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Defence-related Australia military news

Aircraftwoman Alesha Rogers from Townsville-based Number 65 Squadron, RAAF, cuts a fire break along the fence at the Royalla Solar Farm south of Canberra. Photo by Sergeant Max Bree.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF planties defend Bush Capital

06/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3462 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

RAAF plant operators typically prepare and repair airfields, but their heavy machinery was used recently to prepare bushfire defences south of Canberra.

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Flight Lieutenant Rebecca Marshall speaks with Japan Self-Defense Force personnel at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by Corporal David Said.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

When learning and skills translate perfectly

06/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2927 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Long before Flight Lieutenant Rebecca Marshall even considered joining the Royal Australian Air Force, she fell in love with Japan.

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Worimi man Captain Shane James speaks with Yuin elder Uncle Glenn Campbell at the Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council. Photo by Sergeant Max Bree.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Indigenous connection makes job easier

06/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2543 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Banter flows effortlessly between Yuin elder Uncle Glenn Campbell and Captain Shane James as army mob rolls in to help local mob.

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Captain Levi, of the PNG Defence Force, and Lieutenant Scott Bowers in a meeting with members of Victoria Police at the Swift Creek Incident Control Centre during Operation Bushfire Assist. Photo by Private Madhur Chitnis.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Rest of World 

Dingos thrive in multi-agency setting

06/02/202014/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2899 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Staff from many different agencies at the Swift’s Creek Incident Control Centre include several Australian Army and Papua New Guinean Defence Force officers

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Regimental Sergeant Major 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victorian Regiment, Warrant Officer Class One Anthony Jones watches as Omeo local Ryan checks out a Mercedes G-Wagon. Photo by Corporal Sebastian Beurich.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos 

Task Group Dingo opens doors for a sticky-beak

06/02/202006/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2232 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Omeo locals got a closer look at some of the vehicles and equipment they’d seen around town recently as TG Dingo opened its doors for a sticky-beak.

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Papua New Guinea Defence Force sapper Moses Wai helps Australian Army soldiers move water at the Benambra Recreation Area. Photo by Corporal Sebastian Beurich.
ADF Australian News Overseas 

Task Group Dingo happy to help any way they can

06/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2269 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Task Group Dingo has worked hard to assist civil authorities transition from firefighting to recovery efforts in Victoria’s alpine region.

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Australian Defence Force and Republic of Fiji Military Forces personnel have contributed to the effort to reopen a 150km stretch of the Princes Highway (A1) between Cann River and the NSW border, which was closed due to severe bushfires in Victoria. Photo by Leading Seaman Kieren Whiteley.
ADF Australian News Operations Videos 

Op Bushfire Assist – 5 February UPDATE

06/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2482 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Updated at 9am 6 February 2020 CAPTION: Australian Defence Force and Republic of Fiji Military Forces personnel have contributed to

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No 35 Squadron loadmaster Sergeant Michael Jones helps secure southern brushtail rock wallabies in the C-27J Spartan transport aircraft. Photo: by Corporal Kylie Gibson.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

Endangered wallabies hop a lift with ‘Wallaby Airlines’

05/02/202005/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3221 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Endangered southern brush-tail rock wallabies made an inter-state hop with Air Force’s very own ‘Wallaby Airlines’ during Operation Bushfire Assist.

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Dawn Service, Kiama, NSW. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
ADF Australian News Veterans 

New suicide Commissioner with powers of Royal Commission

05/02/202005/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2710 Views 1 Comment

An independent body with the powers of a Royal Commission will be created to investigate all suspected veteran and Australian Defence Force suicides.

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Rafael's Spike LR2 anti-tank missile, now selected by the Australian Army for use by dismounted troops. Image courtesy Rafael.
Australian Australian Army News Science & Technology 

Army buying Spike LR2 for dismounted troops

05/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7063 Views 3 Comments

The Australian Army and the wider Australian Defence Force will acquire the Rafael Spike LR2 missile system as its long-range

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Ambulance Commander Joel Powell (centre), from the ACT Ambulance Service, discuss firefighting operations with Lance Corporal Matt Fegeleson, while Lance Corporal Jessica Zhang monitors emergency services radio traffic, in the Brindabella Ranges. Together they form a remote-area ambulance team, using a six-wheel drive Army G-Wagon ambulance, to support an ACT Rural Fire Service strike team operating in remote woodlands. Photo by Major Cameron Jamieson.
ADF Australian News Operations Videos 

Op Bushfire Assist – 4 February UPDATE

05/02/202005/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2577 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Updated at 8.30am 5 February 2020 CAPTION: Ambulance Commander Joel Powell (centre), from the ACT Ambulance Service, discuss firefighting operations

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Australian Army soldiers deployed with Joint Task Force 646.5, supported by medics; petroleum operator elements of 7 Combat Service Support Battalion north of Abbeyard in support of Operation Bushfire Assist.
ADF Australian News Operations 

Plans for military withdrawal underway

04/02/202004/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3272 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

As the bushfire threats in many areas subside and residents and holiday-makers return in earnest, ADF and civic leaders plan for a military withdrawal.

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Privates Will Asquith and Aaron Smith help former Army major now NSW Rural Fire Service member Nick Sheply (centre) to set up a NSWRFS portable automatic weather station at Belowra on the New South Wales south coast.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Army private gets his PAWS on big transport role

04/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3420 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

From Ocean Shores on the far north coast of NSW, Army Reserve driver Private Aaron Smith has had no trouble finding his way around the nation’s capital.

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The first of three NH90s is returned to RNZAF Ohakea via RCAF CC-177 Globemaster. NZDF photo.
Australian New Zealand News Operations Videos 

Kiwi NH90s and crews flying home – thanks Canada

04/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3799 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Three RNZAF NH90 helicopters that have been in Australia as part of the ADF-led Operation Bushfire Assist are now heading home, thanks to the RCAF.

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Soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces perform a cultural dance to welcome students visiting from Newmerella Primary School as part of a visit to the Orbost Football Oval, headquarters for the assistance effort during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20 in Victoria. Photo by Leading Aircraftman John Solomon.
ADF Australian News Operations Videos 

Op Bushfire Assist – 3 Feb UPDATE [official figures get wackier]

04/02/202004/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3010 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Yesterday, Defence reported the arrival of 38 Indonesian engineers. Today they assure us the contingent was 40 strong in one line and 35 in another.

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Family and friends watch HMAS Parramatta depart Fleet Base East, Sydney, bound for a four-month deployment to South East Asia. Photo by Able Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.
Asia Australian News Overseas Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Parramatta departs on SE Asia tour

03/02/202003/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2277 Views 0 Comments

Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta today departed Fleet Base East in Sydney for a four-month deployment to South East Asia.

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Australian Army Signaller Jacob Gatehouse is deployed with Theatre Communications Group at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal Nunu Campos.
Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations 

Bookworm keeps lines of communication open

03/02/202003/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2350 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji

Self-proclaimed bookworm Sig Jacob Gatehouse has gone from reading military history to creating a chapter of his own while deployed to Iraq.

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Australian Army radiologist Captain Julian Thompson was a professional artist before joining the military and now takes inspiration from his environment while deployed at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by US Army Specialist Caroline Schofer.
Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations 

Artist sees through Iraq deployment

03/02/202003/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3206 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji

Imagery is so much part of one officer’s life that when the X-rays of his ‘day job’ get put to bed, the brush and paints of his passion come out to play.

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Air Commander Australia Air Vice Marshal Joe Iervasi is briefed by Leading Aircraftwoman Tori-Lee Carson at Distributed Ground Station - Australia during a visit to RAAF Base Edinburgh to meet with units and personnel supporting Operation Bushfire Assist. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

Brand new unit’s intelligent contribution to Bushfire Assist

03/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4090 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Real-time mapping from the Air Warfare Centre has provided crucial information for the emergency services engaged in bushfire fighting across Australia.

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An aerial view of Royal Australian Navy establishment HMAS Watson, Sydney. Photo by Able Seaman Leo Baumgartner.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy 

Six-year HMAS Watson redevelopment about to start

03/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4690 Views 0 Comments HMAS Watson

A major redevelopment project at HMAS Watson on Sydney Harbour at South Head, near Watsons Bay, gets underway later this month.

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