Army Reserve – CONTACT magazine

Australian soldiers fire off a practise mortar round as part of a mortar concentration activity at Puckapunyal Military Area. Story by Tim Klingner. Photos by Private Sera Mar.

Reservists refine live-fire mortar skills

02/07/202602/07/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 603 Views 0 Comments 2nd (Australia) Division, Army Reserve, Puckapunyal

Army reservists from across the country converged on Puckapunyal in early June to demonstrate and develop their skills during the

Private Michael Staszak, centre-left, receives orders from his platoon commander before a patrol as part of Exercise Menin Blade at Singleton Military Area, NSW. Story and photo by Corporal Michael Rogers.

ADF People

Back where he belongs

04/06/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1078 Views 0 Comments 2nd/17th Battalion Royal NSW Regiment (2/17RNSWR), Army Reserve, Exercise Menin Blade, Singleton Military Area

Despite the rain and cold, leading a section of infantry through the scrub makes Private Michael Staszak feel at home.

Lieutenant James Sullivan, right, and Captain Charlotte Bradstreet prepare an explosive charge during the explosives supervisor course at Holsworthy Barracks. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos by Corporal Hamid Farahani.

ADF People Australian Army Videos

Reservist gets creative by blowing things up

17/04/202618/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 592 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, explosives, Holsworthy Barracks, School of Military Engineering

For Lieutenant James Sullivan, ‘blowing up’ is just a part of the job description – whether he’s at his desk

Army soldiers from 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, conduct basic soldier skills during Exercise El Adem, at Beecroft Weapons Range, Jervis Bay. Story by Major Tim Sydenham. Photos by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

Australian Army News

Gunners practise tactics with rifles and drones

10/04/202612/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 573 Views 0 Comments 9th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, Army Reserve, Beecroft Weapons Range, Exercise El Adem, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

While their expertise is in the use of small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), soldiers from 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery,

Lieutenant Clinton Shiell in his full-time role as a pilot of Qantas A380 aircraft. Photos by Major Jesse Robilliard.

ADF People Australian Army

Army career veered off on a different flight path

25/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 340 Views 0 Comments 11th Engineer Regiment, Army Reserve, WWI, WWII

When Lieutenant Colonel Clinton Shiell joined the Royal Australian Artillery, flying a Qantas A380 wasn’t on his radar. CAPTION: Lieutenant

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart awards recipient Corporal Sarah Vella the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award during Army's 125th birthday event at Russell Offices, Canberra. Story and photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

ADF People Australian Army History

Soldier awarded for her life-saving action

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 668 Views 0 Comments 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment, Army Reserve, Chief of Army, Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award

When a young recruit’s psychosocial injury escalated into a life-threatening crisis, Corporal Sarah Vella became the steady, decisive presence he

Lance Corporal Imogen Barker and her father, Musician Bill Barker, prepare with the combined military bands of the ADF for their performance with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Brisbane. Story by Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF People Australian Army

Father and daughter in tune at Tattoo

04/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 432 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Australian Army Band, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Lance Corporal Imogen Barker’s family had booked tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Brisbane show before discovering she would

A TV crew films Australian soldiers as they conduct clearance operations as part of Exercise Arras Walk. Photo by Captain Mark Blackman.

Australian Army News

Urban exercise prepares soldiers for modern ops

26/11/202530/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1146 Views 0 Comments 4th Brigade, 8th/7th Royal Victorian Regiment, Army Reserve, casevac, Exercise Arras Walk, Puckapunyal

Victorian and Tasmanian soldiers took to the streets of Bendigo in full combat ensemble as part of a 10-day training

Australian Army Reserve soldiers from 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment, and 22nd Engineer Regiment conduct a patrol through East Arm in Darwin during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Story by Captain Tim Klingner. Photos by Corporal Jarrod Moreels.

Australian Army News Talisman Sabre

Army Reserves defend the north

29/07/202503/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2589 Views 0 Comments 2nd (Australia) Division, 4th Brigade, Army Reserve, Exercise Talisman Sabre

It’s not every day you see Army Reserve soldiers from Victoria’s 4th Brigade patrolling the streets of Darwin. CAPTION: Australian Army

Australian Army soldier Corporal Hyun Kim is promoted by Commander 1st (Australian) Division, Major General Ash Collingburn during Exercise Freedom Shield at Camp Yongin, Republic of Korea. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photos by Sergeant Won Kyu Jeon (Republic of Korea).

ADF People Asia Australian Army

Linguist left speechless at award ceremony

17/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2577 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Exercise Freedom Shield, linguists, South Korea, United Nations Command (UNC)

Army reservist Corporal Hyun Kim was promoted from craftsman to corporal and presented with an Army Silver Commendation during Exercise

Private Arianna Yunkaporta and Private Irwin Yunkaporta, of 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, attend a Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Photos by Corporal Jarrod Moreels.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget

Emotional trip south for Indigenous soldiers

06/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2582 Views 0 Comments 51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment, Army Reserve, AWM, WWII

Canberra did not put on its best to welcome Arianna and Irwin Yunkaporta – the two Army Reserve soldiers from

Army Reserve soldiers from 5th Brigade, deployed as part of Joint Task Force 629, clear debris to support the NSW State Emergency Service-led flood response in Wingham Brush Nature Reserve. Story by Captain Karam Louli. Photos by Corporal Adam Abela.

Australian Army News

ADF provides support to flooded communities

30/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2421 Views 1 Comment 5th Brigade, Army Reserve, Joint Task Group 629, State Emergency Service (SES)

For the second time this year, devastating floods have struck the NSW mid-north coast, leaving communities such as Taree reeling.

Army soldiers from 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers patrol through bush at Holsworthy, NSW, during Exercise Menin Run. Story by Captain Tim Klingner. Photos by Corporal Jarrod Moreels.

Australian Army News

Shake-out for brigade ahead of Talisman Sabre

21/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3497 Views 0 Comments 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers, 5th Brigade, Army Reserve, Exercise Menin Run, Exercise Talisman Sabre

Hundreds of reservists of 5th Brigade from across NSW and the ACT went through their paces this month in preparation

Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Johansen stands alongside his wife, Michelle, after being presented the Federation Star clasp to his Defence Long Service Medal for 40 years of service, at Gallipoli Barracks, Queensland. Story by Captain Nigel Jacobs. Photo by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

ADF People Australian Army History

Four decades of dedication to Army

18/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4147 Views 1 Comment Army Reserve, Federation Star, Gallipoli Barracks

Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Kim Johansen has trained and mentored young soldiers and officers, in Australia and overseas, for

Sergeant Paul Dennis, left, and Lieutenant Jack Macklan talk to Lismore resident Chris McNamara near the flooded Wilsons River during a joint patrol to monitor floodwaters as part of Operation Topical Cyclone Alfred Assist. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos: byWarrant Officer Class 2 Raymond Vance.

Australian Army News

Local knowledge vital in assisting community

21/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1986 Views 0 Comments 41st Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment, 8/9 RAR, Army Reserve, Operation Tropical Cyclone Alfred Assist

Showing how quickly the ADF can mobilise when needed, the Lismore-based 41st Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment (41

US Army Major General Glenn Dean, centre, speaks with Commanding Officer Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Lieutenant Colonel Tim Soper, left, during the Abrams M1A2 main battle tank maintainer course at Gaza Ridge Barracks, Bandiana, Victoria. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photos: bySergeant Andrew Sleeman.

Australian Army News

Tank course reflects partnership with US

13/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2679 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (ASEME), Bandiana, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams, US Army

Vehicle mechanics and electronic technicians across Army finally have their hands on the new M1A2 system enhancement package version 3

Australian Army soldier Sapper Luke Barnes leads a joint patrol with Indian Army soldiers during Exercise Austrahind 2024 in Pune, India. Story by Major Dean Benson. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People Australian Army Overseas

Combining culture and training in India

27/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2652 Views 0 Comments 13th Brigade, Army Reserve, Exercise Austrahind, India, Indian Armed Forces

From delicious food to in-depth combat engineering training, with a side of intense physical training, Exercise Austrahind served up a

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart talks with North-West Mobile Force patrolman Private Kamahl Korrabubba from Centre Squadron in Alice Springs. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News

Praise for regional security unit

20/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2606 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Chief of Army, NORFORCE, Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG)

In the vast, rugged expanses of north-western Australia, soldiers from the Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) act as Defence’s eyes

Private Riley Wakenshaw and his father Sergeant Paul Wakenshaw, who worked together on logistics at a cadet exercise. Story by Cadet Lance Corporal Elijah Dunks.

ADF People

Father and son come full circle with cadets

29/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2228 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion (3CSSB), Army Reserve, Australian Army Cadets, Exercise Emu

Two soldiers who participated in a recent cadet exercise took the ADF’s aim of fostering a family-like culture literally. CAPTION: Private

Army officer Captain Alison Mountain, of the Unrecovered War Casualties – Army Unit, tests some samples of soil in Canberra, ACT. Story. by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power. Photos by Corporal Cameron Pegg.

ADF People Australian Army Lest We Forget

Archaeologist gets hands dirty in new Army role

25/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2278 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Unrecovered War Casualties – Army Unit

If asked to picture an archaeologist, some people might think of Indiana Jones running through dark, booby-trapped tunnels fighting off

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