Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

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.

Going from virtual to reality

16/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1623 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 1166 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

Former Air Force Nursing Officer Val Lawrence, meets Warrant Officer Class One Darren Wasley at the War Veterans’ Home at Myrtle Bank in South Australia. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photos by Sergeant Murray Staff.

ADF People History Veterans

Nurse and rescued orphan meet 50 years on

16/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2443 Views 0 Comments Service Nurses, Vietnam War

After decades of war and with the imminent fall of Saigon in 1975, a humanitarian crisis was unfolding in South

An unexploded World War II-era Japanese bomb that was later disposed of by the ADF's North Queensland Joint Explosive Ordnance Support team after it was unearthed at the Stokes Hill Waterfront Precinct in Darwin. Image supplied.

Australian Army History News

Normal day at work ends with a bang

16/07/202421/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1408 Views 0 Comments Joint Explosive Ordnance Support (JEOS), UXO, WWII

Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Kyle Johnson arrived at work on June 26 expecting a routine day. CAPTION: An unexploded World

A Philippine Air Force FA-50PH pilot holds an Australian flag after arriving at RAAF Base Darwin, ready for Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Philippines lands a first at Pitch Black

12/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2223 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, Philippine Air Force, RAAF Darwin

The arrival of Philippine Air Force aircraft to Exercise Pitch Black marks the first time the Philippines has deployed air

Australian Amphibious Force members, Privates Jaguar Nibreda, Matthew Price, Jarrod Roughley, Jack Vaysset and Jack Thompson, rescued swimmers in distress at Berry Springs, NT. Story by Lieutenant Angela Faulkner.

ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing

Soldiers save swimmers’ lives

12/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1578 Views 0 Comments HMAS Adelaide

Quick thinking by several Australian Army soldiers saved the life of an unconscious swimmer and four others in a Northern

A Republic of the Marshall Islands team from the Pacific Forum-class RMIS Lomor approaches the Guardian-class patrol ships PSS President HI Remeliik II from the Republic of Palau to run through a mock law enforcement boarding off Guam. Story by Leon Ha. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Aaron Wheeler.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

New naval operation in Guam creates forum for Pacific nations

12/07/202413/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1907 Views 0 Comments Operation Irensia, RANMSA, Sea Training Group, US Coast Guard

The inaugural Operation Irensia came to life last month with the Royal Australian Navy’s Maritime Security Advisors (MSAs) and Sea

A F/A-18F Super Hornet from 1 Squadron conducts a low-level flypast over Cairns Esplanade, enthralling the local community during Exercise Crimson Dawn. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photo by Jonathan Williams.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Air power on display in north Queensland

12/07/202414/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1709 Views 0 Comments Exercise Crimson Dawn, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 1 Squadron

Air power has been on display in north Queensland, with additional flying activity taking place through the region, including on

Personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force inspect hardware components during Exercise Blue Spectrum, at the Fleet Cyber Unit, Sydney. *This image has been digitally altered*. Story by Lieutenant Gordon Carr-Gregg. Photos by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

News Royal Australian Navy

Blue Spectrum bolsters naval cyber defence

12/07/202414/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2354 Views 0 Comments Cyber Forces Group Fleet Cyber Unit, Exercise Blue Spectrum, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, US Navy

In a pioneering effort to bolster international cyber defence, sailors and officers from Australia, Japan and the United States converged

A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 is refuelled by a RAAF 33 Squadron KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft over the Pacific ocean in transit to Australia. Photo: USMC Corporal Nicholas Johnson

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF and USMC F-35s train together in NT

12/07/202414/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 5216 Views 0 Comments 33 Squadron, Exercise Magpie Lightning, F-35A Lightning II, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 3 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Tindal, USMC

The skies over the Northern Territory came alive with different variants of the F-35 Lightning II in May and June

Sergeant Hannah Freeman and Flying Officer Jack Tucker, right, join other aviators on a Navy-led innovation voyage on commercial vessel MV Offshore Solution.

News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Aviators jump on board innovation voyage

12/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1066 Views 0 Comments ADF Reserve, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)

Nine aviators participated in a Navy-led mission on the commercial vessel MV Offshore Solutionas part of a workforce upskilling activity

Former members of 1 Commando Company, from left, National Secretary Airborne and Special Forces Association Pat Doherty, President 1 Commando Association Merv Liddell and Chairman of Operation Pilgrimage Group Allan Miles at the unveiling of the new heritage marker at the company barracks, Georges Heights, Sydney. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army History News Veterans

Mission accomplished for former commandos

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2611 Views 0 Comments HMAS Penguin

Sixty-one years after he first walked through the gates of 1 Commando Company, Allan Miles trod the familiar path to

Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney, Commander Billy Maddison, speaks to media during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Corporal Adam Abela.

ADF People Overseas Royal Australian Navy

New commanding officer takes the helm at RIMPAC

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1480 Views 0 Comments HMAS Sydney, RIMPAC

Commander David ‘Billy’ Maddison is participating in RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, for the fourth time, but it’s

RAAF Base Townsville base manager Jacinta Wallace, left, and Acting Senior ADF Officer RAAF Base Townsville Wing Commander Paul Howell at the official opening of the new AAFCANS café in Building 53.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF Base Townsville’s AAFCANS moves into old Sgts Mess

11/07/202417/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1124 Views 0 Comments RAAF Townsville

RAAF Base Townsville’s AAFCANS (Army and Air Force Canteen Service) café has a new home: a refurbished World War 2-era

An Australian soldier from Rifle Company Butterworth 144 gives feedback to a soldier from the US Army during close combat shooting drills as part of Exercise Keris Strike in Malaysia. Story and photo by Lieutenant Chloe Reay.

Australian Army News Overseas

Aussie troops train in the Malaysian jungle

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1676 Views 2 Comments 1st Brigade, 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Rifle Company Butterworth, Royal Malaysian Army, US Army

Surrounded by mountains and sprawling Malaysian jungle, where rain is a constant and unrelenting presence, lies Camp Paradise. CAPTION: An Australian

Australian Army Staff Cadet Lieutenant Farida Dad graduates from the Royal Military College - Duntroon. Story by Captain Carlie Gibson. Photo by Corporal Daniel Bozza.

ADF People

Afghan’s commissioning fulfils promise to her father

11/07/202413/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1487 Views 0 Comments

It was a joyful occasion for Lieutenant Farida Dad’s family when she graduated as a private from the 1st Recruit

From left, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, RAN, Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell and Lieutenant General Greg Bilton during the Headquarters Joint Operations Command handover ceremony at General John Baker Complex, Bungendore, on July 5. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Sergeant Sagi Biderman.

ADF People

Venn diagram that shaped career of a top operator

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1133 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force

When 16-year-old former Army cadet Greg Bilton walked into the Melbourne recruiting office in 1982, he had no ambition to

Vice Admiral David Johnston, left, passes the flag to his successor as Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Rob Chipman, during the handover ceremony at Russell Offices, Canberra. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite.

ADF People

ADF’s new second in command takes over

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 825 Views 0 Comments

Under cloudy Canberra skies, Vice Admiral David Johnston handed the responsibility of Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force to Air

Warrant Officer Rodney Wallace and Squadron Leader Jamie Stirling (fourth and fifth from left) with the other 11 Squadron personnel at Owens Arch along the Kokoda Track. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Trekking for history and self

09/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1011 Views 0 Comments Kokoda Track, No. 11 Squadron, PNG, WWII

The Kokoda Track was always in the back of Squadron Leader Jamie Stirling’s mind during his more than 25 years

Candidates who successfully completed the 2024 Special Forces Selection Course recover at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Story and photos by Major Roger Brennan.

Australian Army News

Special Ops candidates recuperate at AIS

09/07/202415/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1193 Views 0 Comments Special Forces common selection, Special Operations Command (SOCOMD)

At the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Special Operations Command’s (SOCOMD) newest candidates slowly recovered after putting their bodies through