Force Support Element 1 complete their Middle East deployment

Delivering life-saving humanitarian aid to Yazidi people stranded near Erbil following attacks by Daesh was a highlight for Force Element 1 members which included Townsville and Amberley based members from 10th and 9th Force Support Battalion.

Deployed as part of Joint Task Force 633’s Operation ACCORDION Major Luke Condon, Officer Commanding Force Support Element 1 said that during the deployment members from Force Element 1 dispatched over a kiloton of freight (1,152 tons), processed almost 4,000 bags of mail and provided training to over 850 ADF members and civilians on their arrival into the Middle East Region.

Major Condon said: “My soldiers were prepared for routine operations and I am very proud of the way they came together, worked hard and rose to the various challenges that we faced, during an ever changing and high tempo period, in order to achieve our mission.”

Force Support Element 2, which is led by Major Carl Edwards and is also from Townsville and Ipswich, now has the responsibility for providing logistic support, specialist personnel support and in theatre induction training for Australian Defence Force members in the Middle East Region.