Deployments and peacekeeping exercises are your chance to travel Australia and the world while working on important humanitarian and disaster relief programs. Below are just a few examples of recent Navy deployments and exercises.
The Royal Australian Navy's heavy landing ship HMAS Tobruk recently anchored off the coast of the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu to commence its humanitarian aid delivery to Tonga, following the tsunami which devastated the island on 30 September 2009. This initiative is the second leg of HMAS Tobruk's support to the Pacific, having recently stopped in Samoa to render similar assistance. The Navy will deliver over 500 tonnes of much needed equipment and public donations to assist with the re-establishment of vital infrastructure and to ensure affected communities have access to essential services such as power, water, health facilities and education.
Operation SLIPPER is Australia’s military contribution to the international campaigns against terrorism, countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and maritime security in the Middle East Area of Operations.
Under Operation SLIPPER, Australian forces contribute to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), in Afghanistan. ISAF is working to bring security and stability to Afghanistan, as well as attempting to prevent the country from once again becoming a home for international terrorists.
Around 1550 ADF personnel are based within Afghanistan as part of Operation SLIPPER, while about 800 personnel are deployed across the broader Middle East Area of Operations.