Captain’s part in Australia's withdrawl from Afghanistan

PARKHURST’S Ray El Fakhry is doing his bit to help with the withdrawal of the Australian Defence Force from Afghanistan.

Captain (CAPT) Ray El Fakhry is currently on deployment in the Middle East Area of Operations as part of the logistical elements at Al Minhad Air Base. Photo Contributed. Picture: POIS Phil Cullinan

PARKHURST'S Ray El Fakhry is doing his bit to help with the withdrawal of the Australian Defence Force from Afghanistan.

As a captain in the army, Ray is assisting with the planning and logistical withdrawal of the ADF from Afghanistan, after 10 years of military operations against terrorists and criminals.

As the ADF mission in Afghanistan draws down, Ray is busy ensuring the vast amount of equipment and stores that are no longer required are returned to Australia.

Ray is one of many logistics, warehouse and supply specialists to locations across the Middle East, including Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where the 28-year-old is based.

"My job is to assist in the planning and logistical withdrawal from Afghanistan," he said.

"I am also heavily involved in coordinating soldier administration."

This is Ray's first operational deployment, one he believes he would not have been able to focus on without the fantastic support he receives from home.

"To be honest though, the biggest challenge, for me personally, is working and being away from my lovely wife and daughters," he said. "My wife has been instrumental in my ability to deploy.

"But knowing that she does such a great job with our children has helped reduce my worries about home and enable me to focus on my job over here."

Ray said he was looking forward to going home early next year.

Originally published as Captain’s part in Australia's withdrawl from Afghanistan