“Yesterday I commanded one operation, today I command three,” Commander Joint Task Force 633 Major General (MAJGEN) Craig Orme said at the repatching ceremony at Camp Baird, Unite Arab Emirates (UAE).
MAJGEN Orme said that for many years now personnel deployed with Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 (HQJTF633) had worn the familiar scorpion patch but he explained it was time for a change in conjunction with the operational redesign which took effect on 1 July 2014.
“With the operational changes I felt it was an opportunity to change who we are,” he said.
“The new patch features the tri-service colours to represent the Australian Defence Force and a kangaroo superimposed over the top.
“It may be cliché but the kangaroo uniquely identifies us as Australian.”
MAJGEN Orme said it was important to ensure other nations who work closely with Joint Task Force 633 can easily identify who we are.
“When we communicate who we are, we’re communicating to others, not ourselves,” he said.
“A kangaroo cannot be mistaken as anything but Australian.”
Members of HQJTF 633 located at Camp Baird received their new patch from the commander and enjoyed a barbecue dinner afterwards.
MAJGEN Orme also took the opportunity to talk about the recent operational changes and support that personnel at Camp Baird, UAE serving on Operation ACCORDION will now provide to Operations SLIPPER and MANITOU in the Middle East Region.
Operation ACCORDION is the operational support mission based at Al Minhad Airbase, Operation SLIPPER is the mission in Afghanistan to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces and Operation MANITOU is Australia’s contribution to maritime safety, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy operations.
