Two Australian soldiers have been seriously wounded after an improvised explosive device detonated against their Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle in the Baluchi Valley region of Uruzgan Province.

 

The two soldiers, part of a larger partnered 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF1) and Afghan National Army patrol, remain in a satisfactory condition. The next of kin of both the wounded soldiers have been contacted.

These casualties bring the number of Australians wounded this year to 49. To date, 149 personnel have been wounded since Operation Slipper began.

Commanding Officer of the MTF1, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jennings said the soldiers were treated by their mates at the incident scene before being evacuated to a nearby International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) hospital in Tarin Kot for further treatment.

 

"The team had the site secured, first aid applied and casualty evacuation underway in matter of minutes," he explained.

 

"The process worked extremely well with both soldiers receiving quality medical attention at Tarin Kot less than 50 minutes after the blast occurred."

 

The incident comes a day after the deaths of Private Tomas Dale, 21, and Private Grant Kirby, 35 who were killed while providing over-watch for an operation by fellow members of their patrol in the Baluchi Valley.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Jennings said that the Task Force was still coming to terms with the loss of Privates Tomas Dale and Grant Kirby on Friday when the incident occurred.

 

"It's testament to the professionalism of the soldiers I proudly command that they have got straight back into the job at hand and performed admirably under trying circumstances."

 

Uruzgan Province has one of the highest rates of improvised explosive device activity in Afghanistan.

 

 

 

 

 

Source http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2010/Aug/0822.htm

goddamn insurgents

 

but seriously, I hope they recover quickly, and are rewarded for their bravery.

Good luck to their swift recovery!

Sad times lately :closedeyes: