SERVE AND PROTECT
Australian led a major maritime exercise involving personnel from around the world, off the coast of Queensland earlier this month.

Ridin’ shotgun in the Gulf
The war in Iraq might be over but the workload for Australia’s maritime contribution to the Coalition, HMAS Newcastle (CAPT Gerry Christian), has certainly not waned.


RBT begins next year
The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Danna Vale, has announced the introduction of a new ADF-wide policy for alcohol testing. It will introduce both random and targeted alcohol testing of personnel in early 2004.


Loans available
The Defence Family Financial Emergency Fund (DFFEF) provides immediate, short-term welfare relief and support to families to solve emergency financial crises while ADF members are on deployment...


Better net access sees kiosks close
Internet Kiosk services provided at Navy establishments have been withdrawn from service. The withdrawal took place on August 28.


Judge bans USN’s new sonar trials
A US federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday August 26 prohibited the USN from testing a powerful sonar system in most parts of the world’s oceans, ruling that its use could “irreparably harm” marine life.

CPO Nockles’ promotion tops a hectic career
CPOCIS Jerry Nockles received his promotion to Chief Petty Officer earlier this month from Chief of Navy VADM Chris Ritchie and Warrant Officer-Navy, David Turner.


Defence will recover debts
Defence personnel with overdue bills to the Commonwealth will soon face legal action.


Anzac presents casings
On March 21 2003 HMAS Anzac was tasked to provide Naval Gunfire Support to the ground forces on the Al Faw peninsula and became the first Australian warship to engage in naval gunfire support for over three decades.

High praise for doco makers on award win
‘Defence Values: The Siege of Tobruk’ has won the presitgious Australian Video Producer’s Association award for best documentary.

Grads taste salt
Decisions made by the 18,000 civilians who work for Defence often impinge on the tasks done by its 50,000 personnel in uniform.


Warramunga’s ESSM firing success
The Royal Australian Navy has successfully test fired the new Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM).

Last FFG trainers delivered
The last of three ADI Operator Trainers at HMAS Watson was delivered to the FFG upgrade project on August 26.


Code says big NO to freebies
Been putting the weights on your contractor for some tickets to the footy or entry to a box at the Prime Minister’s XI cricket recently?


South Head returns to life
Australia’s first public service facility was set up soon after Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in Australia in 1788.


New sweeps delivered
ADI Limited has handed over in Adelaide the first of 16 new generation acoustic minesweeps ordered by the Royal Australian Navy.


Droggies host French Lieutenant
The Australian Hydrographic Service recently hosted a French naval Lieutenant for five months whilst she undertook an extended hydrographic study project.


Warriors search in vain for missing master
During the afternoon of Wednesday September 10 HMAS Warrnambool (LCDR Mark Sorby) boarded an Indonesian fishing vessel in the Gulf of Carpentaria, well inside the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone.


Ten t’riffic Taipans all in a row
The ship’s company of the Taipan Squad­ron, the RAN’s No 723, achieved an outstanding feat earlier this month getting ten of its 12 AS350B Squirrel helicopters into the air and into formation at the one time.

Harbour life begins with a bang
Nuship Parramatta is set to join the Royal Australian Navy, entering her homeport, Sydney, for the first time last week. Under the command of CMDR Mike Noonan, number 154 cut a fine figure as she passed between The Heads and swept towards Fleet Base East. She is the fourth RAN warship to carry the Parramatta name.

Diesel makes four
With the “fight to the death” attitude that is installed into each member of Dechaineux’s crew, it is only fitting that their mascot should also carry this attitude.

Devil welcomes Dragoon
When CPL Ian Murray of the Royal Dragoon Guards came to Australia as part of ‘Exercise Long Look 03’ the thought of going to sea on a patrol boat would never have crossed his mind.

ESP- try before you buy
The Enhanced Selection Process (ESP) is a five-day no-obligation free course conducted at the Submarine Training and Systems Centre (STSC) at HMAS Stirling for personnel from the Navy, Army and Airforce who are interested in becoming submariners.

Nowra welcomes home their own
The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mrs Danna Vale, using the vernacular, told 200 sailors in Nowra early last month, “you’ve done good.”

Team commended for its Iraqi service
On August 6, the men of Australian Clearance Diving Team Four (AUSCDT FOUR) were comm­ended by the Commander of the Australian Mine warfare and Clearance Diving Group, CAPT Stephen McDowall.



Top End thinkers to examine security challenges
Regional security will be the hot issue in Darwin later this month at a joint symposium.

Barry bares all for Bluey Day charity
FIMA Perth’s entrant for this year’s Bluey Day event was ex-CPOMT Barry Riley (aka Ringo Starr) who volunteered to have his head shaved to raise money for Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for children.

Navy pilots graduate at RAAF Pearce
Three RAN pilots were amongst the latest group of ADF pilots to graduate from Number 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Pearce, in Western Australia.

Museum seeks your help to finish project
The Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour in Sydney is seeking donations for the completion of three specially commissioned models: HMAS Sydney two, three and four to be unveiled in late November.

Swift lives up to her name
The older sisters of the Hobart-built wave-piercing catamaran HSV 2 Swift, might be ferrying passengers across the world’s seas, but this 98 metre long ship is a real battle wagon.

The price of keeping in touch
Recent technology and website activities have raised security matters that are of potential concern to all naval personnel.

Trial pipes on Anzac
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is currently experimenting with glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) pipe technology as a possible means of eliminating the expensive corrosion problems experienced in RAN ships.

Parliamentarians try Navy life at sea
Two Federal Parliamentarians and a Senator have taken up the challenge of life at sea.

Leak sinks sub
Last edition, Navy News reported the sinking of the decommissioned Russian K-159 (November-class) SSN in the Barents Sea on August 29 with the loss of nine crewmembers.

CDSC Course afloat
While HMAS Canberra (CMDR Stuart Mayer) was flat out on Op Relex II and avoiding tidal waves, the ship conducted the first ever FFG Combat Systems course at sea.

NCO forum calls for well prepared leaders
Defence needs people who are well prepared to lead and manage in uncertain and complex situations.

Steve is VLS dux
CPOET Steve Prothero achieved a first for the Ordnance Support and Training Centre (OSTC) recently when he achieved a 100% pass in all examinations of his Mk 41 Mod Five Baseline Five Vertical Launch Missile System course (VLS).

Neptune, king of the UAVs
Not something from space...

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