'Australia' Cloth Patch : Trooper R G J Khanlarian, 2 Cavalry Regiment

Rectangular cloth patch with Velcro backing. The patch has a Disruptive Pattern Desert Uniform (DPDU) background and features the Australian flag embroidered in blue, white and red. 'AUSTRALIA' is embroidered in blue below the flag.

Trooper Raeth Khanlarian was born in the United Kingdom and immigrated with his family to Australia as a child. He enlisted in the Australian Army in May 2001 and, after completing basic recruit training, was posted as a trainee to the School of Armour in Puckapunyal where he learnt his trade as an armoured vehicle crewman. In December 2001 Khanlarian was posted to 2 Cavalry Regiment as an armoured vehicle driver with 3 Troop, B Squadron. After returning to the School of Armour and completing an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) gunner’s course, Khanlarian was deployed to Iraq on Operation Catalyst where he served from 6 January 2004 to 23 May as an ASLAV-PC (personnel carrier) crew member. Khanlarian later returned to the School of Armour to conduct an ASLAV Crew Commanders course. Before he could complete the course he was returned to his unit and deployed to Iraq with the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) on 16 April 2005 as the Commanding Officer’s ASLAV driver and reserve gunner. The AMTG was based in southern Iraq and made up of approximately 450 personnel. They were tasked with providing a secure environment for the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group (JIRSG) and to assist in the training of local Iraqi Army units to enable them to take over the internal and external defence of their country. This patch was worn Trooper Khanlarian whilst serving in Iraq with the AMTG during 2005. It was collected from him, along with his uniform and other personal items, after his participation in an armoured escort of the AMTG’s Civil-Military Cooperation Cell (CIMIC) personnel who were assessing development requirements for an irrigation system to service farming areas south of the Euphrates River. The armoured escort was provided by an ASLAV patrol consisting of one ASLAV gun car and two ASLAV-PCs. Whilst patrolling through the urban township of As Samawah in the ASLAVs, Trooper Khanlarian was tasked with maintaining security to the rear of the vehicle, protecting it from threats such as small arms fire and vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, and guiding local traffic around the ASLAV patrol. When dismounted, Trooper Khanlarian was a member of a four man scout group and provided tactical awareness on the ground by scanning for and assessing threats, and ensuring the safety of the CIMIC members.