Our People in SA
Jason Cameron - Northgate Airman has key role in Australia's Afghan mission
Former Playford High School senior Jason Cameron is now earning his living on the high plains of Afghanistan.
He’s playing a vital role in managing the arrival and dispatch of critical stores and equipment for troops at Australia’s main base in southern Afghanistan.
The man is now a corporal in the RAAF, and he’s part of the Australian load team at Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan Province.
The team’s job is to load and unload every aircraft that arrives at the landing strip.
“I’m very proud to be here and to be doing my part in this operation,” Jason said.
“I want to make my boys proud of me, and I am doing my part in making the world a better place for them,” he said.
Jason joined the Air Force with a few of his mates in 1991 and decided to specialise in air movements. After 12 years full-time in the Air Force, he transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 2003.
“One of the best parts of the job is that it involves working around aircraft – less than a third of the time involves deskwork,” Jason said.
It’s not Jason’s first trip overseas. He’s deployed all over Australia and also to many countries around the world including drought relief operations in Papua New Guinea.
But he’s already planning his next family holiday. Corporal He is looking forward to taking his wife and three children on holidays to Queensland when he completes his tour of duty.
Australia's military contribution to Afghanistan is part of the nation’s broader commitment to Coalition efforts against international terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and maritime security.
The Australian deployment, comprising around 1550 personnel in Afghanistan and a further 850 across the Middle East, is know as Operation SLIPPER.