Australian military continuing to assist in the rebuilding of Afghanistan

Australian forces are heading to the Middle East to begin advising Iraqi fighters in the battle against ISIL, a role that mirrors our ongoing commitment in Afghanistan.

The nation has now been at war for over 30 years, and the Australian team is trying to empower the locals to build a force capable of bringing an end to the civil unrest in the area and offer a stable future for its citizens.

Hundreds of our people continue to risk their lives to help rebuild the fragile nation.

Australia is no longer at war in the country, but our soldiers prepare every day for battle.

They’re what’s known as “Guardian Angels”: a highly skilled and highly trained infantry platoon deployed in Afghanistan as protection for when things go wrong.

They watch over Australia’s advisory team, who are on the ground training and assisting Afghan army troops fighting against the Taliban in the country’s south.

Their trainees are part of an army barely ten years old, and there is plenty to learn.

But the Australian task extends well beyond the battlefield, with key advisers guiding on army structure, tactics and administration in the hope of creating a professional outfit from the ground up.

The fight against insurgents is ongoing, as the Afghanistan National Army undertakes major offensives, resulting in heavy losses.

Again, the Australian contingent is there for support, helping to build and develop a military hospital able to cope with mass casualties.

There is also the ongoing threat of insider attacks.

The strategy to end the attacks is to cultivate a culture of belonging within the army and pride in the uniform – to instil the Aussie sense of mateship among the soldiers.

Throughout the army base, links are being forged between our countries.

Of particular note is a monument with the names of approximately 1500 Afghan soldiers killed in the conflict, inspired by our war memorial in Canberra.