Resolute about WA border protection goals

He’s got a famous last name. But while his second cousins, Jamie and Patrick, are known for displaying their footy skills in the AFL with West Coast and Carlton, Lance Corporal Lloyd Cripps, of Northampton, represents the region in a different way. He has been in the Australian Defence Force for about six years after, as he says, “walking through the front door”. He has also got a “massive new skill set” and had the chance to give back as well as travel to the Torres Strait and around the local region, from Greenough to Coral Bay — although some of the training gets “a bit full on, occasionally”. “I told them it was a bit of an interest (and) they got me on my way,” he said. “(I’ve) done some community engagements and some live deployments.” A Defence Force spokesperson said recent patrols in Geraldton were part of the ongoing joint Resolute border protection operation between the WA and Federal Police, Australian Border Force and the ADF. Major Brendan Gilbert said the Pilbara Regiment, which the F Troop based at Geraldton’s depot is a part of, covered territory from the local area up to Port Hedland and used boats and ground vehicles like the ones on show last week to get people in and out of environments such as mangrove swamps in WA’s north. “We use the boats to get the guys in and out of remote locations,” he said. He said people who were interested in protecting the border could earn some money to do it tax-free, as Army Reserve locations such as F Troop were recruiting.