Our People in NSW
Aaron Kime - On Patrol in Afghanistan
Former Warabrook boy Aaron Kime is now earning his living in the dangerous valleys of Afghanistan. He’s part of Australia’s Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force.
Aaron, 24, attended Heaton Public School before going to Callaghan College, Jesmond Campus. The keen sportie represented both schools in athletics and soccer and was also a member of Newcastle Austral Soccer Club, Jesmond Soccer Club and Waterboard Cricket Club.
Aaron joined the Australian Defence Force in 2005. He is now promoted to lance corporal and these days he’s normally in Townsville as the second in command of an infantry section in 1st Battalion, The The Royal Australian Regiment.
But these days he’s half a planet away at a Forward Operating Base in the Chora valley.
His job there is to mentor the Afghan National Army, teaching them skills including infantry tactics. He lives, trains, patrols and fights the insurgents, alongside his Afghan soldiers every day.
“My job involves making sure they are physically and mentally ready so every time we step outside the wire our sole focus is seeking out insurgents,” he said.
Aaron says the summer weather is very hot and dry, with the temperature rising up to fifty degrees but its now starting to cool down heading into autumn.
“The local food is unusual in its preparation but it’s made from many common ingredients we have at home. Some local customs are confronting at first but after learning and understanding Afghan culture and being here for several months, everything now appears normal,” said Aaron
“Mentoring and training the Afghan National Army is tough but it’s rewarding to see them achieve set goals. It’s a slow process but we are committed to giving them the skills to combat the insurgent threat.
This is Aaron’s fourth overseas deployment. He served three months in Timor Leste, spent two weeks in Tonga in 2006 and six and a half months in Iraq in 2007.
During his deployment to Afghanistan, Aaron made some good mates in the US Army, so when he gets home he plans to take his brother to the USA to catch up with them.
MRTF-2 is part of Operation SLIPPER, Australia's military contribution to international campaigns against terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and maritime security.
Under this operation our forces contribute to the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, which seeks to bring security, stability and prosperity to the country and aims at preventing Afghanistan again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists, and the United States-led International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) efforts in the broader Middle East.