Hands off
Army records fall in sexual offences
SEXUALLY related offences in the Army have gone down in the past year thanks to Army-wide training and heightened awareness.

Interactivity in Tassie
AS THE Tasmanian show season drew to a close, the ADF display, Defence on Display, was hailed a success.

2RAR to host Battle of the Hook 50th Anniversary
2RAR will host celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of The Hook at the battalion’s home in Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, in July next year.

Second Bronze Star awarded to Australian
An Australian Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot, Maj Steve Jobson, has been awarded the US Bronze Star for meritorious service, while participating in an exchange with a US Army unit in Afghanistan.

Changes to obligations
A SERIES of major changes relating to the Return of Service Obligation (ROSO) and Initial Minimum Periods of Service (IMPS) have been made after a recent review.

Lancers in the swim
SOLDIERS from 1/15 RNSWL have tested their unit’s operational capability during Exercise Western Warrior.

Signaller named Rhodes scholar
Lt Adam Easton, 103 Sig Sqn, has been awarded one of three Australian Rhodes Scholarships for 2003.

News In Brief

Barracks ablaze
Fire storm sweeps across Holsworthy
With one of Sydney’s worst-ever bushfires raging towards them, soldiers at Holsworthy Barracks engaged in a desperate attempt to protect their lines and now face the monstrous task of cleaning up.

Vic health services outsourced
New arrangements for the provision of health services to ADF members in Victoria will see ADF medical staff directed to core capability areas and operationally deployable health support units.

The iceman cometh
Cairns-based chef and warrant officer caterer at 51FNQR, WO2 Tony Herrmann, has been chosen to represent Australia at the Ice Art World Championships, in Belgium this Christmas.

Convenor sought to head families group
Applicants are being sought for the position of National Convenor of the Defence Families of Australia (DFA) to commence in February 2003.

Fruit of the vine tastes just fine
Gaining the knowledge on the many facets of wine, what all the cigar talk means and having a deep appreciation for the skill of wine tasting is a serious hobby for Sgt Darryl King, 103 Sig Sqn.

Sigs schools combine
A TRI-Service parade held at Simpson Barracks in Melbourne recently marked the formation of the Defence Force School of Signals, making it the centre of military communications training in Australia.

Remote kids graduate as Army cadets
THIRTY-four raw recruits from the Tiwi Island Group graduated as a fully-fledged Australian Army Cadet (AAC) platoon following the first Remote Communities Indigenous Cadet pilot training course held on Bathurst Island, north of Darwin last month.

JAU closing in East Timor
WITH the draw-down of Australian troops in East Timor, some of the non-operational functions are being replaced with civilians, or withdrawn completely.

Soldiers doing the crocodile rock
AUSTRALIAN soldiers are about to make a donation to East Timor – and it’s a croc.

Kiwis leave East Timor
THE official end of the New Zealand Contingent support to INTERFET, UNTAET and UNMISET in East Timor was recently marked by a ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin.

From sea to land and air and back
FOR an Army that is constantly on rotation around its colonies, the French soldiers of the Regiment Infantry Marines and Parachute – New Caledonia (RIMaP-NC) are experienced in training in different climates, terrain and with different forces.

Role-play essential to test exercise
EXERCISE Croix Du Sud, a joint exercise between the French, New Zealand, Australian and Tongan Defence Forces gave each country the chance to train with more than just military tactics.

Santa's helpers busy
THE Australian military post office in East Timor is gearing up for a busy Christmas period.

5/7RAR on guard
AUSTRALIAN soldiers are providing security at the Australian Embassy in Dili, East Timor, while permanent protective measures are being put in place.

Gunners foil robbery
TWELVE have-a-go gunners from the British Army’s 22 Regiment RA have been presented with police commendations for foiling an armed robbery in Warwickshire earlier this year.

French folding finesse
PERHAPS one of the most important roles in a parachute regiment is that of the parachute packers and maintenance people. Without them, there’d be very little jumping.

It's a long way from Provence
A LONG way from home, but it is business as usual for 1 Coy 3 Regt Parachute Infantry and Marines – hailing from Carcassonne in France, but on rotation to Plume, New Caledonia.