Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

The emblem of the 75th anniversary of Australian peacekeeping.

Keeping the peace for 75 years

23/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1663 Views 1 Comment Australian Peacekeeping Memorial, UN Peacekeeping

A national commemorative service recognising the 75th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in peacekeeping operations will be held in Canberra on

Private Maria Aniceto re-stocks catering supplies in the deployable catering capability at Camp Birt during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen.

ADF People

Chance to engage with Indigenous culture

23/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1044 Views 0 Comments 10th Force Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, AACAP, Indigenous

About 22 hours’ drive from her family in Darwin, Private Maria Aniceto has made herself right at home in another

Flight Sergeant Christine Williams, with her husband Warren, at the Lifeblood Canberra Garran Donor Centre on the occasion of her 250th blood donation. Story by John Noble. Photo by Flight Sergeant Kev Berriman.

ADF People

Blood donor joins 250 club

23/08/202227/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1242 Views 0 Comments Red Cross Blood Challenge, Red Cross Lifeblood

Royal Australian Air Force Flight Sergeant Christine Williams notched up an impressive milestone by giving her 250th blood donation recently

Private Adrian Fleming completes a daily field test of the purified water at Camp Birt during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo: byWarrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen.

ADF People

Connection to country in the Top End

23/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1372 Views 0 Comments 1st Health Battalion, AACAP, Indigenous

A Territorian through and through, 1st Health Battalion’s Private Adrian Fleming is loving the opportunity to spend time in his

ASAR-K9 unit dogs and handlers providing a demonstration to members of RAAF Williams, Laverton and RAAF Base Point Cook. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

News Royal Australian Air Force

SAR K9s visit Point Cook

19/08/202222/01/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1945 Views 0 Comments Australian Search and Rescue K9 (ASAR-K9), RAAF Laverton, RAAF Point Cook, search and rescue

Royal Australian Air Force personnel were recently invited to watch a demonstration and meet the furry members of the Australian Search

No. 11 Squadron airborne electronic analysts keep constant communications flowing for situational awareness on board the P-8A Poseidon during a mission as part of Operation Resolute. Story by Wing Commander Mark Williams. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Air mission project reaches new milestone

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2387 Views 0 Comments

The $500 million project for the Future Air Mission Training System (Air 5428 Phase 3) has reached a new milestone

Air Force Dentist Flight Lieutenant Jack O'Neill (right) and Dental Assistant Leading Aircraftwoman Ocean Mitchell perform a dental procedure onboard United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy during Pacific Partnership 2022 in Palawan, Philippines. Story by Captain Sarah Kelly. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Videos

All smiles on Pacific Partnership 2022

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1763 Views 0 Comments Pacific Partnership, Philippines, USNS Mercy

Flight Lieutenant Jack O’Neill is a Royal Australian Air Force dental officer currently deployed on Pacific Partnership 2022. CAPTION: Air

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart speaks with industry representatives during the Chief of Army Symposium 2022 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

Australian Army News Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Army exploring heavy-lift drone capabilities

19/08/202223/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2259 Views 0 Comments Defence Innovation Hub, National Science Week, Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could be delivering supplies and doing casualty evacuations within five to 10 years, if concepts at

Captain Verity Farragher, left, with Warrant Officer Class Two Paul Thompson and Warrant Officer Class Two Phillip Harris conduct a site inspection during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak. Story by Corporal Dustin Anderson. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

Civilian engineering placement builds confidence for Army engineers

19/08/202223/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2635 Views 0 Comments AACAP, National Science Week

When Australian Army Engineer Captain Verity Farragher saw the chance to work with one of Australia’s top construction companies, she

Australian Army soldiers from Rifle Company Butterworth 136, together with members of the Royal Thai Army, practice close quarter battle drills during Exercise Chapel Gold 2022 in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. Story and photo by Corporal Cameron Pegg

Asia Australian Army News Videos

Complex training on Ex Chapel Gold

19/08/202223/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3044 Views 0 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment, Exercise Chapel Gold, Rifle Company Butterworth, Royal Thai Army

The current rotation of Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) welcomed the opportunity to train with the Royal Thai Army (RTA) on

22 Squadron from 13 Engineer Regiment has been created as a science, technology, engineering and maths incubator. Story by Captain Sandra Seman-Bourke. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Australian Army News Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Engineering a new way of thinking

19/08/202223/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2147 Views 0 Comments 13th Brigade, 22 Engineer Squadron, National Science Week

The 13th Brigade in Western Australia has evolved from a part-time workforce brigade into a test bed for innovation and

Japan News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy USA

HMAS Sydney missile fire on regional deployment

19/08/202223/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3133 Views 0 Comments HMAS Supply, HMAS Sydney, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Regional Presence Deployment, Republic of Korea Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, US Navy

Royal Australian Navy guided missile destroyer, HMAS Sydney, displayed its sophisticated naval combat capabilities while participating in Exercise Pacific Dragon

Phil Clifford from the Defence Industry Pathways Program stands in front of HMAS Toowoomba, the seventh Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy. Story by Phillip Morton. Photo by Simon Casson.

News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

Reaping the rewards of pathways program

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1364 Views 0 Comments Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP)

The Defence Industry Pathways Program’s (DIPP) first two intakes have completed their training, marking an important first milestone in their

Captain Dylan Conway from the 6th Battallion, Royal Australian Regiment, has launched the second annual charity fundraising event, the Brothers N Books Read-A-Thon. Story and photo by Major Roger Brennan.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Chapter and verse on charitable reading

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1867 Views 0 Comments 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Brothers N Books

The challenge is on for current and former Australian Defence Force personnel to break out the books for the 2022

Navy and Army pilots, remote pilot warfare officers and aircrewmen graduate from 723 Squadron – Joint Helicopter School. Story by Sub Lieutenant Jess Gould. Photo by Leading Seaman Ryan Tascas.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Aircrew graduates receive their wings

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1778 Views 0 Comments EC-135, Navy Band, No. 723 Squadron, PC-21, Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter

The first aircrew to graduate from 723 Squadron – Joint Helicopter School in its 70th year have received their wings

HMAS Supply conducts replenishment at sea with US Navy cruiser USS Mobile Bay during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

News Royal Australian Navy

Mastering combat logistics at sea

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1469 Views 0 Comments RIMPAC

Informally known as the ‘tanker taskforce’, Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 command taskforce (CTF) 173 was more than

HMAS Canberra’s (III) Ships Company parade on the flight deck of during a commemorative service for 80th anniversary of the Battle of Savo Island. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

History Lest We Forget News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos

Sunset service for 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I)

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1589 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, HMAS Canberra (I), HMAS Supply, HMAS Warramunga, WWII

Eighty years after HMAS Canberra (I) sank in the Battle of Savo Island, more than 500 members of HMAS Canberra (III)

Sailors from HMAS Glenelg and Royal Australian Navy Band South Australia march along Jetty Road during the Freedom of Entry parade in Glenelg. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Glenelg granted Freedom of Entry

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1484 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Freedom of Entry, HMAS Coonawarra, HMAS Glenelg

HMAS Glenelg’s ship’s company recently conducted a Freedom of Entry through Glenelg, in the Holdfast Bay area of Adelaide. CAPTION:

The sailors and officers of Royal Australian Navy establishment HMAS Cairns welcomed the recent opening of the bases yarning circle, a collaboration between Base Management, Downer Defence and HMAS Cairns Executive. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jessica O'Brien.

News Royal Australian Navy

Bringing community together with a yarn

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1758 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cairns, Indigenous

The sailors and officers of Royal Australian Navy establishment HMAS Cairns welcomed the recent opening of the base’s yarning circle.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Admiral Toshiyuki Hirata, left, Royal Canadian Navy Rear Admiral Christopher Robinson and Royal Australian Navy Commodore Paul O’Grady. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

Japan News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

The power of friendship

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2054 Views 0 Comments Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, RIMPAC, Royal Canadian Navy

Eight years ago, 51 naval officers from 50 countries walked through the gates of the US Naval War College at