Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Three members of the Pearn family with a Navy officer at the ADF Careers Centre, Wollongong. From left, Sub-Lieutenant Rhys Pearn, Lieutenant Jordie McLeod, Recruit Breanna Pearn and Leading Seaman Vicki Pearn. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Three generations enlist on same date

13/08/202422/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1390 Views 0 Comments

It is common for families to follow a tradition of military service. What isn’t common is having three members of

Major Lisa Rigby (right) and Ms Donna MacKenzie inspect mosquitos at the ADF Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, Brisbane. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Science & Technology

Putting the sting on mozzies

13/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1526 Views 0 Comments Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), environmental health officers (EHO), Gallipoli Barracks

Not all superheroes wear capes – some wear safety glasses, white coats and carry insect repellent. CAPTION: Major Lisa Rigby

A soldier from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment participates on the obstacle course during the Duke of Gloucester Cup 2024 at the Jungle Training Area in Tully. Story and photos by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Australian Army News Videos

Townsville battalion toughs it out for DoG Cup

13/08/202413/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3167 Views 0 Comments 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 3rd Battalion RAR, Duke of Gloucester Cup

Wet, cold and tired – seven sections of infantry soldiers emerged from the Tully jungle after two weeks of being

Personnel from the 1st Brigade and the Armed Forces of the Philippines clear an objective as Battle Group Tiger at Bradshaw training area, NT, during Exercise Predator's Run 2024. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Miranda Buckley.

Australian Army News

Tough terrain makes for good soldiering

13/08/202417/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1632 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, 5th Battalion RAR, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Predator’s Run, UK Armed Forces

Framed by rocky features, crocodile-infested rivers and red sunsets, the Bradshaw Ranges are one of the Army’s most picturesque –

Australia's XT-8 drone launches for a mission. Story. by Natalie Staples.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Enhancing AI to support the warfighter

13/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1715 Views 0 Comments Artificial Intelligence (AI), AUKUS, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), resilient and autonomous artificial intelligence technology (RAAIT)

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have furthered their co-development of resilient and autonomous artificial intelligence technology (RAAIT)

Pilatus PC-21 aircraft perform a display for No.1 Flying Training School Intermediate Pilots’ Course graduation at RAAF East Sale. Story by Flight Lieutenant Lily Lancaster. Photos by Sergeant Rodney Welch.

News Royal Australian Air Force

First fully east-coast-trained pilots graduate

13/08/202417/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1729 Views 0 Comments No. 1 Flying Training School (1FTS), PC-21, RAAF East Sale

The first nine aviators to complete all their initial training on Australia’s east coast and become fully qualified pilots have

Australian Army cyber warfare specialists from 138 Signals Squadron, Simpson Barracks, Victoria.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

‘Cyber’ elevated to command status

09/08/202417/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2737 Views 0 Comments Australian Signals Directorate, Cyber Command, JCG

The ADF has renewed its focus on cognitive and information warfare by establishing Cyber Command as a new command within

Personnel from the Australian Joint Positioning, Navigation and Timing Directorate, Joint Capabilities Group and Joint Navigation Warfare Centre align GPS test equipment at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Story by Squadron Leader James Pak and Ricky Bryan. Photos by Senior Airman Spencer Kanar, USAF.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Testing on track to improve GPS

09/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1994 Views 0 Comments Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR), US Air Force

In an unassuming corrugated building in New Mexico sits a state-of-the-art facility where Australian and US Defence personnel have teamed

Navy sailor Leading Seaman Marine Technician Electrical Nikolas Jercic conducts electrical testing on board HMAS Adelaide. Story and photo by Corporal Michael Rogers.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

The power of a fight-to-fix mentality

09/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1493 Views 0 Comments HMAS Adelaide

From two-storey-high generators that could power the city of Darwin, to power points and everything in between – electrical marine

Air Force aviators from 11 Squadron fit an AGM-84J harpoon anti-ship missile to a RAAF P-8A Poseidon as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), held in the Hawaiian Islands. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photos by Corporal Adam Abela.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Preparing Hammer to strike

09/08/202410/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1918 Views 0 Comments AGM-84J Harpoon, No. 11 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, RAAF Edinburgh, RIMPAC

The RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft – call sign ‘Hammer 24’ – from 11 Squadron in Edinburgh, South Australia,

A soldier from 11th Brigade checks on his mates as he advances forward during an assault on an 'enemy' defensive position at Cowley Beach training area in northern Queensland. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Australian Army News Videos

11th and 13th Brigades test domestic security responses

09/08/202410/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2785 Views 0 Comments 11th brigade, 13th Brigade, Army Reserve, Exercise Austral Shield

In the largest Army Reserve exercise in three decades, nearly 2000 personnel practised a rapid deployment to Australia’s north to

Royal Australian Navy mine warfare clearance diving officer Lieutenant Commander Adam Zilko, participates in a brief for mine countermeasures as a part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 24 in Hawaii. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

ADF People

Planning for mine warfare training

09/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 935 Views 0 Comments Clearance Diver, RIMPAC, US Navy

Royal Australian Navy Mine Warfare Clearance Diving Officer (MCDO) Adam Zilko’s current exchange posting to the United States has involved

Army soldiers wear the new winter uniforms around Russell Offices in Canberra. Photo by Corporal Cameron Pegg.

ADF People Australian Army

New clothing range for Army personnel

07/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2596 Views 1 Comment Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG)

Army’s range of general duties garments is expanding, with four new items being issued to provide warmth through the winter

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail leads a formation of aircraft past the Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour during Exercise Pitch Black 2024. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Corporal Samuel Miller.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Sun sets on milestone Pitch Black

07/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2805 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black 24 was unlike any of its predecessors. CAPTION: A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail leads a formation

Army soldier Corporal Scott Christian, of 2nd Force Support Battalion, guides a forklift operator as they load rations onto a MAN 40M truck at Cairns airport, Queensland, during Exercise Austral Shield. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Australian Army News

New logistics unit hits the ground running

07/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1353 Views 0 Comments 2nd Force Support Battalion, 8th Operational Support Unit (8OSU), Army Reserve, Exercise Austral Shield

Soldiers from the 8th Operational Support Unit (8OSU) escaped the southern winter to conduct the unit’s first major exercise since

Australian Army News

Tigers’ run a roaring mission success

07/08/202407/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1316 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Predator’s Run

In the expansive and rugged terrain of the Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory, the early morning air

Australian Army communications systems operator Signaller David Muwandi, of the 109th Signal Squadron, at RAAF Base Curtin, WA, during Exercise Austral Shield. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

ADF People

No comms, no bombs

07/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1107 Views 0 Comments 109th Signal Squadron, Army Reserve, Exercise Austral Shield, RAAF Curtin

An engineer by trade, Signaller David Muwandi decided he wanted a challenge, so he joined the Army Reserve and hasn’t

A special warfare operator from 2nd Commando Company, 1st Commando Regiment, fires an AK-47 rifle during foreign weapons training in Melbourne. Story and photo by Lieutenant S.

Australian Army News

Commandos come to grips with foreign weapons

02/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2791 Views 0 Comments 1st Commando Regiment, Fort Gellibrand, special warfare

Integrating with partner forces throughout the Indo-Pacific region is one of many special warfare tasks assigned to the 1st Commando

Corporal Timothy Rymill, right, and other Army medical personnel from 1st Health Battalion triage a simulated patient inside the Role 1 treatment facility at RAAF Base Curtin, WA, during Exercise Austral Shield. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photos by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

Exercise Austral Shield troops in safe hands

02/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1729 Views 0 Comments 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Army Reserve, Exercise Austral Shield, RAAF Curtin

Corporal Timothy Rymill has been an Army Reserve treatment team medic with the 1st Health Battalion for three years, but

Soldiers from Rifle Company Butterworth exit a US Army Chinook during the field training exercise during Exercise Keris Strike in Sabah, Malaysia. Story by Lieutenant Chloe Reay. Photo by Evangelos Wilson.

Australian Army News Overseas Videos

Diggers show their mettle in Malaysian jungle

02/08/202402/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2865 Views 0 Comments 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Exercise Keris Strike, Malaysian Armed Forces, Rifle Company Butterworth, US Army

As the waves crashed along the coastline of Sabah in East Malaysia, three nations gathered to mark the conclusion of