06/21/2015: Australia’s Air Task Group (ATG) as part of Operation OKRA comprises six RAAF F/A-18A Hornets, an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft.
Nearly 400 personnel have deployed to the Middle East as part of, or in direct support of the ATG. Operation OKRA is the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the international effort to combat the Daesh terrorist threat in Iraq.
Australia’s contribution is being closely coordinated with the Iraqi government, Gulf nations and a broad coalition of international partners.
Transcript:
My name is Flight Lieutenant Tom William.
I’m the air engineering officer for this location.
Our role here is to provide engineering support to the Air Task Group, and the camp maintenance function we also have to perform.
Our main project here is to deliver a semi-permanent building solution which will transition us from our temporary tented solutions which we are currently occupying.
We’re improving the reliability of all the facilities and infrastructure we have here, and we’re improving the quality of life as well.
So an example of what we’ve done is we’re moving into a more semi-permanent working accommodation, which will improve the quality of life at work.
And also we have a recreation facility which will improve quality of life when off duty.
We have long work hours, but we mitigate that through breaks during the day. We start work early and we work later into the night.
It’s the only way we can achieve what we need to do with the pending heat.
Credit: Australian Ministry of Defence:June 17, 2015