Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Australian Army soldiers from 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, transit to Balabac Island, Philippines, on an American Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, as part of Exercise Balikatan. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

Battle group builds confidence in combined force

14/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 580 Views 0 Comments 5th/7th Battalion RAR, Exercise Balikatan, Philippine Marine Corps, US Marines

“Should we have to meet in the dark at a time not of our choosing, it won’t be the first

Lance Bombardier Jase Heath, of 111th Air Defence Battery, 16th Regiment, is at the forefront of operating the new NASAMS capability. Story by Major Tim Sydenham. Photo by Signaller Aaron Thant.

Australian Army News

Regiment at forefront of new capability

14/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 846 Views 0 Comments 16th Regiment, NASAMS

Members of 16 Regiment in South Australia are playing a vital role in Army’s contribution to the ADF’s air and

Leading Seaman Maggie James on board HMAS Choules in Hobart. Story by Lieutenant Matilda Nile. Photo by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

News Royal Australian Navy

Choules brings sea life to shore

13/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 569 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Navy Band

HMAS Choules received a warm welcome during a port visit to Hobart, opening its gangway to more than 800 Tasmanian

Being in command of the crew inside the HIMARS, Bombardier Nicholas O’Connor has been fortunate enough to travel overseas and gain first-hand training and experience. Story and photo by Major Tim Sydenham.

ADF People Australian Army

Hands-on with HIMARS a unique opportunity

13/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 460 Views 0 Comments 54th Siege Battery, HIMARS, RAAF Edinburgh

Members of 54th Siege Battery, located at RAAF Base Edinburgh, will be the first to introduce the High Mobility Artillery

Development of new facilities at RAAF Base Edinburgh to support 16 Regiment is well under way. Story by Major Tim Sydenham.

Australian Army News

Capability calls up 10 Fires Brigade

13/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 512 Views 0 Comments 10th Fires Brigade, RAAF Edinburgh

While long-range fires was already on the horizon for Army, the release of the Defence Strategic Review accelerated the acquisition

Royal Australian Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant James Wilcox deployed on Operation Accordion at Al Minhad Air Base, 2025. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People Australian Army Middle East Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

The movers and shakers of the ADF

13/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 424 Views 0 Comments logistics, Middle East Region, Operation Accordion

They don’t wear capes or fly jets but Australia’s logistics planners drive every move in the Middle East, where nothing

Australian Defence Force members march with service personnel from other Commonwealth nations during the London parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Story by Captain Edward Pym. Photos from UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

ADF commemorates VE Day in London

09/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1173 Views 0 Comments VE Day, WWII

More than 1000 service personnel, including members of the Australian Defence Force marched through London to commemorate the 80th anniversary

Major Vernon Andrews presents Warrant Officer Class 2 (retd) Gene Cowin with a replacement warrant in his home town of Batlow, NSW, on Anzac Day 2025. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

ADF People

Anzac Day restores lost connection to service

09/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1426 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day

The devastating impact of the 2019 bushfires on former infantry soldier Gene Cowin and his family in Batlow meant they

ADF People Health and Wellbeing History Lest We Forget

Anzac Day Kokoda trek raises $18,000

09/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1003 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Australian Space Command, Bravery Trust, Kokoda Trail

Squadron Leader Adon Lumley has returned from one of Australia’s most iconic military pilgrimage sites after completing the legendary Kokoda

Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, present a donation to Brighter Lives at Townsville University Hospital, Queensland. Photos by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

3rd Battalion gives foundation a push along

09/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1131 Views 0 Comments 3RAR, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade

A donation of $1000 will keep the wheels turning on the Brighter Lives buggy and brighten the lives of locals

The Royal Australian Navy hosts the 2025 Global Combat Ship User Group meeting at the Maritime Combat Systems Integration Centre in Adelaide. Story by Lieutenant Nicholas Draheim.

News Royal Australian Navy

RAN strengthens Global Combat Ship links

08/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1150 Views 0 Comments Aegis, BAE Systems Maritime Australia, CEA Technologies, Future Surface Combatants, Hunter-class frigate

The Royal Australian Navy has hosted the 2025 Global Combat Ship (GCS) User Group meeting at the Maritime Combat Systems

Students of the Australian War College from the US Military celebrate International Day in Weston Creek, ACT. Story and photos by Major Taylor Lynch.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Australian War College embraces overseas colleagues

08/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 624 Views 0 Comments

The Australian War College held its annual International Day in Weston Creek, celebrating the vast range of cultures from allies

10 Squadron marches in a Victory in Europe Day parade on May 9, 1945, in Plymouth, United Kingdom. Story by Rosalind Turner.

Australian Army Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

80th anniversary of Victory in Europe

08/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 547 Views 0 Comments VE Day, WWII

On Tuesday May 8, 1945, British prime minister Winston Churchill made an announcement: The war was over and the Allies

Fighterworld general manager, Air Commodore (retd) Jack Fanderlinden, right, listens as Wing Commander (retd) Hugh Holt recalls flying Hercules aircraft with him in 37 Squadron during the Vietnam War. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

Fighter World recalls last RAAF boots on ground in Vietnam

08/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 785 Views 0 Comments Vietnam War

Only three RAAF aircraft were in Vietnam on Anzac Day 1975, just days before the Fall of Saigon. CAPTION: Fighterworld general

Two CH47-F Chinooks from the 5th Aviation Regiment conduct a mission during the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal visit to Townsville, Queensland. Story and photos by Captain Chloe Ellwood.

Australian Army News

Pay review for Army aviation personnel

07/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 892 Views 0 Comments 16th Aviation Brigade, Army Aviation Training Centre, CH-47F Chinook

Delegates from the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal recently visited 16th Aviation Brigade as part of an ongoing pay review for

Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Curtis Bachmann deployed as part of the Field Installation Team (FIT) for Operation Accordion conducts equipment familiarisation training at Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

Building connections in the Middle East

07/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 649 Views 0 Comments Middle East, Operation Accordion

With six trades from 13 units, a field installation team is wiring critical networks in the Middle East. CAPTION: Royal Australian

Australian Army soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment visit he Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Monument during Exercise Coastwatchers 2025. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photo by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

Coastwatchers cast eye on security and history

07/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 724 Views 0 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Coastwatchers, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

Exercise Coastwatchers, the little-known but significant training exercise between Australia and the Solomon Islands, has successfully completed rotation 11. CAPTION: Australian

Anzac Day didgeridoo player, Australian Army Warrant Officer Class Two Lachlan Youll at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkiye. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photos by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Indigenous soldier’s tribute at Anzac Cove

07/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 553 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Gallipoli, Indigenous

Just before dawn on Anzac Day on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkiye, Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Lachlan Youll played

Lieutenant Barton Heeney, of Fleet Aviation, and Lieutenant Jacqui Heeney, of Fleet Cyber Unit, at Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System during Exercise Bersama Shield 2025. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Romeo pilot and wife go phishing on honeymoon

07/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 665 Views 0 Comments Bersama Shield

Newlywed lieutenants Barton and Jacqui Heeney put the honeymoon on hold when they found out they’d be deploying to Malaysia

Major Deta Kerschat receives his Federation Star from Major General Ash Collingburn. Story and photo by Captain Cody Tsaousis.

ADF People Australian Army History

Forty years of experience and memories

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 621 Views 0 Comments

Five uniforms, eight boots, four packs and five rifles – Major Deta Kerschat has seen a lot of change in

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