OPERATION PLES DRAI PAPUA NEW GUINEA DROUGHT

THE PNG AND AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PEOPLE OF PNG DURING THE 1997 – 1998 DROUGHT

HI-TECH HEADQUARTERS

A warning to technophobes and luddites.

There are still some in the Army who remain reluctant to embrace current technology, for those few this story won't make them feel much better.

The headshed has long known of the importance of communications. The problem was the transportability of the office and its associated equipment. That obstacle no longer exists!

Mobile phones, laptops, modems, fax machines and virtually everything else has 'shrunk' compared to 10 years ago. It's now an easy exercise to pack up, go bush and take everything with you. Such is the case with JTF 105, the drought aid relief effort in Papua New Guinea, known as OPERATION SIERRA.

The equipment and technology deployed on this OP has made communicating at every level a simple exercise.

MAJ Peter "Doc" Holliday said for the first time a Local Area Network (LAN) hadd been used operationally. "In fact we've set up two LAN's, one at Murray Barracks (PNGDF HQ), the other at Airvos Rd (the secondary HQ) in Port Moresby which allows us to dial back to Brisbane and exchange eMail. The two locations enable us to man the HQ 24 hours a day" he said.

MAJ Holliday said the planning for the deployment of DJFHQ began 12 months ago. It was tried and tested during "Tandem Thrust" , and this is the first time we've deployed off shore.

There's also another first for OP SIERRA , the Defence Mobile Communications Network (DMCN) was deployed for the first time in an Area of Operations. Comms have been established from Port Moresby to Vanimo, a village at the top of PNG near the Irian Jaya border.

"We also have a video teleconference once a week via Inmarsat to DJFHQ in Brisbane, and if there's a need to talk at 'Secret' or 'Secret High', we can do that too," said MAJ Holliday.

He said about $500,000 worth of equipment was deployed to PNG, including about 20 laptops, two servers, two laser printers and a number of bubble jets as well as the 'moveable' LAN.

"As far as the Commander is concerned, about the only thing that changes is his location. He has the same equipment and support he has in Brisbane, except he's in Port Moresby," said MAJ Holliday.

Another first is for Defence Public Information Organisation. It's staff has established a site on the internet with "Global Technologies Ltd.", a Port Moresby based company. All stories and media releases are issued via eMail, meaning the various organisations receive the information almost immediately. CAPT Chip Henriss-Anderssen said "You write the story or media release, hit 'send' and the words and the photos - which have been scanned into the system - arrive at their destination almost instantly. The editorial staff can then make any necessary changes, everything is done on computer with no need for a paper printout, it's brilliant."

By: Captain Grant King - December 13 ,1997

Moving the Relief Supplies Picture Gallery.