Trading a flying suit for 'greens' is not something many aviators choose to do, but Squadron Leader Zalie Duffy saw the opportunity as a unique challenge to expand her leadership skills and knowledge of other aspects of Air Force.
Squadron Leader Duffy posted to 381 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown in January 2024 as the Executive Officer after spending most of her Air Force career in aviation, including as a weapon systems officer on the F-111 and F/A-18F Super Hornet.
As a contingency response squadron, 381 Squadron provides expeditionary airbase operations capability to enable the projection of airpower with members primarily wearing the ADF green uniform, more commonly associated with Army.
For Squadron Leader Duffy, this meant getting up to speed with long lost green ground skills and understanding the diverse capabilities across Combat Support Group.
"I've experienced Combat Support Group from an aircrew perspective, but I was a little bit apprehensive coming in at first," Squadron Leader Duffy said.
"Combat Support Group is a big machine with many different cogs that all come together to run airbase operations, and I don't think I appreciated all the musterings until now."
Participating in Exercise Stoic Gauntlet 24, Squadron Leader Duffy was appointed as Commander Task Element, responsible for the leadership of the expeditionary capabilities in the exercise - another first for her.
"I've learned that I don't know what I don't know, but having quality aviators around me to provide subject-matter advice has been invaluable," Squadron Leader Duffy said.
"Seeing their professionalism through all the different aspects of the exercise has been really encouraging for not just myself, but for themselves and their team."
For aviators considering a stint in Combat Support Group, Squadron Leader Duffy's advice is to go for it.
"I think it would be great for some of the more non-traditional musterings to experience and share their knowledge with Combat Support Group," Squadron Leader Duffy said.
"It's easy to stay in a comfort zone, and it's not nice stepping out of that, but I think acknowledging the potential reward, growth and development for myself, or the positive influence of an aviator here or there makes it worth it."
