Preparations Under Way For Iraq Withdrawal

Australian Department of Defense, Preparations are already under way for the withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq. 
 
Equipment has already been sent through to the Force Level Logistic Asset (FLLA), whose staff will be supplemented by a force extraction team mid-year. 
 
“The staff have done a lot of work already to assist the force extraction team,” Commanding Officer of Headquarters FLLA, Lieutenant Colonel Mick King said. “We became a tight-knit unit before leaving and were well familiarised before we arrived in theatre,” Lt-Col King said. 
 
Like most ADF personnel arriving or leaving the Middle East, the Overwatch Battle Group and Australian Army Training Team will pass through the FLLA. When they do, they’ll notice a few changes from when they first went through. 
 
“The FLLA is the home to the ADF in the MEAO, so we’re always looking at how to improve,” Lt-Col King said. 
 
Some of the enhancements include additional welfare phones, music for the outside area and a wireless gaming LAN. The recreation hut has also been rearranged with a separate theatrette and games area. 
 
In addition to facilities, rotation four had refined some of the process at the FLLA. “We’ve worked on what past rotations have done,” quartermaster Corporal Brett Carmichael said. “We’ve come in and touched it up, added our spin on it, and we’ve heard nothing but great reports from all ranks.” 
 
Corporal Carmichael said working with Air Force and Navy was something he hadn’t done before, and it had opened his eyes to the bigger picture. 
 
“We’ve got a really good team, and we all work well together,” he said.