Our People in NSW
Lyndon McDonald - Local Cootamundra soldier plays key role in rebuilding Afghanistan
A local Cootamundra soldier has played a key role in helping rebuild Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Lyndon McDonald from the Army’s 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment (Townsville) was the main instructor for a recent trade course run by the Australian Army for local tradesman in southern Afghanistan.
The Australian Defence Force run Trade Training School (TTS) in Tarin Kowt has produced yet another batch of proud graduates ready to take their new skills to the broader Afghanistan community.
Seven local students received their certificates after successfully completing the plumbing course recently.
Their four week course concentrated on water reticulation and fittings, waste reticulation and storage, as well as drainage.
A local Afghan national, who was a former student at the TTS, assisted Lance Corporal McDonald instruct on the course – further proof of the lasting benefit of the program.
Lance Corporal McDonald said he was in Afghanistan before with RTF3 and the difference the training provided by the trade school is certainly noticeable everywhere you go.
"It’s great to be able to pass on my knowledge and skills as a plumber, the Army has trained me in, to these seven local Afghan boys,” said Lance Corporal McDonald said.
“I hope it goes a long way in providing them employment opportunities within their community and to the long term future of their Country," he said.
A number of dignitaries attended the graduation ceremony, including the Provincial Director for the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development and the Provincial Director for the Ministry of Energy and Water as well as the Commanding Officer of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF), Lieutenant Colonel Peter Connolly.
Lieutenant Colonel Connolly addressed the graduates and described the importance of the TTS program and its role in assisting in the overall progress in Oruzgan.
“You are the future of your country, I have great hope for what you will achieve in the future,” Lieutenant Colonel Connolly said.
“The instructors, some former graduates, have done a wonderful job. A lot of the former students will no doubt be employed on projects we contract out to local companies,” he said.
About 12 contractors from the Tarin Kowt construction industry, looking for future employees, also attended.
Of note, one of the contractors was a student at the TTS during the first rotation of the Reconstruction Task Force which deployed to Tarin Kowt for the period October 200 – April 2007. He was working for a local contractor following his training at the TTS for the last two years and has just recently started his own construction company.
About 60-70% of graduates from TTS find work in the Tarin Kowt construction industry, with others traveling to other provinces for work.
There are around 650 soldiers serving in the 1 RAR Battle Group which forms the second rotation of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF-2).
Members of MRTF-2 are drawn primarily from the Townsville-based Third Brigade.
A key component of MRTF-2 is the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) whose mission is to assist in the development of the 4th Brigade of the Afghan National Army and conduct joint operations against the Taliban in the province.
Apart from security operations and training the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), MRTF-2 also manages construction works in Oruzgan Province.
Australia's military contribution Afghanistan is part of the nation’s broader commitment to Coalition efforts against international terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and maritime security. The Australian deployment, comprising around 1550 personnel in Afghanistan and a further 850 across the Middle East, is know as Operations SLIPPER.