7th Combat Brigade answers call for help

Around 200 soldiers from the 7th Combat Brigade have departed Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane for Operation NSW Flood Assist 2021.

CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers prepare to deploy to Operation NSW Flood Assist 2021. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Moving via road to Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, the Brisbane based soldiers are ready to assist residents of NSW recover from the recent severe flooding.

Commander of the 7th Combat Brigade, Brigadier Jason Blain thanked the soldiers for being ready to assist on another domestic operation.

“This again another important task. I know that many of you have been supporting our nation and our communities in need through Operation Bushfire Assist, through COVID-19 and now with flood relief in NSW,” Brigadier Blain said.

“This is our job. As members of the ADF, we are here to protect our nation and support our communities.”

The soldiers, mostly from 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, took their bobcats, bulldozers, excavators, front end loaders, watercraft and chainsaws to help clear debris and restore roads.

2 Combat Engineer Regiment Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Stimson says many members who departed today recently supported another domestic operation.

“We turned the regiment around off leave in January last year to deploy both to NSW and to Victoria to support Operation Bushfire Assist,” he said.

“We were there for almost three months and were dispersed throughout Southern NSW area and country Victoria.

Again we found ourselves going back into NSW to support flood relief and recovery effort.”

7th Combat Brigade Commander, Brigadier Blain paying tribute to the soldiers for their rapid turn around, with many conducting field training last week.

“When people see your uniform, the uniform of an Australian soldier, it brings great confidence to them, because they know that you are here to help them, because they know that you will be there until the job is done.” BRIG Blain said.

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