Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2005/Piloting the Aust TF in Iraq - Ledger Domain
By Cpl Cameron Jamieson
He commands the largest concentration of Australian soldiers deployed outside of Australia, yet he has never been a digger.That doesn't stop Commodore Geoffrey Ledger from doing his job though. Instead, it pushes him to work harder.
CDRE Ledger is the Commander of Joint Task Force 633 (JTF633), the ADF elements assigned to the Middle East Area of Operations as part of Operation Catalyst. A Navy pilot with over 30 year's experience, his current joint-force command is providing him with many challenges.
"It's certainly a diverse job,' he said. "You can't describe a normal day because there is no such thing. You have different challenges every day; be they personnel, operational or logistical challenges."
One issue CDRE Ledger does face every day is force protection."
Prior to coming here I was Commander of the Australian Naval Aviation Group at Nowra and before I left we lost the Sea King helicopter," he said. "That graphically reminded me of how you can lose good people through an operational accident. "
I came here very cognisant of the fact that we have troops in harm's way; and that we could lose someone. So I made a promise to myself that I would encourage and develop a force protection posture that makes the people here as safe as possible."
The job of task force commander requires CDRE Ledger to travel throughout the theatre to meet the troops under his command. Many of them are soldiers who are naturally curious as to why they have a Naval aviator as their commander."
I was asked recently by a cavalry soldier from the Al Muthanna Task Group what a Navy Commodore knew about Army operations," he said. "I told him I'd been around for a few years and I had a lot of experts working with me - just like his boss, the CO of the AMTG. He's not an expert in every field and, like me, he has staff officers to advise him on intelligence, communications, logistics and the like to help him out.
"I told the cavalryman that, like his boss, I take that advice and make decisions and if someone is not doing their job then they'll hear about it from me. I made a point of telling the soldier that if he didn't drive his ASLAV properly it would reach my ears and he would soon hear from me personally. We both had a good laugh over that."
CDRE Ledger said it was very satisfying to travel around and talk with the Australian forces and find out first-hand what they are up to.
"It's also great to see the Iraqis interacting with our training team staff. It makes me feel good to see it all working," he said.
Travelling to various locations in Iraq has left a deep impression on CDRE Ledger about the history and future of the ancient land.
"Iraq is a very beautiful country that's been ruined by the rule of Saddam Hussein," he said. "He wasted so much money that could have been used to improve the country's infrastructure and ensure the Iraqi people were well fed and educated.
"The coalition is doing its best to make these things happen now while assisting the Iraqis to build their new democracy. I hope after the elections in December I can read in the paper how Iraq is moving ahead in great leaps and bounds."
CDRE Ledger believes the situation in Iraq is progressing - as is the ADF's mission to help rebuild and rehabilitate Iraq.
"One of the key things we're doing here is building confidence," he said. "We have our training teams in Al Muthanna and Taji, defence civilians at the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, and senior officers within the Multi-National command elements.
"Australian personnel are working in critical areas of infrastructure, logistics and training and - while our presence isn't as large as other nations - we are advising, teaching and mentoring wherever we can.
"While CDRE Ledger is very busy with his command role in Iraq, his frequent travels in RAAF C130 Hercules and US Blackhawk helicopters give him time to reflect on his passion for military aviation.
"I see the aircrew working under extreme conditions here and I'm full of admiration for the in-theatre aviators ," he said. "At least by travelling with them I'm as close as I can get to flying without being in the front seat."
