OIF Reserve MPs visit Australia

Photo By Staff Sgt. Thomas Orme | Multi-national MP group observe Australian MP training at Lamia Barracks. Australian soldier is dressed in a protective suit for police dog training.  

07.25.2006

Courtesy Story

214th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Staff Sgt. Nate Orme
214th MPAD

SYDNEY, Australia (July 2006)—A contingent of Army Reserve military police were in Australia recently, participating in parades, ceremonies and joint training as guests of their Aussie counterparts, in association with Australian Reserve Forces Day celebrations.

Between events, the American MPs learned, among many things, that Australian soldiers are nicknamed "Diggers," that "bloak" is widely used for a male, but "shiela" is rarely used for a female anymore, that the expression "crikey" is about as hip as "groovy," and that "Coy" is the abbreviation for Company.

American service members first attended the annual event in 2001. This year, MPs from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada were invited to emphasis the 90th anniversary of the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police. Reserve Forces Day has been held since 1997, when it was created by retired Australian Reservists led by retired Lt. Col. John Moore, with the help of the government. Moore continues to serve as National Executive Officer on the private RDF Council and was an indispensable presence for the visiting MPs.

The 415th Military Police Detachment from St. Louis, Mo. comprised 23 of the 27 MPs invited. The unit had previously won the Reserve Officer's Association 2006 Unit of the Year in the detachment-size category, substantially due to its service in Iraq during most of 2004.

The 306th Military Police Battalion from Uniondale, NY and the 339th Military Police Company of Davenport, Iowa, also sent two soldiers each to Australia, although one of the current 415th soldiers actually served with the 339th in Iraq.

While in Australia, the MPs met the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, not once, but twice. The first meeting was to welcome the MPs to Australia at the elegant Governor's House on June 25, and the second was at the Parliament House on July 2 following the RFD Parade in downtown Sydney. In between meetings with the Governor, the MPs joined in several ceremonial and training events.

On June 27, the soldiers participated in a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in the nation's capital of Canberra. A wreath was laid by each invitee nation in the magnificent stain-glassed Hall of Memory, sheltering Australia's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

"It was a privilege to do something to honor another country's fallen comrades. It was very special. It was also fortunate to get to see another country's capital," said 415th Master Sgt. Bill Saccente.

On June 28, the group visited Lamia Barracks, in the Sydney suburb of Holsworthy and home to the Defence Police Training Centre. Australian Maj. David McGarry, Chief Instructor for Training, said the DPTC teaches 32 different courses. Each nation's representative gave a seminar on MP training issues and practices, including lessons learned from those deployed to Iraq. Part of the day involved touring facilities, including a new forensics lab and a detainee corrective facility.

"It surprised me that the detainee facility is used for training as well. It's definitely different. Corrective training is not used a lot in America anymore (in the military penal system)," said Spc. Valerie Bleckman of the 415th, who has been attending college to become a paramedic since she has been back from Iraq.

Since many of the MPs are also police officers as civilians, the soldiers visited the New South Wales Police College at Goulburn and were given a brief tour, making them a rare sight for students there.

Another trip took the MPs to an Australian Reservist Infantry unit, which was conducting Tuesday night drill. Diggers talked about their training and equipment, and afterward all the soldiers talk about the differences and similarities between the nations present.

"It's fascinating to see how the Australian Army operates. There are some differences, but for the most part, it's very similar to the US. The challenges are the same in recruiting and retention," said Maj. Robert Berry of the 306th.

Berry was echoed by his Australian counterpart: "There's no panacea to recruiting. You've got to do the boring bits before you train," said Maj. Ian Hendry-Adams.

Seeing the uniqueness of the visit, and with Moore's on-the-fly coordinating, the MPs got a spot on the Australian national morning show, Sunrise. One soldier from each nation was interviewed by weatherman Grant Denyer while the other MPs stood in formation on the cool Sydney winter morning.

Rounding out the trip were marches in two RFD parades—one in the coastal city of Newcastle on July 1 followed the next day by a parade through downtown Sydney. Luckily, RFD is celebrated on different days in different cities. After the Newcastle parade, the city's Lord Mayor John Tate spoke to the paraders and public from a stage near the beach.

Hundreds of current and former Australian Reservists going back to World War II marched. Many of the older soldiers served in the draft force that existed from 1951 to 1972, known as "Nashos," said Noel Moulder, President of the 2006 Nasho Reunion Association. Today's Australian military is a volunteer force.
Adding to the atmosphere, several vintage military vehicles were in operation for the parade and many of the participants wore traditional kilts, including a bagpipe troupe.

"It was cool to see the other soldiers there from different wars," said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Lemkee of the 415th. "It felt good to be honored to be asked to represent the Reserve and the MP Corps."

In Sydney, Governor Bashir greeted the MPs prior to them marching and later saluted them as they passed by her dais. Along with the Governor stood Australian hero, Victoria Cross-recipient Keith Payne. Payne is the most decorated living Australian, and is listed in Ft. Bragg's Hall of Heroes for his joint service with the United States while in Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star. Payne spoke afterward to the MPs at a private reception at Parliament House.

"It is a great honor and privilege to do what you can for the younger generation," said Payne.

Lt. Col. Irene Glaeser, coordinator with the United States Army Reserve Command and an MP as well, thanked the Australians, saying, "I've never seen so many veterans on parade. You really do it right. There is no way we can beat the Australian hospitality."

USAR

• Date Taken: 07.25.2006
• Date Posted: 07.25.2006 11:14
• Story ID: 7293