Chandra, Roneel (Major, b.1980)

Collection relating to the War in Afghanistan service of Major Roneel Chandra, Army Nursing Officer, Task Group Taji 3, Australian Army, Iraq and Australia, 2016.

Wallet 1 of 3 – Consists of eight documents relating to the deployment and service of Major Chandra with the Task Group Taji in Iraq, dated from April to December 2016. Documents include:

1x Q Store Record of Uniform Items issued for Task Group Taji, dated 20 April.
1x Adagold Aviation Boarding pass, issued on 28 September 2016 from Al Minhad Air Base Dubai to Brisbane for relief out of country leave.
1x Adagold Aviation Boarding pass, issued on 30 November 2016 from Al Minhad Air Base to Adelaide at the end of Chandra's Task Group Taji 3 (TG3) deployment.
1x Department of Defence Inventory form (original and copy), dated 28 October. This form relates to Major Chandra's uniform items.
1x RIP March-Out Form, dated 27 November. This form relates to tasks to be completed prior to marching out.
1x HQJOC Deployment Certification ADF Demounting Pay and Allowance Checklist, dated 28 November.
1x HQJOC Deployment Certification, dated 28 November.
1x Army News, dated 1 December. This newspaper contains articles about Task Group 4 replacing Task Group 3, specifically relating to a counter-IED training facility at the Taji Military Complex.

Wallet 2 of 3 – Consists of 11 cards and one letter written by Major Chandra to his daughters Priya and Alisha Chandra, and wife Michelle Elaine Chandra, dated June 2016 to June 2017. Items include:

3x Cards written to Alisha Chandra, dated from 15 July to 3 September 2016.
3x Cards written to Priya Chandra, dated 1 August 2016.
2x Cards written to Michelle Chandra, dated 1 August and 3 September 2016.
3x Cards written to Priya and Alisha Chandra, dated 5 June to 8 September 2016.
1x Letter written to Priya and Alisha Chandra, dated 16 June 2017. In this letter Major Chandra sends updates on his deployment, and his excitement to return home.

Wallet 3 of 3 – Consists of 13 items relating to Major Chandra’s service with the Task Group Taji in Iraq, dated from June to August 2016. These items were part of his ‘Daddy’s Deployment Wall’, and were displayed wall-mounted in Major Chandra's accommodation in Camp Taji. Items include:

3x Cards written from his daughters, Priya and Alisha and wife Mrs Michelle Elaine Chandra. In these cards they send Major Chandra’s birthday wishes and their love. (Many of these cards are handcrafted, and may have been sent as part of a 'cards for troops drive' to deployed soldiers, enabling them to send a card home to loved ones.)
1x Birthday card written from ‘Steve’ [exact identity unknown]. In this card he sends his birthday wishes.
1x Birthday card written from various people [thought to be serving with the Task Group Taji 3]. This card contains short birthday messages and signatures of unknown personnel.
1x Letter written from his daughter Alisha Chandra. In this letter she writes to send updates from home.
5x Photographs, dated 2016. The laminated photographs of various sizes depict portraits of Major Chandra and his daughters, wife and family members.
1x Letter written from Ms Rita Coenen, dated August 2016. This letter relates to her gift to Major Chandra of an Aussie Hero Quilt, and mentions her connections to Australian servicemen.
1x 2016 Wall Planner. Attached to this wall planner is one laminated image of Major Chandra’s daughters, and image of a cityscape of Brisbane [taken from a 2016 calendar]. This wall planner has Major Chandra’s deployment dates (16 May to 1 December) blacked out with marker.

LCDR Roneel Chandra enlisted in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 2000 as an Army Reserve soldier at 4/3RNSWR, whilst studying a Bachelor of Nursing. On completion of his degree in 2001, he worked as an Emergency Nurse at Liverpool Hospital. LCDR Chandra enjoyed the fitness, team-work and skills the military offered and decided to place his nursing career on hold and transfer to the ARA as an Infantryman. After posting to 6 RAR (Motorised) and 3 RAR (Para), LCDR Chandra combined his civilian nursing qualifications with his military experience by commissioning as a LT NO in 2005.
His NO postings included OIC Parachute Surgical Team 2006, RNO 2nd Commando Regiment 2008, 1st Health Support Battalion 2010, OIC Singleton Health Centre JHC 2013 and 2IC/OIC Shock Trauma Platoon between 2013 to 2017.

During Chandra's deployment on SOTG VII 2008 he was notified of an IED strike on a Bush Master during a SAS Troop mission. He was transported to the flight line in the US compound and boarded a US AME Black Hawk helicopter. The Black Hawk took off to retrieve two casualties, carrying Chandra (SOTG Nursing Officer), two US Para Rescue Medics, and four Air Crew. Providing escort was an Apache Gunship (Netherlands Defence Force). Reaching the location, troops on the ground had cleared the landing pad of mines and deployed an infrared strobe to indicate the landing pad. Just before the helicopter touche down the ground started browning out due to dust and poor visibility. The pilot returned to the to have another attempt at landing. Unfortunately, due to the downdraft of the helicopter the strobe light moved down hill and closer to the stretcher party; this caused the helicopter to tip; the rotor blades caught the ground and the helicopter had a violent landing, rolling down the hill.

Chandra and the two US medics exited the aircraft, conducted a hand over with the SAS Troop Medic and began treatment and monitoring of the two casualties. The helicopter was grounded, SAS Troop was required to provide ground security and an Apache helicopter provided overwatch. At daybreak a US CH47 carrying a recovery crew landed to assess and prepare the recovery of the AME Helicopter; with the Apache came two additional US Apaches to provide overwatch and escort. Chandra and the two casualties were loaded onto the CH47 and returned to Tarin Kowt. The casualties were handed over to the Dutch Medical Team and Australian Surgical Team. Chandra was assessed for a bleeding nose, whiplash and minor laceration right elbow, but was cleared to return to full duties in the evening.


Chandra's 18 years in the Army included deployments to East Timor 2004 OP Citadel, Afghanistan 2008 with Special Operations Task Group VII and Iraq 2016 with Task Group Taji III. LCDR Chandra's Post Graduate qualifications include Graduate Diploma Intensive Care 2012 and Masters in Nursing Nurse Practitioner 2016. He achieved the rank of MAJ in 2016. In order to remain in a deployable clinical role and diversify his career, LCDR Chandra service transferred to the RAN in 2018. In the short time as TL Resuscitation Department at MOHU he has conducted JWS 2018, OP APEC ASSIST 2018, OE 19 and IPE 19. Additionally in 2019 he conducted JWS 19 as OIC MR2 on-board HMAS Canberra.