Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

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.

Trekking for history and self

09/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1012 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.

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

Private Luke Kennedy and Captain Debra Johnson mix cement to create tiles for the Amata Anangu School in remote north-western South Australia. Story by Major Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Michael Cassidy.

ADF People Australian Army

Soldier supporting his own community

09/07/202413/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1218 Views 0 Comments AACAP, NORFORCE

Anangu man Private Luke Kennedy is living a once-in-a-lifetime experience. CAPTION: Private Luke Kennedy and Captain Debra Johnson mix cement to

Commanding Officer of HMAS Choules Commander Arron Convery salutes HMS Tamar after successful Officer Of the Watch manoeuvres. Photo by Able Seaman Lucinda Allanson.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Aussies exercise with UK and Japan off Fiji

09/07/202414/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1442 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Regional Presence Deployment, Royal Navy, Tonga

One of the Royal Australian Navy’s largest ships, HMAS Choules, recently participated in training exercises with warships from the United

Australian Army Warrant Officer Class Two Brett Holloway at the Defence Space and Cyber College at HMAS Harman. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

ADF People Australian Army Science & Technology

Never too old for cyber

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1701 Views 0 Comments cyber warfare, Defence Space and Cyber College, HMAS Harman

When Warrant Officer Class Two Brett Holloway joined the Army in 1981, the valve-operated radios he used as a trainee

Australian guitarist Glen Harrison gives his all while performing with Australian country music star Amber Lawrence during a Forces Entertainment Tour in the UK. Story and photos by Major Dave Thompson.

Australian Army News Overseas

Entertaining the troops the true-blue way

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1547 Views 0 Comments Forces Entertainment Tour, Operation Kudu

ADF personnel training Ukrainian soldiers in Britain under Operation Kudu have received a touch of home-inspired, true-blue, live country music

Policy to enable dual-serving couples leave sharing arrangements is now in place. Photo by Leading Seaman Tara Morrison.

ADF News

Dual-serving couples can now share leave

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1726 Views 0 Comments

Dual-serving couples can now share their leave as part of the latest change under the ADF Leave Framework. CAPTION: Policy to

Students of the University of New South Wales Master of Explosive Ordnance degree observe an energetic substance demonstration at Majura Training Area, Canberra. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF Australian Army News Science & Technology

Course goes off with a bang

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1445 Views 0 Comments Army School of Ordnance

A higher education into the science of things that go bang is now available in Australia to nominated ADF personnel,

Corporals Jacob Wilkinson, left, and Sam Harman at the 2024 Finke Desert Race. Story by Corporal John Blenkin.

ADF People

Aviators finish gruelling Finke Desert Race

05/07/202412/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 923 Views 0 Comments No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Three aviators from RAAF Base Tindal participated in the 48th Finke Desert Race last month. CAPTION: Corporals Jacob Wilkinson, left, and

Royal Australian Navy sailors work onboard HMNZS Manawanui with Royal New Zealand Navy sailors to repair a rigid-hulled inflatable boat. Story by Leading Seaman Harry Boardman.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Navy

Aussie help with repairs on HMNZS Manawanui in Sydney

05/07/202410/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1277 Views 0 Comments Defence Strategic Review, Fleet Support Unit – South East (FSU-SE), National Defence Strategy (NDS), Royal New Zealand Navy

A collaborative effort between the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has strengthened ties during HMNZS Manawanui’s

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Veterans

Memories of a Vietnam veteran

05/07/202410/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2438 Views 0 Comments Vietnam veterans

In 1969 at the age of 20, Rudolph Stachow was on his first patrol in Vietnam as an infantryman. CAPTION: Vietnam

Sergeant Deborah Williamson, right, receives the McCarthy Rowbottom Jones Memorial Award by Group Captain John Rollo. Story by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Taking the pain out of going to the dentist

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1034 Views 0 Comments No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Aviators at RAAF Base Tindal needing wisdom teeth removed can thank Sergeant Deborah Williamson for eliminating the 700km round trip

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Keeping watch over shipping routes

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1597 Views 0 Comments No. 11 Squadron, Operation Gateway, P-8A Poseidon, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth

The latest iteration of Operation Gateway – Australia’s longest running Defence operation – has successfully concluded following a P-8A Poseidon

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Owain Griffiths is one of five Australian Army personnel posted to the United States Army's 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force from mid-2024. Story by Lieutenant Colonel Carrie Robards.

Australian Army News USA

Embeds to contribute to regional deterrence

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1295 Views 0 Comments Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP)

Five Australian Army personnel have headed to Hawaii to embed with the US Army’s 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (3rd MDTF).

Health Operational Conversion Unit Aeromedical Evacuation course director, Flight Lieutenant Diane Casey, left, speaks with participating international partners inside a C-130J Hercules training fuselage at RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Flying Officer Madeleine Magee. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Taking training beyond borders

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1206 Views 0 Comments Health Operational Conversion Unit (Health OCU), International Aeromedical Evacuation (I-AE), RAAF Richmond

The Royal Australian Air Force’s Health Operational Conversion Unit (Health OCU) has conducted its first full International Aeromedical Evacuation (I-AE)

Delegates from the Pacific Defence Faith Forum enjoyed a week exploring how military chaplains across the South Pacific could support each other and work together. Story by Chaplain Andrew Nixon, RAN. Photo supplied by NZDF PAO.

ADF People Overseas

Inaugural faith forum inspires

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1102 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

Defence chaplains from across the South Pacific gathered in Auckland for the first Pacific Defence Faith Forum from June 9-13

Team Australia captains Sergeant Emily Lahey, right, and Cooper Blackwood carry the Australian National Flag as they lead the Australian contingent competing at the Warrior Games 2024 on to the stage for the closing ceremony. Story by Flying Officer Belinda Barker. Photos by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing News USA

Team Australia celebrates success at Warrior Games

03/07/202406/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1159 Views 0 Comments Warrior Games

The achievements of Team Australia were celebrated as the curtains closed on the 2024 Warrior Games. CAPTION: Team Australia captains Sergeant

Crew of a 6 Squadron EA-18G Growler aircraft taxi at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Sergeant Andrew Eddie.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Eye of the storm

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1163 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, Exercise Diamond Storm, No. 88 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)

Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) candidates conducted complex mission scenarios throughout Northern Australia for their culminating activity, Exercise Diamond Storm,