A 28-year-old Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan this week has begun final his journey home.
Lance Corporal Jared Mackinney was shot dead during a three-hour battle with insurgents on Tuesday.
Australian soldiers from the 1st Mentoring Task Force have farewelled the fallen soldier with a ramp ceremony at the Tarin Kowt base paying tribute to the fourth trooper killed in a fortnight.
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Commander of Australian forces in the Middle East Major General John Cantwell said Lance Corporal Mackinney was an extremely popular soldier who would be sorely missed by all.
His body will be flown to the United Arab Emirates before he makes the final journey home to Australia.
