Our People in QLD
Blake Simmons - Protecting Our Baghdad Diplomats
There are still 100 Australian soldiers in Iraq and Southport man Blake Simmons is one of them.
The former A. B. Patterson College (Arundel) student is now part of the Australian Army’s Security Detachment protecting Australian diplomats in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
A keen surfer, Lieutenant Simmons, 28, now provides personal protection to the Australian Embassy in Iraq.
These days Lieutenant Simmons, a troop commander, is normally based in Darwin, Northern Territory, where he serves with the Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
As a troop leader, he is responsible for the troops who drive the detachment’s Australian Light Armoured Vehicles that provide the detachment’s armoured mobility capability.
Lieutenant Simmons’ spouse Narelle Jory lives on the Gold Coast.
As a member of the Australian Security Detachment in Baghdad, Lieutenant Simmons will complete an eight month deployment in the Iraqi capital.
The Security Detachment is deployed as part of Operation KRUGER - the Australian Defence Force’s ongoing contribution to the provision of security and support for the Australian embassy and its staff in Iraq.
Working in support of the Australian Embassy and its staff in Iraq, the ADF provides a tailored security detail in order to facilitate protected mobility to the Head of the diplomatic mission and his staff.
The Australian Security Detachment, known as SECDET, is comprised of about 100 personnel drawn from infantry, cavalry, military police and combat service support units. SECDET currently consists mainly of personnel from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (Townsville) and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Darwin).