Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Corporal Christopher Meldrum, an avionics technician from 33 Squadron, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 at RAAF Base Darwin. Story and photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

From the runway to the sky

11/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1240 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Darwin

Corporal Christopher Meldrum finds fixing an aircraft one of the most rewarding parts of being an aircraft technician in the

Senior ADF Officer RAAF Base Amberley, Group Captain Dennis Tan (right), and Warrant Officer Glenn Lyons (left) with Air Force veteran John Shoesmith and his family to celebrate his 100th birthday. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

ADF People History

Spitfire pilot turns 100

11/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1522 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron, Spitfire, WWII

World War II pilot Warrant Officer (retired) John Shoesmith celebrated his 100th birthday in Wynnum Queensland. CAPTION: Senior ADF Officer RAAF

An Australian sapper from 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment guides an M113 armoured personnel carrier over the new dry support bridge during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Story by Major Roger Brennan. Photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

River crossing a first for division

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2632 Views 0 Comments 7th Brigade, Exercise Talisman Sabre, M113, Rheinmetall Boxer CRV

Advancing south through the Townsville Field Training Area as part of the 1st Australian Division, 7th Brigade reconnaissance assets identified

Aircraftman Max Tesoriero (centre) and project manager Sub Lieutenant Ben Jackson (far left) with senior Navy personnel and the uncrewed surface vessel, Lexcen, which he assisted in developing. Story by Flying Officer Jamie Wallace. Photo by Petty Officer Nina Fogliani.

ADF People

Uncrewed surface vessel launched

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1310 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus, Robotics, Unscrewed Surface Vessel (USV)

He may be in the Air Force, but Aircraftman Max Tesoriero has always had a keen interest in designing and

Flight Lieutenant Cameron Maher competing in the Down Under CrossFit Championship in November 2022. Story by Evan Ho. Photo by Captain Daniel Mahon.

ADF News

CrossFit named official ADF sport

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1727 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport

ADF members who do CrossFit now have a new home within Defence in which to engage their passion. CAPTION: Flight Lieutenant

ADF chaplains Rainer Schack, Andrew Robinson, Christopher Buckley-Wilkshire, Imam, Mogamat Majidih Essa and Commander Mark Graichen visit a Hindu temple with members of the Indonesian Navy in Surabaya, Indonesia, during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos by Sergeant Craig Barrett.

News Royal Australian Navy

Success in the city of heroes

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1646 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, HMAS Anzac, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Indonesian Navy

From religious engagements to gender discussions, military-to-military talks and even a chilli-eating contest, the Indonesian leg of Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE)

International participants of Exercise Talisman Sabre, representing the Combat Training Centres of France, Canada and the UK, with Colonel Ben McLennan (ADF), far right. Story by V. Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

Australian Army News

Nations combined for world-class combat training

09/08/202313/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1698 Views 0 Comments Combat Training Centre, Exercise Talisman Sabre

Enhancing relationships was a key theme for this year’s Talisman Sabre and nowhere was this more evident than in the

Australian Army Private Samuel Austen-Wilkins, left, and His Majesty's Armed Forces of Tonga Lance Corporal Sione Atoa mounted in an Australian Army Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Story by Major Roger Brennan. Photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Talisman Sabre

Boxer’s fighting season of firsts

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2143 Views 1 Comment 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Brigade, Boxer CRV, Exercise Talisman Sabre, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Sitting in a cavalry screen far forward of 7th Brigade Battle Groups, the Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle surveilled Objective Otter

Paying respects at the Brunei-Australia War Memorial at Muara Beach during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photos by Corporal Dan Pinhorn.

News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Engaging Brunei’s perspective

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1639 Views 0 Comments Brunei, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

Maritime security law has proved a rich topic for Australia and Brunei to discuss common interests during the latest iteration

The 1st Combat Communications Squadron convoy vehicles at RAAF Base Curtin, Western Australia, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Stories by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Epic task for comms unit

09/08/202313/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1500 Views 0 Comments 1st Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS), Exercise Talisman Sabre, RAAF Curtin

It was a road move like no other for 1st Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS), taking the route by road from

USS Ronald Reagan steams in formation with HMAS Perth, USS North Carolina and USS Robert Smalls, and USS Antietam in the Indian Ocean during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Story byLieutenant Commander Andrew Herring. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jordan Brown (US Navy).

News Royal Australian Navy

Naval forces amassed in Australian waters

09/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1716 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, US Navy

The largest massing of naval capability in Australian waters in recent years occurred when the Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 fleet

Australian Army soldiers from units across 13th Brigade work with security elements of the Royal Australian Air Force protecting people and critical infrastructure at RAAF Base Curtin as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 at Derby, Western Australia. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.

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

Talisman Sabre wrapped up

09/08/202309/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2011 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre

After two weeks of high-end warfighting, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 (TS23) has officially closed. CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from units across

Patron of ADF Cadets General (retd) Sir Peter Cosgrove watches the Australian Air Force Cadets team complete the rope crawl obstacle in the confidence course at the Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge at Kokoda Barracks, Queensland. Story by Tamara Robinson. Photo by Chris McGrane

ADF People

Sir Peter awards cadet challenge winners

08/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1463 Views 0 Comments ADF Cadets, General (retd) Sir Peter Cosgrove

Patron of the ADF Cadets, General (retd) Sir Peter Cosgrove acknowledged the strength and resilience of more than 100 cadets

Sailors from HMCS Montreal and HMAS Stalwart after a game of soccer during the HMAS Cairns sports day at the Cairns Esplanade. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers.

News Royal Australian Navy

Bringing it to the court

08/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1299 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Cairns, HMAS Leewin, HMAS Stalwart, Royal Canadian Navy, US Navy

Before the start of Exercise Talisman Sabre, international naval personnel took over the Cairns Esplanade Activity Precinct during a friendly

Royal Australian Air Force and US Air Force refuelling specialists discuss the refuel of a KC-135 following its arrival at RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Mobility Guardian. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photo bySergeant Pete Gammie.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Two air forces cooperate on Ex Mobility Guardian

08/08/202309/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2307 Views 0 Comments Exercise Mobility Guardian, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, USAF

Cohesive integration with partner forces is an essential ingredient for success on international exercises, as proven by 13 Squadron at

Flight Lieutenant Shiva Tejwani is presented with a Gold Defence Commendation for Technical Member of the Year by First Assistant Secretary Major Surface Combatants & Combat Systems Sheryl Lutz at the EngTech 23 Conference at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Story by Private Nicholas Marquis.

ADF People

Kicking goals in engineering

08/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1203 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Force Academy, C-17A Globemaster III, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

Flight Lieutenant Shiva Tejwani has been named the Engineering and Technical Function Professional Engineer of the Year and received a

Chief of Personnel Lieutenant General Natasha Fox at Russell Offices in Canberra. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People

Finding people to serve

08/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1020 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence College, Defence Force Recruiting, Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS), transition

The ADF has more than 250 types of roles on offer and many benefits for people to stay in the

Commanding Officer Royal Australian Navy Recruit School, Commander Alisha Withers, right, promotes Seaman Stephen Thompson to the rank of Able Seaman, after the General Entry 413 Taylor Division graduation ceremony at HMAS Cerberus, Victoria. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

ADF People

Never too late for a new career path

08/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1274 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus

Navy recruit Stephen Thompson once had a long, successful career in the automotive industry. CAPTION: Commanding Officer Royal Australian Navy Recruit