News Archives - CONTACT magazine

The RSM-A's pace stick is handed from incoming Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart to incoming Regimental Sergeant Major–Army Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham during the Chief of Army handover parade at Russell Offices in Canberra on 1 July 2022. Photo by Kym Smith.

Australian Army News

First female Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army

03/07/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2327 Views 4 Comments RSM-A

Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham has been appointed as the first female Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army – RSM-A –

The James Cook University team work on their autonomous vehicle for the RobotX competition in November. Story by Edwina Callus. Photo Supplied.

ADF News Science & Technology

Robotics showdown heading to Sydney

02/07/202202/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 358 Views 0 Comments DST, Robotics, RobotX

Aspiring robotics specialists from around the world will converge on Sydney later this year to take part in the 2022

Air Surveillance Operator Sergeant Jayne Francis monitors the exercise airspace inside an operations cabin with aviators from No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Robert Hodgson. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Combat controllers add an extra set of eyes

02/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 209 Views 0 Comments Exercise Diamond Storm, No. 114MRCU, No. 3 CRU, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Williamtown

In the complex and congested battlespaces of Exercise Diamond Storm, aircrew relied on tactical command and control units to provide

F-35A Lightning II aircraft in the ordnance loading area at RAAF Base Darwin. Photo by Adam Abela.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Exercise Pitch Black returns to the Top End

02/07/202202/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 178 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

Australian and international military aircraft will once again return to the Northern Territory skies for Exercise Pitch Black from August

Royal Australian Air Force military working dog handler Leading Aircraftwoman Taylah Cole greets an Australian Federal Police working dog and her handler at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Collaborative effort keeps Diamond secure

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 252 Views 0 Comments Exercise Diamond Storm, Military Working Dogs, RAAF Darwin

Working with Northern Territory Police Force and Australian Federal Police officers, Air Force security forces (SECFOR) used transportable closed-circuit television

Combat controllers from No. 4 Squadron parachute into Mount Bundey training area in the Northern Territory during Exercise Diamond Storm. Story by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Connecting air and ground

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 210 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, C-130J Hercules, Exercise Diamond Storm, No. 37 Squadron, No. 4 Squadron

A C-130J Hercules became a speck in the sky for a team of No. 4 Squadron combat controllers as they

Australian Army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 1st Military Police Battalion participate in a population protection control course at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Corporal Daniel Sallai.

Australian Army News

Turning up the heat in training

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 207 Views 1 Comment 1st Military Police Battalion, 3 RAR, Military Working Dogs

Molotov cocktails, rowdy crowds and canines chomping at the bit set the scene for population protection and control (PPC) training

Australian Army soldiers from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment prepare to detonate a satchel charge during a breaching activity on Exercise Thunder Rage at Townsville Field Training Area on June 13, 2022. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Gunner Gregory Scott.

Australian Army News

Sappers bring the thunder with live ammo

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 213 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Thunder Rage

Combat engineers launched into an explosive training program on Exercise Thunder Rage in Townsville last month. CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers

Sergeant Damian Dickson from 6th Engineer Support Regiment uncovers a training improvised explosive device during Exercise Wallaby Walk at Canungra. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen.

Australian Army News

Engineers render ‘booby-trapped city’ safe

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 128 Views 0 Comments 1st Intelligence Battalion, 1st Military Police Battalion, 6th Engineer Support Regiment, 7th Signal Regiment, Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Under the quiet jungle canopy of the Canungra field training area in Tamborine Mountain, south-east Queensland, three teams of six

Soldiers from the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery fire the M777 155mm Howitzer during Exercise Chau Pha. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army News Videos

Gunners on target

01/07/202201/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 109 Views 0 Comments 4th Regiment, Exercise Chau Pha, M777 Howitzer

Gunners, forward observers and command post officers of the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (4 Regt) were put through their

A soldier from 3 RAR fires a Javelin FGM-148 direct fire, guided weapon system during Exercise Kapyong Warrior. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army News

Soldiers flex lethal muscle

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 95 Views 0 Comments 3 RAR, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, Exercise Kapyong Warrior, Javelin FGM-148

Clandestine, agile and lethal are the words to describe the soldiers who executed live-fire anti-armour stalks using direct-fire support weapons (DFSW)

Australian Army soldiers join members of the Gapuwiyak community in performing traditional dances during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program 2022 Opening Ceremony in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News Videos

Program supporting Indigenous communities for 25 years

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 123 Views 0 Comments AACAP, Indigenous

The Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP) is in its 25th year of supporting remote Indigenous communities. CAPTION: Australian Army

A rifleman from Alpha Company, 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, fires an F88 Austeyr rifle during urban operations training held as part of Exercise Ram Horn at the Wide Bay training area. Story by Captain Taylor Lynch. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Soldiers train for urban warfare

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 83 Views 0 Comments 8/9 RAR, Exercise Ram Horn, Urban Operations Training Facility

Soldiers from 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8/9 RAR), have been training to prepare for operations in densely populated cities

Royal Australian Navy's inaugural Indigenous cultural performer, Able Seaman Aviation Support Lynton Robbins plays the yidaki/didgeridoo at Garden Island Defence Precinct, Sydney. Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

A time to celebrate Indigenous culture

01/07/202201/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 102 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for Australians to recognise the rich history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Chaplain Stuart Asquith (centre) and ADF members on Operation Kimba join Parish Priest Father Philip Jiregari and parishioners at a Sunday service at Saint Martin's Anglican Church, East Boroko Papua New Guinea. Story and photo by Major Martin Hadley.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

PNG friendships enhanced through faith

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 71 Views 0 Comments Operation Kimba, Papua New Guinea

Church officials and members of the congregation of St Martin’s Anglican Church provided a warm welcome to visiting Australian Defence

Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Christopher Smith inspects the ship's company of Australian Defence Vessel Cape Otway during the boat's official welcome to its home port of Cairns. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

News Royal Australian Navy

New patrol boat has a home

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 71 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Australian Defence Vessel Cape Otway, Cape-class Patrol Boat, Henderson WA

Navy’s first Evolved Cape-class patrol boat (ECCPB), Australian Defence Vessel Cape Otway, was officially welcomed to its home port of

Members of New Entry Officers' Course 66 stand at attention during their graduation ceremony at HMAS Creswell. Story by Lieutenant Yvette Goldberg. Photo by Leading Seaman Ryan Tascas.

News Royal Australian Navy

Navy’s largest intake of new officers

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 96 Views 0 Comments HMAS Creswell, New Entry Officers’ Course, Royal Australian Naval College

The Royal Australian Navy has received its largest intake of new officers, with 193 graduates of the Royal Australian Naval

Australian Defence Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Warner lays a wreath during Fiji's Infantry Day commemoration service at Vilu War Memorial, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF Lest We Forget News Pacific

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 140 Views 0 Comments Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands, Victoria Cross, WWII

Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) personnel gathered for a memorial service to mark Fiji’s Infantry Day on June 23. CAPTION: Australian Defence