Posted by Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

Australian Government-donated Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles bound for Ukraine at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, in April 2022. Photo by Corporal Jesse Kane.

Contract to replace some Bushmasters sent to Ukraine

17/05/202317/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3350 Views 1 Comment Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles

Thales Australia has welcomed the announcement today by Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy of a $160million contract to build

Australian Army trauma nurse then Lieutenant, now Lieutenant Colonel Kylie Hasse, in a Mentoring Task Force – Three (MTF–3) medical facility where she cared for many Afghan locals, as well as Australian and Coalition military personnel at Tarin Kot, Afghanistan. Photo by Leading Seaman Andrew Dakin.

ADF People Australian Army News

Army nurse wins prestigious scholarship

16/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2804 Views 0 Comments

An Australian Army nursing officer and war veteran has been awarded a Bonnie Boezeman scholarship to further her leadership goals.

Australian Army soldiers from Combat Team Viper discuss tactics during Exercise Viper Strike at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera. Photo by Captain Cody Tsaousis.

Australian Army News

Exercise Viper Strike tests 6RAR’s combined-arms teaming

16/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2104 Views 0 Comments 6RAR

Exercise Viper Strike was held this month to enhance the ability of different units to work with each other in

Australian Army soldier Private Paula Pires, from 4th/3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, during Exercise Waratah Run at Singleton, NSW. Photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Australian Army News

Army Reserve soldier foundation training reduced to just three weeks

16/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 22929 Views 16 Comments 1RTB, Kapooka

The Australian Army’s 2nd Division is making training more accommodating in an effort to streamline recruit trining. CAPTION: Australian Army

News Veterans

Aussie Dambusters remembered

16/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3937 Views 0 Comments Dambusters

Today we remember the bravery of all those involved – including 13 Australians – in Operation Chastise, better known as

MV-22B Ospreys from the VMM-363 US Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron resting under the Townsville sunset during Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 at RAAF Base Townsville. Photo by Corporal Ashley Gillett.

ADF News Videos

Final planning for Ex Talisman Sabre 23

15/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3766 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023

This year’s Exercise Talisman Sabre will be the biggest yet in terms of geographic spread and the number of partner

Sergeant Peter Delaney, from Weapon Training Section at No.23 Squadron, displays his second Federation Star and sixth clasp to his Defence Long Service Medal, for 45 years of service with the Royal Australian Air Force, at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

ADF People

Reflecting on 45 years’ service

15/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1356 Views 0 Comments

Being taught to be agile from a young age has ensured one aviator could happily serve and adjust to the

Australian Army soldier Corporal Kym Baldock leads a dive class at Second Valley, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.

ADF People

Civvie dive instructor benefits from Defence PoW Award

15/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1410 Views 0 Comments Prince of Wales Award

A qualification funded through Defence’s Prince of Wales Award (POWA) scheme will enable Corporal Kym Baldock to expand his civilian

Measured from head to toe in a single scan, Image supplied.

New Zealand News Sovereign industry

ADA launches first full-body fitment scanner with NZDF

14/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2257 Views 0 Comments ADA

Australian Defence Apparel New Zealand (ADA NZ), a subsidiary of Australia’s primary manufacturer of high-tech uniforms and equipment ADA, is

The sinking of the Centaur. AWM ARTV09088, adapted from WW2 poster.

News Veterans

80th Anniversary of the sinking of AHS Centaur

14/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3619 Views 0 Comments Centaur

Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) Centaur was sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland 80 years ago today.

HMAS Anzac conducts Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres with Republic of Singapore Navy RSS Vigliance (left), Royal Malaysian Navy KD Lekir (right) and Gempita (centre) as a part of Exercise Bersama Shield. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarryd Capper.

ADF Asia News

Exercise Bersama Shield concludes

14/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1760 Views 0 Comments Bersama Shield

Exercise Bersama Shield – a bi-annual military exercise between the five nations in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) –

Life on the Line Podcast

Rex Ward – Life on the Line

14/05/202314/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1809 Views 0 Comments Life on the Line Podcast

This episode focuses on Vietnam veteran Rex Ward who was Angus Hordern’s history teacher at school. This podcast talks with

Australian Army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, after an assault on the Urban Operations Training Facility during Exercise Brolga Run 2023 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Australian Army News Videos

Ex Brolga Run tests 3 Brigade in complex scenarios

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2708 Views 0 Comments Exercise Brolga Run

Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade has deployed to the Townsville Field Training Area to start the next stage of training on

Australian News Sovereign industry

EOS launches Australian-made counter-drone system

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4453 Views 0 Comments EOS

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) launched a new Australian-made counter-drone capability – named the Slinger – at its manufacturing facility in

A 102 Battery gun in action at Fire Support Base Coral. AWM P01770.015

Asia Australian Army New Zealand News Veterans

Battle of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral 55th anniversary

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3664 Views 1 Comment Coral and Balmoral

55 years ago today, Australian and New Zealand forces were attacked, resulting in their largest battle of the Vietnam War

Warrant Officer Class 2 Beau Thomas reads the biography of a fallen soldier before another workout begins at the 24 Hours of Heroes fundraiser for Wounded Heroes. Photo by TrewBella Photography.

ADF People Veterans

Little bit of hurt for a lot of heroes

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1944 Views 0 Comments

Doing 24 gruelling workouts in 24 hours isn’t an ideal way to spend a weekend for most people, but that’s

Australian Army Sergeant Matthew Blows in the Multinational Forces and Observers South Camp on Operation Mazurka in South Sinai, Egypt. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Passing on lessons despite language differences in Sinai

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1396 Views 0 Comments Multinational Force and Observers, Sinai

Members of his family were in the RAAF and Navy, but Sergeant Matthew Blows wanted to be on the ground,

Private Feao Faka’Osi, in blue, demonstrates one of his favourite techniques, called ippon seoinage, on Lieutenant Colonel Morgan McCarthy during a judo demonstration.

ADF People

Soldier throws all efforts at Olympic selection

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1420 Views 0 Comments Judo

A soldier with the Australian Army’s 16th Aviation Brigade has his sights set on next year’s Olympics, fighting for Tonga,

Australia's Federation Guard members march past Old College during a rehearsal for the Coronation of King Charles III, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

ADF People

IED victim led Aussie Coronation contingent

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2219 Views 1 Comment Coronation of King Charles III

From being the victim of an improvised explosive device attack in Afghanistan to leading the Australian Defence Force’s Coronation contingent

Royal Australian Navy officer Lieutenant Commander Alison Zilko speaks with school kids in the Philippines in her role as ADF Gender Advisor during Exercise Balikatan 2023.

ADF People

Gender advisor loved role in the Philippines

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1359 Views 1 Comment

Lieutenant Commander Alison Zilko’s first job in the Royal Australian Navy was as a nursing officer, so it’s no surprise