ADF People – Page 24 – 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 1675 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

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 2355 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 1601 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 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 1618 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

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 1740 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

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 1611 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 1865 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 1945 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 1887 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 1407 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

Lance Corporal Emily Drummond at the 2023 Chief of Army Symposium in Perth. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.

ADF People

Blow waves to bullets

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2539 Views 3 Comments 11th/28th Battalion, Army Reserve, The Royal Western Australian Regiment

A normal infantry section commander’s knowledge of haircuts ends with what the Army Dress Manual allows. CAPTION: Lance Corporal Emily Drummond

From left, RAN Able Seaman Marc Moyo, Philippine Marine Corps Master Sergeant Vincente Carubanga Jr, Australian Army Private Melanio Sager, RAN Medical Officer Lieutenant Phil Salinas and Philippine Navy Apprentice Seaman Cedrick Marcelo on HMAS Canberra near Manila, Philippines, during Exercise Alon. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

ADF People

Reconnecting with family in the Philippines

05/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2387 Views 0 Comments Exercise Alon, HMAS Canberra, Philippines

Australians with Filipino heritage on board HMAS Canberra were excited to step off in Manila to reconnect with family. CAPTION: From

From left, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Chloe Wise, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Kathryn Boyd and Sub-Lieutenant Phoebe Curtis on the flightline at 723 Squadron, HMAS Albatross. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Marina Riley. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

ADF People

Women surge to the skies

05/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2112 Views 0 Comments No. 723 Squadron, Women in Aviation Program

Navy is sailing into a new era, with a record-breaking number of women taking to the skies. CAPTION: From left, Acting

Chief Petty Officer Michelle Keygan is studying with the ADFA Postgraduate Scheme while maintaining her training and development role at the Navy Recruit School, HMAS Cerberus, Victoria. Story by Lieutenant Rebecca Williamson. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

ADF People

Defence masters degree opens doors

05/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1829 Views 0 Comments ADFA, HMAS Cerberus, UNSW

Gaining lifelong skill sets and an impressive qualification she didn’t even realise was available to her, Chief Petty Officer Michelle

Outgoing Commander Air Commodore David Paddison, left, and incoming Commander Air Commodore Robert Graham during the Combat Support Group change-of-command ceremony at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks. Photos by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

ADF People

Handing over the reins

05/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2060 Views 0 Comments Combat Support Group (CSG), RAAF Amberley

Aviators from more than 50 Air Force trades marched onto the tarmac at RAAF Base Amberley late last month to

Lenny Redrose has been named Team Australia’s flag-bearer for the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 opening ceremony. Story by Belinda Barker. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Invictus Games flag-bearer ‘over the moon’

05/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1642 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Governor-General, Invictus Games

Lenny Redrose has been announced as Team Australia’s flag-bearer for Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023. CAPTION: Lenny Redrose has been named Team

Joint Task Force - Space Defence Commercial Operations cell's first accredited operator, Major Thomas Bittner, at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

ADF People

Following the sun for space domain awareness

05/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1650 Views 0 Comments Defence Space Command, No.1 Space Surveillance Unit (1SSU)

Defence Space Command commenced its support to the global Joint Task Force – Space Defence Commercial Operations (JCO) network on

Invictus Games Team Australia competitor Xavier Green at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Belinda Barker. Photos by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Camaraderie calls

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1842 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

For father of two and former Australian Army Bushmaster crew commander Xavier Green, it will be a matter of switching

ADF People

Legacy flame passes through Canberra

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1595 Views 0 Comments Legacy

Former Navy pilot Kate Munari was the third torchbearer off the rank as the Legacy Centenary flame passed through Canberra

ADF guests watch watched the Nauti and Fetuvalu culture group perform at the Taulaga school games opening ceremony at the Nauti primary school in Tuvalu. Story and photos by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Hope and joy in spiritual connections

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2306 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Operation Solania, Tuvalu

When Australian Army Chaplain Cameron West heard he was deploying to Tuvalu, he researched the country, but that could only