In an exciting first for the Air Force, a KC-30A has conducted the longest, non-stop RAAF flight on record.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-29/reaching-new-heights-longest-flight
In the sweltering heat of Honiara, Solomon Islands, mats have been unfurled as a unique collaboration unfolds between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Solomon Islands' national judo squad.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-29/building-bridges-through-judo-adf-solomon-islands-unite-mat
Defence has deployed two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to conduct patrols in the North Indian Ocean and South China Sea under Operation Gateway. Operation Gateway, which is Australia’s longest running Defence operation, deploys a number of RAAF P-8A…
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2024-11-29/defence-aircraft-continue-australias-longest-running-defence-operation
ADF personnel battle it out for the Ian Johnson Trophy at the National Lawn Bowls interservice championships.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-28/army-bowls-navy-over-final-end
The ADF Volleyball team walk away winners at the combined services tournament in Darwin.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-28/passion-court
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has launched a sports engagement program at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport in Honiara.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-28/adf-womens-rugby-team-joins-solomon-islands-sporting-milestone
An Australian soldier presumed killed in the Korean War is the subject of a new recovery and identification search.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-27/search-continues-digger-kapyong-battlefield
Army Sapper Luke Barnes trains Indian Army personnel in conventional warfighting on Exercise Austrahind.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-27/combining-culture-training-india
HMA Ships Adelaide and Stuart have completed a port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, after Exercise Keris Woomera.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-27/jakarta-welcomes-adf-task-group
Australian Army signallers and the Vanuatu Police Force have finished emergency radio network upgrades.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-27/signallers-finish-connecting-vanuatu
Fourteen Australians are deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan under Operation Aslan.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-26/hyper-diverse-approach-keeping-peace
The Exercise Cyber Sentinels activity has strengthened military cyber capabilities and resilience.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-10-21/five-eyes-team-up-cyber-training-platform
The first of the newly acquired M1A2 main battle tanks have been rolled out to 3rd Brigade.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-27/new-tanks-arrive-townsville
Innovation in Air Force is helping deliver effective air power, with a new pavement surface now being trialled.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-26/more-than-surface-value
Ukrainian soldiers train with Australian personnel in the United Kingdom as part of Operation Kudu.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-26/operation-marked-mutual-respect
UK Royal Air Force Sergeant Craig Clarke ticks off a key item on his bucket list while on exchange in Australia.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-11-26/sun-surf-exchange
The Vietnam Medal was instituted in 1968 and awarded for service in Vietnam between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973. Service from 24 December 1962 until 29 May 1964 was recognised by the General Service Medal 1962 with clasp South Vietnam. The Vietnam Medal was issued under the Imperial system but…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/vietnam-medal
In 1993, the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was established to recognise those who had served in Vietnam during the time of the Vietnam War for relatively short periods of time in support of Australian operations and who had not received any recognition for that service. In December 2012…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/vietnam-logistic-and-support-medal
The Unit Citation for Gallantry is awarded to a unit for extraordinary gallantry in action. The award was introduced in 1991. Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral The extraordinary gallantry displayed by members of the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward) and associated units deployed to…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/unit-citation-gallantry
The Star of Gallantry was introduced in 1991 and is awarded for acts of great heroism or conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril. Design The medal is a gold-plated Federation Star, with the obverse having a central device of a smaller Federation Star in a field of flames.…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/star-gallantry
The Rhodesia Medal was issued to Commonwealth personnel who served in Rhodesia for a period of at least 14 days between 1 December 1979 and 20 March 1980, pending the elections before the establishment of the independent republic of Zimbabwe. Design The medal is rhodium-plated cupro-nickel with the…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/rhodesia-medal
The purpose of the Returned from Active Service Badge (RASB) is to recognise Australian Defence Force members who have returned from active or warlike service during military campaigns in operational areas. The RASB is not issued posthumously. Some badges were issued with production numbers on the…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/returned-active-service-badge
The Reserve Force Medal was awarded to a member who has, on or after 14 February 1975 and before 20 April 1999, completed 15 years efficient remunerated service in the Reserve Forces. A minimum of 12 years in the Reserve and up to 3 years in the Regular Forces (to total 15 years) could be counted…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/reserve-force-medal
The Reserve Force Decoration was awarded to an officer who had, on or after 14 February 1975 and before 20 April 1999, completed 15 years efficient remunerated commissioned service in the Reserve Forces. A minimum of 12 years as a commissioned officer in the Reserve and up to 3 years as a…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/reserve-force-decoration
The Public Service Medal was established on 18 October 1989 to recognise outstanding service by employees of Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments. Awards of the Public Service Medal are made as part of the Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday Honours Lists each year. The award…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/public-service-medal
The Order of Australia was instituted with both a General Division and a Military Division. The 2 divisions are distinguished by a different ribbon, with the Military Division ribbon edged in gold. All classes of the order (Companion, Officer, Member and Medal of the Order) are available in both…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/order-australia-military-division
The Operational Service Badge (OSB) is issued with the Australian Operational Service Medal (AOSM). The OSB has 2 versions, military and civilian, issued with appropriate award and may be gifted to the next-of-kin of deceased members to complement the award of the AOSM. The Returned from Active…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/operational-service-badge
In the Imperial system, members of the nursing services of the defence forces were eligible for the award of two grades of the Royal Red Cross. This was introduced by Queen Victoria in 1883 and was awarded to recognise special devotion and competence in nursing duties. The Nursing Service Cross was…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/nursing-service-cross
New South Wales faced an unprecedented bushfire season during 2019 – 2020. The Premier of New South Wales awarded a NSW Bushfire Emergency Citation to recognise the outstanding contribution of volunteers and service personnel who played a significant role in the emergency response effort to combat…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/new-south-wales-premiers-bushfire-emergency-citation-2019-20
The statutes for the National Medal have been amended on several occasions, most notably in 1982 when the medal was replaced for members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the Defence Force Service Awards (DFSA). Eligibility Permanent and part time ADF members remain eligible for the…
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/australian-awards/national-medal