Photo By Sgt. Nevada Jack Smith | Australian Cpl. Brendon James Hall, search commander of the Other Government Agency...... read more read more
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TARIN KOT, Afghanistan – While people back home are relaxing, grilling a steak, maybe watching the war on the news, Cpl. Brendon James Hall, a Geraldton, Australian native, is living it.
Hall spends his days in the Uruzgan province of Afghanistan keeping people safe, his job, to be the search commander for the Other Government Agency Platoon, Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Hall may not be in the same place every day, and his day-to-day operations may change, but his mission never does. Hall holds the safety of others in his hands and each day he makes sure that members of the PRT, a group that meets with locals to help the country, are safe to do their work.
“That’s where we come in. We provide them support by planning and clearing the route to wherever they are going and just making sure the general area is safe for them,” said Hall. “We are in a dangerous area and the people who organize the PRT meetings need someone to watch over them so they can do what they do.”
Recently, Hall and his team led a route clearance mission through parts of Uruzgan province.
On the mission, the soldiers were sweeping the road for mines and improvised explosive devices. After a few hours of searching, the soldiers found one.
Hall and his team quickly managed to destroy the device, ensuring it could not be used to harm another soldier.
“Cpl. Hall is really precise in his planning and always mitigates the threats to his troops,” said, Sapper Joel Toms, an explosive detection dog handler with Mentoring Task Force 4.
Hall carries himself like a leader and says he gets some of his inspiration from an important person back home.
“I always grew up respecting my father. I thought what he did and the service he provided to his community was very important. I thought that I could maybe do that one day myself,” said Hall. “I didn’t think the police was the right thing for me though and I had a look at the Army. Once I decided to join, I never looked back.”
During his career in the military Hall has had the opportunity to serve and train with Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, British, and U.S. service members, and is currently on his second tour in Afghanistan.
Nearing the end of his tour, Hall will soon be journeying home.
“It’s always good to get back to Geraldton and see the friends and families,” said Hall.
When asked what he wanted to do when he returned, Hall said, “I definitely miss the beach. Once I get home I’m going to take my board and go for a surf, maybe visit the pub.”
Hall also had a message for all his friends and family back home, “Keep the beers cold because I’ll be seeing you soon.”
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.09.2012 05:42 |
| Story ID: | 91267 |
| Location: | TARIN KOWT, AF |
| Web Views: | 501 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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