Australian soldier killed by IED

Australian Private Benjamin Ranaudo was killed by an anti-personnel explosive device in Afghanistan on 18 July, 2009.

Private Ranaudo was a member of the Townsville-based 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. He was a member of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan and was killed while on operations north of Tarin Kot.

Private Benjamin Ranaudo

He enlisted into the Australian Regular Army on the 19th of May 2006. After completing his Recruit Training he was allocated to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and commenced his Initial Employment Training at Singleton, New South Wales. 

At the completion of his Initial Employment Training in Nov 2006, Private Ranaudo was posted to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. During his service with 1 RAR, Private Ranaudo deployed to East Timor as part of Operation Astute, and to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. 

After returning from East Timor in October 2007, Private Ranaudo completed the 1 RAR Basic Reconnaissance course and was posted to Reconnaissance Platoon in May 2008. As part of lead up training for Afghanistan in late 2008, Private Ranaudo completed a Combat First Aider course and a Protected Mobility Vehicle Drivers course. He deployed as a Rifleman with 2 Platoon, Combat Team A for Operation Slipper. 

For his service in East Timor and Afghanistan, Private Ranaudo was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with International Coalition Against Terrorism clasp, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Australian Service Medal with Timor-Leste clasp, Australian Defence Medal, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - International Security Assistance Force Medal, the East Timor Solidarity Medal, the Infantry Combat Badge and the Return from Active Service Badge.