Personal Profile

Rodney Fraser

Warrant Officer Class 2 Rodney James Fraser

Rod Fraser commenced his long military career in 1966 with 2 Cdo Coy where he qualified for his Green Beret.

In 1968 selected Commandos, including Pte Fraser were trained as Regimental Signallers by members of 660 Signal Troop (126 Sig Sqn).

The following year a joint exercise with 126 Sig Sqn and 2 Cdo Coy was conducted at Port Macquarie, NSW. Once again Pte Fraser was exposed to the skills of the HF Signallers, however a country posting in his civilian job saw him transfer to the Royal Victorian Regiment.

On returning to Melbourne in 1971 Cpl Rod transferred to 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces).

During Exercise Appian Way (1973) Cpl Fraser was deployed as a trainee radio operator and when the trained operator was evacuated suffering heat exhaustion Cpl Fraser became the HF signaller. He also had the added burden of carrying both the HF and VHF radios along with their ancillary attachments.

In 1977 he was posted as Troop Sergeant to 571 Signal Troop. In 1978 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces) was given permission to wear the Green Beret. For Rod it was a case of dusting off the beret he wore as a Commando. Later on that year Sgt Fraser was seriously injured while undertaking airborne rapelling. After a period of hospitilisation he recovered sufficiently to return to duty. In 1981 WO2 Fraser was posted as an Instructor at the Officer Cadet Training Unit and returned to the Squadron in 1982.

WO2 Fraser had a number of postings in the Squadron, 596 & 571 Signal Troops, Commando Signal Troop, Rear Headquarters Signal Troop and Recruiting Cell. In 1997 WO2 Fraser retired from the General Reserve after serving 31 years, 25 of them with the Squadron.