Army Attachment: Getting To Know NORFORCE
Judith embarked on an Australian Defence Program in May this year, joining the North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) regiment of the Australian Army. During this program the Senator participated in field operations and survival training.
Together with Nola Marino, Member for Forrest, Judith joined the Centre Squadron in Alice Springs for five days. The unit is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSU).
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Centre Squadron Exercise: Judith (right) with Nola Marino, Member for Forrest, and their Norforce-Guides Bernie (2nd from left) and Bruce.
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NORFORCE patrols one quarter of Australian territory with more than 1.8 million square kilometres – about 2.5 times larger than New South Wales.
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Judith with (from left) Major James Cook, Officer Commanding Centre Squadron, Nola Marino, Member for Forrest, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rozzoli, Commanding Officer NORFORCE, and Chris Hayes, Member for Werriwa.
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NORFORCE soldiers have unique skills and knowledge on how to survive in the bush. Judith enjoyed learning from them, eg how to find bush-tucker.
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NORFORCE is the largest employer of Aboriginals in the Northern Territory and Kimberley region, 26 elders are or were NORFORCE soldiers. The unit currently employs 680 soldiers, most of them being reservists. Around 60 per cent are Indigenous.
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