January

A new year saw Army personnel out in force fighting bushfires that raged around Canberra and other major centres. Reservists also turned out to battle other major conflagrations threatening areas of north-east Victoria.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced that Australia would deploy troops to the Middle East as part of the pre-deployment in response to the Iraq crisis under Op Bastille (the operation in support of international efforts to disarm Iraq).

Finally, 39 Army personnel were honoured in the Australia Day Honours List, many for outstanding service under the various operations of 2002.

In sport, Pte Sophie Joynes, 1CSSB, took two silver medals at the Oceania Games in New Zealand.

February

A Special Forces Task Group comprising 500 personnel as well as assets/personnel from 5 Avn Regt departed for the Gulf under Op Bastille. At the same time, Defence announced that deploying personnel would receive on a voluntary basis

vaccinations against Anthrax. Members of AUSBATT VII were successful in capturing a gang of local criminals who had been terrorising local farmers and villagers and who had allegedly murdered two men.

March

Defence Minister Robert Hill released the strategic review of Australia's national security and warned that the military would need to be re-balanced to meet the new heightened threats of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, forces deployed under Op Bastille were busy working in with coalition partners and acclimatising in Kuwait and other regions in the Gulf.

On March 20, ADF personnel went into action as part of the US-led action (30 nations) to overthrow the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

In sport, Army's AFL team continued its winning streak after winning the national titles in Canberra for the 17th successive year. Army won the inaugural ADF Interservice Rugby League Carnival in Canberra (defeated RAAF 42-4, defeated Navy 22-10).

April

Op Falconer dominated the news with articles on various facets of the campaign including comparisons of the armour of both sides and observations from CDF Gen Peter Cosgrove that the campaign had to date seen "spectacular successes" and "a few surprises".

Anzac Day saw Australian servicemen commemorating the 88th Anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in a land where their predecessors had fought in WW1 and WW2. By the end of the month, it was clear that the campaign was all but over to the extent the Minister announced on April 17 that the majority of forces deployed for Op Falconer would be home by June.

In Queensland SE Qld Army won the state's inter-service cricket carnival.

May

Domestic matters dominated the start of May when an SF group embarked aboard HMAS Stuart seized a North Korean drug runner in atrocious weather and sea conditions north of Sydney and the formation of the new Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) was announced. Op Falconer was formally concluded, its place taken by Op Catalyst, the rebuilding of Iraq. Forces deployed in support included elements of 2 Cav and 2RAR. The three services were warned that, under new policies, random alcohol testing was to be undertaken.

May 18 saw the welcome home to Australia of SASR, 4RAR (Cdo) and 5 Avn Regt.
Sport in May saw ADF teams as kings and queens of the World beating 27 international teams in five divisions at the World Cup of Touch [football] in Japan.

June

The year's midpoint saw the establishment of the Reserve Response Force as part of the war against terrorism and the release of the findings and recommendations from the Board of Inquiry into the Mount Everest adventure training tragedy of March 24, 2001.

June 18 saw a major tri-service Welcome Home Parade through the streets of Sydney witnessed by 100,000 people, with a smaller but no less enthusiastic turnout in Perth on June 20.

Another period of overseas service came to an end on June 30 with the withdrawal of the final personnel deployed to Op Bel Isi in Bougainville

Sports in June included the ADF national Interservice Rugby carnival in Sydney while Army dominated in the 2003 ADF Hockey Championship in Adelaide. In Rugby, Army also defeated RAAF and Navy in the 2003 Wg-Cdr John Caldwell Shield at North Sydney, while the women's Rugby Union side was defeated by Navy for the first time at the 2003 ADF Interservice Rugby Union carnival.

July

Christmas came early with a 3 per cent pay rise and a 20 per cent boost to Service Allowance. Also, Government announced a new significant compensation scheme for ADF members and their widowed partners.

On July 24, 1500 personnel, including 200 infantry personnel from 2RAR deployed to the Solomon Islands under Op Anode. This latest operation was to provide assistance to a multi-Pacific nation police effort to restore law and order to the troubled nation. Reporting continued on Op Catalyst while deployed 16AD Regt personnel returned home from the Gulf.

The BOI into the death of Cpl Jason Sturgess who was killed when his APC was involved in an accident at High Range in February 2002, concluded with an open finding.

Finally, 3CER began early works on the AACAP project at Palm Island. Reporting on the AACAP continued in August.

Sport received special attention with a photographic montage in the centre spread, while two corporals were named overall winners at the 2003 ADF National Bodybuilding titles. The ADF women's basketball team won the NT Sports Carnival against a visiting US team and Army's 176 AD Sqn beat a strong RAAF team 5-1 at soccer.

August

The continued success of Op Anode saw the retrieval and subsequent destruction of stolen and other firearms. From August 18, service in East Timor was declared as being non-warlike, meaning a change in pay and other entitlements.

Army engineers were nominated for Bushfire Recognition Awards following their efforts during the Canberra bushfires.

A significant step forward for Army aviation occurred when the first of Army's new Tiger helicopters arrived from France.

In sport, Army beat RAAF in the 2003 NSW Inter-service Basketball competition.

September

CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy warned the Army that any form of unacceptable behaviour would not be tolerated following the suicide of Pte Jeremy Williams at the School of Infantry in February. His signal to all commanders followed the release of the findings into Pte Williams' death.

Service in East Timor was no longer tax free, following the change in status and the Peace Enforcement Allowance of $125 a day was to cease in November.

Four soldiers deployed in the Solomons were saved from drowning by locals after they were swept into the sea at Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, Army played a significant part in the arrest of rebel leader Harold Keke who was wanted for murder and other crimes. Op Anode also saw the first operational deployment of the ADF's new UAVs.

Exercise Crocodile 03 began with the convergence on SWBTA of some 7000 Australian and 3000 US personnel.

September saw another successful sports month with Army women winning the ADF Snow Sport Championship ski event and Army members successful in snowboarding. Army also won the lawn bowls Service Champions Trophy, RMC won the ACT Rugby Union reserve-grand final and RAMSI won the inaugral Helpem Fren cricket trophy in the Solomons.

October

SOCOMD announced its direct recruiting scheme to attract suitable civilians direct to SOCOMD units. Army also remembered Op Bali Assist a year after the terrorist attack. Seven Army personnel were awarded honours for their service in the operation. Army provided security and other support for the Rugby World Cup series.

A USAF aircrew commissioned a KIA bracelet in honour of Sgt Andrew Russell SASR, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2002.

The bracelet continues a Vietnam War tradition of honouring fallen comrades.

A 10 per cent payrise over four years was proposed for the next ADF Workplace Remuneration Arrangement, while 6RAR Bn Gp departed for East Timor to relieve 1RAR Bn Gp.

In sports, Army won Exercise Coolshot 03 and the ADF's Cross Country and Biathlon Championship.

November

CA warned that random testing of soldiers at all levels was about to begin and there would be no leniency for self-referring soldiers after urinalysis tests at Robertson Barracks, which saw 47 out of 100 tested from 3000 1Bde personnel return positive results. The Government announced Army's Leopard 1 MBTs would be replaced with three possible contenders.
Finally, the success of Op Anode saw a major wind back of personnel deployed with the return to Australia of some 800 personnel.
In sports news, SASR defeated two visiting British teams while 4RAR(Cdo) drew with one of them. Army men's and women's teams emerged champions at the ADF Soccer national titles.

December

The focus in December swung back to the Gulf when 1 SAS Sqn received the first Unit Citation for Gallantry and 16 other Army personnel received individual awards for their service in the MEAO. DSA warned all ADF members to be alert for possible threats and approaches from terrorists and criminal elements seeking access to military equipment and facilities, while 1 Cdo Regt conducted Ready Response Force exercises in Canberra.

CA warned that drug testing had commenced, while the ATO advised that members who served on Op Anode for 91 days or more were now entitled to have their salary tax free.

Townsville welcomed home local ADF personnel who had served in operations across the globe, from the MEAO to Bougainville.

In sport, Army was narrowly beaten by RAAF in a tie in the ADF National Cricket Carnival; RAAF as current winners retained the trophy. Meanwhile ADF hockey players turned on an outstanding performance to take two gold and a (narrowly missed gold) silver in the 2003 Master's Games in Canberra.

- compiled by Andrew Stackpool

Faces of Army

The Faces of Army series as part of our masthead, on our hard-copy page 1, began in the August 28 edition as part of the redesign of Army.

Each issue we looked for an appropriate face of a soldier who represented the diversity of sex, ethnicity, culture, trades, corps, ranks and personality which makes up the modern Army.

It is designed to be a subtle way of showing that the Army is, indeed, the sum of all its parts and highlights one of our values - teamwork.

Sgt Tatjana Zuchart, ANCE-Baghdad Photo by WO2 Al Green, 1JPAU(P)	Pte Sam Batty, C Coy, 3RAR Photo by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper	Sgt Stephen Taylor, RAMSI, with MWD Cruise Photo by WO2 Gary Ramage, 1JPAU(P)	Cpl Matthew Warwick, Environmental Health Unit, at Moleana East Timor. Photo by Flg-Off Simon Paton, MPA
Cpl Felicity Kirk, AAB-Sydney. Photo by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper	Pte Etienne Fabre, D Coy, 1RAR. Photo by Flg-Off Simon Paton, MPA	SM CABW Ex Con WO 2 Steve Boye Photo provided by CABW	Pte Jamie Grassi, 1RAR Photo by Flg-Off Simon Paton, MPA
Our final Face of the Army for 2003 is RSM-A WO Brian Boughton who retires in January next year		Best News Photo of 2003	"Hello, little man"- a member of 4RAR(Cdo) meets his son on return from Iraq.Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper

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