MAJ Nigel Roden enjoys the view from the fl ight deck of a RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft
ACM Binskin happened to see a Sallyman in action at Fog Bay near Darwin during Ex Talisman Sabre 2015 . “ It got me thinking about the excellent support we have had for many years ,” ACM Binskin said . He thought the ADF was missing this “ important interaction ” on its long-term Middle East deployments , so he fixed it . The November 2016 to March 2017 deployment Nigel filled was originally meant to be an Everyman deployment , but their representative had to withdraw for medical reasons and Nigel was asked to go at short notice . On a professional level , he leapt at the chance . But there was a fair bit of “ looking ” to do before he made the leap . He and wife Penni , a Lavarack Barracks-based Sallyma ’ am , and their three boys - two in primary school and the oldest not long into secondary school - knew well the sacrifice the deployment would entail . Nigel had deployed before , to East Timor , and he was very much aware of the “ hit ” the family took when he was away , exacerbated by the extra pressure inherent with three special needs children . Their shared conviction about the positive effect philanthropic support has for a Digger and their family swung the pendulum . “ The professional decision was easy for me , the big decision had to be made on the home front ,” Nigel said . The main reason he was able to go was also the main reason for them being in the Sallyman ranks ... the Defence community . “ It was amazing , Defence people coming alongside Penni like you wouldn ’ t believe ,” Nigel said . He was based at Al Minhad Air Base ( AMAB ) since everybody who enters or leaves the MEAO comes through the base and he would be well-positioned there to meet the most number of people . He met ACM Binskin when he was on his way to visit troops in Afghanistan and Iraq . And he met RSM Task Group Afghanistan , WO1 Jason Watene . Jason is a big , buff Kiwi with plenty of Maori in his ancestry . He wears a broad smile more often than not and his smile only grew broader when Nigel approached him with a gentle , but none too subtle dig at his Kiwi background .
Sallyman Nigel Roden ( right ) meets up with fellow Salvation Army Offi cer , CHAP Scott Norman during a fi eld exercise at Majura Range
52 | AUGUST 2017