King of the battlefield
Hardening up with the M1A1 Abrams
HARDENING the Army, increased combined arms team capability and Network Centric Warfare (NCW) underpin the procurement of the 59 M1A1 AIM (D) Main Battle Tanks to enter service in 2007.

Defence health under review
A review of the Defence Health Service (DHS) is being conducted to evaluate whether its existing capabilities are able to meet Defence's needs in the short-to-medium term.

Command changes
HQ AST merged with Strategic Operations Division
A NEW Joint Operations Command will be established to simplify and streamline the ADF's command structure and allow more effective control of forces on operations.

E-learning online now live
A NEW online learning system for the Defence will deliver training and education to more than 90,000 military and civilian personnel.

Off his own bat
WITH its location in the Far North of Australia, soldiers posted to 51FNQR need to know how to effectively communicate with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.

Future looks bright for high-tech heavy gear
NEW tanks, APCs and the ARH are some of the major equipment items due to hit 1 Bde over the next few years in what Commander 1 Bde Brig Ash Power described as an exciting time to be in the Army.

Making it personal
Family history inspires major to lose her hair
MORE than 35,400 people die from cancer every year in Australia, making it this country's leading cause of death.

Force prep sqn closes in Darwin
THE impending cessation of large-scale ADF operations in East Timor has brought about the closure of the Force Preparation Squadron-Darwin (FPS-D).

ADF in line on Sea Lion
Working together on amphibious Ops
EXERCISE Sea Lion, recently conducted in the Cowley Beach Training Area, North Queensland, showed just how well Navy, Army and Air Force work together to deal with the challenges of joint amphibious operations.

Off his own bat
THROUGH his own initiatives and industry competencies, WO1 Keith Chambers has become the first ever other rank to be accredited with Chartered Engineering Officer (CEngO) status from the Institution of Engineers Australia (IEA).

TESS goes mechanised
TRAINING exercises just got a little harder with the introduction of new Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (TESS) for use with armoured vehicles.

News in Brief

Silver Star for saving mates
A US soldier was recently awarded the Silver Star because of his bravery under fire in Iraq last year.

ADF to train new Iraqi Army
AN ADDED 53 Army personnel will deploy to the ADF training team in Iraq in May, to help accelerate coalition efforts in training the new Iraqi armed forces.

Smuggled snakes alive
WHAT started as a casual comment from a serving soldier in the Middle East has become an avalanche of goodwill from residents of a New Farm aged care facility.