Force Communications Unit Rotation Eight arrives home to Darwin from the Middle East

More than 100 Australian Defence Force members from the eighth rotation of the Force Communications Unit (FCU-8) arrived home in Darwin last night after an almost eight-month deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations.

Members of FCU-8 were drawn from a range of units across Defence with the majority of the returning members from the 1st Combat Signal Regiment, part of the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade, based in Darwin.

The Commander of the 1st Brigade, Brigadier John Frewen, was on hand to welcome the members home at Darwin International Airport.

“FCU-8 was a key support element to operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East for the past 231 days,” Brigadier Frewen said.

“FCU-8 provided and maintained communications to all Australian forces deployed throughout the Middle East Area of Operations, from HMAS Toowoomba in the Indian Ocean to Tarin Kot in Uruzgan province.”

Lieutenant Colonel Greg Novak, Commanding Officer of FCU-8, said the soldiers, sailors, airmen and women should take great pride in their achievements throughout the deployment.

“The unit’s communications assets and personnel were located across the theatre, which made our mission larger and more complex than usual,” Lieutenant Colonel Novak said.

“All members of FCU-8 should be proud of the way they managed the requirements and achieved their mission.

“The unit worked together as a fantastic team, truly joint in nature and it has been my privilege to serve with each and every one of them.”

Imagery of FCU-8 is available at:  http://images.defence.gov.au/12133813

Media contact:
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999