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Our Reservists in Action

Our Reservists in the Solomon Islands

Channel Ten News 15th March 2007

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A battalion of Brisbane Army Reservists is on tour in the Solomon Islands. It is the first time since WWII a Reserve unit has taken the lead in overseas operations. The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has called the Australian visits propoganda.
Interviewees: Rob McIntyre, Army Reservist and Joe Crichton, Army Reservist.

Employers play major role in Reservist Deployment
By Lieutenant Commander Ron Daniels

A very proud contingent of Army reservists from 25/49 Royal Queensland Regiment (RQR) and 9 RQR recently returned from a three-month deployment to the Solomon Islands after participating in Operation Anode, Australia’s contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

This deployment was not only highly successful in the accomplishment of its mission, but was also an historic occasion for Australia’s Reserve forces. The deployment of reservists from 25/49 RQR and 9 RQR represents the first time since World War Two that a Reserve sub–unit has deployed overseas on an operational mission.

Commanding Officer (CO) of 25/49 RQR, Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Martin attributes the success of the mission to a very deliberate strategy to nurture his unit’s centre of gravity – ‘the individual soldier’s willingness to serve’.

Being the CO of a Reserve Unit has many complexities, especially as many of his soldiers have obligations to employers and to families who are used to having their mum or dad around for most of the time. So what does the CO of one of Australia’s largest Reserve units do to preserve his centre of gravity? In speaking with LTCOL Martin one could almost be speaking to the CEO of a large organisation describing his strategy to build customer loyalty and support.

“From the outset the experience of the soldier and his employer has to be positive. Training has to be organised and worthwhile so that the reservist and his or her employer know well in advance what their time commitments will be. Training has to be of the highest quality so that the individual soldier returns when next required to do so,” LTCOL Martin explains.

And so it was with this deployment. Planning and communication were essential to the development of positive relationships between the Army, Reservists and their employers. Early advice of the deployment enabled Reservists and their employers to plan ahead with a call for an expression of interest in deploying being made in May 2006 - well in advance of the planned departure in late December.

LTCOL Martin wrote to all employers and reservists explaining the process for selection and how the Employer Support Payment Scheme could help businesses during the Reservist’s absence. This direct contact with employers was maintained throughout the preparations for the deployment and during the mission itself. A breakfast in the Officers’ Mess at the commencement of the pre-deployment training program enabled LTCOL Martin to express his gratitude to employers for their support of the individual soldiers. Representatives from the Defence Reserves Support Council and the Employer Support Payment Scheme were also on hand to answer questions. The CO regularly wrote to families and employers once the deployed commenced, each receiving a DVD showing diggers working in the Solomon Islands.

“We engaged personnel whose sole responsibility was to produce the DVDs of individual soldiers so that their families and employers could see what their loved ones and employees were doing. Along with the letters, it was a great way to keep in touch with everyone,” said LTCOL Martin.

A very wet ‘Exercise Boss Lift’, which involved 21 employers traveling to the Solomon Islands to see their Reservists in military environment, was an outstanding success, allowing Defence to show employers the skills and leadership their Reservist employees possess. Perhaps Exercise Boss Lift participant Cheryl Burns, District Director of Nursing of the Northside Health Service District in Brisbane, can best express the employer view. In a letter to LTCOL Martin, Cheryl writes: “I found it to be a very humbling experience; however recognising the great value our Defence Forces provide and also the new skills and knowledge, Paul will bring back to The Prince Charles Hospital. We are indeed fortunate to have such outstanding citizens who put country and needy communities ahead of themselves.”

The successful three-month deployment was celebrated with a special breakfast for employers, with each receiving a high quality framed Certificate of Appreciation.

LTCOL Martin concludes with a caution about success: “The success will be seen when next we ask reservists to deploy. Early notification, an efficient Employer Support Program, quality planning, training and communication with employers and Reservists will provide the sustainability that will help us to see how successful we have been”.

Solomons Tour for local citizen soldiers
Read about Reservists in the Solomon Islands

Sophie Thompson

For some young women the idea of being on a tropical island surrounded by a hundred fit young men would be sounding pretty good - but for Palmview’s Sophie Thompson, it’s all in a day’s work.
Media release

Shane O’Mara

Buderim’s Shane O’Mara is now 4000 kms from home. For the last few months he’s been wearing Army uniform and patrolling the streets of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

James Head

Former Isis High School student James Head, 18, has swapped his Eagles jersey for an Army camouflage uniform, and he’s now patrolling the streets of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

Luke Barrett

From training with the Army Cadets when he was at school to patrolling the streets of Honiara in the Solomon Islands has been an interesting journey for Millmerran schoolteacher Luke Barrett.
Media Release

Marc Lawrence

Forrestfield’s Marc Lawrence, 26, is a Royal Australian Navy rarity — a sailor who still lives in his original hometown.

Media Release

Jason Hamilton-Smith

Leyburn's player Jason Hamilton-Smith has swapped his farm overalls for Army fatigues when he deployed to the Solomon Islands in January.
Media Release

Adam Wood

Teacher Adam Wood is now more than a few suburbs away from his home at Enoggera and his teaching job at the Marist College, Ashgrove. He’s in Army uniform and on patrol in the streets and jungles of the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

John O’Keefe

John O’Keefe was the school captain of Aquinas College in 2003, but now he’s facing big responsibilities of a different kind. He’s swapped his Nerang Soccer jersey for Army uniform and he’s patrolling the streets of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

Andrew Morris

Logan’s Andrew Morris has already spent time in Canada where he worked as a ski lift operator. But now he’s wearing his Army Reserve uniform in the heat and humidity of the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

Luke Amies

Wynnum's Luke Amies is winning hearts and minds in the Solomon Islands – but he’s wearing Army uniform in order to do it.

Media Release

Craig Rickards

For the last few months, Calamvale’s Craig Rickards has swapped his green Sunnybank Rugby Union guernsey for the camouflage uniform of a combat infantryman, and he’s been patrolling the streets of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.

Media Release

Andrew Magann

For the past few months, East Brisbane fashion designer Andrew Magann has forsaken the stylish bars of Fortitude Valley to patrol the streets of Honiara.

Media Release

Dane Sanders

Carpenter Dane Sanders grew up in Nudgee and now lives in Banyo, but for the last few months he has swapped his carpenter’s tools for a 5.56mm Steyr rifle and he’s been 4000 kilometres away patrolling the streets of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

Glen Zalewski

Geebung’s Glen Zalewski is now in his Army Reserve uniform and 4000 kms from home — he’s now on patrol in the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

Rob McIntyre

In a normal month, Peachester’s Rob McIntyre will be happy to install a garage door or fix your gate. But now he's 4000 kilometres away across the Coral Sea, leading a foot patrol on the streets of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
Media Release

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