Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band members at the Rats hall in Melbourne. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Band gives a shout-out for new members

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 721 Views 0 Comments Edinburgh Tattoo, WWII

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band has carried its music across the globe, from the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo, to

A RAAF P-8A Poseidon participates in a maritime cooperative activity with Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Hobart, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship Akizuki, Philippine Navy ship BRP Jose Rizal and US Navy ship USS Benfold. Story by Lieutenant Harrison Thomas. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Places to go, counterparts to see

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1254 Views 0 Comments Exercise La Perouse, HMAS Hobart, P-8A Poseidon, Regional Presence Deployment, Royal Navy, US Air Force

The first regional presence deployment (RPD) for 2025 has opened HMAS Hobart to a number of training opportunities with counterparts from

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft receives fuel from a RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport over Iraq as part of the Air Task Group for Operation Okra. Story by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree. Photos by Sergeant Mick Davis.

Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

Air-to-air refuellers kept Operation Okra flying

05/03/202520/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 942 Views 0 Comments F/A-18F Super Hornet, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Operation Okra

Flying a Classic Hornet loaded with bombs over Iraq in 2016, Air Commodore Philip Gordon had a problem. CAPTION: A Royal

An Australian Army soldier serving on Operation Kudu instructs Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel on section attack tactics. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News Overseas Videos

From dream job to nightmare of Russian invasion

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5860 Views 1 Comment Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Interflex, Operation Kudu, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Olena was at her dream job, a personal trainer at a successful gym, when she heard news of Russia’s invasion

Stand-up comedian Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann performs at Camp Baird Headquarters in the Middle East for deployed ADF personnel during the Forces Entertainment Tour. Story and photo: byLeading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Comedian’s admiration for troops is no joke

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1063 Views 0 Comments Forces Entertainment Tour, Iraq

Route Irish, a 12-kilometre stretch of highway in Baghdad, Iraq, was once considered the most dangerous road in the world.

A medical team from Army’s 2nd Health Battalion during Operation Render Safe 24-2, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Pacific

Army medics treat and train locals in Solomons

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 849 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Operation Render Safe, Solomon Islands

Crocodile and pig attacks are not the typical injuries orthopaedic surgeon Major Darren Paterson is accustomed to. CAPTION: A medical team

Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilot Captain Nakanishi, United States Air Force pilot Lieutenant Mike Watson and Royal Australian Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Ryan Turner during Exercise Cope North 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos: by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes thrice in Guam

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1040 Views 0 Comments Andersen AFB, Exercise Cope North, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, No. 75 Squadron, US Air Force

For the first time, the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force (USAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud on the Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator course with his peers and mentors at HMAS Albatross, NSW. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

From Yam Island to the Middle East and beyond

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 801 Views 0 Comments HMAS Albatross, HMAS Cairns, Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator (RIDC)

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud remembers Navy crew visiting his island home when he was just a child. CAPTION: Leading Seaman Roneld

Brigadier Deane Limmer holds a Blue Bar Cock pigeon at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army History News

Flying in the face of danger

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1077 Views 0 Comments Dickin Medal, National Day for War Animals, Royal Australian Corps of Signals

In 1944, a small patrol of US marines hacked through dense jungle towards a waiting enemy. CAPTION: Brigadier Deane Limmer holds

Personnel from Navy's Leadership Management Development Centre with NRL referees and staff at HMAS Penguin.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

NRL tackles leadership skills with Navy

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 541 Views 0 Comments HMAS Penguin

Navy recently welcomed leadership teams, support staff and referees from the National Rugby League (NRL) elite officiating teams to undertake

Soldiers from the 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, conduct a room clearance at the close-quarter battle area of the open-plan weapons training simulation system at Robertson Barracks in Darwin. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army News

Game-changer for close-quarter battle skills

04/03/202504/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 837 Views 1 Comment 5/7 RAR, OP WTSS, Robertson Barracks

A new $17 million combat simulation facility, featuring 840 square metres of manoeuvrable floor space and a close-quarter battle range,

Gunners from 102nd Battery, 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery participate in the re-enactment of the Bombing of Darwin. Story and photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Darwin bombing a call to defend the north

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 906 Views 2 Comments 8th/12th Regiment RAA, RAAF Darwin, WWII

From RAAF Base Darwin, a young Brian Winspear saw Japanese bombs glinting in the sun like confetti above Darwin on

Retired Australian Army combat assault dogs Aslan, left, and Manic, of the 2nd Commando Regiment, receive the inaugural Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award at the Australian War Memorial. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF ADF People Veterans

Commando canines honoured for service

28/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1602 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, aww, Dogs of Valour, Middle East Region, Military Working Dogs, Purple Popply Day, Service Dogs

A retired combat assault dog named Manic, who served with the 2nd Commando Regiment in Iraq, received a new award

A small group of ADF personnel, including Commander of the Australian Contingent Colonel Mark Coyle, centre, close off Australia’s commitment to Operation Okra at Aussie House inside US military base Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Story by Lieutenant Commander Max Logan.

Australian Army Middle East News

Flag comes down, soldiers come home

28/02/202501/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1331 Views 0 Comments Middle East Region, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Okra, Task Group Taji

The Australian flag descended at Combined Joint Task Force – Middle East in Kuwait for the final time in December,

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, speaks with guests at the Bombing of Darwin memorial unveiling at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

ADF People Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF salutes sacrifice in WWII attack

28/02/202514/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1064 Views 0 Comments Bombing of Darwin, Chief of Air Force, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, WWII

Two memorials honouring the sacrifice of aviators killed in a Japanese attack have been unveiled in Darwin. CAPTION: Chief of Air

The Foreign Forces Desert Immersion Course instructs military personnel in Bedouin culture and desert tactics, techniques and procedures. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Aldrich.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

UAE survival training taps into Bedouin skills

26/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1313 Views 0 Comments Headquarters Middle East, NZDF, survival course

Military personnel have seized a chance to enhance their skills through a one-of-a-kind tactical desert training course. CAPTION: The Foreign

People’s Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang

News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Update 8, 9 & 10 Added – People’s Liberation Army–Navy vessels operating near Australia

26/02/202513/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2781 Views 2 Comments China, New Zealand Defence Force, PLA-N

People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Task Group 107, comprised of the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class Cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class

A RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft departs Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during Exercise Cope North 25. Story b y Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Tankers band together in Guam

25/02/202501/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1482 Views 0 Comments Exercise Cope North, Guam, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

Australian, Japanese and American refuelling aircraft have joined forces to feed thirsty fast jets in the skies above Guam. CAPTION: A

A RAAF 1 Squadron F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot, weapons systems officer and ground crew member meet for pre-flight checks during Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1 in Nevada, US. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Enhanced teamwork for technicians in Nevada

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1230 Views 0 Comments Exercise Red Flag, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 1 Squadron, No. 77 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Personnel from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have joined forces at Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1 and

Army soldier Sergeant Brent Power, a preventative medicine technician, remembers working on Operation Flood Assist at his home town of Casino, NSW, three years ago. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Australian Army History

Remembering devastating floods, three years on

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 932 Views 0 Comments Operation Flood Assist 2022

In 2022, then-Corporal Brent Power saw his home town of Casino, NSW, transformed into a river of diesel, rotting animal