Timor relief
THE face of Army operations in Timor-Leste has undergone a change following the handover from Battle Group Faithful to Timor-Leste Battle Group 1.

Chief wants recruiting revolution
MORE female recruits and easier enlistment and re-enlistment processes are among some of the changes CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy wants implemented to improve recruitment.

Signs for the times
THE Prime Minister’s recent announcement that the ARA would be boosted to 30,000 means more soldiers are needed – fast.

Better Bushmasters
A PROTECTED Weapons Station (PWS) and drinking water cooling system will be among the improvements to Bushmaster as a result of soldiers’ feedback.


Additional troops for Iraq
FIFTY-EIGHT extra troops and four Bushmasters will join the Overwatch Battle Group-West (OBG-W) in Iraq.

Off to Oruzgan
THE main body of soldiers assigned to the Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) have left Australia and are now starting to make themselves at home in Camp Russell in southern Afghanistan.

RAEME officer laid to rest
THE body of Capt Paul Lawton has been laid to rest with full military honours at a funeral service in Melbourne.

Bulletin board
4RAR museum
Recruiting reunion.

Secdet’s joy and sorrow
SECDET 9 has returned to Australia, ending an arduous six-month deployment in Baghdad.

Click go the shears
WHEN the CO of 23 Fd Regt, Lt-Col Schon Condon, was looking for a volunteer to shave his head to mark Bluey Day on August 26, Rec Kevin Christmas loomed as the obvious choice.

A torrent of charity
THE winds of change and a hurt left knee proved challenging but not enough to deter novice long-distance cyclist Lt David Mendelson from considering another crack at the Todd to Torrens Challenge.

Signallers reign over elements
NOT even pouring rain could dampen the enthusiasm or the pride of the members of the Army’s newest unit, 17 Sig Regt, when it marked its formation with an inaugural parade at Holsworthy.

Norforce boosts presence in Gulf
NORFORCE has created a new footprint in the Gulf of Carpentaria following the opening of a depot in Borroloola.

Borroloola medicine man
AN ARMY Reserve doctor has a lot of people thanking him following his recent outback experience.

Farewell to khaki legend
HIS passion for life was infectious. When Australian legend Steve Irwin died suddenly it affected millions, not in the least those Aussie soldiers who worked with him during Interfet.

Second rotation
MORE than 450 Brisbane-based 7Bde soldiers have deployed for a six-month rotation to Timor-Leste on Operation Astute.

We’re back out on the blue line
AUSTRALIAN UN Military Observers from Op Paladin, deployed in Lebanon, have resumed patrolling along the Israel-Lebanon border, known as the Blue Line, following the recent cease-fire.

Our military mentors
THROUGHOUT Iraq, Austra-lian servicemen and women are contributing to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the country in a broad range of roles.

Well in control
OPERATIONS in southern Iraq are contributing to a greater understanding of the vital role performed at battle-group level by the Army’s Joint Terminal Air Controllers – the JTACs.

The soldiers’ friend
TROOPS in the Middle East have received a special visit from Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and Secretary of Defence Ric Smith.