Posted by Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

New Zealand troops board a RNZAF Hercules in Bamiyan province, Afghanistan. NZDF photo.

NZDF formally withdrawing from Afghanistan

17/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2304 Views 0 Comments

After 20 years, New Zealand will formally end its Afghanistan deployments and withdraw its last six remaining NZDF personnel by May this year

No. 462 Squadron cyberspace security specialists conduct information-assurance activities on deployed mission systems at the main air operating base in the Middle East Region. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

ADF Australian News

Defence confirms sensitive data stored on Chinese-owned servers

17/02/202117/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4154 Views 2 Comments

Defence has confirmed it has migrated its most sensitive data to a purpose-built data centre – owned by Chinese company Global Switch.

Sir Jeffrey Armiger

Guess who? – Guess why? – Mr Holmes?

17/02/202117/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4906 Views 2 Comments

The following statement was issued by the most senior Public Servant in Defence today – but with zero preamble, zero

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour departs HMAS Waterhen, Sydney – resuming her training-voyage program earlier than expected. Photo by Able Seaman Benjamin Ricketts.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme back to sea

17/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2857 Views 0 Comments STS Young Endeavour

Young Australians returned to sea in Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour to develop their confidence and resilience sooner than expected.

Leading Aircraftman Nick Atterton cleans the windows on an AP-3C Orion in the Middle East. Photo by Able Seaman Paul Berry.

Letters to the Editor

DVA will clean the windows I can reach, but won’t clean those I can’t

17/02/202117/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2921 Views 0 Comments By Tim Pickering

Thanks for publishing my letter – Why my Defence doctor sacked me as a patient – yesterday, Brian. Another thing you might find funny…

ADF Australian News

Defence shifts COVID-19 cases offshore – without explanation

16/02/202122/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1860 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

After months reporting COVID-19 numbers by the geography of where the “confirmed” case was detected, Defence moved 34 cases ‘overseas’ today.

Letters to the Editor

Why my Defence doctor ‘sacked me’ as a patient

16/02/202116/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2392 Views 1 Comment By Tim Pickering

Re your story “Veteran refused care – because DVA paying”. It’s not just mental health support that medical practitioners are declining.

Lieutenant Patrick Omodei, of 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, calls out enemy target indications during the Infantry Regimental Officers Basic Course. Photo by Corporal Brodie Cross.

Poets Corner

At Day’s End

16/02/2021 Michael Shave 1312 Views 0 Comments By Michael Shave

Beneath the jungle canopy all is quiet, and very still. The heat it prickles up and down my back, beneath

ADF Australian News

Defence adds another COVID-19 case ‘overseas’

15/02/202115/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1443 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Defence today added one more case of COVID-19 to it growing tally of ‘overseas’ cases. Today’s case brings the ‘overseas’ total to 102.

Lynx KF41 in Australia for risk mitigation testing. Photo supplied by Rheinmetall.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Queensland government backs Rheinmetall LAND 400 Phase 3 bid

15/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4188 Views 0 Comments LAND 400 Phase 3

Rheinmetall has secured Queensland government support in its bid to win the $20-odd-billion LAND 400 Phase 3 IFV program.

A US Marine with the 2021 Marine Rotational Force - Darwin is COVID-19 tested on arrival at RAAF Base Darwin. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

Australian MRF-D News

US Marine in Darwin tests positive for COVID-19

15/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1617 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

A 21-year-old male US Marine with MRF-D tested positive for COVID-19 at initial screening on arrival in Darwin last week.

Australian troops bound for Vietnam line the flight deck of HMAS Sydney – the Vung Tau Ferry – on departure from Garden Island, Sydney.

Poets Corner

Those We Left Behind

15/02/2021 Michael Shave 1427 Views 0 Comments By Michael Shave

We of the Ninth in sixty-eight Embarking then for Vietnam; We lined the deck, we had such fun. You waved,

HMAS Sydney III in transit to Vietnam. Between 1965 and 1972, Sydney undertook 24 voyages to Vietnam, amounting to 25 operational visits to Vung Tau.

Poets Corner

Boy Sailors

14/02/2021 Paul White 2390 Views 0 Comments By Paul White

I had a choice of Boys Home or the Aussie Navy, So I stepped aboard at HMAS Leeuwin in WA,

Letters to the Editor

Invitation to Sailing Navy Dayz

14/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1972 Views 0 Comments

Hello all. 28 January 2021 was day ONE of many positive days ahead. I started this boat-restoration project, initially for myself

Australian News Veterans

National Servicemen’s Day

14/02/202114/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2982 Views 0 Comments

Today, on National Servicemen’s Day, we honour those who have served our nation through compulsory military service.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service fire truck is loaded onto HMAS Choules in Brisbane, while another two await loading, ahead of their transportation to Papua New Guinea. Photo by Major Anna-Lise Brink.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Five fire trucks sail for PNG

14/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3967 Views 0 Comments

Five fire trucks are on the way to Papua New Guinea on board HMAS Choules after being donated by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.

Recruit Cameron Douglas on his recruit course at Puckapunyal 1994.

Poets Corner

Soldiers Above

14/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2284 Views 0 Comments

Hi Team, I wrote this poem in 1994 whilst in training with 2 Commando Company. It was lost for more

CONTACT Editor Brian Hartigan (not a Nasho) on the bayonet assault course with SLR, 1990.

Letters to the Editor

Is Lateral Transfer from foreign military to ADF too hard?

14/02/202114/02/2021 Jon Felton 7092 Views 5 Comments

Can anyone enlighten me on the criteria for Lateral Transfer? I have a few mates who have enquired about changing from the NZDF to the ADF.

Poets Corner

CENTAUR

13/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2034 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

She posed no threat to anyone and sailed the seas in peace The weak were all placed in her, care,

An Australian Army 45M heavy recovery vehicle from the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion lifts an armoured personnel carrier during the 3rd Brigade combined-arms display at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Photo by Corporal Brodie Cross.

Australian Australian Army News

Heavy muscle power displayed at Lavarack

13/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4340 Views 0 Comments

Units from across the 3rd Brigade, hosted by 3RAR, came together last week to display their advanced and diverse range of equipment.