Bali bombings
AN AUSTRALIAN soldier standing less than 50m from the bomb that exploded outside the Sari nightclub in Bali escaped unhurt. Capt Rodney Cocks, an UNMO in East Timor, was enjoying his last night of leave before flying out of Indonesia the next morning.

Governance framework signed
Organisational Performance Agreements (OPAs) and Charters for the Service Chiefs and Group Heads have been signed by CDF Gen Peter Cosgrove and Secretary Dr Allan Hawke.

In the depths of the Earth
Adventurous training is a business built on deception – deceiving people into thinking they are in danger when in reality they’re safe and sound in the hands of a Unit Adventurous Training Leader.

Shining the light for 1RAR
1RAR sat beneath Townsville’s bushfire-red setting sun and heard an inspiring message, as earthly as their surrounds on the Aussie Rules oval.

Grants made to help families
MORE than 100 Defence family and community support organisations across Australia and overseas are set to benefit from more than $1 million in Defence Family Support Funding Program (FSFP) grants recently approved by the Government.

LSF passes muster
FOR the first time in history the Logistic Support Force (LSF) recently deployed to Queensland as a composite Force Support Battalion (FSB) in the field environment.

Malaria institute injects itself into Vietnam
DIRECTOR Army Malaria Institute Prof Karl Rieckmann recently returned from Vietnam after helping open laboratories that will not only help malarial research, but strengthen strategic relations between Australia and Vietnam.

A new name after 50 years
131 Loc Bty has been operating under a new name for the past four months – the locators are now known as 131 Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Battery.

Parting shot by AASAM champ
THE Army’s top shots will soon be putting their marksmanship skills to use at this year’s AASAM (Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting).

Dig deep for a dollar
OCTOBER is Dig Deep month and the Defence Special Needs Support Group (DSNSG) is asking everyone to help Defence families by Digging Deep for a Dollar.

Tradition lights up Townsville
MORTAR Platoon charged from the stronghold into all-round defensive positions moments before 1RAR Beat the Retreat on the unit’s 57th Birthday.

The ground force of 3CSSB
RECOGNISING Wapiti Junction at 3CSSB in Townsville these days is like walking into your backyard at home after Ground Force has visited for the weekend.

Girl in a million seeks help
BRISBANE-based LCpl Shelly-Louise Hogan is participating in a quest to raise funds for war veterans and is looking for help from fellow diggers.

Direct fire weapons system upgrade
Defence Minister Robert Hill recently announced three major projects worth $308.83 million to further upgrade the capabilities of the Australian Army.

'What do you do, dad?'
3CSSB conducted its annual family day at the MOUT facility at High Range near Townsville recently.

A year away to study info ops
AN OFFICER at Army Headquarters is preparing for a year away from his desk after winning a prestigious grant for further study.

A bit of history repeating
THIRTY years after the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the nation’s role in the conflict was explored at the Chief of Army’s eighth annual history conference in Canberra on October 3 and 4.

Eye in the sky
THE war in Afghanistan has proven the abilities of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Teamwork on UN hospital
COOPERATION between Australian and Thailand medical teams at the new United Nations Hospital in Dili is helping strengthen medical support to the UN Mission in East Timor.

Keeping in comms
DECADES of warfare obliterated much of Afghanistan’s civil infrastructure, including its entire communications system, but a small team of experts from Holsworthy-based 145 Sig Sqn has given Australia’s SAS Task Group a reliable link to the outside world.

Appies link up on Op Citadel
For many serving within the ranks of the Army, the term Army Apprentice, or ex Appie, is something they are not likely to understand.

Hamburger handover
UNITED Nations Military Observers (UNMO) provide their own food and accommodation from UN allowances.

UK soldier dead
UK Ministry of Defence confirmed Fijian-born Pte Tesoni Vakacakaudrove was found dead at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, on October 6.