Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Two new resources will help leaders address personnel issues arising from psychosocial hazards in the workplace. Story by John Noble. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

RAAF homes in on psychosocial hazards

25/07/202402/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1362 Views 0 Comments Directorate of Mental Health and Wellbeing – Air Force (MH&W-AF), Human Performance and Safety (HPS)

The Royal Australian Air Force has introduced a suite of products to help commanders and team leaders support the mental

From left, a Royal Air Force corporal, Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Benjamin Selwood, Royal New Zealand Air Force Corporal Rikki Rawleigh and Patrol Dog McClane patrol the apron at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Kiwis send largest contingent to Pitch Black 24

25/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1339 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, NZDF, RAAF Darwin

Australia’s friends from across the ditch have sent their largest contingent to the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest international exercise.

Philippine Army soldiers conduct an urban clearance serial led by the joint Australian training team - Philippines at Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz. Story. by Captain Thomas Kaye. Photo by Sergeant Brodie Cross.

Australian Army News Overseas

Australian and Filipino soldiers exchange tactics

24/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1510 Views 0 Comments 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Armed Forces of the Philippines, land mobile training team (LMTT)

Mortars, urban combat clearance, signals, first aid and combat shooting were just some of the categories of training conducted in

Parents, Sergeant Kim and Mrs Clare James with their kids, displaying their Child of ADF Medallions and certificates. Story by Ben Wickham. Photos by Ben Wickham.

ADF People

Recognising the ADF’s youngest supporters

24/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1027 Views 0 Comments Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS), Holsworthy Barracks

More than 150 Sydney-based children of ADF members have been presented with medallions, commending them for resilience and personal growth

Yuri, an F-35A pilot with the Italian Air Force, on the flightline during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photo by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Italy soars into Pitch Black debut

24/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1336 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Italian Air Force (ItAF), RAAF Darwin

As the sun rose over RAAF Base Darwin, F-35s from one of Exercise Pitch Black’s newest participants took to the

Second Lieutenant Cecil Healy is the only Australian Olympian to have died in combat.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Remembering Aussie Olympic Gold medalist killed in action

24/07/202430/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1355 Views 0 Comments France, WWI

Olympians Kaarle McCulloch and Michelle Ford have honoured the memory of Cecil Healy, the only Australian Olympic gold medallist to die

From left, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Warrant Officer of the Air Force Ralph Clifton; Saskia Hobbs and Reverend Mark Perry take part in the lighting of the candle ceremony. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Lighting a candle for fallen aviators on London trip

19/07/202430/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1778 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, RAF, United Kingdom

Australia’s new Chief of Air Force has embarked on his first overseas trip, arriving in London for a series of

Soldiers from 11th Brigade move out from Porton Barracks in Cairns in their Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles at the start of Exercise Austral Shield. Story by Captain Andrew Lee. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Australian Army News

Austral Shield turns up the heat

19/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1920 Views 0 Comments 11th brigade, 9th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, Army Reserve, Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, Exercise Austral Shield

On a comfortable 26-degree winter’s day in Far North Queensland, Army personnel, vehicles and equipment from Brisbane’s 11th Brigade arrived

Captain Matthew Flinders. Story by Lieutenant Commander JA Thompson.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Captain Matthew Flinders finally returns home

19/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1665 Views 0 Comments

The ADF was on hand recently for the reburial of the Royal Navy captain who led the first circumnavigation of

Australian Army surveyor Sapper Shaun Jackson from 6th Engineer Support Regiment completes a surveying task as part of the 2024 Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme in Amata, SA. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power. Photo by Private Jack Hayes.

ADF People Australian Army

Army surveyors shoot lasers

19/07/202430/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1582 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP

Shooting lasers is all in a day’s work for the small cohort of Army surveyors. CAPTION: Australian Army surveyor Sapper Shaun

Air Force aviators from 11 Squadron transfer a Mk54 Lightweight exercise torpedo to a RAAF P-8A Poseidon during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photos by Corporal Adam Abela.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Poseidon hunts submarines in the Pacific

19/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2786 Views 0 Comments MQ-9A, No. 11 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, RIMPAC, US Navy

A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon dropped four exercise torpedoes on a US Navy nuclear submarine during a maritime

Pig mascots William and Elizabeth are farewelled by the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News

7RAR says goodbye to its mascots – doesn’t say why

19/07/202421/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2389 Views 0 Comments 7th Battalion RAR, RAAF Edinburgh

Clad in unit colours, William and Elizabeth, the beloved pig mascots of the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR),

Lieutenant Nicholas Dale, left, and Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney Commander Billy Maddison steer the ship during a replenishment at sea with German Navy Ship Frankfurt Am Main during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024. Story by Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photos bu Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

News Royal Australian Navy Videos

Taking fuel from German Navy

19/07/202421/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2439 Views 0 Comments German Navy, HMAS Sydney, Replenishment at Sea (RAS), RIMPAC

For HMAS Sydney’s crew, a replenishment at sea (RAS) is a well-practised mariner skill, but taking fuel from the German

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Exercise Pitch Black – in videos

18/07/202425/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2543 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black 24 is the Royal Australian Air Force’s biennial capstone international engagement exercise, with forces drawn from a

Head of Air Shows Air Force, Air Commodore Micka Grey, talks during the media launch event for the start of Exercise Pitch Black held at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

All systems go on largest Pitch Black

17/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1257 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Darwin

In the presence of friends, and surrounded by allied aircraft on the heat of the flightline, senior ADF officers and

Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour pulls alongside East Arm Wharf, Darwin, ready to participate in Exercise Pitch Black. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

Italy’s flagship debut at Pitch Black

17/07/202417/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3154 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Italian Navy

In an historic first, the Italian Navy’s flagship, the aircraft carrier Cavour, has arrived in Australia to participate in Exercise

RAAF Group Captain Glenn Pascoe, Surgeon to the Combined Forces Air Component Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii for Exercise RIMPAC, speaks with medical team members. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Corporal Adam Abela.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force USA

RAAF surgeon leads international medical team at RIMPAC

17/07/202424/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1109 Views 0 Comments RIMPAC

A RAAF medical officer is filling one of three component surgeon positions, charged with ensuring the care of more than

Squadron Leader Joshua Brown, right, describes the P-8A Poseidon airborne electronics analyst work stations to Squadron Leader Cosimo Panetta, left, and visiting contractors Peter Ryder, Adam Webber and Justin King. Story by Flying Officer Xavier Szegi. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force Sovereign industry

New software ensures a safer flight

17/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1284 Views 0 Comments No. 11 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, RAAF Edinburgh

The Government’s focus on Australian industry capability has resulted in the delivery of an Australian-developed software Weight and Balance Tool

Personnel from 1 Security Forces Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown, participate in a non-permissive training scenario on the flightline at RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Tastri Murdoch. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Going from virtual to reality

16/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1622 Views 0 Comments No. 1 Security Forces Squadron., No. 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (3AMES), RAAF Amberley, RAAF Richmond, US Air Force

Late last month, for the first time, the United State Pacific Air Force (PACAF) 18 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (18AES) visited

Lieutenant David Gouge talks with other members in the Multi-National Logistics Support Element during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024, in Hawaii. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

News Royal Australian Navy USA

Logistics cell critical to the mission

16/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1165 Views 0 Comments RIMPAC, US Navy

Five ADF members are part of a multinational team of about 40 surface logistics personnel providing essential support to the