Our People in VIC
Steven Watsford - Video Games Go to War
Dromana soldier Steven Watsford is now earning his living as a high-tech soldier in the high mountains and dangerous valleys of Afghanistan.
His job is to pilot unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on surveillance missions from a forward base in the Chora Valley.
Steven grew up in the Dromana region and is the son of Greg and Pat Watsford. He was educated at Dromana Secondary College. Steven is a keen cricketer and was a past member of Dromana Cricket Club. Now he represents the Australian Army and also the Australian Defence Force.
“In Afghanistan I control up to three UAVs at a time on a variety of tasks including overwatch of Aussie patrols, as well as other Coalition Forces if the need arises,” Steven said.
“The work is very high tempo but very rewarding. It’s great to finally see a result after training over the past five years and to be able to put my skills and knowledge into use,” he said.
“It made me feel proud to be doing my job and helping my mates,” Steven said. “I know it provides an extra measure of security for our boys on patrol.”
This deployment has given Steven the opportunity to meet new people and to broaden his experience.
Steven enlisted in the army in 2004 at the age of 28 after deciding it was time for a change. This is his second overseas deployment: He was in Iraq in 2006/07 and has now been in Afghanistan for around 3 months.
Steven said the highlight of his deployment so far was providing situational awareness to his mates on the ground whilst they were in a firefight with Taliban insurgents.
Now he is part of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) based in Oruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan, part of Operation Slipper, ADF’s contribution to Coalition efforts against global terrorism.
Although he is making the most of his deployment, Steven misses his wife Dana. He keeps in regular contact with her by calling her when he can.
At the completion of his deployment Steven can’t wait to get home to re-celebrate Christmas with his wife and head back to Dromana to see his parents and brothers, Craig and Luke.