Our People in QLD
Graham Dorries - Darling Downs (Oakey) soldier plays key role in Afghanistan mission
Oakey soldier Graham Dorries is playing a key role in Australia’s military mission in Afghanistan.
Graham has specialized as a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (RAEME), with the rank of Craftsman. In Afghanistan he maintains crucial equipment used by the Australian troops of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) in Oruzgan Province .
The skilled Digger-Tradesman is based at the Combat Service Support Team Workshop at the main Australian base in Tarin Kowt, and it’s proving a critical asset in the harsh conditions of Afghanistan.
Graham and the other Digger-Tradies, whether they are vehicle mechanics, fitter-armourers, electricians or instrument fitters, are putting in long hours to ensure their mates operating in the field have fully functional weapons and equipment.
Graham, 23, grew up in Oakey but these days he’s normally based in Townsville in the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion. He’s married with one son, and he has been in the Army for four years.
“Life in Afghanistan is worlds away from anything that you can really experience in Australia,” Graham said.
“We’ve been working, on average, ten to twelve hour days to keep all the vehicles and equipment in good order.”
“The work is unpredictable. We work on equipment from other ISAF nationalities when they break down as well as all our equipment and vehicles,” he said.
“We work on the MRTF’s Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles and the Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs), as well as weapons like mortars and the 25mm cannon.
There are usually two to three tradesman working per vehicle, ensuring a quick turnaround.
“We work no matter what,” said Graham. “The main focus of the work over here is getting the vehicles back out as soon as possible and if that means a 4am finish, then that’s what we do,” he said.
“Personally I have learnt a lot about my trade, the way the Army works and the people around me.
“The work can be demanding but it can also be very rewarding. For example when a vehicle comes in for repairs that needs to be deployed you get the job done, so the overall mission can go on,” Graham said.
Craftsman Dorries and his colleagues don’t just work on vehicles at the main base in Tarin Kowt. They also get out from “behind the wire”.
“Along with the normal workshop environment there is also the FRT (Forward Repair Team) tasks to other patrol bases. Equipment may need to be repaired around the country side,” said Craftsman Dorries.
While a specialist craftsman, like all members of the Army Craftsman Dorries must also be a competent soldier.
“We are not limited to our trade here. I’ve had experience recovering vehicles after Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strikes, we've had tradesmen as drivers and crew commanders out with the combat teams in the sticks and we have even had people involved in a security party on our Forward Operating Bases,” he said.
“We have a good team of blokes over here and I think that a deployment has to be experienced for you to appreciate the Army and the role that it is meant for.”
“The families are probably the most affected by our deployment overseas but they are always there as support and I’d like to thank my wife Ainsley for putting up with a demanding career choice that I have made,” said Graham.