Lee Sinn
Wakka Wakka (South East Queensland)
Sergeant
Australian Army Aviation Corps
Australian Army
Iraq Veteran

Medals
Australian Active Service Medal with clasp Iraq
Iraq Medal
Australian Service Medal with clasps West Sahara & Bougainville
Defence Long Service Medal with 1st clasp
Australian Defence Medal
UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara Medal
Army Combat Badge
Returned from Active Service Badge

I enlisted in the Australian Army on 8 Jan 1986. After three months boot camp, I was employed as a Gun Number ECN 162 (artillery gun crew member) in the Royal Australian Artillery and posted to 4th Field Regiment, 108 Field Battery and later to 1st Field Regiment, 101 Field Battery. In 1989, I was assigned as a Gun Number to Proof and Experimental Establishment (P&EE) Graytown in Victoria. In 1992 I completed my Artillery Signalman Course ECN 361 before being posted back to 4 Field Regiment HQ Battery and promoted to Lance Bombardier. Three months later, I deployed overseas to the Sahara Desert for nine months on Operation Cedilla, with 5 ASC (Australian Service Contingent) MINURSO, Australia’s contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara. At the completion of my deployment, I was promoted to Bombardier.

Following Operation Cedilla, I applied for a Corps transfer to the Australian Army Aviation Corps, and in 1995 I handed back rank and was posted to 1st Aviation Regiment located at Oakey. I served first with 173 Surveillance Squadron Fixed Wing and then Headquarters 1st Aviation Regiment Ops. In 1997 I was assigned to the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School as a Ground Instructor and promoted to Corporal. In 1999 I deployed overseas to England for 6 months on exchange and participated in Exercise LongLook. On my return to Australia, I was posted as Squadron Operations Corporal to 171 Operational Support Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment, working with Iroquois Gunships. I remained at 1st Regt until December 2002, during which time I again deployed overseas on a peacekeeping mission, Operation Bel-Isi II, in Bougainville for three months.

Following a posting from 2003 to the end of 2004, as the Commander’s Driver at Headquarters 16 Brigade Army Aviation, I was promoted to Sergeant at 5th Aviation Regiment working with Tactical Assault Group TAG East CDO (Commando) and Tag West SASR (SAS Regiment). By this time, I had completed 20 years’ service with the Australian Regular Army. I decided to transfer to Army Reserve service and was employed as the Head Chauffeur and security for the Governor of Queensland, Quentin Bryce for 18 months. I was then deployed to Southern Iraq for 7 months as a CIMIC (Civil-Military Cooperation) Officer with Overwatch Battlegroup Number 4 West (OWB(4)W). We were the last combat troops to be deployed to Southern Iraq. I returned home on 14 July 2008. I continued to be an active reservist, working as an Army Recruiting Sergeant and as a relief driver security for the Deputy Premier, the Hon. Paul Lucas, and Ministers Kate Jones and Neil Roberts.