Operations Archives - CONTACT magazine

Australian Army military police and Queensland police stand guard outside The Westin, Brisbane, as more more Aussies coming off overseas flights arrive for quarantine. Photo by CONTACT stringer Christabel Migliorini.

1400 ADF deployed on Operation COVID-19 Assist

08/04/202008/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 272 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Defence currently has approximately 1400 personnel deployed across the country as part of Operation COVID-19 Assist.

150 parcels of illicit drugs including hashish and heroin are made ready for destruction on the flight deck of HMAS Toowoomba after a successful boarding during Operation Manitou. Photo by Leading Seaman Richard Cordell.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Toowoomba nabs 3 tonne of narcotics

30/03/202030/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 505 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Toowoomba interdicted more than 3000 kilograms of illegal narcotics including hashish and heroin in the Gulf of Aden on 19 March.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

Kiwis end Taji mission – home to quarantine

30/03/202030/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 407 Views 0 Comments Taji Military Complex

NZDF’s contribution to train Iraqi Security Forces to combat ISIS is at an end and the first troops from the final contingent are home – in quarantine.

James Stevens MP, Member for Sturt, participates in combat first aid training during an ADF Parliamentary Program visit to Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

ADF adjusting posture in Middle East because of COVID-19

23/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 608 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

The Australian Defence Force is temporarily relocating non-essential personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of COVID-19.

Senator Hollie Hughes participates in combat first aid training during her visit to Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East region. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Politicians get a taste of deployment in Middle East

23/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 482 Views 0 Comments

Three Australian politicians recently experienced what life is like for deployed Australian Defence Force personnel in the Middle East.

Iraqi Army soldiers conduct a live-fire training exercise under the supervision of New Zealand Army soldiers at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. ADF photo.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Second attack on Camp Taji

14/03/202014/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 1084 Views 0 Comments

ADF has confirmed that a rocket attack occurred at the Taji Military Complex on today at about midday local time – around 6pm Australian eastern time.

An Iraqi Army soldier disarms an enemy role player during a rehearsal of the Officer and Junior Leaders Course culminating activity at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal David Said.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Rocket attack on Australian camp in Iraq

12/03/202014/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 1657 Views 0 Comments

Defence has confirmed a rocket attack occurred at the Taji Military Camp north of Baghdad on the evening of 11 March 2020 (local time).

A Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldier proudly waves his nation’s flag as he and fellow Task Group Dingo members board a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft at Tullamarine Airport on their way home. Photo by Major Cameron Jamieson.

ADF Australian News Operations

Operation Bushfire Assist winding down quickly

06/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 698 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

The Australian dDefence Force’s Operation Bushfire Assist is winding down quickly, with fewer than 800 service personnel left on deployment.

Major General Susan Coyle addresses members of Force Protection Element 12 before their departure from Afghanistan. ADF photo.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Force Protection Element 12 farewelled from Afghanistan

29/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 1003 Views 0 Comments

FPE-12 has ended a 6-month deployment to Camp Qargha, Kabul, where they provided force protection to coalition advisors on a train, advise, assist mission.

An emotional farewell for the Fijian Bushfire Assist contingent at Orbost, Victoria.

ADF Australian News Operations Pacific Videos

Emotional farewell for Fijians from Orbost

25/02/202026/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 12347 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Orbost held an emotional farewell event for Fijian military deployed in support of Operation Bushfire Assist as the contingent prepared to go home.

Governor-General, General (Retd) David Hurley, addresses the congregation at the National Commemorative Service for the 25th anniversary of the UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda, at the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial, Canberra. Photo by Lauren Larking.

ADF Australian News Operations Rest of World Veterans

Australia’s Rwanda Peacekeepers remembered

22/02/202022/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 542 Views 0 Comments Operation Tamar

The service and sacrifice of Australia’s Rwanda peacekeeping veterans was remembered this morning at a service at the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial.

Emergency Management Victoria’s Commissioner Andrew Crisp discusses operations in south-east Victoria with Colonel Michelle Campbell at the State Control Centre in Melbourne. Photo by Major Cameron Jamieson.

ADF Australian News Operations

ADF praised for speed of response to bushfire assistance

20/02/202021/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 421 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner has praised the Australian Defence Force’s swift response to the state’s bushfire emergency.

ADFA Director Education and Training Group Captain Jeff Howard presents Queensland Fire and Emergency Services officer Sam Eitz with an ADFA cap as a token of friendship before ADFA's firefighter-guests left for home. Photo by Corporal Dan Pinhorn.

ADF Australian News Operations

Firefighters delighted with ADFA hospitality

19/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 626 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

When hundreds of firefighters and Op Bushfire Assist supporters needed a place to stay, Duntroon Garrison launched a unique military operation.

Soldiers from 6RAR with ACT Parks and Conservation Service Aboriginal field officer Kie Barratt at one of the important heritage sites they helped protect from recent bushfires. Photo by Lieutenant Jack Membrey.

Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos

Ancient and heritage sites shielded by soldiers

19/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 628 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

When Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve staff raced to save endangered species from bushfires, they relied on 6RAR to prepare facilities and heritage sites.

Soldiers from 6RAR are briefed by Scott Seymour from the ACT Environmental Services Agency before laying sediment traps in water-flow lines of the Corin Dam catchment in Namadgi National Park during Operation Bushfire Assist. Photo by Corporal Dan Pinhorn.

Australian Australian Army News Operations

Setting traps for new enemy – rainwater contaminants

19/02/202019/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 405 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Following an urgent request from the ACT emergency services, Alpha Company, 6RAR, deployed to the Namadgi National Park to help protect Corin Dam waterways.

Members from No. 11 Squadron carry out a mission on a P-8A Poseidon during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. The mission flew over 10 hours and included surveillance of the Victorian alpine region, country New South Wales and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force

Poseidon on North Korea sanctions monitoring

19/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 738 Views 0 Comments Operation Argos

Australia is deploying a RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime-patrol aircraft in support of United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea.

Corporal Travis Ward, 6RAR, loads a G-Wagon with debris at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens, NSW. Photo by Corporal Dan Pinhorn.

Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos

6RAR clearing a path to regrowth

14/02/202014/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 573 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens, sadly devastated by a bushfire in early January, got a serious injection of manpower from 6RAR.

Lieutenant Colonel Renee Kidson updates Major General Justin Ellwood, left, and TNI Lieutenant Colonel Teddi on the work being conducted by troops at the Zig Zag Railway. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

Asia Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos

Indonesian zig-zag Bushfire Assist

14/02/202016/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 685 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Devastated by two fires in the past seven years, Australia’s iconic Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow, NSW, is benefiting from support of Indonesian military friends.

Chaplain Derek Croser with Jodie Meikle, Steven Childs – and 'the bed'.

Australian Australian Army News Operations

RAEME mafia steal farmer’s bed in dead of night

14/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 4409 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Army was recently thanked for successfully completing a very unusual midnight raid in front of bushfire-enemy lines on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.