Some of the Australian Gunners already in Afghanistan.
A team of Australian artillery soldiers are soon to be joining their comrades from the Colchester Gunners in Afghanistan later this year.
The 15 soldiers from Brisbane-based 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery arrived in the UK on February 12 and will be spending the next 7 months training alongside the Colchester Gunners from the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery before being deployed to Afghanistan with the Gunners in September for a six month secondment.
It is the second time that Australian gunners have travelled from Australia to Colchester for training. Back in 2007 15 gunners also from Darwin, were sent to Colchester before being deployed to Afghanistan. Then they were the first Australian soldiers to fire artillery since the Vietnam War.
There are currently around 1,500 Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, mainly under the command of Dutch troops, however with the Dutch pulling out sometime this year, this recent deployment appears to be a clear signal from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that the Australian troops are there to stay.
Back in November Mr Rudd visited Australian troops in the Oruzgan province of Afghanistan and it was whilst he was there that he made it very clear the Australian troops would be staying for the duration, although he also admitted that they have a large task ahead of them. So far eleven Australian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan to date.
Australian military presence has been in Afghanistan since 2001 but Australian public support for military action is decreasing – the Lowy Institute last did a poll in July 2009 which found that 51% of Australians did not want more troops to be sent into Afghanistan or for their country to be heavily involved in military action there.
British troops launched operation MOSHTARAK earlier this month in an attempt to assert government authority in central Helmand province and flush out any remaining Taliban presence. It is hoped that further deployment of troops to the country will be to promote stability and to begin the task of handing over authority to Afghan troops.
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One Response to “Australian Troops Prepare for Afghanistan in Colchester”
Comment by melissa Higham — January 23, 2011 @ 4:59 am
I would like to know how to chat to the Australian Military in Afghanistan.
I watched a documentary yesterday on channel 10 and it has inspired me to want to communicate with the Australian Military. I have alot of admiration for them as i was caught in the first Gulf war and have worked along side the military air force army from Australian, New Zealand and American. My face book is Melissa Higham. I would appreciate someone contacting me and tell me how to live chat with them.
p.s I am so proud of Ben Roberts-Smith and everyone in the services!
Thank you, Melissa