Our People in NT
Scott Ruehland - Making a difference in the Pacific
Darwin Army Engineer Scott Ruehland has been changing lives in the Pacific this past month as part of a US sponsored Humanitarian Civic Assistance mission called PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2009.
The Kormilda High graduate joined the Army three years ago to travel, see new things and learn new skills.
The PACIFIC PARNERSHIP mission is providing him with all three.
Working long hard days alongside and mission partners from New Zealand and the US Navy, the 27-year old Lance Corporal has helped deliver vital engineering and construction aid to Samoa and Tonga.
Scott and 11 other Australian Army engineers have worked closely with locals, US Navy engineers known as “SEABEES” and New Zealand soldiers. “Working with the US Navy has been good, they work differently so it was a bit of a challenge at first, but we got used to each other and now we’re good mates,” he said. “It was great working with the New Zealanders too, we have a lot in common with our ANZAC brothers,” he said.
The engineers have also had the opportunity to get to know the locals in Samoa and Tonga, playing sport with the local kids each day and letting them help out at the construction sites. “One of the best parts of this trip has been the kids. They are always smiling and happy, interested in seeing us,” said Scott.
It’s not Scott’s first overseas deployment. He has already spent time in Afghanistan and in Malaysia.
“I’ve been really lucky, I like travel, you don’t join to sit at home and do nothing,” he said. “When we get back to Australia we’re headed to an exercise in Papua New Guinea where we’ll do a lot of jungle training — which is tough but you feel good at the end of it,” he said.
Scott is already missing his Darwin fishing. He also played hockey for the Commerce Pints Hockey club and was part of the Northern Territory Football League Umpires Association. “I still get to play a bit of hockey with the Army which is good,” said Scott.
“There are tough days being away from my family but everyone is really understanding and supportive. My mum worries about me in the Army but sort of loves it and I’ve never seen dad more proud than when I graduated from initial Army training,” said Scott.
The Australian Defence Force is providing specialist support to PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, a US sponsored training and readiness mission, developing foreign interoperability in delivering effective humanitarian and disaster relief aid with Governments and non-government organisations in the Pacific.