ULLADULLA’S Rob Hardwick is no fish out of water as a sailor in the Sinai desert, where his role as a peace-monitor has made him the toast of his local community.
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Most Navy personnel are happiest in a ship on the ocean, but Rob is equally at home in the desert sands of the Sinai.
As a Navy Petty Officer communications information systems operator, Rob is one of 25 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on Operation Mazurka, as part of the multinational force and observers in Egypt’s Sinai.
Rob, 40, is deployed to the Sinai as the information and communications technology clerk, which comprises mostly administrative duties, but allows him to travel to outlying stations to check communications equipment.
“I'm enjoying getting out to remote stations for site inspections, because it is such a fascinating location,” he said.
“I also really enjoying the multicultural aspect of working with other militaries, and have made many new friends here.”
Rob said he would have lots of interesting stories to tell his father, Ron, when he returns home in four months.
“I feel really at home here and although the days are hot, we have all become used to it,” he said.
“We're lucky to have a great team here and we all get along very well.”
Rob said one of the stories he would tell his father was about the social and sport side of the deployment, which was a lot of fun.
“We have a volleyball competition on at the moment, although we're sitting around the middle of the pack,” he said.
“Through the other sporting events and social activities, we have got to know many other military personnel from the other contingents and made some great friends.”
The multinational force and observers is a non-UN organisation established in 1981 to oversee peace arrangements in the region and is made up of 12 nations.
ADF members working under Operation Mazurka with the multinational force and observers are helping in the peace process by monitoring the border, preparing daily operational briefings and supporting the headquarters.