Annual Report 2013-14

Program 2.2: Operations Supporting Wider Interests

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Under Operation Slipper, the ADF contributes to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, which is led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and to the Combined Maritime Force in the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Gulf.

The key components of the ADF’s involvement in Operation Slipper included Headquarters Joint Task Force 633, Combined Team—Uruzgan, Advisory Task Force, Special Operations Task Group, Rotary Wing Group, Force Support Unit, Force Communications Unit, 205 Corps Advisory Team, Logistics Training Advisory Team, Afghan National Army Officer Academy Training Team, Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Surveillance, Joint Task Force 633 Air Component and various maritime force elements.

During 2013–14, the main focus of the ADF effort in Afghanistan was the development of the Afghan security forces with the capability to take lead responsibility for the security of their country. To that end, the ADF completed its advisory role with the Afghan National Army’s 4/205 Brigade in December 2013 so that the Afghan force could take over lead responsibility for security in Uruzgan Province.

The Royal Australian Navy maintained the deployment of a frigate in support of maritime counter-terrorism and counter-piracy operations conducted by the Combined Maritime Force. Australia commanded Combined Task Force 150, responsible for the maritime counter-terrorism mission, between 1 December 2013 and 10 April 2014.

In support of a rules-based global security order, Defence continued to provide support to three United Nations (UN) missions—Operations Paladin, Palate II, and Aslan—and maintained its longstanding links to the Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai, Egypt, under Operation Mazurka. In November 2013, Defence ceased Operation Riverbank in support of the UN mission in Iraq.

During 2013–14, Australian members performed key roles in UN efforts to maintain peace and security in highly volatile areas such as the Golan Heights, the Sinai and South Sudan. The ADF role included supporting free and fair elections in Afghanistan, contributing to the reform of legal systems in South Sudan, assisting in humanitarian efforts to provide basic services and subsistence to those in need, and supporting the return of internally displaced people and refugees. Defence will continue to support these UN missions in their critically important and globally significant work.