Force Support Element 6 farewelled in Darwin

17/02/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3557 Views 0 Comments Force Support Element 6

Approximately 70 ADF personnel of Force Support Element 6 were officially farewelled in Darwin today as they prepare to deploy as the next force rotation into the Middle East Region.

CAPTION: Sergeant Matthew Collins, a warehouse supervisor with Force Support Element 5 in the Middle East, looks forward to coming home when FSE6 arrives. Photo by Corporal Bill Solomou.

Family, friends, Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan and other invited dignitaries were at Robertson Barracks, Darwin for the farewell parade.

The personnel are drawn primarily from the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade and will deploy to the Middle East region for about six months.

Force Support Element 6 is comprised of personnel from across a number of Army trades including engineering, personnel, logistic and supply, health and transport.

Mr Tehan said the soldiers from Darwin’s 1st Brigade continued the ADF’s proud tradition of service to the country and represented Australia’s commitment to the Middle East region.

“On behalf of all Australians, I wish Force Support Element 6 well for their deployment,” Mr Tehan said.

“I also thank their families and friends for their support during training.

“While the separation of service is difficult, you can be proud of their contribution and commitment to our nation.”

The commander of the 1st Brigade Brigadier Ben James said that the tasks the Force Support Element would be conducting were essential to supporting our forces across the entire Middle East Region.

“These men and women are charged with an important and inherently complex mission.

“The provision of effective, reliable and responsive logistic support is a key enabler to the broader Australian Defence Force mission in the Middle East.

“They have had excellent training to prepare them for the tasks ahead and I know they will fulfil their duties to the highest standards” he said.

The tasks of the Force Support Element include managing and distributing supplies and equipment necessary for operations, providing maintenance support to vehicles and equipment, and providing postal support throughout the Middle East Region.

Force Support Element 6 is part of the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to Operation Accordion.

Operation Accordion’s mission is to support the sustainment of ADF operations, enable contingency planning and enhance regional relationships in the Middle East Region.