Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney, Commander Billy Maddison, speaks to media during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Corporal Adam Abela.

New commanding officer takes the helm at RIMPAC

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1296 Views 0 Comments HMAS Sydney, RIMPAC

Commander David ‘Billy’ Maddison is participating in RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, for the fourth time, but it’s

RAAF Base Townsville base manager Jacinta Wallace, left, and Acting Senior ADF Officer RAAF Base Townsville Wing Commander Paul Howell at the official opening of the new AAFCANS café in Building 53.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF Base Townsville’s AAFCANS moves into old Sgts Mess

11/07/202417/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 952 Views 0 Comments RAAF Townsville

RAAF Base Townsville’s AAFCANS (Army and Air Force Canteen Service) café has a new home: a refurbished World War 2-era

An Australian soldier from Rifle Company Butterworth 144 gives feedback to a soldier from the US Army during close combat shooting drills as part of Exercise Keris Strike in Malaysia. Story and photo by Lieutenant Chloe Reay.

Australian Army News Overseas

Aussie troops train in the Malaysian jungle

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1496 Views 2 Comments 1st Brigade, 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Rifle Company Butterworth, Royal Malaysian Army, US Army

Surrounded by mountains and sprawling Malaysian jungle, where rain is a constant and unrelenting presence, lies Camp Paradise. CAPTION: An Australian

Australian Army Staff Cadet Lieutenant Farida Dad graduates from the Royal Military College - Duntroon. Story by Captain Carlie Gibson. Photo by Corporal Daniel Bozza.

ADF People

Afghan’s commissioning fulfils promise to her father

11/07/202413/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1317 Views 0 Comments

It was a joyful occasion for Lieutenant Farida Dad’s family when she graduated as a private from the 1st Recruit

From left, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, RAN, Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell and Lieutenant General Greg Bilton during the Headquarters Joint Operations Command handover ceremony at General John Baker Complex, Bungendore, on July 5. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Sergeant Sagi Biderman.

ADF People

Venn diagram that shaped career of a top operator

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 941 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force

When 16-year-old former Army cadet Greg Bilton walked into the Melbourne recruiting office in 1982, he had no ambition to

Vice Admiral David Johnston, left, passes the flag to his successor as Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Rob Chipman, during the handover ceremony at Russell Offices, Canberra. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite.

ADF People

ADF’s new second in command takes over

11/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 659 Views 0 Comments

Under cloudy Canberra skies, Vice Admiral David Johnston handed the responsibility of Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force to Air

Warrant Officer Rodney Wallace and Squadron Leader Jamie Stirling (fourth and fifth from left) with the other 11 Squadron personnel at Owens Arch along the Kokoda Track. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Trekking for history and self

09/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 910 Views 0 Comments Kokoda Track, No. 11 Squadron, PNG, WWII

The Kokoda Track was always in the back of Squadron Leader Jamie Stirling’s mind during his more than 25 years

Candidates who successfully completed the 2024 Special Forces Selection Course recover at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Story and photos by Major Roger Brennan.

Australian Army News

Special Ops candidates recuperate at AIS

09/07/202415/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1001 Views 0 Comments Special Forces common selection, Special Operations Command (SOCOMD)

At the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Special Operations Command’s (SOCOMD) newest candidates slowly recovered after putting their bodies through

Private Luke Kennedy and Captain Debra Johnson mix cement to create tiles for the Amata Anangu School in remote north-western South Australia. Story by Major Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Michael Cassidy.

ADF People Australian Army

Soldier supporting his own community

09/07/202413/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1027 Views 0 Comments AACAP, NORFORCE

Anangu man Private Luke Kennedy is living a once-in-a-lifetime experience. CAPTION: Private Luke Kennedy and Captain Debra Johnson mix cement to

Commanding Officer of HMAS Choules Commander Arron Convery salutes HMS Tamar after successful Officer Of the Watch manoeuvres. Photo by Able Seaman Lucinda Allanson.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Aussies exercise with UK and Japan off Fiji

09/07/202414/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1256 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Regional Presence Deployment, Royal Navy, Tonga

One of the Royal Australian Navy’s largest ships, HMAS Choules, recently participated in training exercises with warships from the United

Australian Army Warrant Officer Class Two Brett Holloway at the Defence Space and Cyber College at HMAS Harman. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

ADF People Australian Army Science & Technology

Never too old for cyber

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1506 Views 0 Comments cyber warfare, Defence Space and Cyber College, HMAS Harman

When Warrant Officer Class Two Brett Holloway joined the Army in 1981, the valve-operated radios he used as a trainee

Australian guitarist Glen Harrison gives his all while performing with Australian country music star Amber Lawrence during a Forces Entertainment Tour in the UK. Story and photos by Major Dave Thompson.

Australian Army News Overseas

Entertaining the troops the true-blue way

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1429 Views 0 Comments Forces Entertainment Tour, Operation Kudu

ADF personnel training Ukrainian soldiers in Britain under Operation Kudu have received a touch of home-inspired, true-blue, live country music

Policy to enable dual-serving couples leave sharing arrangements is now in place. Photo by Leading Seaman Tara Morrison.

ADF News

Dual-serving couples can now share leave

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1543 Views 0 Comments

Dual-serving couples can now share their leave as part of the latest change under the ADF Leave Framework. CAPTION: Policy to

Students of the University of New South Wales Master of Explosive Ordnance degree observe an energetic substance demonstration at Majura Training Area, Canberra. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF Australian Army News Science & Technology

Course goes off with a bang

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1299 Views 0 Comments Army School of Ordnance

A higher education into the science of things that go bang is now available in Australia to nominated ADF personnel,

Corporals Jacob Wilkinson, left, and Sam Harman at the 2024 Finke Desert Race. Story by Corporal John Blenkin.

ADF People

Aviators finish gruelling Finke Desert Race

05/07/202412/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 767 Views 0 Comments No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Three aviators from RAAF Base Tindal participated in the 48th Finke Desert Race last month. CAPTION: Corporals Jacob Wilkinson, left, and

Royal Australian Navy sailors work onboard HMNZS Manawanui with Royal New Zealand Navy sailors to repair a rigid-hulled inflatable boat. Story by Leading Seaman Harry Boardman.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Navy

Aussie help with repairs on HMNZS Manawanui in Sydney

05/07/202410/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1117 Views 0 Comments Defence Strategic Review, Fleet Support Unit – South East (FSU-SE), National Defence Strategy (NDS), Royal New Zealand Navy

A collaborative effort between the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has strengthened ties during HMNZS Manawanui’s

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Veterans

Memories of a Vietnam veteran

05/07/202410/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2291 Views 0 Comments Vietnam veterans

In 1969 at the age of 20, Rudolph Stachow was on his first patrol in Vietnam as an infantryman. CAPTION: Vietnam

Sergeant Deborah Williamson, right, receives the McCarthy Rowbottom Jones Memorial Award by Group Captain John Rollo. Story by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Taking the pain out of going to the dentist

05/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 893 Views 0 Comments No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Aviators at RAAF Base Tindal needing wisdom teeth removed can thank Sergeant Deborah Williamson for eliminating the 700km round trip

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Keeping watch over shipping routes

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1361 Views 0 Comments No. 11 Squadron, Operation Gateway, P-8A Poseidon, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth

The latest iteration of Operation Gateway – Australia’s longest running Defence operation – has successfully concluded following a P-8A Poseidon

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Owain Griffiths is one of five Australian Army personnel posted to the United States Army's 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force from mid-2024. Story by Lieutenant Colonel Carrie Robards.

Australian Army News USA

Embeds to contribute to regional deterrence

03/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1091 Views 0 Comments Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP)

Five Australian Army personnel have headed to Hawaii to embed with the US Army’s 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (3rd MDTF).