Our People in VIC
Danny Peacock - Training the future
Grantville’s Danny Peacock, 20, is now earning his living in the dangerous valleys of Oruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan.
This is the first overseas operational deployment for the young sapper (Army engineer), who these days is usually based in Townsville.
Danny attended Wonthaggi Secondary College and used to play football for Gippsland’s Kilcunda-Bass. Now he’s playing for his unit.
Danny job is to help train up Afghan National Army engineers, teaching them various skills including how to find improvised explosive devices.
“I help develop their soldier skills so they can look after themselves and the area,” he said. “It’s a privilege to train a foreign army in an active combat role – very rewarding.”
One of the highlights so far has been watching the Afghans develop as soldiers in their specialist roles.
“For me as an engineer, mentoring them to successfully clear a route of improved explosive devices makes all the training worth while,” Danny said.
“It was hard to know what to expect before coming over to Afghanistan and I seem to learn more and more with every mission I’m on.
“When flying around the area in a Black Hawk, you get to see the massive mountain ranges, vast deserts and flourishing green zones, it really shows all the different parts of the country.”
But despite the highs there are bad moments too.
“The low-light is always going to be the ramp ceremonies for the guys that won’t make it home,” said Danny.
“There’s a massive contrast to what we have in Australia and the simple lives the Afghans live. Family means everything to them and things are not complicated by technology,” he said.
“While it can be very hard work, I couldn’t think of much more I’d rather be doing. But I’m looking forward to catching up with my family and friends when I’m due home in March next year.”
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 known as Operation SLIPPER.