MAJ Nigel Roden and
his mobile “Hop In”
Jason, now RSM 2/17 RNSWR
in Pymble NSW, described
Nigel as being “contagious”.
“He was so enthusiastic, energetic
and charismatic,” Jason said.
It was Jason’s suggestion to
seek permission to take Nigel
forward to the Afghan National
Offi cers Academy (ANOA)
where TG Afghanistan was
headquartered in Kabul.
Nigel had introduced a
regular tour of AMAB which
he conducted on a bicycle
borrowed from the gym dubbed
the “brew tour” by HQ staff ers.
He took a backpack stuff ed with
lollies and biscuits and with a
specially-packaged Aeropress coff ee
plunger, he would do his rounds.
At Kabul, he varied it slightly
by walking around to each
of the sentries patrolling
the walls of the base.
“He went up to each of them, gave
them a hot coff ee, had a chat, and
the soldiers loved it,” Jason said.
“They could talk to him about
anything, and they knew it
would be in confi dence.”
Jason said COMD TG Afghanistan
BRIG Mick Prictor presented
Nigel with a Commander’s
Coin at the end of his tour.
Sallyman MAJ Nigel Roden off ers a drink or two during a fi eld exercise at Majura Range
54 | AUGUST 2017