As Exercise Pitch Black 2024 continues in Australia’s Top End, Australia’s international partners are making their presence known in more than just the air.
Embedded within 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron are thousands of personnel from participating countries, assisting with everything from catering and security to mechanical and logistics roles.
This includes personnel from the Italian Navy, Royal Air Force, United States Marine Corps, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Army.
Commanding Officer of 13 Squadron and Senior Australian Defence Force Officer for RAAF Darwin and Curtin, Wing Commander Lauren Guest, said the assistance of these personnel has been essential to the success of the exercise.
“RAAF Darwin, and 13 Squadron as a result, is postured to surge. For major exercises like Pitch Black, we achieve airbase operations success through the expansion of our team with ADF and Foreign Force augmentation,” Squadron Leader Guest said.
‘The foreign forces bring their own culture, experiences and skills, which enable incidental cross-training and innovation.’
“13 Squadron is richer for having them in location, and together we are allowing 20 countries to thrive because the basics have been addressed.”
‘The foreign forces bring their own culture, experiences and skills, which enable incidental cross-training and innovation.’
Officer In Charge of 13 Squadron Catering Flying Officer Sophie Lanson said the international assistance greatly assists with the surge in catering requirements during the exercise.
“RAAF Darwin has come alive during Pitch Black 2024. We are supporting between 4000 to 4500 people involved in the exercise but also our regular Darwin stakeholders,” Flying Officer Lanson said.
“It is fantastic. It really builds my confidence in how easy it is to almost instantly begin operating with other partner countries.
“It’s also a really great opportunity for our chefs to prepare different cuisines to what they would ordinarily prepare.”
13 Squadron Officer in Charge of Logistics and Warehousing Flying Officer Allistair Demos said the size of his team doubles during Exercise Pitch Black.
“I am excited and privileged to have the opportunity to work with our international partners,” Flying Officer Demos said.
“It’s surreal to be working side by side with such enthusiastic nations.”
Staff Sergeant VT Tuiwai, from the Republic of Fiji Military Services, is working with 13 Squadron Air Movements and is equally excited about the opportunity.
“We don’t have aircraft in the Fiji military so this is a great opportunity to build our knowledge and understanding, and make friends from many countries,” Staff Sergeant Tuiwai said.
