Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Members of the ADF and Queensland Police Service clear the lower levels of the Queensland Country Bank Stadium as part of Exercise Austral Shield 2022 in Townsville. Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

Counter-terrorism event wraps up in the north

05/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2371 Views 0 Comments ADF Reserve, counter-terrorism, Exercise Austral Shield

Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium has played host to a counter-terrorism training activity, conducted jointly by the Australian Defence Force

Lieutenant Samuel Laidlaw controls air traffic from the flight bridge on board HMAS Canberra during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

News Royal Australian Navy USA

Keeping an eye on air traffic

05/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1841 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, MV-22 Osprey, RIMPAC

The flight deck of HMAS Canberra has seen many international aircraft land and take-off during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022.

Personnel from HMAS Canberra’s medical team take part in a simulated resuscitation exercise in the ship’s resuscitation bay during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Navy USA

Hospital facility blends capabilities

05/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1349 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC, RNZDF, US Navy

The primary casualty-receiving facility on board HMAS Canberra was a hive of activity during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)

Army Reservist Private Abbas Foladi, from the 25/49 Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment, patrols the grounds of the Queensland Country Bank Stadium as part of Exercise Austral Shield 2022 in Townsville. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

ADF People

Call out an opportunity for Reservist

05/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1250 Views 0 Comments 25th/49th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, Army Reserve, Exercise Austral Shield

Whether he’s driving a delivery van around the streets of Brisbane, or patrolling the perimeter of Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet departs from RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Aldred. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

17 nations pitch in for Pitch Black

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2532 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black

About 100 aircraft and 2500 military personnel from 17 nations will arrive in the Northern Territory in two weeks to

Australian Army troopers from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment interact with members of the community during a heavy vehicle capability display as part the Gallipoli Barracks Open Day 2022, Brisbane. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Action and crowds aplenty at open day

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1795 Views 0 Comments 7th Brigade, 8/9 RAR, C-27J Spartan, Gallipoli Barracks

About 20,000 people registered for the Gallipoli Barracks Open Day and were treated to a huge range of dynamic and static

Australian Army Aircrewman Corporal Matthew Nebauer and young Olivia get ready for a flight on a Helicorp-leased Leonardo AW139 helicopter during Exercise Care Bear at James Cook University oval in Townsville. Story and photo by Captain Carolyn Barnett.

Australian Army News

Exercise Care Bear taking patients to new heights

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1688 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, Exercise Care Bear, Leonardo AW139 helicopter

5th Aviation Regiment’s Exercise Care Bear launch gave young patients a chance to see Towns1ille from above. CAPTION: Australian Army

Captain David Wohlgemuth from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment reads the soldiers a prayer at a memorial service for the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Samichon at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News USA

Partners pay respects at Battle of Samichon dawn service

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1485 Views 0 Comments 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, RIMPAC, US Marines

The dawn of July 26, 1953 – the day before the Korean War ended – was an important moment for

Inaugural patron of the ADF Cadets, Former Chief of the Defence Force and Governor-General General (retd) Sir Peter Cosgrove, in Canberra. Story by Denisse Valenzuela. Photo by Nicole Mankowski.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Enhancing the ADF Cadet program

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3149 Views 0 Comments ADF Cadets

Recently named as the inaugural patron for ADF Cadets, Governor-General General (retd) Sir Peter Cosgrove has met with Service Cadet organisations

United States Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey performs deck landings on board HMAS Canberra during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

News Royal Australian Navy USA Videos

A ‘STROL’ in the night

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2201 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, MV-22 Osprey, RIMPAC

HMAS Canberra is training at night, recovering and launching embarked United States Marine MV-22B Osprey aircraft on the flight deck

Commander of the 7th Combat Brigade, Brigadier Michael Say, addresses Republic of Fiji Military Forces Colonel Gadai and members of Exercise Longreach 2022 at Blackrock Camp, Fji on 19 July 2022. Story by Captain Sarah Kelly. Photo by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

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

Ensuring readiness for high-risk weather

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1544 Views 0 Comments Exercise Longreach, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, storms and cyclones are predicted to become even more intense and destructive over the

Library Manager Kym Andrews, left, Librarian Penelope Sherrell, Assistant Director Defence Archives and Services Centre Michael Chow and Commander Steve McCracken with donated library books on the bridge of HMAS Stalwart. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Petty Officer Richard Cord.

News Royal Australian Navy

Stalwart’s first edition published in the west

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1623 Views 0 Comments HMAS Stalwart, HMAS Stirling

HMAS Stalwart recently established its library thanks to an initiative in which ships receive a variety of reading material for

Ship’s company of HMAS Canberra enjoy a tour on board a landing helicopter dock landing craft as the ship conducts Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

News Royal Australian Navy

Canberra’s crew get acquainted with landing craft

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1869 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, LHD, RIMPAC

As HMAS Canberra sailed the waters around Hawaii, the ship conducted docking operations which provided an opportunity for some of

Exercise Kakadu Final Planning Conference delegates gather outside Darwin Convention Centre accompanied by the adopted exercise mascot, a 4-metre-long wooden crocodile nicknamed 'Fluffy'. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Herring. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

News Royal Australian Navy

Kakadu 2022 set to be biggest ever

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1943 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu

Exercise Kakadu this year is set to be the biggest yet with as many as 19 vessels, 34 aircraft and

Combat Systems Operator Able Seaman Tony Luu throws a heaving line from HMAS Parramatta as the ship prepares to berth at Fleet Base East on return from a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Herring. Photo by Leading Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

Asia News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Parramatta received warm welcome home

03/08/202204/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1881 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Parramatta, MH-60R Seahawk, Operation Argos, PTIs

The Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta returned to its home port of Sydney following a regional presence deployment. CAPTION: Combat Systems

Administrative clerk from 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Corporal Sonny Huynh, at the US Marine Corps Base in Hawaii during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Corporal John Solomon.

ADF People

Clerk soars to new heights

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1514 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, 3rd Battalion RAR, RIMPAC

Corporal Sonny Huynh is breaking the mould of what an administrative clerk’s career looks like. CAPTION: Administrative clerk from 2nd

Maritime Logistics Chef Able Seaman Zachary Galit prepares vegetables in the galley of HMAS Canberra during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 in the Pacific Ocean. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

ADF People

Cooking up a storm in HMAS Canberra

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1495 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC

With a fresh apron, chopping board positioned, gripping his sharpening steel and honing his chef’s knife for its sharpest of

An AFLW Adelaide Crows player climbs a rope ladder with Army Sapper Abbey Patzel holding it steady during their visit to Robertson Barracks as part of their pre-season training camp. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton. Photo by Captain Peter March.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Adelaide Crows get their Army on

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1246 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, AFL Women's League, Robertson Barracks

The Adelaide Crows AFLW team smashed Darwin-based Defence personnel in training sessions before being put through their paces by physical

Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 coordinator Lieutenant Commander James Dobson on the wharf at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. Story by Lieutenant Max Logan. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

ADF People

Navy officer at the centre of RIMPAC planning

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1143 Views 0 Comments RIMPAC

With the safe and successful execution of the world’s largest Navy exercise comes a huge planning effort involving thousands of

Flight Lieutenant Allister Daish mans the air traffic control console in the air traffic control room on board HMAS Canberra during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

ADF People

The best of both worlds

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1344 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC

Forty years of service to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and now the best of