Posted by Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

MV-22B Ospreys from the VMM-363 US Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron resting under the Townsville sunset during Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 at RAAF Base Townsville. Photo by Corporal Ashley Gillett.

Final planning for Ex Talisman Sabre 23

15/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3242 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023

This year’s Exercise Talisman Sabre will be the biggest yet in terms of geographic spread and the number of partner

Sergeant Peter Delaney, from Weapon Training Section at No.23 Squadron, displays his second Federation Star and sixth clasp to his Defence Long Service Medal, for 45 years of service with the Royal Australian Air Force, at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

ADF People

Reflecting on 45 years’ service

15/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 991 Views 0 Comments

Being taught to be agile from a young age has ensured one aviator could happily serve and adjust to the

Australian Army soldier Corporal Kym Baldock leads a dive class at Second Valley, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.

ADF People

Civvie dive instructor benefits from Defence PoW Award

15/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1091 Views 0 Comments Prince of Wales Award

A qualification funded through Defence’s Prince of Wales Award (POWA) scheme will enable Corporal Kym Baldock to expand his civilian

Measured from head to toe in a single scan, Image supplied.

New Zealand News Sovereign industry

ADA launches first full-body fitment scanner with NZDF

14/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1935 Views 0 Comments ADA

Australian Defence Apparel New Zealand (ADA NZ), a subsidiary of Australia’s primary manufacturer of high-tech uniforms and equipment ADA, is

The sinking of the Centaur. AWM ARTV09088, adapted from WW2 poster.

News Veterans

80th Anniversary of the sinking of AHS Centaur

14/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2912 Views 0 Comments Centaur

Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) Centaur was sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland 80 years ago today.

HMAS Anzac conducts Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres with Republic of Singapore Navy RSS Vigliance (left), Royal Malaysian Navy KD Lekir (right) and Gempita (centre) as a part of Exercise Bersama Shield. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarryd Capper.

ADF Asia News

Exercise Bersama Shield concludes

14/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1452 Views 0 Comments Bersama Shield

Exercise Bersama Shield – a bi-annual military exercise between the five nations in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) –

Life on the Line Podcast

Rex Ward – Life on the Line

14/05/202314/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1354 Views 0 Comments Life on the Line Podcast

This episode focuses on Vietnam veteran Rex Ward who was Angus Hordern’s history teacher at school. This podcast talks with

Australian Army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, after an assault on the Urban Operations Training Facility during Exercise Brolga Run 2023 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Australian Army News Videos

Ex Brolga Run tests 3 Brigade in complex scenarios

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2334 Views 0 Comments Exercise Brolga Run

Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade has deployed to the Townsville Field Training Area to start the next stage of training on

Australian News Sovereign industry

EOS launches Australian-made counter-drone system

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3912 Views 0 Comments EOS

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) launched a new Australian-made counter-drone capability – named the Slinger – at its manufacturing facility in

A 102 Battery gun in action at Fire Support Base Coral. AWM P01770.015

Asia Australian Army New Zealand News Veterans

Battle of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral 55th anniversary

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3134 Views 1 Comment Coral and Balmoral

55 years ago today, Australian and New Zealand forces were attacked, resulting in their largest battle of the Vietnam War

Warrant Officer Class 2 Beau Thomas reads the biography of a fallen soldier before another workout begins at the 24 Hours of Heroes fundraiser for Wounded Heroes. Photo by TrewBella Photography.

ADF People Veterans

Little bit of hurt for a lot of heroes

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1676 Views 0 Comments

Doing 24 gruelling workouts in 24 hours isn’t an ideal way to spend a weekend for most people, but that’s

Australian Army Sergeant Matthew Blows in the Multinational Forces and Observers South Camp on Operation Mazurka in South Sinai, Egypt. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Passing on lessons despite language differences in Sinai

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1169 Views 0 Comments Multinational Force and Observers, Sinai

Members of his family were in the RAAF and Navy, but Sergeant Matthew Blows wanted to be on the ground,

Private Feao Faka’Osi, in blue, demonstrates one of his favourite techniques, called ippon seoinage, on Lieutenant Colonel Morgan McCarthy during a judo demonstration.

ADF People

Soldier throws all efforts at Olympic selection

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1132 Views 0 Comments Judo

A soldier with the Australian Army’s 16th Aviation Brigade has his sights set on next year’s Olympics, fighting for Tonga,

Australia's Federation Guard members march past Old College during a rehearsal for the Coronation of King Charles III, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

ADF People

IED victim led Aussie Coronation contingent

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1969 Views 1 Comment Coronation of King Charles III

From being the victim of an improvised explosive device attack in Afghanistan to leading the Australian Defence Force’s Coronation contingent

Royal Australian Navy officer Lieutenant Commander Alison Zilko speaks with school kids in the Philippines in her role as ADF Gender Advisor during Exercise Balikatan 2023.

ADF People

Gender advisor loved role in the Philippines

12/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1071 Views 1 Comment

Lieutenant Commander Alison Zilko’s first job in the Royal Australian Navy was as a nursing officer, so it’s no surprise

Lieutenant Catherine Gerrard stands in front an ARH Tiger at 1st Aviation Regiment, Robertson Barracks, Darwin. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Nicholas O’Connor.

ADF People

Army engineer shoots for the stars

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1109 Views 0 Comments

A lightbulb moment at university paved the way for a smooth transition into Army aviation for 1st Aviation Regiment’s learning

Australian Army soldiers with 144 Signals Squadron train for combat during Exercise Hermes Recon at the Murray Bridge Training Area, South Australia. Photo by Sergeant Adam Barlow.

Australian Army News

Signalers relish return to training

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1942 Views 0 Comments

144 Signals Squadron returned to training for combat in the field after several years of providing a high level of

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Craig and Private Paris Plate cut the birthday cake at the celebration of the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps' 80th anniversary. Photographer unknown. Cake, lost when photo cropped to fit formatting, digitally replaced in photo by CONTACT.

ADF People

RAADC’s crowning achievement

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1146 Views 0 Comments RAADC, Royal Australian Army Dental Corps

Members of the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps (RAADC) gathered in Sydney to mark the corps’ 80th birthday last month.

Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer Mitchell Morton pushes his students during a physical training class at South Camp of the Multinational Force and Observers on Operation Mazurka in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Combat Wombat kicking ass on Mazurka

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1383 Views 0 Comments Multinational Force and Observers, Operation Mazurka, Sinai

They call him the ‘combat wombat’, resembling the stout, sturdy marsupial – stocky in build with the ability to travel

Sous chef Prince Pullapalli instructs a cooking class to Operation Accordion personnel at Australia’s operating base in the Middle East. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Recipe for friendships in the Middle East

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1075 Views 0 Comments Operation Accordion

Catering staff are not only feeding ADF personnel in the Middle East but helping them to spice up their cooking