Australian Army soldiers from the Special Operations Task Group wave goodbye to the families of Australia’s fallen after a ceremony at Multi National Base – Tarin Kot, southern Afghanistan. *** Local Caption *** Many of the families of Australia’s 40 soldiers killed in Afghanistan made a brief visit to Multi National Base – Tarin Kot (MNB–TK), Uruzgan, southern Afghanistan, on Saturday, 2 November 2013 to visit the country where their sons, husbands and partners served.
The Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General David Hurley, AC, DSC, hosted the 57 family members on the flight into Tarin Kot aboard a Royal Australian Air Force C–17 Globemaster aircraft.
Family members visited Camp Holland and Camp Russell before a ceremony was held at the MNB–TK memorial , which honours the 114 International Security Assistance Force personnel killed in Uruzgan province since 2002.
While in MNB–TK, family members ate lunch in the mess, visited hardened accommodation facilities and the Role 2 medical facility, before meeting Australian soldiers currently serving at the base.
After arriving back at Al Minhad air base in the United Arab Emirates, the family members enjoyed a BBQ dinner before returning to Australia the next day.
In line with the transition process agreed by NATO, ISAF partner nations and the Afghan Government, Australia’s civilian and military presence in Uruzgan will conclude by the end of 2013 with the Afghan National Security Forces in Uruzgan assuming lead security responsibility for the province.