SENATOR DAVID FEENEY
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence
Reserves Company Group to deploy to East Timor
For the first time since 2002, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will deploy an Army
Reserve force element of company size to East Timor, Senator David Feeney, Parliamentarty
Secretary for Defence, said today.
“Army Reservists are currently deployed and serving with distinction in East Timor, the
Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. This contingent continues a proud history of Reservists
providing effective service in East Timor and in many other locations, as part of Australian
Defence Force operations,” Senator Feeney said.
The 160-strong Reserve contingent will deploy this month to assist in the provision of security
and reaction tasks in support of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) and East Timorese
Government.
The soldiers will largely come from Queensland-based 11 Brigade, one of six Army Reserve
Brigades within the Army’s 2nd Division. Colonel Michael Reilly from 11 Brigade will take
command of the ISF in East Timor. The 11 Brigade contribution of a rifle company group plus
headquarters staff and logistic support troops will be integrated into the existing force structure
of the ISF, assuming the full responsibilities of the regular army group they replace.
Commander 2nd Division, Major General Craig Williams, welcomed the increase in Reservists
deployed in the next rotation.
“Until this rotation, about 30 Reserve Force personnel have been serving in East Timor -
approximately eight per cent of the total ADF strength in East Timor. In the next rotation, about
40 per cent of personnel serving in East Timor will be Reserve members,” Major General
Williams said.
“The deployment of this Reserve Force element demonstrates the confidence the ADF holds in
its Reserve Force as a well trained, ready, capable and integrated force. The deployment
affirms the complementary relationship between the Regular Army and the Reserve – a
relationship that enables the Regular Army to meet designated tasks and ensures the Army is
balanced to meet the greatest range of contingencies,” said General Williams.
Army Reserve personnel have been part of the ADF’s contribution to East Timor since military
operations commenced in 1999. This commitment to Operation ASTUTE builds on the
successful ongoing involvement of Army Reservists in Operation ANODE in the Solomon
Islands, which commenced in 2006.
The 11 Brigade has units located throughout Queensland. Army Reserve soldiers involved in
the deployment have been drawn mainly from the 9th, 31st/42nd and 25th/49th Battalions of
the Royal Queensland Regiment. Most of the soldiers involved are from Cairns, Townsville,
Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and surrounding districts, and
Toowoomba.
01/2010
Friday, 15 October, 2010
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