Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
From all of us here at CONTACT, we wish all of you and yours a very happy, healthy and safe Christmas and a safe and rewarding 2017.
CAPTION: A Royal Australian Air Force puppy gets into the Christmas spirit at the RAAF Security and Fire School at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.
Those of you who are lucky enough to enjoy this time with family and loved ones, spare a thought for our Service men and women deployed away from theirs this year. We especially wish them a safe mission and speedy return.
This year around 2300 ADF personnel will be deployed on operations around the world and will celebrate Christmas in the company of their mates but away from their families and friends.
Ongoing operations span Iraq, Afghanistan, the broader Middle East Region and South Sudan, as well as protecting the northern approaches of continental Australia.
Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston said Christmas was a time when we should especially recognise the sacrifices made by the men and women of the ADF, as well as the families and friends who support them and miss them.
We echo that sentiment here at CONTACT.
“I am very proud of the professionalism and contribution made by those personnel who supported operations this year – and continue to – and I thank them for their excellent work at sea, in the skies and on land,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.
“Although being away from home at this time of year can be challenging, I ask our deployed personnel where possible to take time to celebrate Christmas with your ADF colleagues and our Coalition partners.”
And stay safe.
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| Operation | Location | Personnel | Government Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accordion | Middle East Region | 500 | Ongoing |
| Aslan | Sudan | 20 | Reviewed Annually |
| Manitou | Middle East Region | 241 | Ongoing |
| Mazurka | Eqypt | 25 | Ongoing |
| Okra | Middle East Region and Iraq | 780 | Ongoing |
| Paladin | Israel/Lebanon | 12 | Reviewed Annually |
| Palate II | Afghanistan | 2 | Reviewed Annually |
| Resolute | Australian Maritime Interests | 500 | Ongoing |
| Highroad | Afghanistan | 270 | Ongoing |
| Southern Indian Ocean | Southern Indian Ocean | 2 | Ongoing |
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