Guitar pick : Wing Commander R Rodgers, Joint Task Force 633

Celluloid tortoiseshell patterned guitar pick. The words 'Fender 50th Anniversary The World's No1 Pick 1955 - 2005' are printed in gold on one side.

Guitar pick used to play the Washburn acoustic guitar signed by Australian members of Headquarters, Joint Task Force 633 (JTF 633) during their deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan from April to October 2006, and by members of the Tour de Force 2006 (a small concert tour). The guitar was owned by 0265446 Wing Commander Robert Peter (Bob) Rodgers, CSM, AASM, Director Personnel, Air Force. Joint Task Force 633 had two commanders during this period: Brigadier Michael (Mick) Moon and Brigadier Paul Symons. According to Wing Commander Rodgers, JTF 633 ‘managed a number of important issues and incidents in Iraq, including the planning and preparations for Provincial Iraqi Control in two provinces (including Al Muthanna) and the establishment of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan. [We] go home very tired but very satisfied.’ Regarding the composition of the Task Force Headquarters staff, Rodgers comments that they were ‘drawn from the three services and also the Australian Public Service (Policy Adviser). They make a formidable team; planning operations; force insertion and extractions; managing incidents and building close and effective relationships with our Coalition Allies. The camp in which the Headquarters sits is regularly the subject of indirect fire attacks and it is not uncommon to have small arms fire coming into the camp, which at times has come perilously close to Australian personnel.’ The Washburn D-9S guitar and pick was purchased by Wing Commander Rodgers just prior to his deployment. It was used to entertain fellow members of JTF 633 (many of whom have signed the guitar) and particularly on small concert tours in 2006 called the Tour de Force and the Camp Slayer Tour. The song ‘My Postcard from Iraq’ was composed and played on the guitar by Rodgers (see P05561).