Koonoomoo is a long way from South Korea.
But for Royal Australian Air Force Corporal Casey Childs and former Koonoomoo resident, the trip is just part of her life as a supplier for 33 Squadron.
Recently, Cpl Childs played a crucial role during military exercises like Vigilant Defense 24 in Gimhae, South Korea.
Cpl Childs was arguably never destined to wear the RAAF uniform.
In 2015, she decided to join the Australian Defence Force through its ADF Gap Year program.
“I was truly unsure what I wanted to do when I grew up, but I knew I wanted to challenge myself,” Cpl Childs said.
Joining the RAAF in 2016 she admits that her career has shaped her for the better and that a real drawcard was the sense of community that the military fosters.
“Serving in the ADF means you need to be able to adapt and overcome obstacles,” she said.
“But it helps when we are all working together and supporting each other to achieve the same goal. What I didn’t expect to find in this career was such an amazing community, life-changing experiences and a support network I never knew I needed.”
During Exercise Vigilant Defense 24, Cpl Childs was the supply interface between the operational elements and 33 Squadron personnel.
The squadron flies a KC-30A Multi-role tanker transport, a converted A330 airliner capable of refuelling other aircraft in mid-flight.
Air-to-air refuelling keeps aircraft airborne and gives them more extended range, making the KC-30A and 33 Squadron an essential part of an international exercise.
Ensuring the KC-30A can refuel starts with work by Cpl Childs and her immediate team members, and the former Koonoomoo resident was involved from the initial planning of Exercise Vigilant Defense 24 right up to the execution at Gimhae Air Base.
“I control inventory management, procurement, storage, and the physical distribution of assets to the required musterings while deployed on Exercise Vigilant Defense 24 so 33 Squadron can meet their mission objectives,” she said.