Task Group Taji is a combined force of Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel that first deployed to Iraq in May 2015 at the request of the Iraqi Government. Its mission, led by Joint Task Force 633, is to build partner capacity by training Iraqi Security Forces and performing an 'advise and assist' role as part of international coalition efforts to defeat the Daesh terrorist group. The fourth rotation – Task Group Taji IV – deployed to Iraq from November 2016 to June 2017 as part of Australia's Operation OKRA and New Zealand's Operation MANAWA.
In series one, we follow members of Task Group Taji IV through their mission specific training in Darwin in October 2016, as they prepare to deploy. In episode one, we meet the Commander of Task Group Taji IV, Colonel Richard Vagg. He explains why the Task Group is deploying to Iraq and how the Australian Defence Force members under his command are training for their mission.