Our People in QLD
Nathan Cooper - On Command in Afghanistan
Former Mount Ninderry boy Nathan Cooper is now earning his living in the dangerous valleys of Afghanistan.
The 26 year old is part of the Australian Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force.
Nathan went to school at Suncoast Christian College in Woombye and was also a member of the Nambour Beach Volleyball Club. After Year 12 he went to Australian Defence Force Academy where he studied History and Indonesian.
Nathan joined the Australian Defence Force in 2003. He is now a Lieutenant and these days he’s normally based in Townsville as an Infantry Platoon Commander in 1st Battalion, The The Royal Australian Regiment.
But now he’s half a planet away, He has been leading an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team located at a Forward Operating Base in the Chora valley.
Nathan’s job over there is to mentor and train Afghan National Army soldiers. He lives, trains, patrols and fights the insurgents along side them everyday.
“It was a culture shock when I first got here but once you get to know Afghani soldiers, they really open up and I’ve built some strong relationships,” said Nathan.
“It’s rewarding knowing that we are enabling a country to defend itself.”
This is Nathan’s second overseas deployment. He served in Timor Lesté in 2007 for five months.
Nathan’s partner, Stephanie Camus, is an Army Psychologist. “I’m looking forward to a beer and I’d like to say hello to my partner Stephanie, my parents Lynette and Steve and the rest of my family,” said Nathan.
But even after Afghanistan, work will keep him away from home. After his promotion to Captain, he will be posted to 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin next year.
Nathan 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.