Our People in QLD
Roger Briggs - Warwick Soldier in Sumatra Rescue
Humanitarian aid missions would not be able to work effectively without the support of officers like Warwick’s Roger Briggs.
Now an Army Captain, Roger has specialised as a medical planner and he’s usually based in Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera. But now he’s in Padang, working as the welfare officer, as a part of the ADF’s response to the devastating earthquake that struck the city on September 30.
Growing up in Warwick Queensland, CAPT Briggs enjoyed the great outdoors which led him to join the Army way back in 1978 as a digger. He then worked his way through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class 2 before leaving for a break.
But after several years he decided to rejoin as a commissioned officer in the Medical Corps in 2006. “I missed the people, the work and the moving around,” he said.
“I found the Army has equipped me with some very special skills which I was able to put to the test last year when I walked the Kokoda Track with my brothers.
“It was a very challenging experience but I found that the Army lifestyle, discipline and training prepared me for the physical and mental challenges of completing the trek.”
This is the first humanitarian aid deployment for Roger and his first time in Indonesia.
“I didn’t have a lot of prior warning that I would be coming,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting so many large buildings and I wasn’t expecting the amount of completely destroyed buildings.”
When CAPT Briggs returns to Australia he will be on the move yet again. He’ll be getting ready to post out of 1 Div and move back up to Townsville in the new year.
Operation Padang Assist is the ADF response to the earthquake that hit west Sumatra on September 30th. The ADF is working in conjunction with AusAID and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide appropriate aid where it will help to the people of Padang.