An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir April 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie 18 | 19-20 Major General Jake Ellwood issued a Facebook video (and, presumably, also a 'normal-means' directive (since ADF members are not allowed to access Facebook over military means)) to his subordinate commanders, to guide their actions in the field. Major General Ellwood's message was intended as both guid- ance and authority for commanders in the field in directing the day-to-day activities of the increasing number of soldiers, sailors and airmen streaming into the field. "The ADF's surge to support the Australian response to the bushfire emergency is to have an immediate, demonstrable and positive impact in order to support our emergency-management services and affected fellow Australians," Major General Ellwood said. "[But] safety first – we are not to become a part of the problem. Get the priorities right. These will constantly change. I need you to watch, assess, amend and then act. Put others first. Provide our emergency-service personnel and affected civilians with what they need, when they need it. Lean forward and offer the best and most appropriate advice for our unique assets to best meet their needs. Do not put off to tomorrow what can be done today. We will be judged on our responsiveness – and we should be. Don't turn away anyone in need. If you don't have a solution, go and find one. If we can do it – and it's ethical and responsible – we will. Do not have our people or our assets dormant. If there is not an immediate task, think of a task that will need to be done tomorrow, and do it today. Be thoughtful and imaginative. Make us proud, like you always do. My thoughts and prayers will be with you all as you lean in, side-by-side with our fellow Australians at this critical moment in time." This video message was received overwhelmingly positively on Facebook. In the words of one woman – "Major General Jake Ellwood your fellow servicemen have gone above & beyond in what you asked of them in your message here. They were super amazing from the moment of contact! Courteous, caring, considerate, com- passionate and all with a smile! This made me feel so very proud to be an Aussie and I can't praise all on board HMAS CHOULES enough! Your command and families I'm sure will be extremely proud already but from the bottom of my heart… Thank you! for all that you've done and all that you will endure in the future. Stay safe… love your work. X Karen". The Royal Australian Navy's largest and most capable amphibi- ous ship, HMAS Adelaide, soon also joined the mission. While there was little hoopla surrounding this announcement, it later emerged that the sailing was no small feat in so far as Adelaide was actually tied up in significant maintenance over the December-January peri- od and mammoth efforts were required to wrap works up to allow the ship to sail. Five Defence-industry civilians who were caught up in her short-notice departure were happy to stay on board as work continued even as she sailed. News of international help for the ADF's Op Bushfire Assist was quick to emerge too – on top of copious actual civilian firefighting assistance already at work, but not covered in this story). New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that the New Zealand Defence Force would assist its Australian counter- part. "New Zealand Army engineers and three NH90s twin-engine helicopters will be deployed to Australia to support them as they con- tinue to battle the fires raging across multiple areas," Prime Minister Ardern said. "This is by no means the only thing we can do to help, and we're at the ready and talking to our neighbours frequently. Even before we saw the smoke from the fires across the ditch, I know we were already thinking of our friends and neighbours in Australia. It's been devastating to watch from afar – I can only imagine what it feels like to experience it directly." On 4 January the government announced a compulsory callout of 3000 Army reservists on Operation Bushfire Assist – the first time in Australian history such powers have been exercised. The callout followed a meeting of the National Security Committee, which also resolved to deploy additional Chinook helicopters, a C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and C-27 Spartans – plus, a range of Defence bases were to be prepared and opened to receive evacuees. In making the announcement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the rapidly escalating damage and the heart-breaking human cost, called for nothing less than an all-out response. In the end, the total number of full-time and reserve ADF personnel deployed to Operation Bushfire Assist nudged 7000. Major elements of the Army's 1st Brigade in Adelaide and Darwin mobilised almost immediately. 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regi- ment's Ready Combat Team departed Adelaide early on 5 January to integrate with local authorities, volunteer agencies, and other ADF men and women already on the ground. Darwin-based personnel from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Combat Signal Regiment and 1st Close Health Battalion fol- lowed within 24 hours, to support evacuation efforts, emergency- service reporting networks, as well as medical, engineering and transport capabilities. Despite thousands of personnel being on Christmas leave – some overseas, and some on well-earned admin leave after overseas operations – the escalation in deployment numbers was extraordi- narily quick. And, while the reserves 'call-out' was technically com- pulsory, it probably wasn't even necessary, such was the clamber for inclusion across all services – everyone desperate to help fellow Australians in desperate need. For many ADF personnel, there was also a personal connection

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