Our People in NSW
Henry Collins - Gosford soldier’s magnificent seven
Gosford man Henry Collins and his magnificent seven trade specialists are playing a key role in Australia’s military mission in Afghanistan.
Henry, 32, is the Sergeant in charge of seven Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (RAEME) tradesmen who maintain crucial equipment used by the Australian troops in Oruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan
The skilled Digger-Tradies, located at the main Australian base in Tarin Kowt, are proving to be a critical asset in the harsh, high plains of Afghanistan.
Whether they are vehicle mechanics, fitter-armourers, electricians or instrument fitters, each one of the Digger-Tradies has been putting in long hours to ensure their mates operating in the field have fully functional weapons and equipment.
"Despite working long hours seven days a week, my section has a really positive attitude," he said. "It's easy to manage a section of blokes that are highly skilled.”
With twelve years in the Army, this is SGT Collins’ fourth deployment overseas.
"The tempo is extremely high," he said. “Members of the Workshop are working on average ten to twelve hour days as they are currently in the middle of the maintenance period.”
SGT Collins and his men work on the contingent’s vehicles, including Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles and Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs), as well as weapons like mortars and the 25mm cannon.
"Due to the nature of what our troops are doing and the conditions in this province, the equipment requires a lot of labour to keep it going. It can be quite intense at times," said SGT Collins.
There are usually two to three tradesman working per vehicle, ensuring a quick turnaround. They don’t just stay in the main camp, they can also go forward into the field to the smaller operating bases to repair equipment.
It is also a place for improvisation and unusual tasks.
“Some of the more interesting activities we’ve been involved in include the manufacture of a market area/bazaar and the fabrication of spear pump towers, to help the engineers maintain the pumps that supply water for the patrol bases,” SGT Collins said.
SGT Collins is married with three children and is expecting to become a father for the fourth child in October when he returns to Australia for leave.
Under Operation SLIPPER. Australian forces contribute to the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, aimed at preventing Afghanistan again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists.