We're Coming Home: Aussie Diggers flying back right now from Afghan, our involvement is over
41 replies, posted
[QUOTE]AUSTRALIA has ended what Tony Abbott called the nation's longest overseas military deployment, with the last combat troops withdrawn from Oruzgan Province in Afghanistan.
At a press conference in Sydney with Defence Minister David Johnston, the Prime Minister praised Australian troops, but admitted the Afghanistan campaign had come at a heavy loss, with 40 soldiers killed and 261 seriously injured.
Senator Johnston said the last troops left Oruzgan yesterday.
"They are in the air, on the way home,'' he said.
While the combat deployment in Oruzgan is over, 400 Australian troops will continue to serve in advisory and training roles in Afghanistan, including at the British-sponsored officer academy in Kabul.
A total of 25,000 Australian troops have served in Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.
"We know they have paid a high price but that sacrifice has not been in vain,'' Mr Abbott said.
"Oruzgan today is a very significantly different better place than it was a decade ago.
"I want to say a very deep thank you to all of our servicemen and women.''[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/australian-troops-head-home-from-afghanistan/story-e6frg8yo-1226784168754[/url]
Thanks for the hand Aussies.
[quote]the Afghanistan campaign had come at a heavy loss, with 40 soldiers killed[/quote]
I wish we had such a small number; good you guys are making it out now.
Good, I was hoping this would happen earlier also I really hope that they brought back that memorial wall (mentioned in this article [url]http://www.themercury.com.au/news/diggers-in-afghanistan-furious-that-top-brass-want-memorial-wall-destroyed/story-fnj4f7kx-1226747500516[/url]) that the troops had made in memory for the fallen.
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43198256]Good, I was hoping this would happen earlier also I really hope that they brought back that memorial wall (mentioned in this article [url]http://www.themercury.com.au/news/diggers-in-afghanistan-furious-that-top-brass-want-memorial-wall-destroyed/story-fnj4f7kx-1226747500516[/url]) that the troops had made in memory for the fallen.[/QUOTE]
Hope they put that up at the Australian War Museum
[img]http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/10/27/1226747/504047-memorial-wall.jpg[/img]
This is a pretty touching picture
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;43198305]Hope they put that up at the Australian War Museum
[img]http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/10/27/1226747/504047-memorial-wall.jpg[/img]
This is a pretty touching picture[/QUOTE]
Yeah man, it would be pretty sick to see it come home to us, I think there are even a few american names up on it as well but anyway, I think they were planning to just flat out destroy it or bury it.
[QUOTE]"We know they have paid a high price but that sacrifice has not been in vain,'' Mr Abbott said.[/QUOTE]
Oil money!
[QUOTE=Sprockethead;43198838]Oil money![/QUOTE]
C'mon man, Aus was essentially roped into the conflict by US because of the ANZUS alliance.
Have some respect dickhead, our soldiers are good people and I won't stand for that kind of bullshit you are spewing.
[QUOTE=Sprockethead;43198838]Oil money![/QUOTE]
Australia was never there for the oil, we were there because we are allies with America, same goes for the UK and Canada getting involved, it wasn't our business but we had America's side
[QUOTE=Sprockethead;43198838]Oil money![/QUOTE]
You mean that imgainary oil in Afghanistan.
[QUOTE=Sprockethead;43198838]Oil money![/QUOTE]
Afghanistan does not export oil.
[QUOTE=_Kent_;43202141]Afghanistan does not export oil.[/QUOTE]
Opium money!
Rare earths such as Lithium if you actually want to be serious
[QUOTE=Antlerp;43202415]Rare earths such as Lithium if you actually want to be serious[/QUOTE]
Which were discovered long after the invasion.
Who cares about their exports, our Soldiers are back at home that's the main thing, it's finally over
But is the oil, opium, and lithium back home?
Jk. Good on Australia
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;43209610]Who cares about their exports, our Soldiers are back at home that's the main thing, it's finally over[/QUOTE]
And thank fucking god for that, I was hoping it would end so I won't have to go when I enlist. I hope I don't ever have to go somewhere that is that fucked up.
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43210748]And thank fucking god for that, I was hoping it would end so I won't have to go when I enlist. I hope I don't ever have to go somewhere that is that fucked up.[/QUOTE]
what did you sign up for then....
Afghanistan was a blessing for Australia because outside of the SOTG there was really fuck all done in terms of commitment. One of the criticisms of Australia was that they weren't doing enough in comparison with their contemporaries.
Syria could kick off, or Australians could be deployed in Africa.
Both will have worse outcomes than what was faced in Afghanistan, that's for sure.
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43210748]And thank fucking god for that, I was hoping it would end so I won't have to go when I enlist. I hope I don't ever have to go somewhere that is that fucked up.[/QUOTE]
Maybe you should consider a different career path because joining the army means you're going somewhere fucked up. And there are places in the world a whole lot more fucked than Afghanistan.
aren't the british pulling out later this coming year?
[QUOTE=cr2142;43211742]aren't the british pulling out later this coming year?[/QUOTE]
I believe so. Pretty much all NATO countries that were involved in Aftgahnistain have either pulled out already, or are preparing to.
[editline]18th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43198328]Yeah man, it would be pretty sick to see it come home to us, I think there are even a few american names up on it as well but anyway, I think they were planning to just flat out destroy it or bury it.[/QUOTE]
I can't believe the Australian government or ADF won't be brining it back. It's an important piece of history, and would fit well for the war memorial down in Canberra.
[QUOTE=JaegerMonster;43211084]what did you sign up for then....
Afghanistan was a blessing for Australia because outside of the SOTG there was really fuck all done in terms of commitment. One of the criticisms of Australia was that they weren't doing enough in comparison with their contemporaries.
Syria could kick off, or Australians could be deployed in Africa.
Both will have worse outcomes than what was faced in Afghanistan, that's for sure.[/QUOTE]
I'm going to sign up for the infantry soon, I think it's a decent life and anyway Afghanistan is more fucked than anywhere else I can think of right now.
[editline]18th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=-n3o-;43211789]I believe so. Pretty much all NATO countries that were involved in Aftgahnistain have either pulled out already, or are preparing to.
[editline]18th December 2013[/editline]
I can't believe the Australian government or ADF won't be brining it back. It's an important piece of history, and would fit well for the war memorial down in Canberra.[/QUOTE]
The decision was made by the higher ups in the ADF, it was quite a dick move, I really hope the soldiers can somehow persuade them to let them bring it home. It was in no way the governments decision.
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43216924]I'm going to sign up for the infantry soon, I think it's a decent life and anyway Afghanistan is more fucked than anywhere else I can think of right now.
[/QUOTE]
Part of the life of an infantryman is going to fucked up places like Afghanistan when the time comes. In fact, it's the primary job of the infantryman.
If you think you're going to have an easy life with that role (especially with out that primary part), you're in for a [I]huge[/I] surprise.
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43216924]I'm going to sign up for the infantry soon, I think it's a decent life and anyway Afghanistan is more fucked than anywhere else I can think of right now.
[editline]18th December 2013[/editline]
The decision was made by the higher ups in the ADF, it was quite a dick move, I really hope the soldiers can somehow persuade them to let them bring it home. It was in no way the governments decision.[/QUOTE]
You are going to get your ass handed to you if you go in thinking that.
Infantry's one of the most miserable, degrading and mind-numbing experiences you will ever have. For god's sake, don't go in thinking it's going to be a cakewalk, because it isn't. They're training you to march, fight, march again, stay awake for days on end, go hungry and function under immense physical and mental pressure. Not kick back and relax.
[QUOTE=Psychokitten;43217615]You are going to get your ass handed to you if you go in thinking that.
Infantry's one of the most miserable, degrading and mind-numbing experiences you will ever have. For god's sake, don't go in thinking it's going to be a cakewalk, because it isn't. They're training you to march, fight, march again, stay awake for days on end, go hungry and function under immense physical and mental pressure. Not kick back and relax.[/QUOTE]
I know, it's been something of an aspiration to go into infantry for me, I admire the dedication of the people that actually go and do these kind of things and I am looking to do something interesting with my life, I don't want to just do desk work or anything that involves alot of paperwork. I am probably going to transfer to an electrical trade in the army after a couple of tours and then stay for a while.
[editline]18th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43217445]Part of the life of an infantryman is going to fucked up places like Afghanistan when the time comes. In fact, it's the primary job of the infantryman.
If you think you're going to have an easy life with that role (especially with out that primary part), you're in for a [I]huge[/I] surprise.[/QUOTE]
I find Afghanistan is probably the most fucked place because you have the enemy hiding nowhere to be seen and they can pop out at any given moment and kill you and their IED tactics are absolutely nuts, there have also been some servicemen getting fucked up by the insurgents people that they put into the Afghan army while the ADF were training the Afghan army
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43217724]I know, it's been something of an aspiration to go into infantry for me, I admire the dedication of the people that actually go and do these kind of things and I am looking to do something interesting with my life, I don't want to just do desk work or anything that involves alot of paperwork. I am probably going to transfer to an electrical trade in the army after a couple of tours and then stay for a while.[/QUOTE]
Then you'd better be prepared to push yourself hard. If you want to excel, go the literal extra mile. Read manuals and do extra PT in your spare time, set goals. Otherwise you'll just end up faffing about and hating yourself, waiting for your enlistment to run out.
Or worse, they'll fail you.
[editline]17th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43217724]I find Afghanistan is probably the most fucked place because you have the enemy hiding nowhere to be seen and they can pop out at any given moment and kill you and their IED tactics are absolutely nuts, there have also been some servicemen getting fucked up by the insurgents people that they put into the Afghan army while the ADF were training the Afghan army[/QUOTE]
Again, nobody said it would be a cakewalk. You don't choose infantry because it's safe and easy. You join it to prove you can hack it.
[QUOTE=Psychokitten;43217823]Then you'd better be prepared to push yourself hard. If you want to excel, go the literal extra mile. Read manuals and do extra PT in your spare time, set goals. Otherwise you'll just end up faffing about and hating yourself, waiting for your enlistment to run out. Or worse, they'll fail you.[/QUOTE]
I have read some manuals that they were giving away in the q-store when I did cadets, I have also had a bit of training on the Steyr simulator the army has at the Simpson barrack down in watsonia.
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43217724]
I find Afghanistan is probably the most fucked place because you have the enemy hiding nowhere to be seen and they can pop out at any given moment and kill you and their IED tactics are absolutely nuts, there have also been some servicemen getting fucked up by the insurgents people that they put into the Afghan army while the ADF were training the Afghan army[/QUOTE]
Welcome to the future of warfare. If you think Afghanistan is the exception to modern fighting, I'm laughing my ass off.
[editline]17th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43217871]I have read some manuals that they were giving away in the q-store when I did cadets, I have also had a bit of training on the Steyr simulator the army has at the Simpson barrack down in watsonia.[/QUOTE]
Reading about it is definitely not the same as going through it.
[QUOTE=cplcollas;43217871]I have read some manuals that they were giving away in the q-store when I did cadets, I have also had a bit of training on the Steyr simulator the army has at the Simpson barrack down in watsonia.[/QUOTE]
That's good preparation. Still, I'm talking about when you get to basic or whatever you Aussie's call it. I'm not sure how it is for you guys, but we get so many people who join, coast through training, and then do nothing but drink in their spare time. Don't do that. Always go the extra mile, both during training and afterwards.
If you get the opportunity to go out of a 2-3 day FTX with other cadets, do so. It will be a serious eye-opener, trust me.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43217931]
Reading about it is definitely not the same as going through it.[/QUOTE]
I know man, but it can help a bit when you read the manuals, otherwise I agree with that.
[editline]18th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Psychokitten;43217953]That's good preparation. Still, I'm talking about when you get to basic or whatever you Aussie's call it. I'm not sure how it is for you guys, but we get so many people who join, coast through training, and then do nothing but drink in their spare time. Don't do that. Always go the extra mile, both during training and afterwards.
If you get the opportunity to go out of a 2-3 day FTX with other cadets, do so. It will be a serious eye-opener, trust me.[/QUOTE]
What is an FTX? But yeah, I'm going to try my best in training, I've been told to just be hopefull and to try and keep myself happy amidst all the shouting and shit while I'm there by some dude I met on the steyr training day.
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