The No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF (382ECSS) was a Royal Australian Air Force combat support squadron established in 1998, and based at the RAAF Base Amberley, southwest of Ipswich, Queensland. It is a fully deployable unit which provides operational support to a forward operating base. Although its usual role was to supplement base services at RAAF Base Amberley, it had the capability to deploy to bare base and provide all the services to make it a fully operational base.
In 1999, the 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron spent three months with Peacekeeping forces in East Timor. The squadron repaired the Cakung airfield, the only airfield in East Timor capable of taking wide-body aircraft, which was vandalised when the Indonesian military left East Timor. Once the 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron repaired the airfield, it was used as entry point for Interfet and humanitarian personnel and assistance.
In 2003, the Australian Defence Force commenced a $1 billion upgrade of its fleet of trucks, trailers and motorbikes, and the 382 Expeditionary Combat Squadron was chosen to receive the initial roll-out of the replacement fleet. The new vehicles included trailers used for transporting personnel and supplies, evacuating casualties, and communication systems.
The 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron helped with clean up efforts in The Gap in Queensland after 16 November, 2008, storms wreaked havoc on the area. In 2007 they spent 39 weeks in the Middle East.
On 1 July 2010 changes to the structure of the Combat Support Group resulted in the functions of 382ECSS being integrated with No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron at RAAF Amberley and 382ECSS being expanded to provide all support elements require by 23 SQN.
Famous quotes containing the words combat, support and/or squadron:
“In case I conk out, this is provisionally what I have to do: I must clarify obscurities; I must make clearer definite ideas or dissociations. I must find a verbal formula to combat the rise of brutality—the principle of order versus the split atom.”
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)
“They [women] can use their abilities to support each other, even as they develop more effective and appropriate ways of dealing with power.... Women do not need to diminish other women ... [they] need the power to advance their own development, but they do not “need” the power to limit the development of others.”
—Jean Baker Miller (20th century)
“Well gentlemen, this is it. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Tonight your target is Tokyo. And you’re gonna play ‘em the Star Spangled Banner with two-ton bombs. All you’ve got to do is to remember what you’ve learned and follow your squadron leaders. They’ll get you in, and they’ll get you out. Any questions? All right that’s all. Good luck to you. Give ‘em hell.”
—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)