News Story: Cambodia to send 23 demining experts to Israel for 1st time

PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will send a group of 23 demining experts, along with 12 mine sniffing dogs, to Israel this week for a mine clearance mission, Heng Ratana, chief of the Cambodia Mine Action Center, said on Monday.

"This will be the first time that Cambodia sends demining experts to Israel," he told Xinhua, adding that the move comes following the request from the Israeli government.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Lookout for Animal 'Suicide Bombers' at India's Republic Day Parade

Indian intelligence agencies are factoring in the possibility of terrorists trying to install explosives on winter clothes for pets and taking them to Republic Day celebrations to carry out disturbances.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — As India prepares for the extravagant but highly guarded annual parade on January 26, its intelligence agencies have warned that terrorists may use animals to execute bombings.

The warning to security units handing Republic Day celebrations notes that terrorists may dress up pets with vests and sweaters lined with explosives and try to take them inside venues for carrying out an attack.

India's Republic Day is a well attended marquee event that is witnessed by the top political and bureaucratic leadership of the country.

News Story: Sri Lanka army de-mining team receives international recognition

COLOMBO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A two-member Sri Lanka Army de-mining team has been selected by the U.S.-based Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) as "Team of the Year 2016," the country's army media unit said here on Monday.

The two member team, Alvin and its handler, Lance Corporal Nawarathne have since December 2011 de-mined a land area of approximately 73,340 square meters in the north and east of the island nation.

During the clearing program, they recovered 20 Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPGs), 48 grenades, 137 anti-personnel mines, 24 unexploded ordnance, 18 detonators and 243 ammunition and other explosive devices.

Their demining effort has enabled 1,945 displaced people belonging to 415 families to return home.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Think Tank: Sea, air and land updates (1-Dec-2015)

Alice Slevison, Mercedes Page and James Mugg

Sea State

Beijing has announced plans to establish a naval facility in Djibouti with the goal of boosting counter-piracy and peacekeeping efforts in the region. Reportedly, the Chinese installation will be located near a US airbase. The outpost will break Beijing’s longstanding policy against building military facilities abroad Since 2008, China has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the area, sending 21 convoys with a total of 60 vessels into the Gulf of Aden. Until now, Chinese vessels have been reliant on foreign facilities for resupply.

Meanwhile, tensions have heightened on the Korean Peninsula with reports that Pyongyang attempted to conduct a submarine-launched ballistic missile test on Saturday. The launch, which took place between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, is said to have been unsuccessful. According to a Korean government official, ‘there is no evidence of the missile taking flight, and only debris from its cover was found, so it is highly likely that the launch was a failure’. The launch comes only three weeks after North Korean President Kim Jong-un declared an extensive ‘no sail zone’ in the waters off its eastern city of Wonan.

While in London, the Royal Navy’s flagship vessel, the HMS Ocean, is set to be decommissioned in 2018 despite a multi-million pound refit. The Davenport-based helicopter carrier and assault ship underwent an AU$135 million upgrade in 2014. The decision to decommission the vessel, which played a crucial role supporting operations in Afghanistan and Libya, was made in the recent strategic defence and security review.

Think Tank: Sea, air and land updates (19-Aug-2015)

Alice Slevison, Mercedes Page and James Mugg

Sea State

HMS Artful, the third of seven new Astute class nuclear attack submarines for the Royal Navy, was delivered by builder BAE to begin trials on 13 August. The 7,400 tonne boats are 97 metres long and can launch land-attack cruise missiles as well as Spearfish torpedoes. The United States Navy is under pressure to lower its anticipated order of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 due to budget constraints. The Navy is expected to order 12 of the F-35C variants each year, instead of the current plan to order an annual number of 20 of the stealth jets during the 2020s.

Meanwhile, Russia and China are set to stage naval drills in the Sea of Japan from the 20–28 of August which will include training for a beach landing. A Chinese squadron has departed from the port city of Qingdao and is headed to Vladivostok in Russia to take part in the naval exercises in the Peter the Great Bay. According to Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun the purpose of the drills were to ‘further enhance their capabilities of jointly coping with maritime security threats’.

USA: DoD Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team Arrives in Nepal

From a U.S. Pacific Command News Release

<< Members of U.S. Agency for International Development and Los Angeles County search-and-rescue teams depart from a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport jet in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 28, 2015. The Air Force transported personnel, supplies and search-and-rescue dogs to help victims of a magnitude-7.8 earthquake. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Queen 

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii, April 30, 2015 – U.S. Pacific Command continues to work closely with the U.S. Embassy in Nepal and U.S. Agency for International Development colleagues to determine how Pacom forces and assets can assist the government of Nepal in the aftermath of an April 25 earthquake that killed thousands of people and has affected millions more.

The U.S. military has transported members of the USAID disaster assistance response team and urban search and rescue teams to Nepal, as well as a joint humanitarian assistance survey team of about 20 people to support the response team.

Coordinating the Response

The joint survey team has arrived in Nepal and is led by Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Paul J. Kennedy, commander of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, based on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The survey team will help in coordinating the response to USAID/OFDA validated requests from the government of Nepal in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu.

"We stand with Nepal during this very difficult time, and are ready to assist the government here in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to those who so desperately need it," Kennedy said. "Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragic event."

US DoD

AUS: Australian Special Operations Task Group work in Iraq

Australia’s Special Operations Task Group is strengthening the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Force counter-terrorism through its Advise and Assist mission in Iraq.

The Task Group is responsible for advising and assisting three battalions of the Iraqi Security Forces’ Special Tactics Unit, an elite force drawn from Iraq’s Counter Terrorism Service.

Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston said the SOTG had assigned a 2nd Commando Regiment Military Working Dog handler, Sergeant H, to the STU K-9 Program Cell.

“The Iraqis are strengthening their working dog capability and for good reason. It’s a well-known fact Military Working Dogs are very effective at locating enemy IEDs (improvised explosive devices) outside-the-wire,” VADM Johnston said.

USA: Special Operations Forces, USS Independence Train Together

By MC2 Corey T. Jones

<< Republic of Korea special forces scale up the side of USS Independence (LCS 2) during a training mission July 14 as part of RIMPAC. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Corey T. Jones)

PACIFIC OCEAN - Special operations forces from the U.S., Japan, the Republic of Korea and Peru conducted a covert training mission aboard the littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2) as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014.

The two-day scenario provided realistic and relevant training for both the special forces teams and the ship’s crew.

Cmdr. Joseph “Joe” A. Gagliano, Independence commanding officer, said his crew and the special forces teams gained invaluable experience from the training.

“This is the first time an Independence-class ship has participated in a RIMPAC exercise,” he said. “Coming together to do these exercises at RIMPAC every two years is a good way to forge relationships, learn from each other, learn how each of our navies do business and then learn a way to operate.”

Brunei: SAR Training begins in lead up to HADR exercise

CROSS TRAINING AT BIANG

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sunday 16 June 2013 – The preparations for the upcoming HADR exercise are going at full swing with cross-training conducted at Kampong Biang in Temburong District. The cross-training encompasses land-based, water-borne and medical trainings. The main objective of this cross-training is to familiarise the teams with the area and to ensure the full integration of procedures and tactics.

The Search and Rescue (SAR) teams conducted water-borne and river navigation whereas Thailand underwent land-based and medical search and rescue. While the Engineering team were preparing bridge sites. The cross-training exercise utilises and integrates all three tri-service assets in order ensure the exercise runs smoothly. 

Brunei MoD

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SEARCH - LOCATE AND CASUALTY EVACUATION

MENTIRI, Sunday 16 June 2013 – A coordination rehearsal, which involved search- locate and casualty evacuation was conducted at Menteri in preparation for the upcoming HADR exercise. Those who participated included the Search and Rescue (SAR), K-9 units and medical teams. Seven countries were involved, namely Brunei, China, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, United States of America and Vietnam. The main objectives of the rehearsal are to familiariase the troops with the area and to coordinate their plans.

The Search and Locate rehearsal was done in the morning which saw the medical teams from South Korea, US and Brunei setting up their utilities and the Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASH) whereas the SAR teams from Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei conducted an on–the-ground familiarisation of the exercise areas.

Meanwhile in the afternoon, the Casualty Evacuation rehearsal took place based on the scenario where simulated category one (critically injured) casualties will be airlifted to the medical post located at the Muara naval base. The rehearsal ensures full coordination of the responses from each country involved.

Brunei MoD

AUS: Australian soldier killed in Chorah Valley

An Australian Special Forces soldier has been killed as a result of a small arms engagement in the Chorah Valley, Afghanistan, yesterday afternoon.

The soldier was shot in the chest during an engagement with insurgents while on a partnered mission with the Afghan National Security Forces to target a known insurgent commander.

The Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley extended his sympathy to the soldier’s family and friends.

“Words cannot ease the overwhelming grief they feel today but I hope they can find comfort in the knowledge that this soldier served his country with pride and distinction,” General Hurley said.

The patrol’s advanced first aider provided immediate assistance and continued attempts to resuscitate the wounded soldier until he was evacuated by helicopter to the Role 2 Medical Facility in Tarin Kot. 

“Sadly, despite the best efforts of all, attempts to resuscitate the soldier were unsuccessful,” General Hurley said.

The soldier’s family has been notified and are receiving support from Defence.

The 40 year old Special Forces soldier was a member of the Perth based Special Air Service Regiment.  He enlisted in the Army in 1990 and joined the Special Air Service Regiment in 1995 deploying on six operations during a career spanning more than 20 years.

This was his seventh tour to Afghanistan over an 11 year period.

“His colleagues describe him as a highly professional operator who earned great respect within the Special Operations community over many years of service,” General Hurley said.

The soldier’s family has requested that personal details not be released at this time and we ask that you respect their privacy.

An ADF military dog was also shot and killed during the engagement.

This mission is ongoing and Defence is unable to provide further detail at this time.

AUS DoD

AUS: RSPCA awards Sarbi the Purple Cross

Sarbi the Explosive Detection Dog received RSPCA’s most prestigious animal bravery award today, the Purple Cross, at a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

Sarbi was awarded the Purple Cross by The National President of RSPCA Australia, Mrs Lynne Bradshaw.

“It recognises the deeds of animals that have shown outstanding service to humans, particularly if they’ve shown exceptional courage,” Mrs Bradshaw said.

“I think there’s no doubt that Sarbi has shown an incredible resilience and strength that should be recognised.”

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AC, DSC, CSM, also attended the ceremony. 

“I am very proud of the professional and dedicated work of our combat engineers and dog handlers, and the vital role they play in keeping our soldiers safe on deployment,” said Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie.

“I am thrilled that the RSPCA has chosen to honour Sarbi, and by extension, all of Army’s working dogs and their handlers with this award.”

Sarbi went missing in Afghanistan in September 2008 following Coalition contact with Insurgents. 

During the engagement, nine Australian soldiers, including Sarbi’s handler, were wounded. 

Sarbi was returned to Tarin Kot in October 2009, after being missing in action for 13 months.

AUS DoD