Defence Magazine

Anzac Day, 25 April 2006, marked the 91st anniversary of the first nationally significant military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War I. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN, salutes as the last post is played for the Anzac Day dawn service in Gallipoli.
Photo by Leading Seaman Phillip Cullinan

Australian soldiers return from guard duty as a dust storm sweeps through Camp Smitty in Al Muthanna Province, Iraq. The third contingent of Australia's contribution to the Al Muthanna Task Group begins its deployment in May.
Photo by ABPH Kade Rogers

An Australian Army loadmaster conducts his pre-flight checks on a Chinook helicopter supporting Australian and Coalition forces deployed in southern Afghanistan. The Australian Aviation Task Group based at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan has begun operations as part of Taskforce Knighthawk. The Australian mission at Kandahar is supporting the Australian Special Operations Task Group already operating in this country and may continue until late November to support the Australian Reconstruction Team that will be deploying to Afghanistan later this year.
Photo by Sergeant Katrina Johnson

In the know

CDF launches elite academic program

The Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has launched an elite academic undergraduate program for midshipmen and officer cadets attending the University of New South Wales (UNSW) at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

Professor John Baird, Rector of UNSW@ADFA, said that 'these exciting and stimulating programs are collectively known as the Chief of Defence Force Students Program'.

The aim of the program is to build a strong research culture into a high-achievers degree by developing critical thinking and independent research skills beyond that available in the existing undergraduate degree programs.

The Chief of Defence Force Students Program will be on offer across all five schools of the academy and is an exceptional opportunity for gifted students to reach their full academic potential. Degree programs are available in Business, Arts and Science, and across the engineering disciplines of Aeronautical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

Australian Defence College Open Day

The Australian Defence College (ADC) will hold its annual College Open Day on Monday, 5 June 2006 at the Weston Creek campus in Canberra. While the day is primarily focused on civilian attendance at the Australian Public Service (APS) 6 to Executive Level (EL) 2 levels, any interested Australian Defence Force members at the O–4 to O–6 levels are also welcome.

The Open Day will provide registered visitors with an insight into the operation of two components of the ADC: the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS). Registered visitors will be briefed on the courses offered at the ACSC and CDSS, as well as the facilities at the Weston Creek campus. Participants will also be able to meet with the staff and current students.

Further information on the courses can be obtained via the website
http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/. Further information on civilian application and administration details can be viewed at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/ldr/
(click on 4. Leadership Programs, Policy and Evaluation).

In the news

Members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), form an honour guard as an Army chaplain and piper escort the casket of PTE Jake Kovco at Sydney Airport.
Photo by LAC Rodney Welch

24 April

Private (PTE) Jacob (Jake) Kovco was killed while serving as a member of the Security Detachment in Baghdad. Born in Melbourne, PTE Kovco realised his lifelong ambition when he enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 26 March 2002. He was a highly qualified soldier who had completed a number of specialist courses in his four years of service. In October 2005 he was selected to deploy to Iraq as a member of the Security Detachment in Baghdad—a mission eagerly sought after by all soldiers in the Battalion.

During his time in Iraq he demonstrated a high level of devotion to duty and professionalism. He was a valued member of his team and is sorely missed, not only for his skills and professionalism, but also as a mate and comrade in arms.

PTE Kovco died in hospital surrounded by his mates. He was draped in an Australian flag with a paratrooper's beret on his chest as his mates said the Lord's Prayer.

28 April

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Sandy Macdonald, congratulated the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) on 50 years of Defence science in Sydney.

In 1956, the Royal Australian Navy established its first experimental laboratory at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney. This research facility was eventually moved to Pyrmont in 1984, under the auspices of DSTO.

'DSTO Sydney has been instrumental in providing the Australian Navy and other navies with numerous technological advances over the years of its operation,' Senator Macdonald said.

2 May

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, MP, announced that the Requests for Tender for the $2 billion large amphibious ships project have been released. The two ships, to be named HMAS Canberra and Adelaide, are scheduled to enter service with the Royal Australian Navy from 2012.

This is a major milestone in the process that will lead to final project approval and shipbuilder and design selection early next year. It comes after an intensive design development effort by Defence and the two competing designers, in which the designs have been adapted to meet specific Australian legislative and regulatory requirements.

The project will allow the Australian Defence Force to perform a range of tasks, including regional disaster relief, delivering humanitarian aid, support for peace operations, and assistance to policing or military operations.

9 May

Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Maria Leetham was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for outstanding service in the performance of duty as the 5th Brigade Recruiting Liaison Officer. WO2 Leetham has been in the active Reserve for 24 years.

Aged 41, WO2 Leetham is a grandmother. Her family includes her husband, four children and one grandchild.

WO2 Leetham said the CSM is the 'crowning achievement' in her career.

Looking forward ...

In his opening remarks to the parliamentary Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) on 11 May, the Secretary highlighted good progress with the work to rebuild Defence's credibility as a respected financial manager.

The June issue of Defence magazine will feature an edited extract of the Secretary's statement to the committee.

11 May

Minister for Defence, the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, MP, officially launched Dr Peter Edwards' biography of Sir Arthur Tange, Sir Arthur Tange: Last of the Mandarins.

Sir Arthur Tange was one of the most influential figures in Australian Public Service history. He served as a departmental Secretary for 20 years, in different periods heading the (then) Department of External Affairs and the Department of Defence. He was effectively the architect of the modern Department of Defence, achieving the amalgamation of five departments into a single entity despite strong internal opposition.

Dr Edwards, commissioned by Defence to produce the biography, is the official historian of Australia's involvement in South-East Asian conflicts 1948–75, work for which he was made a member of the Order of Australia.

Defence