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| Australian Bushmaster (File Photo) |
One of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, a sailor, who was wounded in action on 2 January 2012 when the Bushmaster he was travelling in struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), returned to Australia on Saturday 7 January 2012 for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
Two soldiers who were wounded during the same incident have been discharged and have returned to duties in Afghanistan.
The Acting Deputy Commander Joint Operations Command, Commodore Michael Noonan, said the employment of IEDs by insurgent groups poses a constant threat to Coalition Forces.
“The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team is among the Australian Defence Force’s most effective resources in the fight against the IED,.” Commodore Noonan said.
“Our EOD personnel do a very difficult and dangerous job in reducing the threat posed by these devices,” said Commodore Noonan.
The Australian Navy currently has a small team of EOD specialists in Afghanistan serving with Combined Team-Uruzgan who are operating in support of Mentoring Task Force – Three.
“The bravery and skill they show in dealing with these highly unpredictable weapons is nothing short of extraordinary,” Commodore Noonan said.
Another Australian sailor was wounded in action in Afghanistan in March 2010 during a controlled detonation of an improvised explosive device.
The ADF does not release personal details of wounded personnel. The ADF’s primary concern is for the medical treatment of the wounded personnel and providing support for their families.
To date, 216 ADF personnel have been wounded in Afghanistan since 2001.