MTF-2 Welcome Home Parade Darwin 2010
Mentoring Task Force 2 (MTF-2), part of the Australian Army’s deployment to Afghanistan, completed its rotation and returned to Australia in June 2011. MTF-2 was primarily based in Uruzgan Province and operated as part of the broader NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission.
Its deployment ran from 21 October 2010 to 25 June 2011, and the personnel were drawn largely from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), along with supporting elements from other units. The return marked the end of their six-month rotation, a standard duration for Australian combat teams in Afghanistan during that period.
Pictures: Regi Varghese
(Click on the top left image to follow the intended sequence)
A riderless horse, representing the fallen soldiers, lead the parade.
Note the strong representation by members of the 5RAR Association
Major French OC C Company 5RAR leads C Company soldiers and attachments
Eyes Right!
Around 1200 Darwin-based soldiers from Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor paraded along Knuckey Street Darwin marking their successful return.
Reilly Adams watches his dad march with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment
Soldiers of 5RAR March Past
Canine Mascot
Wounded soldiers were among the Darwin-based soldiers from Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor paraded along Knuckey Street marking their successful return.
Wounded Digger
Emily and Reilly Adams cheered their dad on in the parade with Noah and Jack Chetcuti whose dad just returned from Afghanistan.
Lipscombe, 8, Ethan Reimhimer, 6, watch as the soldiers march down Knuckey Street.
Madeleine Clear, 11, whose step dad marched in the parade.
Emily (right) and Reilly Adams (centre) watched their dad march with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
Warrant Officer Trevor Lynch with children Ivah, (left), Myola and Abia.
Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison speaks to the media after the soldiers parade.