Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) correctional officer Olga Toata Junior demonstrates learned first-aid skills during a 'train the trainer' course at RSIPF Police Station, Rove. Story by Sergeant Felicity Richardson Major Simon Hampson. Photos by Lieutenant John Townsend.

Delivering life-saving training skills

ADF members of the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) have supported the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and Correctional

Navy aviation technician Able Seaman Casey Anderson, of HMAS Toowoomba, takes oil samples from the embarked MH-60R helicopter Valkyrie during a regional presence deployment. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

News Royal Australian Navy

Maintaining the Valkyrie

25/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1285 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba, MH-60R Seahawk, No. 816 Squadron (RAN), Regional Presence Deployment

Aircraft maintainers are proving vital for mission success as HMAS Toowoomba continues its Indo-Pacific regional presence deployment. CAPTION: Navy aviation technician

Brigadier David McCammon, right, officially opens renovated classrooms with Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) representatives during Exercise Puk Puk, Manus Island, PNG. Story by Major Taylor Lynch. Photos by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Asia Australian Army News Pacific Videos

Infrastructure and lifelong friendships built

25/10/202325/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2860 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Puk Puk, Papua New Guinea, PNGDF

Exercise Puk Puk concluded with the Manus Island community hosting celebrations after a job well done. CAPTION: Brigadier David McCammon, right,

Australian Army soldiers demonstrate fire and movement for personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces during Exercise Harringaroo, Malaysia. Story by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photos by Corporal Sam Price.

Australian Army News

RCB learn jungle skills from Malaysian Army

20/10/202321/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2553 Views 1 Comment Exercise Harringaroo, Malaysian Armed Forces, Rifle Company Butterworth

Australian soldiers from Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) learnt how to operate in the jungle from Malaysian Army experts on Exercise

The RAN Band-WA performs at the Submarine Training and Systems Centre Mental Health Week barbecue at HMAS Stirling. Story by Richard Wilkins. Photos by Able Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Having fun for a healthy cause

20/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1323 Views 0 Comments HMAS Stirling, Submarine Training and Systems Centre (STSC), World Mental Health Day

Activities and events at HMAS Stirling during WA’s Mental Health Week aimed to raise awareness, reduce stigma and allow personnel

Hydrographer of Australia Commodore Robyn Phillips, Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) Director Maritime Data Management Doug White and AHO Director Maritime Relationships and Governance Nat McLean use the Australian Bathymetric and Topography Grid. Story by Elizabeth de Bol.

News Royal Australian Navy

Defence data underpins new underwater map

20/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1637 Views 0 Comments Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO)

Defence’s Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) is a key data contributor to the newly launched Australian Bathymetry and Topography Grid, which

13th Brigade hosted the Australia-India Army staff talks in Perth, ahead of Exercise Austrahind 23 in Western Australia next month. Story by Major Sandra Seman-Bourke. Photo by Corporal Nikia Chapman.

Australian Army News

Talks strengthen bond with Indian Army

20/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1589 Views 0 Comments 13th Brigade, Defence Strategic Review, Exercise Austrahind, Indian Armed Forces

Reflecting the close relationship with India, 13th Brigade hosted the Australia-India army-to-army staff talks in the lead-up to Exercise Austrahind,

Australian Air Force Cadets disembark a C-130J Hercules at RAAF Base Pearce after a familiarisation flight. Story and photos by Flying Officer Michael Thomas.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Unique experience for WA cadets

20/10/202328/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1671 Views 0 Comments Air Force Cadets, C-130J Hercules, No. 37 Squadron, RAAF Pearce

Flying low level in a C-130J Hercules is something few get the opportunity to experience, so a familiarisation flight over

Australian Army HX77 heavy rigid vehicles loaded with fodder heading for Bonang in the north of Gippsland in support of Operation Bushfire Assist, 2020. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photo by Private Michael Currie.

Australian Army News

Army offers training idea towards civilian transport needs

20/10/202321/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2754 Views 0 Comments HX77 Truck

While some people don’t think twice about how groceries, household goods and online purchases get to them, many are aware

Aunty Rubena and Uncle Gorge Anderson visit the RAAF Security and Fire School Headquarters at RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks.

ADF People History Veterans

Uncle George remembers

20/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1890 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, RAAF Amberley, Vietnam War

It was a visit to remember for Indigenous Elder Uncle George Anderson, as he took part in the Commanding Officer

United States marines board an Omni Air International flight departing from RAAF Base Darwin, NT. Photo by Petty Officer Leo Baumgartner.

Australian Army Lest We Forget News

Marines bid farewell to Darwin

19/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2094 Views 0 Comments Exercise Alon, HADR, HMAS Canberra, MRF-D, MV-22 Osprey, US Marines

After six months of exercises with the ADF and a range of partner nations, the 12th iteration of the Marine

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet departs from Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth during Exercise Bersama Lima 2023 in Malaysia. Story by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photos by Corporal Sam Price.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie Super Hornets train in Malaysia

19/10/202321/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1557 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Exercise Bersama Lima, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 19 Squadron, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth

Flying out of north-west Malaysia, the Royal Australian Air Force has deployed six F/A-18F Super Hornets and a C-27J Spartan

Warrant Officer Class Two Keven Jones at the ADF Careers centre in Maroochydore, Queensland. Story by Jon Kroiter.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Veterans

Army career comes full circle

19/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1855 Views 0 Comments Department of Veterans' Affairs, ServeOn

Four years ago, Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Keven Jones made a promise to his mate John Sweetman, who had

Maintenance crew from a RAAF KC-30A conduct checks on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, before an assisted-departure flight to Dubai. Photos by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

Middle East News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

ADF support for Israel departures

19/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1903 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Israel, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Middle East, Operation Beech

CAPTION: Maintenance crew from a RAAF KC-30A conduct checks on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, before an assisted-departure

Commander Andrew Mierisch, right, with Chief Petty Officer Zoe Mack on board HMAS Supply alongside Fleet Base East, Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Robinson. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarryd Capper.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Royal Australian Navy

Big step forward for Navy in-house coaching

19/10/202324/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1668 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Supply, Navy Coaching Academy

Navy’s first cohort of coaches trained in-house and in line with international and national standards has been hailed as a

A delegation from the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) Academy watch a 100 Squadron flying display at RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria. Story by Squadron Leader Kate Davis. Photos by Duncan Fenn.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Insieme impariamo – together we learn

19/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 962 Views 0 Comments Italian Air Force, No. 100 Squadron

A shared passion for developing world-class aviators resulted in an exchange of ideas and connection over missions during a recent

HQ-382 Tarantal-V-class ship from the Vietnam People's Navy and Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Toowoomba conduct officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres during regional presence deployment 2023 off the coast of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Angel drives Toowoomba around the bends in Vietnam

19/10/202322/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1493 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Vietnam

Bringing a ship into Ho Chi Minh City port is no easy feat, but HMAS Toowoomba’s navigating officer Lieutenant Loren

Members from the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), march on parade as part of the 7RAR Iraq Theatre Honour Parade, on the Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide. Story by Captain Adrienne Goode. Photos by Private Johnny Huang.

Australian Army News

7RAR awarded Iraq theatre honour

19/10/202321/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2080 Views 0 Comments 7th Battalion RAR, Afghanistan, Iraq

7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) was honoured for the unit’s achievements in Iraq during a formal parade at

Flight Lieutenant Kristian Henderson proudly displays his Aussie Hero Quilt, received while deployed with HMAS Adelaide on Operation Tonga Assist 22. Story by Squadron Leader Jessica Aldred.

ADF People

Warm response to quilts

19/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1087 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts

Ten years on from receiving an Aussie Hero Quilt and laundry bag, Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Shannon Killman still

Legacy torchbearers Emily Lahay and Commander 4th Brigade, Brigadier Michelle Campbell during the last leg of the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay in Melbourne. Story by Captain Mark Blackman and Captain Kristen Daisy Cleland. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

50,000 kilometres for 100 years of Legacy

17/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1178 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force, Governor-General of Australia, Legacy, Shrine of Remembrance

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay ended on October 12, with torch-bearers carrying the Legacy flame through Melbourne on the final