15 July 2025
After witnessing the support to his local community during the 2011 Brisbane floods, Chaplain Miljan Popović knew a role in the Royal Australian Air Force was his calling.
With a triservice effort on display, this moment set a career in motion for the aspiring aviator.
“I was pastoring in Brisbane at the time, and I watched how the Australian Defence Force responded to the flooding in my suburb – I could see that this show of community was setting the bar for service,” Chaplain Popović said.
Inspired by the example of mateship and service, Chaplain Popović jumped on to the ADF Careers website to make a surprising discovery.
“It wasn’t until I checked online that I discovered Australia, much like our allies, had roles for military chaplains,” he said.
“Growing up, I had a connection with aviation through attending aero club events with my dad.
“I had a passion to work with people, so the Air Force was a perfect fit in more ways than one”.
Dipping his toe into the role as a reservist initially in 2020, Chaplain Popović transferred to full-time chaplaincy four years later.
“Joining the Air Force was a calling, and not just service for the sake of service,” he said.
“The support Australian Defence Force chaplains provide is much more than just the religious aspect – it also has a deeper spiritual side where people can tap into their sense of purpose, connectedness and their meaning in life.
“What makes us unique as chaplains is that we are equipped and formally trained to support military members, regardless of where each individual sees themselves religiously or spiritually.”
Despite many years’ experience in church ministry, Chaplain Popović admits the transition into the military was not without challenges.
'We are part of the armed forces, and in the context of our role, we are here to help defend Australia and its interests.'
Deployed to the arid landscape of remote Western Australia during Talisman Sabre in 2023, Chaplain Popović found himself in the thick of it.
“This was my first experience in a simulated threat environment when I was kitted with body armour, moving from location to location frequently and feeling the intensity of a warfighting scenario,” he said.
“Whilst the physicality of the training was demanding, the experience of walking beside our aviators in this environment, and their command teams, helped me connect at a deeper level with our people.
“That depth of connection is the inspirational part for me.
“I acknowledge that we are part of the armed forces, and in the context of our role, we are here to help defend Australia and its interests.
“I am here to support our people, their families and commanders by utilising a unique skillset.”
Currently posted to Australia’s largest operational air base in RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, Chaplain Popović has gracefully embraced the challenge of having so much to learn about the aviators who operate from the base.
“Whether it is from the security forces or the air combat sides of the organisation, learning about the dynamics of each member's duties enables me to provide the best support to members, no matter which unit they might be posted to,” he said.
Above all else, living the challenges of a military career alongside our aviators resonates deeply with Chaplain Popović.
“I take great satisfaction in the ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ aspect of being an Air Force chaplain – and because of that, I am extremely grateful to the aviators who share their path with us as their chaplains,” he said.
Find out more about a career as an Air Force Chaplain.
