In what is believed to be a first, an all-female security team deployed internationally and provided airfield security for a VIP visit.
Team leader, Leading Aircraftwoman May Bailey, of 34 Squadron, said they provided a physical security presence to ensure the aircraft’s safety was maintained during the visit to Laos.
“Going places with a RAAF aircraft brings attention and people are always quite interested. It’s all about being security-minded and not giving away too much information,” Leading Aircraftwoman Bailey said.
Arriving in Laos several days before the VIP, the team met airport staff and gathered information for an airfield survey.
The women secured the area and conducted a handover with the aircraft’s captain on arrival.
‘It was definitely great to see – we had an all-female team, a female Defence Attaché, and the female ambassador with the VIP.’
The team comprised of another 34 Squadron aviator, Leading Aircraftwoman Briana Stevenson, and Aircraftwomen Sarah Mullineux and Saraiah Walker from 1 Security Forces Squadron (1SECFOR).
Previous deployments took the members to places such as Nauru, Brazil, Turkey and Poland, with a highlight being their mission to France for the 75th D-Day anniversary.
“It was a really special thing to be part of, to be in Caen in France and going to the British memorial and the beaches where it happened,” Leading Aircraftwoman Bailey said.
Both Leading Aircraftwoman Bailey and Leading Aircraftwoman Stevenson joined the Air Force through the Gap Year program and stayed on due to the role’s unique opportunities.
“As well as giving me the opportunity to travel, I had an interest in weapons and going out field, so I thought the job would be interesting and fun,” Leading Aircraftwoman Bailey said.
“I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool, different stuff, so I’m really grateful for that.”
The team from 1SECFOR was already in Canberra when the Laos task arose, and due to high demand, 34 Squadron extended their deployment.
‘It was pretty exciting because it’s never been done before at 34 Squadron or 1SECFOR.’
It wasn’t planned as an all-female crew, but that was just how it turned out, Leading Aircraftwoman Bailey said.
“It just fell into place the way that it did,” she said.
“It was pretty exciting because it’s never been done before at 34 Squadron or 1SECFOR.”
Leading Aircraftwoman Stevenson added: “It was definitely great to see – we had an all-female team, a female Defence Attaché, and the female ambassador with the VIP.”
Leading Aircraftwoman Bailey said working at the squadron was an interesting change to the usual tasks for Air Force security.
“It’s great to being able to partake in helping to ensure our national leaders can travel globally with high standards of security,” she said.
