Dias, Steven John (Corporal, b.?)

Collection relating to the War in Afghanistan (Operation Slipper) service of Corporal Steven John Dias, 3 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Mentoring Task Force Five (MTF-5), Afghanistan, 2012.

Wallet 1 of 1 - Collection consists of seven letters written to Dias by Australian civilians, strangers to Dias, expressing their appreciation for his service, and their sympathies for the loss of Australian servicemen in Afghanistan. The collection also contains two certificates of commendation, one from NATO awarding him the Non-Article 5 NATO medal, and the other from the Afghan National Army. Finally, the collection contains a single, handwritten letter from Dias' niece with an illustration of a 'guardian angel' for Dias.

Corporal Steven John Dias joined the Australian Army in 2003 as an Infantry reservist with the Sydney University Regiment. In 2008 Dias joined the Royal Military College as a staff cadet, but due to an injury, as well as the ability to speak multiple languages, Dias became a member of the Australian Army Intelligence Corps. In May 2013, Dias was chosen to be the Intelligence Analyst for C Company, 3RAR . Based in the Mirabad Valley and Uruzgan Regions, Dais' role involved gathering local intelligence, attending local decision making consultations called 'Shuras', and training Aghan Intelligence soldiers.