Thoughts at Christmas

CDF ACM Angus Houston

CDF ACM Angus Houston

I CONGRATULATE the men and women of the ADF for the magnificent contribution that everyone has made during this challenging year.

For the past 12 months, we have been involved in many diverse military operations, provided humanitarian assistance to other nations and participated in various joint and combined exercises and training activities.

There is no doubt in my mind that the ADF continues to be one of the very best military forces in the world. Our personnel are seasoned, the leadership is experienced and we have repeatedly demonstrated our ability to conduct and support our operations.

I am very proud of the work you have done this year and the high degree of professionalism you have displayed on operations, on exercises and at home. Your performance has been impressive and you are recognised world-wide for your courage, dedication and compassion.

For those personnel who have some leave over the Christmas period, I hope you enjoy time with your friends and family. For those of you who will be working over the Festive Season, I thank you for your dedication and commitment. I hope the day proves to be an enjoyable one none-the-less.

To all ADF members, thank you for your hard work and efforts this year. I wish you and your families a safe and Merry Christmas.

I look forward to working with you again in the New Year.

Governor-General Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery

Governor-General Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery

AS Commander-in-Chief of the ADF I extend season’s greetings and congratulations to all Army personnel on a job well done throughout 2005.

This year, whether defending our national interests regionally or on operations further afield, you have consistently demonstrated dedication, professionalism and compassion in an increasingly demanding period of high operational tempo.

While many of you will spend Christmas at home with family and friends, others will be on operational duty in locations throughout Australia and as far abroad as Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Middle East, Sinai and Sudan. Others will be serving on humanitarian missions in the tsunami devastated regions of South East Asia and in the mountains of Kashmir. I trust that those absent on duty will find some time to share in the festive season, bolstered by the knowledge that at home, their commitment is especially valued.

The Australian Army has much to be proud of and is deservedly recognised around the world for its adaptability, enthusiasm and cultural sensitivity.

Marlena and I take this opportunity to express our great appreciation to all Army servicemen and women, and also to the wives, husbands, partners, friends and family members who provide invaluable support to the Army family.

Keep up the good work. Have a safe and joyous Christmas and a very happy New Year.

With every good wish.

CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy

CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy

THE Australian Army can be justifiably proud of its achievements during 2005. These achievements stretch from the far away battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan through the disaster relief missions in Banda Aceh and Pakistan to our continuing peace support missions and operations in support of our neighbours in places such as East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

As I have travelled to many of these missions I have been impressed with the commitment of our soldiers and their focus on the task at hand. They are all responding well to the changing nature of warfare and doing us proud.

As I observe our troops on operations, I am enormously impressed with their performance. This is in large part due to the standard of training that they receive before deploying on operations. To those who work tirelessly at home to prepare forces for operations you are doing a great job. Our success in the field is very much due to your efforts and dedication. Thank you.

Another feature of our deployments is how well our soldiers are applying our Army values. They are also adding another dimension of which we should all be very proud. As they protect and support populations in need they are showing a real sense of dignity, respect and compassion for those people. They are applying our Australian value of giving people a fair go. In effect they are wonderful Ambassadors for Australia.

2005 has been a busy year and I can see little respite into the future. I would like to thank you and your families and loved ones for your continued support and commitment to the Australian Army. Your courage, initiative and teamwork have added enormously to our reputation as an Army of which the Nation can be proud. Take the chance over Christmas to relax with family and friends. Think also of those in the field and on duty who will have to wait to see their families.

I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and I look forward to the safe return of our soldiers on operations.

RSM-A WO Kevin Woods

RSM WO Kevin Woods

IT has been another busy year for Army and for most a well-earned leave is about to start. In this my second year as RSM-A I have endeavoured to get around the Army and visit as many units as possible. In all cases I have again been impressed with the attitude, dedication, commitment and professionalism displayed by all our people, so to you, well done.

Our people who are deployed on operations continue to win praise from the Australian people and our coalition partners for their tremendous performance. My observations from visiting some of these operations are that our people are living our values of courage, initiative and teamwork and continue to display, at all levels, outstanding leadership, command and tactical skills. This reinforces my view that the training we do here in Australia both collective and individual prepares our people well for operations.

I would also like to take the opportunity to recognise the efforts of the family and friends of our people. Your continued support for our people overseas and here at home working very long hours has been nothing short of outstanding. Well done and thank you.

I will continue to ask for your support in making the Army better. As indicated above, the majority of our people do an outstanding job, however at times there are a small minority of individuals who let the Army down. We need to work together as a team to stop unacceptable behaviour, alcohol and drug abuse.

All I ask is for you to look after your mates, when he or she looks like over stepping the mark have the moral courage to do what’s right.
The chain of command is an important and powerful tool, and I ask you to give it a chance, it does work.

For those who are being promoted or are moving on to a new posting congratulations and best wishes.

Thank you and best wishes for those who have or are about to separate from the army your contribution is very much valued.

As you now take a well-earned break I wish you and your families a safe and Merry Christmas and I ask you to spare a thought for those that remain on operation around the world. I thank you for all your hard work this year.


Final edition for two of our finest

THIS is the last edition of Army for 2005.

It is also the final edition for two staff members – Cpl Cameron Jamieson and Pte John Wellfare. Cpl Jamieson has been commissioned and will become the operations officer with 1 Joint Public Affairs Unit next year. Pte Wellfare is leaving the Army after seven years’ service to pursue another career. Both have made tremendous contributions to Army and the other Service Newspapers, and they will be greatly missed. We wish them every success in their future endeavours.

To our readers, all the best for Christmas and 2006. The first edition next year will be published on February 9.

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