Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

An Army Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) conducts a live-fire activity on Exercise Diamond Strike 23. Story by Major Roger Brennan. Photo by corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Smooth and lethal: Boxer squadron’s first live fire

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2758 Views 3 Comments 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry), Boxer CRV, Diamond Strike, M1A1 Abrams

Radio traffic across the Battle Group Warhorse net lit up when enemy armoured vehicles were seen advancing toward 2nd/14th Light

Corporal Jacob Cutmore passes the ball to Captain Charlotte Hargreaves during a game at the 2023 ACT NAIDOC Touch Football carnival on July 15. Story by Private Nicholas Marquis.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

More than a touch of camaraderie in carnival

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1667 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, NAIDOC Week

One arm grasping the ball, the other pumping the air, a full-length run of the field was in play. CAPTION:

Information Warfare Officer instructors Lieutenant Martin Anderson, left, and Lieutenant Commander Ryan Bidgood, right. Story and photo by Sub-Lieutenant Cinaed Finall.

News Royal Australian Navy

Inaugural Information Warfare Officer graduating

14/07/202320/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2223 Views 0 Comments HMAS Watson

More than a year after its establishment, the first Information Warfare Officer (IWO) work group graduates will be joining the

HMAS Harman ship's company exercise their freedom of entry to the City of Queanbeyan as part of their 80th anniversary celebrations. Story b y Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. All photos by Petty Offier Jake Badior.

ADF People

Harman celebrates 80 years

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1806 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, Freedom of Entry, HMAS Harman

Drawn swords and beating drums kicked off HMAS Harman’s week-long 80th anniversary celebrations, as personnel proudly paraded in a freedom

Petty Officer Jessica Gunning scores a goal during a 4th of July soccer match between the Royal Australian Navy and the United States Marine Corps held at Darwin Football Stadium, Northern Territory. Story by Lieutenant Jessica Blackman. Photo by Leading Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Friendly football comp strengthens bonds

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1357 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin

The Navy Football Federation Australia (FFA) men’s and women’s teams recently made the journey to Darwin for a training camp

Participants in biennial Exercise Resolute Hunter 23. Story by Sub Lieutenant Marina Riley.

News Royal Australian Navy USA

Historic first for Navy’s 816 Squadron

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1768 Views 0 Comments Exercise Resolute Hunter, MH-60R Seahawk, No. 816 Squadron (RAN)

Exercise Resolute Hunter has long been a cornerstone in maritime warfare training, bringing together allied forces to share expertise and

The three Air Force members who participated in the race. Story by Corporal John Blenkin. Photo by 1 Shot Media.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Videos

Till the wheels come off

14/07/202314/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1514 Views 1 Comment ADF Sport, Finke Desert Race

When three Air Force members took on one of the world’s most difficult off-road races last month, they got more

Samuel Hays (centre) leads the National Day of Prayer for Defence at Saint John's protestant chapel at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story and photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

The power of praying together

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1375 Views 0 Comments RAAF Williamtown

A group of Christian followers engaged in a group conversation with God on the National Day of Prayer for Defence

Leading Aircraftman Harry Williamson, a ground support equipment technician from 27 Squadron, works in the engine bay of a G-Wagon at RAAF Base Townsville. Story by Flying Officer Aarron Dann. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Providing crucial air power in the north

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1475 Views 0 Comments Black Dagger, Combat Support Group (CSG), Exercise High Sierra, No. 27 Squadron, RAAF Curtin, RAAF Townsville

RAAF Base Townsville is one of seven bases supporting the Northern Air Campaign 2023 (NAC23), a surge period of concurrent

Air Force Sergeant Chris Welch, (back right), with the senior B division team during training at Jervis Bay. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Air Force dragon boater off to the worlds

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 865 Views 0 Comments

While some struggle to get out of bed on Canberra’s dark and cold winter mornings, Sergeant Chris Welch is cutting

RAAF and USAF members work together during the arrival of a USAF C-17 Globemaster III into RAAF Base Townsville from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, as part of Exercise Mobility Guardian. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Tanya Carter.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Aviators put skills to the test

14/07/202319/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2298 Views 0 Comments Exercise Mobile Guardian, No. 13 Squadron, No. 23 Squadron, No. 27 Squadron, RAAF Townsville

A contingent of RAAF personnel and aircraft are testing their readiness skills and interoperability with partner nations in an exercise

Marine technicians Able Seaman Liam Duncan (left) and Leading Seaman Aaron Dabinet work on one of HMAS Anzac’s capstans control panels during a scheduled maintenance period in Sembwang, Singapore. Story by Lieutenant Max Logan. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarryd Capper.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Anzac’s Singapore pitstop

14/07/202319/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1551 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, HMAS Anzac, No. 816 Squadron (RAN), Royal Navy, Singapore

There was more than meets the eye to a scheduled maintenance period for HMAS Anzac alongside at the Sembawang Naval

Pilot Officer Georgia Wales leads Head of People Capability, Major General Wade Stothart through the Air Force virtual reality flight simulator during the Defence and Questacon partnership announcement. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. All photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Defence/Questacon inspiring kids with elementary engineering

14/07/202326/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2421 Views 2 Comments Defence Force Recruiting

Primary school students will continue designing submersibles, parachutes, water filters and bridges thanks to a recently extended partnership between Defence

Marine Engineering Training and Engineering Operator Remediation Plan (Plan METEOR) students and staff in the diesel engine enclosure of HMAS Perth. Story by Chief Petty Officer Mitchell Austin and Sub-Lieutenant Taylor Bell-Booth, Royal New Zealand Navy.

News Royal Australian Navy

Engineering drills go offshore

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1271 Views 0 Comments HMAS Perth, Plan METEOR

HMAS Perth recently ventured into the formidable winter seas of the Western Australia Exercise Area in the Indian Ocean over

An M1A1 Abrams from Battle Group Heeler in a battle hide during Exercise Southern Jackaroo, part of Exercise Diamond Strike, in the Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Story by Major Roger Brennan. All photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Exercise wraps with a full-on attack

14/07/202314/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2109 Views 1 Comment 7th Brigade, CTC, Diamond Strike, Exercise Southern Jackaroo, M1A1 Abrams, MRF-D

Pinned down in a deep creek line in the Townsville Field Training Area, soldiers from the 7th Brigade’s Battle Group

From left, Rear Admiral (retd) Michael Rothwell presents Warrant Officer Matthew Hurley with his Federation Star marking 40 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy during a ceremony at Fleet Headquarters in Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Commander Harley Slatter. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

ADF People

Navy clearance diver awarded Federation Star

11/07/202311/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1723 Views 0 Comments Federation Star, HMAS Sydney, Joint Task Force 633, Middle East Region

On a crisp Sydney winter morning in early July, a large group assembled at Fleet Headquarters to celebrate Warrant Officer

Australian Army recruits from the Army Indigenous Development Program (AIDP) pause for a selfie after marching out from their graduation parade at Defence Establishment Berrimah, Northern Territory. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard and Captain Anna Richardson. All photos by Captain Annie Richardson.

ADF People

A pathway to something bigger

11/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1435 Views 0 Comments Army Indigenous Development Program

Eighteen new graduates from central Australia, Far North Queensland and Canberra are on their way towards fulfilling careers in the

ADF members choose a new Aussie Hero Quilts dhoby bag during HMAS Adelaide's transit to North Queensland. Story by Able Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips. All photos by Petty Officer Craig Walton.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Letters and laundry bags the fabric of support

11/07/202311/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1545 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts, HMAS Adelaide

Aussie Hero Quilts had it in the bag when they reached out to HMAS Adelaide and offered laundry bags for

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman meets with Indigenous Elders and current serving members at the Royal Military College - Duntroon Yarning Circle, Canberra. Story by John Noble. Photo by Corporal Sam Price.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Yarning and learning

11/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1190 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, Duntroon, NAIDOC Week, Yarning Circle

Helping celebrate NAIDOC Week in early July, senior leaders of Air Force gathered with local Indigenous Elders and serving members

The ANZAC Memorial Centre at Beersheba, visited by a contingent of Operation Mazurka personnel during their tour of Israel. Story b y Lieutenant Sarah Lucinsky.

Australian Army History News

Aussies/Fijians share history tour in Israel

11/07/202316/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1684 Views 0 Comments Beersheba War Cemetery, Light Horse Regiment, MFO, Operation Mazurka, Operation Paladin, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

The bonds formed between soldiers on deployment have been deepened by a sharing of military history in the Middle East.