Grounds for a major farewell

Officer Commanding No. 82 Wing Group Captain Kym Osley presents Major Allen Pike with a photograph of an F-111.

By SQNLDR Christopher Ward

NO. 82 Wing personnel have held a farewell for Major Allen Pike, perhaps the Army’s most experienced Ground Liaison Officer (GLO).

MAJ Pike had been a GLO for 19 years, 17 of them at RAAF Base Amberley, most recently as the OC of 64 Ground Liaison Section.

GLOs are a vital element of providing the operational link between supporting and supported forces.

Officer Commanding 82WG Group Captain Kym Osley told the assembled audience that MAJ Pike had started his Army career before decimal currency was introduced – 38 years ago.

MAJ Pike’s standing at Amberley and in the ADF is such that he received a farewell message from CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston. AIRMSHL Houston recalled MAJ Pike’s enthusiasm and abilities when helping develop the No. 9 Squadron deployment capability and thanked him for his distinguished service.

MAJ Pike joined the Citizens Military Forces as an infantry soldier in February 1965 and transferred to the Australian Regular Army to attend Officer Cadet School at Portsea in 1966. His rich Army career included service in both Vietnam and Papua New Guinea.

 

 

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