Historic tie for award

Officer Cadet Adrian Kiely, left, and Flying Officer Alan Brown jointly receive their award from Air Commodore Greg Evans. Photo by Keith Bedford

By Peter Johnson

Two members of No. 1 of 2003 Initial Officer Course have made history with a remarkable tie.
Flying Officer Alan Brown and Officer Cadet Adrian Kiely couldn’t be separated in a photo finish for the Leadership and Military Qualities Award.

While the award was presented for the first time last year, it is the successor of previous awards whose titles have changed over time to reflect the evolution of initial officer training. It is also the successor of dux of course awards, none of which has produced a tie before.

OFFCDT Kiely, a Direct Entry Officer, is heading towards a career as an Air Force pilot. Joining the Air Force had been a childhood dream, with eight cousins and grandparents serving in various services.

He said he was “fairly blown away” to tie the award. FLGOFF Brown said “it is brilliant to share it with one of the other students”.

FLGOFF Brown served as an airman in the avionics technician and PTI musterings before taking a commission. He will be a logistics officer based at RAAF Williams, Laverton.

He used civil schooling to complete his Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Another graduate, Officer Cadet Peter McGregor, who also is in the pilot stream, has completed the coursework at Queensland University of Technology for a PhD in engineering, which he will receive in October.

The RAAF Officers’ Training School graduation on the parade ground at Point Cook chalked up another milestone by integrating the 17-week and six-week versions of the IOC for the first time rather than running separate courses.

The nine senior airmen, ex-Sergeants and Flight Sergeants, joined the other 34 members of course in week 11. Both groups of students graduated as one course.

The Reviewing Officer, Commander Air Lift Group Air Commodore Greg Evans, said in his address that the graduates were an impressive group.

“Some of you have already given years of loyal service to the Air Force, some have even served with me,” AIRCDRE Evans said.

He pointed to uncertain times, a changing Defence Force and acquiring new capabilities as challenges ahead. He urged the graduates to take the opportunity if they saw a chance to make a change for the better.

“You have all shown you are willing to accept responsibility. Your time here is only a start; learning will not stop here, you need to embark on a lifelong learning journey,” he said.

.