Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Pilot Officer Shane Collins stands with Commanding Officer, Officer Training School (OTS) Wing Commander Garth Herriot and OTS Squadron Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Scott Robbins alongside the artwork Pilot Officer Shane Collins painted during his course. Story by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius. Photos by Sergeant Damien Draeger.

The wedge-tailed eagle flies into position

15/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1169 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, Officer Training School (OTS)

Pilot Officer Shane Collins, a Wiradjuri man and descendent of the Tubba-Gah Clan, has a remarkable journey that intertwines his

Leading Seaman Andrew Price demonstrates fire hose techniques during HMAS Maryborough’s open day. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Nicole Clough.

News Royal Australian Navy

Maryborough opens her hatches one last time

15/09/202322/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1843 Views 0 Comments HMAS Maryborough

As part of its final deployment, HMAS Maryborough welcomed more than 1600 visitors for a rare glimpse into life on

Director General Army Aviation Systems Brigadier Andrew Thomas, and Director of Recruiting – Army Colonel Kimberlea Juchniewicz, with Army’s new STEM Engagement Program truck. Photos by Lieutenant Colonel David Hankin.

News Science & Technology

Army takes STEM engagement on the road

15/09/202319/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2154 Views 1 Comment Defence Force Recruiting, Virtual Reality (VR)

Featuring a fresh look and new immersive capability, Army’s new STEM engagement vehicle has been rolled out. CAPTION: Director General Army

Gap Year Midshipman Sophia Dakin enjoys some down time on board HMAS Choules during Exercise Malabar. Story by Lieutenant Jonathan Wills. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

ADF People

Sailor excited by sea of opportunities

15/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1465 Views 0 Comments ADF Gap Year, Exercise Malabar, HMAS Choules, HMAS Creswell

An interest in travel and life at sea led Midshipman Sofia Dakin, from Queensland’s Gold Coast, to do an ADF

From left, RAAF engineer Warrant Officer Andrew Warmington, Mongolian Armed Forces Lieutenant Tsendendamba and RAAF engineer and interpreter Flight Lieutenant Burentogtokh Altantsetseg at the Tsenser community hospital in Arkhangai State, Central Mongolia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rachael Blake.

ADF People

Aviator reconnects with his roots

15/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1259 Views 0 Comments Mongolia

Flight Lieutenant Burentogtokh Altantsetseg spent half of his early childhood growing up in the busy city of Ulaanbaatar and the

Australian and United States military personnel welcome the arrival of the first United States Army materiel to Wadsworth Barracks, Bandiana together site managers on 14 August 2020. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photo by Major Matthew Knight.

Australian Army News

Hundreds of US Army vehicles move to Bandiana

15/09/202319/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3063 Views 2 Comments Bandiana, Gaza Ridge North Barracks, US Army, Wadsworth Barracks

A splash of camouflage will come to Bandiana, Victoria over the coming months, as ADF trucks transport United States Army

Australian Army officer Captain Robert Cussion with the M1A1 Main battle tank at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia. Story by Jon Kroiter.

ADF People

Never too late for a change

15/09/202319/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1112 Views 0 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment

Captain Robert Cussion saw the funny side when he was told the oil refinery in Adelaide that he’d worked at

The Indian Navy P-8I Neptune crew with RAAF personnel. Story and photos by Flying Officer Michael Thomas.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Finding common ground in the west

15/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1236 Views 0 Comments Indian Navy, No. 11 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, RAAF Base Pearce

For the first time, an Indian Navy P-8I Neptune has conducted operations from RAAF Base Pearce. CAPTION: The Indian Navy P-8I

(Left) Daniel Borg, Dr Manik Attygalle and David Burdon from the MetaSteerers team showing their award winning antenna system. Story by Emma Thompson. Photo by Megan Popelier.

ADF News Science & Technology

DSTG developing ‘steerable’ radio antennas

15/09/202319/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1758 Views 0 Comments DSTG

Radio frequency technology has come a long way since the days of manually adjusting rabbit ears to get a TV

RAAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Ross Bowman at RAAF Base Williamtown before flying the F-35 A Lightning II display at the Central Coast Airshow 2022, at Warnervale, NSW. Story by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

ADF People

Dirty work sets up a high flyer

15/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1363 Views 0 Comments RAAFSTT

RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT) played a pivotal role in Flight Lieutenant Ross Bowman’s career, providing an insight into

The Sky Ranger R70 unmanned aerial system operating at RAAF Base Darwin, NT, in 2022. Story by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Unmanned aerial logistics coming soon

15/09/202323/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1869 Views 0 Comments Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Having your next batch of ammo or rations arrive via drone could be no more than a couple of years

RAAF School of Technical Training Squadron staff take a group photo at RAAF Base Wagga during the squadron’s visit day. Story by Squadron Leader Kate Davis. Photo by Flight Sergeant Craig Sharp.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Trainees moving as one

12/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1535 Views 0 Comments RAAF Wagga Wagga, RAAFSTT

One of the most diverse training units in the Air Force opened it doors to trainees and visiting squadrons alike

Soldiers from 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment during Exercise Wondai Warrior, 2023 in Wondai State Forest. Story and Photo by Captain Cath Batch.

Australian Army News

Wondai Warrior brings training to South Burnett

12/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1435 Views 0 Comments 25th/49th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, Army Reserve

Soldiers of 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (25/49RQR) reinforced their strong regional community connection with the South Burnett on Exercise

From left, Seaman Joshua Love, Chief Petty Officer Ashley Schmidt, Able Seaman Jason Martinez and Lieutenant Shanna Stocks. Story by Seaman Kiri Mutton.

History News Royal Australian Navy Veterans

Waterhen carries on the Legacy

12/09/202313/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1493 Views 0 Comments HMAS Waterhen, Legacy Week

To mark the 100th year of Legacy, HMAS Waterhen personnel and volunteers across all three services spent Legacy Week raising

Invictus Games Team Australia competitors and staff enter the stadium during the opening ceremony at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. Story by Tina Langridge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Veterans

Cheering start to Invictus Games

12/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1114 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

The sixth international Invictus Games for wounded, injured and ill, serving and former-serving military personnel has kicked off with a

First graduates of the Air Battle Manager, Fighter Controller, Enlisted Course, Corporal Baden Oakley and Corporal Emily Smeaton with their graduation certificates at RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW. Story by Flying Officer Matthew Edwards. Photo by Sergeant Craig Barrett.

ADF People

Fighter controllers breaking new ground

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1344 Views 0 Comments No. 41 Wing, No. 42 Wing, RAAF Williamtown, Surveillance and Control Training Unit

In a first for the command and control community, two air surveillance operators have graduated as enlisted fighter controllers (EFC).

Air Force Roulette pilot Flight Lieutenant Ben Price, left, Air Force Veteran Henry Young, centre, and Air Commodore Micka Gray, right, at Pacific Airshow Gold Coast. Story by Flight Lieutenant Gerard Reed. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

ADF People History Veterans

Living life to the full

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1559 Views 0 Comments

A remarkable 99-year-old former fighter pilot, Henry Young, was one of the oldest attendees at the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast

Invictus Games 2020 Team Australia competitor Colleen Swifte disembarks a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A at Düsseldorf Airport, Germany. Story by Belinda Barker. Photos by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Invictus athletes touch down in Germany

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1360 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

A touching welcome greeted Team Australia as it touched down in Düsseldorf in readiness for the sixth Invictus Games, which

Defence Minister Richard Marles, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman and Flight Lieutenant Adon Lumley run with other participants in the annual Bravery Trek charity run at Mount Pleasant, Canberra. Story by John Noble.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Veterans

Supporting veterans is no sweat

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1146 Views 0 Comments Bravery Trust, Veterans’ Health Week

Defence veterans in need of financial support and advice are again being given a helping hand through the energy of

Squadron Leader Chris Moore (left) from 36 Squadron, with patients Jamie (center) and Sophia from the Queensland Children's Hospital, on the flight deck of a C-17A Globemaster III at RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Squadron Leader Tina Turner. Photo by Sergeant Peter Borys.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Smiles all round for hospital visit

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1309 Views 2 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, No. 36 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

Patients from the Queensland Children’s Hospital and their families had a special visit to RAAF Base Amberley recently to see