Pacific Archives - CONTACT magazine

3rd Combat Engineer Regiment's Sapper Luke Simmonds helps Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldiers move a gas bottle at the Benambra Recreation Area. Photo by Corporal Sebastian Beurich.

Task Group Dingo ready to roll

21/01/202021/01/2020 Brian Hartigan 288 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

More than 150 Australian Defence Force and Papua New Guinean Defence Force engineers in Task Group Dingo are now in East Gippsland for Op Bushfire Assist.

Kumul Force 17 personnel pose for a photo before embarking a RAAF C130 for Port Moresby to marry up with 18 Assault Pioneers from 1RPIR, and other elements from HQPNGDF, before being airlifted by two RAAF C130s to Melbourne, for the Operation Halivim Wantok. PNGDF photo.

Australian Australian Army News Operations Pacific

PNG engineers arrive in Victoria

13/01/2020 Brian Hartigan 1187 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Around 80 military engineers plus a command and liaison element from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force arrived in Australia today.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Sapper Gone Ketcee with Australian Army Sappers Tim Flack and David Jones on Koro Island during Operation Fiji Assist. Photo by Able Seaman Chris Beerens.

ADF Australian News Operations Pacific

Fiji sending engineer platoon to help in bushfire cleanup

13/01/2020 Brian Hartigan 487 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

The Australian Defence Force has accepted a Republic of Fiji offer to provide a platoon of engineers to help out on Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20.

Flight Sergeant Geoff McLaughlin of Number 37 Squadron writes a message on an airdrop load destined for a Micronesian island during Operation Christmas Drop 2019. Photo by Corporal David Said.

Australian News Operations Pacific Rest of World Royal Australian Air Force

Operation Christmas Drop all dropped out

17/12/2019 Brian Hartigan 254 Views 0 Comments

Operation Christmas Drop 19 has concluded in Guam, with a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules and crew delivering 23

Service members and volunteers who helped build air-drop supply bundles at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, for Operation Christmas Drop 2019. US Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Kyle Johnson.

Asia Australian New Zealand News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Air Force USA

Operation Christmas Drop all bundled up in Guam

08/12/201908/12/2019 Brian Hartigan 445 Views 0 Comments

Service members from the U.S. Air Force, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jietai), Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand

Soldiers from the 2RAR mentor soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines on weapon-handling drills in Pagadian, Philippines. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.

ADF Australian News Operations Pacific

Augury-Philippines transitions to higher level

02/12/2019 Brian Hartigan 811 Views 0 Comments

The Australian Defence Force has taken the next step in its enduring relationship with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules loads 50,000 measles and rubella vaccines in Nadi, Fiji. Photo by Infinity Images Fiji for UNICEF.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF helps Samoa fight measles epidemic

02/12/201902/12/2019 Brian Hartigan 321 Views 0 Comments

The New Zealand Defence Force is providing logistics support to a New Zealand government response to a Samoan measles epidemic.

Port of Suva workers watch as Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock HMAS Adelaide (III) prepares to come alongside at Kings Wharf in Suva, Fiji. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Task group visits Fiji

28/11/2019 Brian Hartigan 357 Views 0 Comments

The Australian Defence Force completed its latest round of regional engagement in the Southwest Pacific with a week-long visit to

Vuna Wharf employees provide support to HMAS Adelaide in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Task Group completes visit to Tonga

21/11/2019 Brian Hartigan 401 Views 0 Comments

Australian Defence Force personnel have completed a series of week-long engagement activities with His Majesty’s Armed Forces in the Kingdom of

Philippine Army solider Sergeant Sonny Casuga practices urban combat techniques with Australian Army soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, at Capinpin, Philippines, as part of Operation Augury. Photo by Corporal Kyle Jenner.

ADF Australian News Operations Pacific

Australia enhances Philippines training efforts

17/11/2019 Brian Hartigan 753 Views 0 Comments

Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana have announced that Australia will transition

HMAS Gascoyne leaves Tuvalu on completion of its engagement with the Funafuti community as a part of Task Group 637.1. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Gascoyne and Diamantina in Japan for mine-countermeasures ex

14/11/2019 Brian Hartigan 408 Views 0 Comments

The Royal Australian Navy has deployed a maritime task group to join the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and United States

Members of the Gizo crew stand at attention while the Solomon Island national flag is raised for the first time on their new patrol boat, at Austal Shipyards, Western Australia. Photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Technology

Australia gifts new patrol boat to Solomon Islands

09/11/2019 Brian Hartigan 923 Views 0 Comments

The Australian Government yesterday handed over the latest Guardian-class patrol boat – RSIPV Gizo – to the Solomon Islands at

HMAS Adelaide and her embarked helicopters bask in a Solomon Islands sunset.

News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Australia’s largest ship supporting smallest operation

28/10/2019 Brian Hartigan 1128 Views 0 Comments

Operation Render Safe 2019 has commenced in the Solomon Islands, with the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces working together

An RAAF C-27J Spartan and its pilot, Flying Officer Oran Harden from 35 Squadron, is reflected in a tarmac puddle at Pohnpei International Airport, Federated States of Micronesia, during Operation Solania. Photo by Gunner Sagi Biderman.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF complete Op Solania rotation

21/10/2019 Brian Hartigan 931 Views 0 Comments

Australian Defence Force personnel have completed their latest mission to support the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activity

Members of the Papua New Guinea Pipes and Drums rehearse for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Sydney at Murray Barracks Port Moresby. Photo by Jayson Tufrey.

ADF Australian News Overseas Pacific

Bands practice for biggest ever tattoo

01/10/201901/10/2019 Brian Hartigan 654 Views 0 Comments

More than 1500 performers from around the world are preparing for the largest ever Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney in

Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Josaia Vorege 'Frank' Bainimarama with Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force Vice Admiral David Johnston, and Executive Officer HMAS Adelaide Commander Jace Hutchison on a tour of HMAS Adelaide at Fleet Base East, Sydney. Photo by Able Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

Australian News Overseas Pacific

Australia and Fiji reaffirm military ties

17/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 618 Views 0 Comments

Australia and Fiji have reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to an enduring defence relationship during a five-day visit to Australia

Soldiers from the New Caledonian Armed Forces run in an endurance event, with an Australian Army officer as their observer, during Exercise Hydra 2019 at Greenbank Training Area, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gunner Sagi Biderman.

Australian Australian Army New Zealand News Overseas Pacific USA

Exercise Hydra tests multiple military heads

12/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 981 Views 0 Comments

Soldiers from eight nations are engaging in a military skills competition in Brisbane testing the teamwork, physical stamina and mental rigour

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan investigate a fishing vessel spotted during an Operation Solania maritime patrol. RAAF photo.

Australian News Operations Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Spartan and King Air patrol Pacific

11/09/2019 Brian Hartigan 964 Views 1 Comment

By Eamon Hamilton The combination of Spartan and King Air aircraft proved a winning pair for the Air Force in

Commander Sebastian Marru of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Maritime Element, and the Commanding Officer HMAS Choules Commander Scott Houlihan at Tarangau Naval base, Manus Island. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

Australian News Overseas Pacific

Minister visits PNG and Solomon Islands

23/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 514 Views 0 Comments

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds has departed on a seven-day Pacific visit, from 22 to 28 August, to further enhance

Australian Army carpenter Sapper David Mikic from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment fixes purlins to steel frames at Metinaro Military Base, Timor-Leste, during Exercise Hari'i Hamutuk 2016. Photo by Corporal Nunu Campos.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific

Sappers in Timor for sixth Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk

23/08/2019 Brian Hartigan 618 Views 0 Comments

Australian Army engineers have arrived in Timor-Leste for the sixth iteration of Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk. FILE PHOTO (2016): Australian Army carpenter

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