protect the body against infection by attaching to specific foreign particles and germs, marking them for destruction. SGT Kleef said Nathan’s body did not produce the immunoglobulin he needed to be able to fight bacterial infections. “These infections include pneumonia, chest and ear infections. And if he rinks water containing cryptosporidium he can get an intestinal infection,” he said. The treatment for immune deficiency has come a long way. Immunoglobulin boosts the immune system and helps provide a normal balance of antibodies to fight infections. Before these procedures existed patients were like the ‘Bubble Boy’ nd had to live in a sterile environment o avoid the possibility of infections. Patients are highly prone to lung nd liver damage, and even 10 years go, life expectancy was dramatially reduced with a large percentage f people with an immune deficiency ying before they were 25. SGT Kleef said before Nathan as diagnosed he suffered from chest nfections and an abscess in his groin Director David Edlington: (02) 6265 4650 EDITORIAL TEAM Editor/Deputy Director Simone Liebelt: (02) 6265 2253 Deputy Editor John Martin: (02) 6265 7219 Production Editor/Sports Editor Sharon Palmer: (02) 6266 7612 Reporters SGT Andrew Hetherington: (02) 6266 7614 CPL Mark Doran: (02) 6265 1304 CPL Nick Wiseman: (02) 6265 4140 CPL Max Bree: (02) 6266 7608 LAC Bill Solomou: (02) 6265 1355 Andrew Stackpool: (02) 6266 7611 TELL US YOUR STORY If you donate regularly or have received blood, we want to hear from you. Email the editor at: raafnews@ defencenews.gov.au and share your story. DEFENCE ORGANISATION BLOOD CHALLENGE ALL BETTER NOW: Blood ambassador SGT Andrew Kleef, of 81WG, with his son Nathan who requires regular blood products to treat his rare immune deficiency disorder. Photo courtesy Australian Red Cross Blood Service and ulcers in his mouth and throat. “He was at a point where he stopped eating and drinking,” he said. “We decided to take him to the John Hunter Emergency Department in Newcastle where the doctors realised they were dealing with a rare case history. It took them six days to identify the problem. “Initially, Tracy and I thought a solution would involve minor treatment then everything would be fine. “It turned out to be a bit more complicated, and very serious.” Nathan now receives a blood product called intravenous immunoglobulin, which is taken from whole blood or plasma donations. Intravenous immunoglobulin contains the pooled, immunoglobulin antibody extracted from the plasma of more than 1000 blood donors. Immunoglobulin is absorbed by the body, so every month Nathan requires a top up, which until recently meant regular trips to hospital. The Kleef family have a new deliv- LS Paul Berry: (02) 6266 7606 Michael Brooke: (02) 9359 2494 CONTACT US Email: raafnews@defencenews.gov.au Fax: (02) 6266 7701 Mail: The Editor, Air Force News, R8-LG-048, PO Box 7909, Department of Defence, ACT 2600 Website: www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews ADVERTISING and SUBSCRIPTIONS Advertising Manager Tim Asher: (07) 3332 7651 or 0459 842 551 Email: advertising@defencenews.gov.au Assistant Manager Advertising/Subscriptions Trish Dillon: (02) 6266 7607 Email: tdillon@defencenews.gov.au ery system and are able to do the top up at home. “Once his treatment was balanced, which took a few months, he become a typical, completely healthy kid. He’s very happy,” SGT Kleef said “He’s a funny kid with a lot of character, a bit cheeky and has to play with whatever his brother is playing with – he actually gets sick less than Mitchell – it’s just amazing for us now. “We can take him everywhere and don’t have to worry about him catching germs at the shops or on the swings and slides at the public playground. It’s been a life-changer.” A bone marrow transplant offers a full cure for X-linked hyper IgM syndrome by essentially replacing the immune system. SGT Kleef and Tracy were tested and found not to be donor matches though Mitchell was a 5/6 match in the first round of testing. “If Nathan stays healthy, the doctors have suggested we wait until he is around five before we attempt the transplant,” he said. DISCLAIMER The work being done at RAAF Base Williamtown by the base blood service coordinator, Samuel Hays, has increased the base blood donation rate from 120 to 280 donors a quarter. SGT Kleef said he would like to help other bases achieve similar success by using a comparable system to improve blood donations. “We need base coordinators and ideally unit coordinators under them to encourage volunteers and take it to the next level,” he said. “Statistics have shown units which have a coordinator have a donor participation rate of 9.3 per cent while units without have a rate of 1.8 per cent. “It makes a bigger impact when people take on the role to promote the blood service and this can be done by hanging posters or distributing flyers and sharing e-mails explaining why blood donations are important.” More information on the ADO blood drive will appear in future editions of Air Force News. Air Force News is published fortnightly by the Directorate of Defence News. It is printed under contract by Capital Fine Print. The material published is selected for its interest. The views expressed in published articles are not necessarily those of Defence or Air Force News. Every advertisement is subject to Directorate of Defence News approval and the Directorate of Defence News may, at its discretion, refuse to accept an advertisement. The Directorate accepts no responsibility or liability in relation to any loss due to the failure of an advertisement to appear or if it appears in a form not in accordance with the instructions received by the Directorate of Defence News. The fact that an advertisement is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service is endorsed by the Department of Defence or Air Force News. IT’S ALMOST TIME TO SIGN UP � THE 2012 Defence Organisation Blood Challenge will be launched this month and will run from September to November. � The partnership between the ADO and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service has produced more than 5000 donations in the last three years and potentially saved more than 6000 lives. � Now in its fourth year, the Blood Challenge is Australia’s largest. � Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence Public Service employees compete over a three-month period each year to make the highest number of blood donations and friends and family can also donate. AIR F Air Force online AirForce.gov.au RCE facebook.com/ RoyalAustralianAirForce youtube.com/AirForceHQ twitter.com/AirForceHQ feeds.feedburner.com/ RoyalAustralianAirForce
AIR F RCE August 2, 2012 News Wider recognition with new medal ALL future operations will now be recognised with the new Australian perational Service Medal (OSM). Defence Science and Personnel inister Warren Snowdon and CN ADM Ray Griggs announced the new medal on July 19. The OSM will recognise Defence personnel who work as part of a declared operation or withn other specific hazardous environments and circumstances. Retrospective recognition from 1997 will be granted for ADF personnel involved with border protection operations. The OSM will replace the Australian Service Medal, Australian Active Service Medal or campaign medals in future operations. CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown said he believed the Government’s decision would pave the way for wider community recognition of Air Force people deployed on operations, in particular, Operation Resolute and the preceding Operations Relex and Relex II. “For the last 11 years, our Air Force personnel have worked tirelessly to protect Australia’s borders as part of the ADF’s contribution to the whole of government focus on domestic maritime security activities,” he said. “I am very proud of our members on Operation Resolute. They constantly demonstrate a level of professionalism and devotion to uty that enhances Air Force’s repuation. “I am keenly aware of the susained pressure that has been on the ircrew, maintenance and support taff during the current increase n operational intensity, and many reas of Air Force are working bove and beyond to ensure misions are accomplished, day in and ay out.” Head of People Capability AJGEN Gerard Fogarty said the new medal would enable greater Criteria for border protection ops The border protection operations the OSM applies to are: Cranberry, Dirk, Stanhope, Mistral, Teebone, Celesta, Sutton, Gemsbok, Relex, Relex II and Resolute. The basic qualifying criteria for the OSM – Border Protection require members of the ADF to have been deployed or force assigned for duty as such a member of a declared operation: ➤ for not less than an aggregate of 30 days; or ➤ completed 30 sorties from a unit assigned to a declared operation, provided that those sorties were conducted over a period of not less than an aggregate of 30 days at a rate of one sortie a day. recognition of ADF members who deployed on different operations. “Learning from the past, it seeks to provide our people with the potential to attain more visible recognition through the prospect of attaining multiple awards of the OSM through deployments to different operations with unique ribbons,” MAJGEN Fogarty said. “Those who undertake additional periods of qualifying service on the same operation will, where appropriate, receive an accumulated service device, in the form of a numeral similar to those issued by the United Nations.” MAJGEN Fogarty said it was important to note the new medal had no bearing on ADF members currently deployed. “They will continue to receive the same benefits and medals they currently do,” he said. MISSION READY: Aircrew on the job during Operation Resolute. Photo: LACW Kylie Gibson Separate recognition for Defence civilians will now be available through a civilian variant of the new medal, which will be available to those who are employed as part of a declared operation under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982. Eligible civilian personnel will receive a medal of the same design but will receive a unique civilian service ribbon to differentiate it from the ADF variant. The Directorate of Honours and Awards has requested that ADF personnel or Defence civilians who believe they might be eligible for the medal not apply for recognition until eligibility criteria and administrative processes are finalised. Air Force will develop a consolidated list of eligible personnel for submission to Defence Honours and Awards. Further information will be provided as soon as it becomes available. For updates on the OSM, visit the Defence Honours and Awards website at www.defence.gov.au/medals ON OP RESOLUTE: A military working dog handler guards an Orion at RAAF Learmonth; below left, aircraft technicians monitor an Orion during startup at RAAF Base Darwin. Photos: LAC Mark Friend (main) and CPL Glen McCarthy Inner Pocket 777 detours to Learmonth AIR Force personnel were quick to assist when a Singaporean Airlines Boeing 777 passenger jet was diverted to RAAF Learmonth in Western Australia. The aircraft was on the final stages of a flight into Perth on July 11 but could not land because of fog. The Singaporean jet was low on fuel, so it was diverted to Learmonth. Air Force personnel on the base assisted with its landing (and departure), and provided security while the aircraft was on the ground. Refuelling services were provided by the Shire of Exmouth. The incident started unfolding about 9.15am. The four Airbase Operations caretaker personnel at the base were alerted by a telephone call from Melbourne Air Traffic Control Centre to the site manager, while Singapore Airlines alerted the Exmouth Aerodrome Reporting Officer. SQNLDR Gregory Thexton, of 396 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing, said after the aircraft landed, it was parked on the RAAF Air Movements hardstand. “Air Force staff provided the air stairs so the aircraft captain could come down and conduct the refuel panel operation,” he said. “They also helped the civil refueller to reach the underwing refuel point.” The captain of the Singapore jet requested support for one of the passengers whose medications were secured in the hold and therefore inaccessible, but there was a change of mind. “A doctor on board had reviewed and provided a list of medication, however, as the nearest chemist was 40km away, the doctor apparently decided that the passenger’s health would not be impeded by the delay.” Because there were no customs or immigration services at Learmonth, all passengers remained aboard the aircraft for the stop. After being refuelled, the 777 took off at 12.20pm. 3 A2 Leather Flight Jackets These functional and stylish jackets, based on the United States WW2 A2 jacket, are made from quality soft goatskin leather. Superior metal fittings and heavy duty stitching ensure long wear while the elastic knit waistband and cuffs guarantee comfort. Our flight jackets are available with or without Velcro panels for affixing patches and have been inspected by RAAF and approved for uniform wear by Air Force personnel. FEATURES • Seal brown. • Genuine goat skin leather. • Elastic knit waistband and cuffs. • Metal press stud fasteners on collar and front pockets. • Metal hook closure at neck. • Heavy duty metal zipper. • Double stitched epaulettes. • 2 front pockets. • 2 inner pockets, one open, one zippered. • Inner pen pocket. RRP $249.75 Visit www.contactgearaustralia.com.au or call 02 6123 2970 to find out where to buy.
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Exercise Pitch Black takes to the skies in the Top End

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