When Gunner Cristiano Molina decided to travel from Brazil to Australia more than 10 years ago, he could not have known it would lead to loading missiles on a state-of-the-art air defence system in the outback. 

All it took was a bit of a nudge from a childhood friend. 

“I was a bit tired with my life and there were a lot of things I wasn’t happy with,” Gunner Molina said. 

“My friend was living in Melbourne. He said, ‘Why don’t you come over and see if you like it?’

“I thought I’d go to Australia for a holiday and then head back home.” 

Soon after, he met his wife, became a citizen, and now the couple have three daughters and are living in the Adelaide Hills suburb of Woodside. 

He posted to 16th Regiment in time to see the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) enter service. 

Now he is second in command of one of 111 Battery’s canister-launcher detachments. 

'It’s a huge achievement to be in the Australian Army.'

16th Regiment operates canister and high-mobility launchers within NASAMS troops. 

A mixture of AMRAAM or Sidewinder missiles can be loaded on a Hawkei high-mobility launcher, or canister launcher, deployed from an HX77 heavy truck. 

He described the switch from RBS-70 to NASAMS as ground-breaking. 

“This system is fantastic and a lot more capable,” Gunner Molina said. 

“There are so many good things about it, like how easy it is to deploy.” 

While he does not get back home to Brazil that much, he knows his family is proud of the life he has made for himself in Australia. 

“Unfortunately, Mum and Dad passed away when I was young and I was raised by my aunt,” he said.

“She’s always a bit worried, but she’s happy and excited for me.

“It’s a huge achievement to be in the Australian Army.”