Australia to deploy 270 troops to Middle East Region

The Australian Department of Defence has announced that more than 270 troops will deploy to the Middle East as part of the country’s contribution to boosting security in the region.

The majority of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel set for the deployment are from the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade based at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.

Troops will deploy on a six to eight-month rotation as part of Theatre Communications Group-9 (TCG-9) and Force Protection Element-12 (FPE-12).

Australia Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said: “I am incredibly proud of each and every one of our personnel who leave their families to support Australia’s contribution to regional and global security in the Middle East region.

“I also thank their families and friends because without their support, the deployment of our personnel would not be possible.”

TCG is an ADF joint unit that provides communications support to deployed Australian personnel throughout the Middle East region.

Included in the TCG-9 contingent are about 100 ADF communications specialists who will deliver national command and welfare communications and information systems.

Meanwhile, personnel deployed as part of the FPE-12 contingent will be responsible for providing security and protected mobility support for ADF mentors and advisors near Kabul, Afghanistan.

The mentors and advisors are deployed in support of Australia’s contribution to the Nato-led non-combat Resolute Support Mission.

Launched in January 2015, the mission is designed to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) to help them develop the capability to defend Afghanistan.

The ADF’s train, advise and assist mission support to Afghanistan is called Operation HIGHROAD.

In the broader Middle East region, Australia currently has more than 1,000 Australian Defence Force troops on deployment duties.