Despite the rain and cold, leading a section of infantry through the scrub makes Private Michael Staszak feel at home.

The section commander for Exercise Menin Blade brought a wealth of experience to the role, despite his rank.

Private Staszak’s history with 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, extends back to his childhood in the 1970s.

His father and mother served with the unit, so he spent many school holidays at the D Company barracks in Blacktown.

His father, mortar platoon Sergeant Stefan Staszak, and mother, company clerk Sergeant Robyne Staszak, served with the unit for more than 20 years.

Both died while still serving, and were buried with a military funeral, with 2nd/17th lanyards laid in their coffins.

Private Staszak recalls being paid to mow the lawns on base all those years ago and helping to conduct armoury checks with the duty sergeant.

“I grew up around SLRs [self-loading rifles] and greens, and was using the SLRs and wearing greens when I joined 2nd/17th as a reservist at 17,” he said.

'It feels like I’ve come home, like I’ve come full circle, back where I should be.'

Not long after enlisting, Private Staszak transferred to full time, and spent 10 years as a rifleman at 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, before discharging in the late 1990s.

He moved back to New South Wales and spent time as a mountaineering guide, paramedic and firefighter and is currently working as a carpenter in Blackheath. 

Mid-way through 2025 he rejoined the Army at age 54 as a reservist at the place where it all began.

“I’m dead centre between Blacktown and Bathurst depots, but I go to Blacktown because of the family history there,” Private Staszak said.

This history is on display at D Company. A champion soldier trophy, awarded annually until it ran out of plaque space, is named after his mother. His father’s name adorns a tug-of-war championship trophy. 

Back in the field for Exercise Menin Blade, Private Staszak said he was proud to be leading his section through attacks, ambushes and company assaults.

“If I’m perfectly honest, I love being back in the Army,” he said.

“It feels like I’ve come home, like I’ve come full circle, back where I should be.”