SSM Biography

Service Profile -Warrant Officer Class Two B.J. Heenan

Warrant Officer Brian Heenan was born on the 25th of March 1961 at Parkville, Melbourne VIC.

Warrant Officer Heenan enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in October of 1988, after completing recruit training at 1RTB Wagga Wagga NSW, he was allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, and attended his IET course at the School of Armour, Puckapunyal.

At the completion of this training he was posted to B Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment as a Driver / Signaller MII3 A1. In 1990 he stream transferred to Tanks and completed his Leopard AS1 Tank Gunners course. He was promoted to the rank of LCPL and then CPL after completing his Crew Commander's Course. He fulfilled the roles of Troop Leaders Operator (TLO) and Troop Corporal in a Sabre Tank Troop.

In 1990 he completed a North Star Southern Cross exchange to the British Army located at Windsor with the Blues and Royals armoured reconnaissance unit.

In 1993 he was proud to be a guard member for the commemorative tour for the 75th Anniversary of the Western Front. His duties included ceremonial guards at places such as; The Arc De Triumph, Villiers Breteneaux, The Somme, Peronne and Arrass.

In January 1996 he was posted to 1RTB as a recruit instructor, and served as a Section Commander in Echo Company for a period of one year. In January 1997 he was posted as a Corporal to Gunnery Wing School of Armour. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in January 1998 and was posted to A Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment, Darwin NT. At the end of 1999 to mid 2000 he was posted as a Force Operations Sergeant to the Multi National Force Observers Sinai, Egypt.

In January of 2001 he was posted back to the School of Armour taking up appointments as the Tank Troop Sergeant and as a Tactics Instructor. From the School of Armour he was posted to the Royal Military College, Duntroon where he was employed as a Small Group Instructor (SGI). He completed his tenure at RMC in December of 2003 and was posted to 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment as the recruiting Warrant Officer and in turn the Operations Warrant Officer.

In 2006 he was posted as the Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM) to A Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment. He was offered the Squadron Sergeant Majors appointment at 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment at the end of 2006. He summarily accepted the appointment and commenced his tenure in January of 2007. In June of 2007 he deployed to IRAQ with OBG(W)3 and Combat Team Courage. 2008 will be his final year as the SSM of 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment.

His wife's name is Brenda and they have three children, Lauren 22, Brodie 18, and Lacee 16 year's of age. He enjoys carpentry and building, all sports, especially the AFL.