Defence force members!

[NP99]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-26/an-nauru-riot-charges-dropped/4912120

$60 million dollars worth of damage and another $60 million to rebuild and yet military pensions get ignored...........

[PMC]

What sex is the kangaroo on the skippy badge?

G'day mate,

I do not have a clue, go a head and shock me. lol

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

Now he takes the cake, what an idiot. Politicians say some stupid sh#t but geez !!!

G'day Drew,

Well stated mate!

PS, i wounder if i will get another PM from a disgruntled "civvie" forum member who does not like me talking politics in this thread!

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-26/an-nauru-riot-charges-dropped/4912120

$60 million dollars worth of damage and another $60 million to rebuild and yet military pensions get ignored...........

Well stated mate!

Regards,

Paul

[PMC]

G'day fellow warriors!

A Special forces friend sent me this, enjoy!

COPPER COATED MICROCHIP IMPLANT ALLOWS TERRORISTS TO SPEAK TO GOD

The implant is specifically designed to be injected in the forehead. When properly installed, it will instantly allow the terrorist to speak to God.

It comes in various sizes: Generally from .223 to .50 cal.

The exact size of the implant will be selected by a well-trained and highly skilled technician, who will also make the injection. No Anesthetic is required. The implant is likely to be painless. Side effects, like headaches, nausea, aches or pains are extremely temporary. Some bleeding or swelling may occur at the injection site. In most cases, you won't even notice it!

PS, The good lord does the forgiving, It is the Australian Special Forces job to arrange the meetings!

Regards,

RLI

[Drew]

G'day fellow warriors!

A Special forces friend sent me this, enjoy!

COPPER COATED MICROCHIP IMPLANT ALLOWS TERRORISTS TO SPEAK TO GOD

The implant is specifically designed to be injected in the forehead. When properly installed, it will instantly allow the terrorist to speak to God.

It comes in various sizes: Generally from .223 to .50 cal.

The exact size of the implant will be selected by a well-trained and highly skilled technician, who will also make the injection. No Anesthetic is required. The implant is likely to be painless. Side effects, like headaches, nausea, aches or pains are extremely temporary. Some bleeding or swelling may occur at the injection site. In most cases, you won't even notice it!

PS, The good lord does the forgiving, It is the Australian Special Forces job to arrange the meetings!

Regards,

RLI

PMSL no no really I think I did just p!ss3d myself laughing

[Drew]

G'day Drew,

Well stated mate!

PS, i wounder if i will get another PM from a disgruntled "civvie" forum member who does not like me talking politics in this thread!

Regards,

RLI

I'm up for informed decision making for whatever it is.

The fact of the matter that unless you have made that commitment you will never fully understand the sacrifices service men and women and indeed their families (& friends) make every day to give those same people the freedom to send you PM's.

Veterans & their families have unique issues that face them which require special consideration, hence the reason for discussion.

I've watched my father struggle to this very day with PTSD from the Vietnam era and I consider myself lucky because he's still with us, many aren't. So if discussions about what politicians are going to do for these people offends, then don't read them.

Please don't PM me on this as me ignoring it may offend :)

Rant over, stepping down off soap box :)

[NP99]

G'day mate,

I do not have a clue, go a head and shock me. lol

Regards,

RLI

Female. PM sent :)

[rafa]

5 years now in Darwin or is it 6:( SGT Infantry.

[PMC]

5 years now in Darwin or is it 6:( SGT Infantry.

G'day rafa,

Good onya mate, congrats on your service.

PS, which Battalion are you serving with?

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

Media Release

Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson
Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on the Centenary of ANZAC

Friday 6 September 2013

Labor snubs veterans

Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party have snubbed veterans and their families by failing to release a policy for Veterans’ Affairs less than 24 hours before the election.

Labor’s policy free zone comes just weeks after it was revealed the Prime Minister allegedly threatened veterans, saying: “Don’t bag us. Because if you bag us, we’ll pull up the drawbridge and you’ll get nothing.”

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, said after ignoring veterans for the past three years, Labor had failed to deliver a formal policy not just for veterans and their families, but also for Defence.

“Labor has effectively abandoned 300,000 ex-service men and women and tens of thousands of current serving personnel, and their families,” Senator Ronaldson said.

Senator Ronaldson said Kevin Rudd, Warren Snowdon and Labor had no vision and no plan for veterans or for Defence.

“Labor doesn’t deserve to be re-elected if the best they can offer veterans is a half-baked and unfair indexation policy for DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 65 and over,” Mr Ronaldson said.

“Only the Coalition has a fair indexation policy for DFRB and DFRDB military superannuants aged 55 – a policy that includes indexation by MTAWE is fully funded and fully costed.

“Only the Coalition has a fully-costed Defence plan for the future.

“Only the Coalition is prepared to restore veterans’ advocacy and welfare funding to support the work of volunteer veterans in the community.

“Only the Coalition has a plan to better recognise the partners and carers of veterans, and we are the only Party with a comprehensive plan to properly honour and commemorate the Centenary of Anzac.

“Not only has Labor failed to release policies for the Veterans Affairs and Defence portfolios, but both Ministers have been missing in action this campaign.

“The Labor Party should be ashamed for this appalling snub to veterans, serving personnel and their families,” Senator Ronaldson said.

Media Contact: Robert Hardie 0418 432 909

[NP99]

Today is payback for them. I can hardly wait for the good news tonight. I'm guessing it will be called early :)

[Parksy]

As a member of defence I can't make any public political views, but why would I need to with a fine example of a pm we have ATM? Looking forward to tonight!

[NP99]

Vote today and vote often :)

[NissanGQ4.2]

Vote today and vote often :)

or just don't vote at all :)

Labour farks people over, Liberal farks people over, regardless of who is in power they will promise you one thing and screw you over once there in

I don't care and that is my right :)

[P4trol]

If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about who gets in.

To complain there is no suitable candidate, but then not care enough to encourage/be a better option, is not helping anyone.

I received a letter or three from the local Labor member explaining all the things that defence benefitted from. (why did I get it?) The connection that was not explicitly stated, but the one people were supposed to make was that Labor had done all these things.

It didn't mention the budget cuts though.

[NissanGQ4.2]

If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about who gets in.

To complain there is no suitable candidate, but then not care enough to encourage/be a better option, is not helping anyone.

I wasn't complaining just making a point that they will all screw you over

And voting doesn't help anyone either

[P4trol]

It's called 'politics' for a reason...

But by voting, you get a chance to 'keep the bastards honest'. It is really our best way to have a say. They're all afraid of getting voted out.

A big company I know has someone to monitor phone bills for 'non work use' (sms to enter competitions etc). That is the sole job for one person. The other year $30,000 was recovered. Probably less than this persons' wage. The point is, the amount of non work calls would be a humongous amount higher without this one person.

Yes they screw us over, but not as much as if no one threatened to vote them out.

Plenty of reason to vote for the party you best see able to lead Australia.

[Woof]

Let's all get off the politics please, forum policy remember

[NP99]

It's called 'politics' for a reason...

But by voting, you get a chance to 'keep the bastards honest'. It is really our best way to have a say. They're all afraid of getting voted out.

A big company I know has someone to monitor phone bills for 'non work use' (sms to enter competitions etc). That is the sole job for one person. The other year $30,000 was recovered. Probably less than this persons' wage. The point is, the amount of non work calls would be a humongous amount higher without this one person.

Yes they screw us over, but not as much as if no one threatened to vote them out.

Plenty of reason to vote for the party you best see able to lead Australia.

Getting voted out screws their pension......
Lets see if promises are kept for our pensions this time!

[P4trol]

Let's all get off the politics please, forum policy remember

Sorry people. You are right. It's a quick way to get ex friends. (and I should really read the forum policy.

[NP99]

Sorry people. You are right. It's a quick way to get ex friends. (and I should really read the forum policy.

Damn, that's how I get rid of a few, thanks for the tip :)

[P4trol]

Lol still here.

Here's hoping today's results benefit all you defence people out there.

[NP99]

Lol still here.

Here's hoping today's results benefit all you defence people out there.

Mate it has :)

[PMC]

Let's all get off the politics please, forum policy remember

G'day Doggie,

Wheres your "Bromance" mate, (a close non-sexual relationship between two (or more) men, a form of affectional or homosocial intimacy) and it has nothing to do with being sunk to the nuts either. lol

Regards,

RLI

[NP99]

I feel better now :)

[NP99]

http://mates4mates.org/our-mates/brave-mates/

When you're having a bad day, think of these guys........

[P4trol]

Here's an interesting watch. I'm not sure if it really belongs in this thread, but I'm not entirely sure it's off topic. Defence is all about protecting Australia and our freedoms. This video explains how it is under threat from a direction other than violence and war.

30mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVPngzSE94o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[NP99]

Here's an interesting watch. I'm not sure if it really belongs in this thread, but I'm not entirely sure it's off topic. Defence is all about protecting Australia and our freedoms. This video explains how it is under threat from a direction other than violence and war.

30mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVPngzSE94o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thanks for posting mate, great info vid. Let's get the pollies to act on the labelling laws. Our money is supporting the enemy!

[PMC]

Thanks for posting mate, great info vid. Let's get the pollies to act on the labelling laws. Our money is supporting the enemy!

G'day SNAKEMAN!

Share us with info Sir!

Regards,

Paul

[NP99]

G'day SNAKEMAN!

Share us with info Sir!

Regards,

Paul

In that vid mate, all the Halal certification is a scam, raising money to support the enemy!

[Warwick89]

7 year jack and counting.

Bomber

[jackwalks]

Current serving, 17yrs

Soldier & proud

[PMC]

7 year jack and counting.

Bomber

G'day Bomber,

Congratulations on your service mate!

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

Current serving, 17yrs

Soldier & proud

G'day Jack,

Congratulations on your service mate!

Regards,

RLI

[NP99]

Current serving, 17yrs

Soldier & proud

That obs cse is one hell of a beast :)

[PMC]

G'day folks,

I was sent this from a US serviceman friend. Takes a few seconds to load; but well worth watching through to the end. Everyone will be touched; but it especially will touch service , ex-service people, and their families.

Lest We Forget.

Pearl Harbor: after the tours have gone.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MgE2KiPd3xg?feature=player_detailpage

Kind regards,

RLI

[NP99]

I visited Pearl Harbour in 1990. I remember a few young blokes turned up in thongs and shorts, talking and laughing. I wanted to punch them. It's a memorial not a tourist attraction!!!

[PMC]

G'day folks,

Check this out!

$27,500 Rifle Hits Targets at 1,000 Yards

"Now everyone can shoot like a trained marksman. For a price.

A Texas-based applied technology firm has launched new smartgun technology that gives novice shooters the chance to participate in “extreme distance hunting.”

TrackingPoint’s new precision guided firearm technology, XactSystem, allows the shooter to lock onto a target before allowing the gun to fire upon the intended target, much like a fighter jet’s “lock-and-launch” technology

And the firearm can consistently hit a target from over 1,000 yards away, the maker says.

“Think of it like a smart rifle. You have a smart car; you got a smartphone; well, now we have a smart rifle,” CEO Jason Schauble told CNNMoney.

The rifles fitted with the XactSystem technology can accurately shoot from over 1,000 yards, and TrackingPoint claims the company record is shooting a South African wildebeest at 1,103 yards.

The system and bolt-action rifles run from $22,500 to $27,500.

The rifles are WiFi equipped to allow the shooter to record their shot and immediately send it to a tablet or smartphone to view and upload to social media sites."

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/12/27500-smartgun-can-hit-a-target-over-1000-yards-away/#ixzz2hyLHd800

PS, there is hope yet for Ordnance Corp! lol

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

G'day fellow current or ex-serving members,

I thought you might like this one!

Regards,

RLI

"A Canadian female libertarian wrote a lot of letters to the Canadian government, complaining about the treatment of captive insurgents (terrorists) being held in Afghanistan National Correctional System facilities. She demanded a response to her letter correspondence.

She received back the following reply:

National Defense Headquarters

M Gen George R. Pearkes Bldg.,15 NT
101 Colonel By Drive Ottawa , ON K1A 0K2
Canada

"Dear Concerned Citizen,

Thank you for your recent letter expressing your profound concern of treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists captured by Canadian Forces who were subsequently transferred to the Afghanistan Government and are currently being held by Afghan officials in Afghanistan National Correctional System facilities.

Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinions were heard loudly and clearly here in Ottawa . You will be pleased to learn, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself, we are creating a new department here at the Department of National Defense, to be called ‘Libertarians Accept Responsibility for Killers' program, or L.A.R.K. for short.

In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided to divert one terrorist and place him in your personal care. Your personal detainee has been selected and is scheduled for transportation under heavily armed guard to your residence in Toronto next Monday.

Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud (you can just call him Ahmed) is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of complaint!

It will likely be necessary for you to hire some assistant caretakers. We will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with those you so strongly recommended in your letter. Although Ahmed is a sociopath and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his ‘attitudinal problem’ will help him overcome these character flaws.

Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. We understand that you plan to offer counseling and home schooling. Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We advise that you do not ask him to demonstrate these skills at your next yoga group. Please advise any Jewish friends, neighbors or relatives about your house guest, as he might get agitated or even violent, but we are sure you can reason with him. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up,unless (in your opinion) this might offend him.

Ahmed will not wish to interact with you or your daughters (except sexually) since he views females as a subhuman form of property thereby having no rights, including refusal of his sexual demands. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him and he has been known to show violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the new dress code that he will "recommend" as more appropriate attire.

I'm sure you will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the burka over time. Just remember that it is all part of 'respecting his culture and religious beliefs' as described in your letter.

Thanks again for your concern. We truly appreciate it when folks like you keep us informed of the proper way to do our job and care for our fellow man. You take good care of Ahmed and remember we'll be watching.

Good luck and God bless you,

Cordially,

Gordon O'Connor
Minister of National Defense"

[Warwick89]

Just made my day reading that, cheers mate

[NP99]

I fear for my goat and donkey than any woman!

[PMC]

I fear for my goat and donkey than any woman!

G'day mate,

Thanks for the package! It will now take place in our museum!

Regards,

Paul

[NP99]

G'day mate,

Thanks for the package! It will now take place in our museum!

Regards,

Paul

Pleasure mate.....another inbound next week. This time for you not the museum. Cold weather gear.

[PMC]

Unions exposed as war saboteurs
• MIRANDA DEVINE
• THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
• NOVEMBER 02, 2013 10:00PM

AS the Abbott government begins to take on union power and corruption, a timely new book reveals the union movement's role in one of the most shameful periods of Australian history.

What the wharfies did to Australian troops - and their nation's war effort - between 1939 and 1945 is nothing short of an abomination.

Perth lawyer Hal Colebatch has done the nation a service with his groundbreaking book, Australia's Secret War, telling the untold story of union bastardry during World War 2.

Using diary entries, letters and interviews with key witnesses, he has pieced together with forensic precision the tale of how Australia's unions sabotaged the war effort, how wharfies vandalised, harassed, and robbed Australian troop ships, and probably cost lives.

One of the most obscene acts occurred in October, 1945, at the end of the war, after Australian soldiers were released from Japanese prison camps. They were half dead, starving and desperate for home. But when the British aircraft-carrier HMS Speaker brought them into Sydney Harbour, the wharfies went on strike. For 36 hours, the soldiers were forced to remain on-board, tantalisingly close to home. This final act of cruelty from their countrymen was their thanks for all the sacrifice. Colebatch coolly recounts outrage after outrage.

There were the radio valves pilfered by waterside workers in Townsville which prevented a new radar station at Green Island from operating. So when American dive bombers returning from a raid on a Japanese base were caught in an electrical storm and lost their bearings, there was no radio station to guide them to safety. Lost, they ran out of fuel and crashed, killing all 32 airmen.

Colebatch quotes RAAF serviceman James Ahearn, who served at Green Island, where the Australians had to listen impotently to the doomed Americans' radio calls: "The grief was compounded by the fact that had it not been for the greed and corruption on the Australian waterfront such lives would not have been needlessly lost."

Almost every major Australian warship was targeted throughout the war, with little intervention from an enfeebled Prime Minister Curtin. There was the deliberate destruction by wharfies of vehicles and equipment, theft of food being loaded for soldiers, snap strikes, go-slows, demands for "danger money" for loading biscuits.

Then there were the coal strikes which pushed down coal production between 1942 and 1945 despite the war emergency.

There were a few honourable attempts to resist union leaders, such as the women working in a small arms factory in Orange, NSW, who refused to strike and "pelted union leaders with tomatoes and eggs".

This is a tale of the worst of Australia amid the best, the valour and courage of our soldiers in New Guinea providing our last line of defence against Japanese, only to be forced onto starvation rations
and to "go easy on the ammo" because strikes by the wharfies back home prevented supplies from reaching them.

A planned rescue of Australian PoWs in Borneo late in the war apparently had to be abandoned, writes Colebatch, because a wharf strike in Brisbane meant the ships had no heavy weapons. There was no act too low for the unionists. For instance, in 1941, hundreds of soldiers on board a ship docked in Freemantle entrusted personal letters to wharfies who offered to post them in return for beer money. The letters never arrived.

At one point in 1942 a US Army colonel became so frustrated at the refusal of Townsville wharfies to load munitions unless paid quadruple time, he ordered his men to throw the unionists into the water and load the guns themselves.

In Adelaide, American soldiers fired sub-machine guns at wharfies deliberately destroying their aircraft engines by dropping them from great heights. Australian soldiers had to draw bayonets to stop the same Adelaide wharfies from stealing food meant for troops overseas.

You will read this book with mounting fury. Coelbatch offers various explanations for the treasonous behaviour of the unions. Many of the leaders were Communists obsessed with class warfare. Fervent "identity politics" led them to believe they were victims and servicemen and women were "puppets of capitalism whose lives were of no consequence". Contrary to popular belief, strikes and sabotage continued, even after the Soviet Union became an ally, writes Colebatch, who contends that the Australian Left may have wanted to undermine the military in preparation for revolution after the war.

Whatever the reasons for the defective morality of those unionists who sabotaged our war effort, the traitors have never been brought to account. This story has been largely suppressed for 70 years because Labor and the Left have successfully controlled the narrative of history.

No more, thanks to Colebatch.

[NP99]

That is an excellent post Paul. If that happened today, the order for fixed bayonets......our lads at the lower level would have decisively dealt with it.

[oncedisturbed]

Just a bit of disgusting news over here, a bar / grill south of Perth kicked a serving digger in full uniform and medals displayed out for selling poppies with incorrect paperwork ON Remembrance Day of all days FFS.

Some people should be hung, drawn, quartered etc their parent need a licence to breed. Who in their rind mind would something like.


Sent from my iPad using Motorculture mobile app

[Lonicus]

I'd like to think nothing like that could happen today Paul, but as we well know, greed knows no bounds.

Makes me sick just reading those few instances.

[Stropp]

just thought i would add what a wanker tony abbot is not turning up to the remembrance day ceremony, first ever pm not to, what does that show about the bloke.

[NP99]

just thought i would add what a wanker tony abbot is not turning up to the remembrance day ceremony, first ever pm not to, what does that show about the bloke.

His priorities are elsewhere. Looking forward to his promises on dfrdb...

[growler2058]

Unfortunately they still sabotage, just in a different guise these days

[NP99]

There was talk in 2009 of abolishing Vet Affairs altogether, so sad to see Rudd crying at his farewell speech....NOT, how much $$$$$ will he get compared to the vets???

[Ian2011]

21 years and still going. Don't swing to many spanners these days though, got a computer instead.

[NP99]

21 years and still going. Don't swing to many spanners these days though, got a computer instead.

Where abouts mate? ALTC!

[PMC]

Army sacks six members of 'Jedi Council'

DateNovember 15, 2013 - 5:50AM

The Army has sacked six soldiers at the centre of the notorious "Jedi Council", whose members swapped grossly demeaning emails about women they'd slept with.

Five months after the scandal came to light, the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant-General David Morrison announced in a statement on Thursday night that the ringleaders had been dismissed.

The Jedi Council members circulated video and images of women with whom members of the ring had slept, along with demeaning commentary that included personal information about the women. Police sources have said that other members were challenged to try and have sex with the women.

The women are understood to have been filmed without their knowledge.

Three of the sacked soldiers are still facing possible criminal prosecution by New South Wales police.

Of the 17 main members of the ring - who include several officers - a further seven may also be sacked. The remaining four "have been the subject of, or are facing, administrative sanctions", General Morrison said.

He also revealed that a further 172 soldiers - most of whom are Army members - received at least some of the emails, though appear not to have been directly involved. Disciplinary action is being considered against those soldiers.

General Morrison said that the six soldiers who have been sacked ranged in rank from sergeant to major and include both Regular Army members and reservists.

"The Australian Army is overwhelmingly an organisation of 44,000 talented and professional men and women, who serve their country with pride and distinction," General Morrison said.

"The standard of behaviour we expect of our serving members is clear."

General Morrison received widespread praise for his palpable anger over the affair, including a steely video presentation in which he told sexist male soldiers to "get out" of the Army.

However Defence has also faced questions over the length of the investigation. As Fairfax Media reported in June, Defence first learnt of the Jedi Council in September 2010, but General David Morrison and other top brass, as well as then-Defence Minister Stephen Smith, were not informed until April this year.

The Jedi Council episode is one of a string of embarrassing scandals for Defence, which has undergone major reviews into its internal culture in the wake of the Skype affair of 2011.

Defence announced last week that Army cadet Daniel McDonald - who filmed himself having sex with a fellow cadet and streamed it via Skype to his friends - had been kicked out of the Australian Defence Force Academy

[NP99]

There is no place in defence for this behaviour, the CDF is to be commended for his stance. The recent Navy incident of hazing I'm sure will be dealt with accordingly.

[Ian2011]

currently ALTC, but not for long

[NP99]

currently ALTC, but not for long

At least you won't have to pay those captive fuel prices in Wodonga when you move...

[PMC]

G'day folks,

Do any of our ex/or current defence members have any photos they would like to share with the forum ie; recruit training photos, (how we looked when we first started out) photo's through your journey whilst serving.

PS, Good luck and lets have a bit of fun and have a laugh how we looked when we were younger! (NP99 "sir" no Jedi night photos please!)

Regards,

RLI

[Drew]

There is no place in defence for this behaviour, the CDF is to be commended for his stance. The recent Navy incident of hazing I'm sure will be dealt with accordingly.
I agree.

Whilst it's wrong to think like this, I kinda expect it from the youngin's but sergeant to major, I gotta wonder where it went wrong.

[NP99]

G'day folks,

Do any of our ex/or current defence members have any photos they would like to share with the forum ie; recruit training photos, (how we looked when we first started out) photo's through your journey whilst serving.

PS, Good luck and lets have a bit of fun and have a laugh how we looked when we were younger! (NP99 "sir" no Jedi night photos please!)

Regards,

RLI

I'll dig up my band camp pics...

[growler2058]

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2013/11/2.png

[NP99]

Sadly not true mate, but funny anyway.....

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/digital/hoax-a-reality-of-age-cosgrove/story-fna03wxu-1226567756660#

[Warwick89]

Hahaha love it,

[fxst78]

Army here.

[NP99]

Army here.

Good to see mate...

[NP99]

https://ballot.gallipoli2015.dva.gov.au/Membership/JoinNow_Default.aspx?returnId=a8f5105a-13a3-4b15-b7da-49567d3431c7

[NP99]

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'
Author Unknown~

[PMC]

G'day folks,

I forgot to post this up on Christmas Day!

PS, I hope you all enjoy this one!

Kind Regards,

RLI


T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
...
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY,
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO,
IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT,
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED,
A TRUE BRITISH SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO,
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALISED THE FAMILIES,
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS,
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE,
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM,
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,
A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

[Coldcomfort]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZqN1glz4JY

[growler2058]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZqN1glz4JY


Bought a tear to me eye.
We used to sing that at primary school in the mid to late 70's

[NP99]

Bought a tear to me eye.
We used to sing that at primary school in the mid to late 70's

Crap, that makes me old.......I was starting my army career then!

[93patrol]

first heard that song when we went my Pops place for ANZAC day and it was done byt the Bushwackers from their lively album never forget it, I brought that album a while ago now and its in my rotation on my ipod. Brings back memories of Pop smoking on the back verandah and having a king brown(long neck) of Emu Export and listening the the nags on his old wireless.

[PMC]

G'day folks,

Thank goodness the right person is being considered for the position of Governor General and not like the last appointment!

Regards,

RLI


General Gosgrove front runner for governor-general role

Former defence chief Peter Cosgrove has long been a front runner for the role of Australia's next governor-general, and those who know him say he is a ''unifying figure'' who has remained ''controversy free''.

But the ink appears to not yet be dry on his appointment, with a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister's Office saying on Thursday: ''No decision has been made yet. An announcement will be made in due course as per the usual process.''

Responding to questions from Fairfax Media on Friday, General Gosgrove would not comment on the media speculation and he would not be drawn on questions regarding his ongoing roles as Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University or on the board of Qantas.

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News Corporation reported on Thursday that General Cosgrove had been appointed, although said it had yet to be finalised.

Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss said in Melbourne on Thursday that General Cosgrove, who led the international peacekeeping mission to East Timor, would be ''an excellent candidate'' but added: ''I'm sure there are other people also who could do the job well.''

In April, in response to speculation he wanted to appoint former prime minister John Howard to the role, Mr Abbott said he believed former military leaders and former judges made the best vice-regal appointments.

The national convener of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy David Flint said General Cosgrove would make ''an ideal appointment'' to the role.

If appointed, General Cosgrove, who served as chief of the Defence Force from 2002 to 2005, would be Australia's 26th governor-general and would play a prominent role in the 2015 centenary of Anzac Day.

Born in Sydney, General Cosgrove, 66, fought in Vietnam, where he earned the Military Cross in 1971.

He is on the board of Qantas and is the NSW Centenary of Anzac Advisory Council chairman. He has served on the board of the Australian War Memorial and as a director of the Australian Rugby Union.

He was Australian of the Year in 2001 and has a Townsville suburb named after him for his role in the Cyclone Larry relief effort.

James Brown, military fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, said General Cosgrove's ''excellent communication skills'', including his direct manner and ability to converse with people from all walks of life, stood him apart from other senior military figures.

Mr Brown said General Cosgrove is ''quite a unifying figure'' who is ''pretty controversy free''.

''I think military people make good governors-general because they are used to being apolitical, which is very important in this role,'' he said.

John Blaxland, a senior fellow at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University, who served under General Cosgrove in East Timor, said: ''I suspect he has been intellectually preparing himself for the role.''

[NP99]

Excellent news :). WTF with Howard???? That idiot said in a speech once that no person serves his country more than a politician!! Pigs arse Howard.....

[PMC]

Military Warning From Pakistan....

This morning, the Pakistan Minister of Immigration, Mohammed Omar Upperkhan, warned Australia to cease all military activities in Afghanistan.

He stated that if it does not stop immediately, Pakistan authorities will cut off Australia's supply of Cab Drivers and if this action does not yield sufficient results, Telstra Customer Service Reps will be next, followed by Centrelink Officers, Telemarketers, Supermarket trolley collectors and finally, Queensland Doctors.

PS, farkk trendsetters, this is really starting to get ugly!

Regards,

RLI

[Stropp]

Crap, that makes me old.......I was starting my army career then!

me too 1971 i signed up.

[NP99]

me too 1971 i signed up.

I'm a young one :), 1977

[oncedisturbed]

1996 I signed up

[PMC]

I signed up Rhodesian Army 1979 and then Australian Army 1980

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

Probe into defence award 'injustices'

January 10, 2014

Defence force personnel who have been improperly denied honours and awards will be the focus of a new national investigation.

The Abbott government has tasked the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal to conduct a full inquiry into "refused, withheld and forfeited" honours and awards.

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Darren Chester says the tribunal will examine the period from the beginning of World War II to the present day.

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"Recent work of the tribunal has indicated that many of the decisions taken to withhold the medallic entitlements of our veterans who served in the Second World War and later conflicts were of doubtful legal validity," Mr Chester said.

"I expect the tribunal to report back to government on the correct and preferable way to address any injustices it encounters in the course of its investigations."

Submissions to the inquiry will close February 28.

RSL national secretary John King welcomed a review into the honours and awards system.

"It's timely to look at this in the big context," he said.

Mr King said that some awards had become dated but others had been applied with too much rigidity, meaning some personnel had missed out.

He added that the changing role of the ADF, through peacekeeping roles, border security operations and use of contractors meant that some award categories may need to be expanded.

AAP, with Judith Ireland

PS, about time!

Regards,

RLI

[Gecko17]

I'm a young one :), 1977

I must be younger still.... I joined the NZ army Infantry in 1985 and 6 months later was living in Singapore with 1 battlion. Came home 18 months later as an adult carpentry apprentice with the Engineers. I had the best job in the would... got to build stuff then blow it up! Left the army in 1993.

[PMC]

I must be younger still.... I joined the NZ army Infantry in 1985 and 6 months later was living in Singapore with 1 battlion. Came home 18 months later as an adult carpentry apprentice with the Engineers. I had the best job in the would... got to build stuff then blow it up! Left the army in 1993.

G'day Highlander,

Congrats on your service mate!

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

'Oh, Kylie! What did you do? Next time, please don’t...': What mother told Military Cross hero daughter who twice braved hails of bullets to tend war wounded

By Sarah Oliver
UPDATED: 00:18 GMT, 10 December 2013

When Lance Corporal Kylie Watson was summoned to the office of her commanding officer for a ‘fireside chat’ she feared the worst. ‘Do you know why you are here?’ he asked the combat medic. ‘Am I in trouble, Sir?’ she enquired. ‘No,’ he told her. ‘You’ve been awarded the Military Cross.’

The then 23-year-old, whose 2011 tour of Afghanistan’s Helmand province was her first as a fully qualified battlefield medic, was stunned.

‘Are you sure you’ve got the right soldier?’ she asked. But there was no mistake. The extraordinary heroism she displayed by twice running into Taliban fire to treat wounded comrades had been recognised with one of the UK’s highest honours.

And now Lance Corporal Watson of the Royal Army Medical Corps – who stands just 5ft 1in tall in her Army-issue boots – is one of only four women in history to bear the coveted initials MC after her name.

‘It still seems extraordinary to me,’ she says, speaking from Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone, Kent. ‘I believe anyone with a human heart beating inside them would try to help another who’d been hurt. Coalition soldier, Afghan army fighter, civilian – it makes no difference. When you hear someone shout, “Medic, Medic, Medic,” it only means one thing: trouble. So you go.’

Her citation for the medal spoke of her ‘immense courage, willingness to put her own life at risk and absolute bravery’. It revealed that she ‘saved the life of one warrior and acted as an inspiration to her platoon and their Afghan National Army partners’.

‘Ah, but it doesn’t mention the bit where I fell over,’ she grins, sounding more Private Benjamin than a thoroughly modern war hero. And then she retells her story which, like many footnotes of military history, contains as much chaos and grim comedy as it does courage and compassion.

‘We were patrolling by a compound on the outskirts of a village when the shooting began. A man went down about 70 metres in front of me. He was with British and Afghan soldiers in a ditch at the bottom of a hillock. I could just about see them but I couldn’t speak to them other than by shouting because we’d lost communications.

‘I had on my body armour and my helmet, and I was carrying my SA80 rifle as well as my medical battlefield trauma kit. It’s heavy, it contains IV fluids and water, rations, drugs, tourniquets and airway equipment, not to mention the collapsible stretcher strapped to one side and the mine detector strapped to the other.

‘I’d run no more than a couple of metres away from the compound where I had taken cover when I fell over something – uneven terrain, my own feet, I don’t know. I went down.

I was very, very embarrassed but I reckoned that in the heat of the battle with bullets flying in both directions my platoon was too busy to notice. So I got back up and kept on running.’

The wounded man was an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier whose pelvis had been shattered by bullets. He was deep in shock and drifting in and out of consciousness.

Watson made a 100m dash in full view of the enemy under sustained accurate fire to deliver life-saving first aid to a soldier who had been shot twice

‘The soldier tending to him was doing a brilliant job but he was a sniper and he was needed for the fight. I couldn’t let him do my job,’ says Kylie.

Beneath an exchange of fire between her platoon and Taliban fighters, she stemmed the casualty’s bleeding with field dressings and splinted his pelvis before a Chinook helicopter arrived to fly him to hospital at Camp Bastion, the British Army HQ.

The entire ‘contact’ took, she estimates, no more than 40 minutes, after which she and the rest of the patrol returned to their base at Checkpoint Azadie in Helmand’s ‘Green Zone’, an area of lush vegetation irrigated by the waterways of the Helmand River. ‘I didn’t dwell on it. It was just another day in Afghanistan,’ she reflects.

It was at Checkpoint Azadie that Lance Corporal Watson spent most of her six months in mid-2010. Like the men she served alongside, 9 Platoon of ‘C’ Company of 1st Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, she lived rough at first.

She slept wrapped in a poncho, washed every second day with a field shower (a black plastic bag with a mini-hose attachment) and supplemented her Army rations with packet food posted out from home.

‘We nicknamed it “Hotel Azadie”,’ she says. ‘We had pushed out from a checkpoint a little under a kilometre down the road called Haji-Alen to build a new base. At first we came under fire every day but we made it plain we were there to stay. We even adopted a camp dog and called him Marra [a north of England word for friend].’

The lance corporal settled into life in her ‘hotel’. At camp she tended to the general health of the infantrymen as they battled the twin horrors of mid-summer in Afghanistan: searing heat and dust. As the only medic, she went out on all routine patrols.

It was just such a patrol which saw the second act of bravery that contributed to Kylie’s MC. ‘We left at sun-up for a patrol,’ she says. ‘It involved crossing the river by foot, which was always good for a laugh because I am only 5ft 1in tall, and the river comes up to somewhere between my waist and my neck, depending on the depth.’ (Kylie would have been too small to serve in the Corps under the height regulations that once held sway.)

We patrolled a wee bit further and had just stopped for a break when the gunfire opened up. The commander of the ANA soldiers attached to us came racing down a track towards us – he ran about 25 metres with bullets flying all around him, screaming for a medic. The platoon sergeant and I ran back with him.

‘We saw one of his men lying on open ground and I ran forward into the contact. There was gunfire in both directions but ... well, none of it seemed to be aimed at me.

‘The casualty had no pulse, he wasn’t breathing. He had a tiny entry wound in his chest but no exit wound. I began cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR]. The platoon sergeant said, “Kylie, have you seen where we are?” and I looked ahead of me and to the side and realised we were in completely open ground. “Right,” I said. “I think we should get back.”

'The citation doesn't mention the bit where I fell over...'

‘Three guys came to help and we evacuated the soldier under fire. I kept going with the CPR and one of his comrades gave him the kiss of life.

‘We fought and fought until the helicopter came. I wouldn’t give up, but I couldn’t bring him back. Sometimes you can’t change the outcome. You can’t save everyone, you just have to know you did your best. Then we got shot at on the way home too.’

Kylie paid her respects to the fallen soldier at a memorial held back at Azadie but her emotions are those of a controlled professional. ‘What happens in Afghanistan stays there,’ she says firmly, unwilling to let operational horrors seep into her happy home life back in the UK.

For just to add to the drama of her tour, her boyfriend, Lance Corporal Jacques Swanepoel, a combat medic in 16 Air Assault Brigade, proposed to her and presented her with a diamond engagement ring when she returned on leave. He met her at RAF Brize Norton and swept her off to an expensive hotel in nearby Oxford. Suffice to say it was a world away from Hotel Azadie.

‘Jacques had arranged for me to be pampered and have a massage. The masseuse told me I had a lot of tension in my shoulders and I just thought, “Well honestly, I wonder why ...”

‘Later, Jacques asked me to marry him and I burst into tears. He didn’t know whether that meant yes or no. But of course I accepted.’

Kylie left Jacques just days later to return to Helmand to complete her tour. She did not expect to see him again for six months, but in a scene worthy of a romantic novel the couple were unexpectedly reunited for a few hours at Camp Bastion. She was departing Afghanistan just as he arrived to begin his own six-month tour.

‘I found him in the NAAFI. I still had all my kit on, I walked across to him and said, “Hello!” ’ And what was it like to see him in such circumstances? She answers with a smile and one word: ‘Precious.’

Lance Corporal Watson asked, 'Are you sure you've got the right soldier?' when her commanding officer told her she'd been awarded the Military Cross

Kylie was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland where she was raised in a large and happy family of five children by parents Glenn and Lorna. And while her MC might have made her the pride of her regiment, it earned her a stiff telling-off from her mum: ‘Kylie! What did you do? Next time, please don’t.’

Her family has no history of military service but a childhood set against the backdrop of the Troubles of Northern Ireland prompted her interest in the Army. She joined up in 2006. ‘I could imagine myself being a soldier, doing something to help,’ she recalls.

After basic training and eight months of studying battlefield medicine, she joined the Corps in September 2007.

The following year she went on her first operational tour, serving six months in Basra where she took part in patrols, looked after health in camp and trained Iraqi army medics. She returned to the UK to study and qualify as a Class One medic, able to operate alone.

As the only woman in an operational team of around 20 men she is used to being treated with affectionate respect in camp and equality beyond it. She was not surprised to encounter prejudice from Afghan nationals – but she was ill-prepared for her gender to become an issue among saloon-bar bores in relation to her MC.

‘When I got to the Afghan soldier who’d been hit in the pelvis the interpreter began to say, “But you’re a woman.”

‘I stopped him right there and said, “He’s going to be treated whether he likes it or not.”

‘It was not a big deal for me. They can think what they want but when you’ve got someone’s life in your hands you must do what you can.’

However, she is a little angered by some of the online comments which followed the announcement of her MC, branding it an act of tokenism or political correctness, rather than the just reward for acts of heroism to match any man. ‘Those who say that are welcome to take my kit and go to Afghanistan for six months. They are welcome to wear my boots and be me,’ she says, adding that she can’t wait to return to operations because ‘I think I’ve done all right so far’.

Modest words from a soldier whose fierce, lion-hearted humanity took her into the white heat of battle to help others.

The motto of the Royal Army Medical Corps is ‘In Arduis Fidelis’: Steadfast in Adversity. And so Lance Corporal Kylie Watson MC has proved.

A great story of a real Hero!

Regards,

RLI

[Gecko17]

Mehemea koe na tuoho, meinga ki te maunga teitei. [If you should bow to greatness, let it be to a lofty mountain.] Maori proverb ...

I think this suits Lance Corporal Watson MC quite well.... Amazing effort from a pocket rocket.

I bow before you, Ma'am.

[Drift triker]

hi all did 10yr in artillery before med kick out still fighting for compo (mental heath sucks) on a better note get to spend more time with wife and kids and my nissan and my other stress relief drift trikes

[PMC]

hi all did 10yr in artillery before med kick out still fighting for compo (mental heath sucks) on a better note get to spend more time with wife and kids and my nissan and my other stress relief drift trikes

G'day mate,

Congrats on your service!

Regards,

RLI

[NP99]

Online comments by cowards that don't have the balls to do what she did or say it to her face. Well done young lady...

[NP99]

A good link for our military history

http://alh-research.tripod.com

[NP99]

Another great story

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-18/hiroo-onada-japanese-soldier-lubang-island/5206420

An imperial Japanese soldier who spent 29 years in hiding on an island in the Philippines after World War II has died aged 91.

Hiroo Onoda was one of about 60 soldiers who fought on from their jungle strongholds after the war, refusing to believe that the Japanese empire had been defeated.

The former army intelligence officer spent three decades waging his own guerrilla war on Lubang Island in the north-western Philippines.

In 1974 he laid down his arms, but only after his former commanding officer returned and personally ordered him to do so.

"Every Japanese soldier was prepared for death but as an intelligence officer I was ordered to conduct guerrilla warfare and not to die," he told the ABC in 2010.

"I became an officer and I received an order. If I could not carry it out I would feel shame. I am very competitive."

For years, Hiroo Onoda would ignore attempts to get him to surrender. He dismissed leaflet drops and search parties as enemy trickery.

"The leaflets they dropped were filled with mistakes, so I judged it was a plot by the Americans," he said.

Hiroo Onoda, who was drafted in 1942, received training for two years and was sent to the island in 1944.

In the beginning, Hiroo Onoda was hiding out alongside two fellow soldiers. But they died in clashes with Filipino villagers and soldiers.

He survived on coconut milk, bananas and by stealing and butchering cattle.

For information, he would listen to a stolen shortwave radio. His favourite broadcast was ABC Radio Australia.

"Once I listened to an Australian election broadcast," he said.

"Another time I was interested in a cattle story - that helped me to later become a cattle breeder."

After returning to Japan, Hiroo Onoda emigrated in 1975 to Brazil to run a cattle ranch.

He later returned to his home country to teach students survival skills and authored several books including No Surrender: My 30 Year War.

Officials in Phillipines send condolences to Onoda

Hiroo Onoda died of heart failure at a Tokyo hospital Thursday afternoon (local time), his family said.

Officials from Lubang Island sent their condolences.

"On behalf of the people of Lubang, we would like to send our condolences and prayers to the family of Mr. Onoda," said Charles Villas, vice mayor of a municipality on Lubang Island.

When Mr Onoda surrendered, the Filipino government pardoned him for his involvement in the killing of some 30 islanders.

Mr Villas said islanders have forgiven Mr Onoda for the "mistakes" he made while thinking it was still wartime, like the torching of rice granaries and farm tools, and even the killing of some residents.

"What the people of Lubang remember now is how Onoda came to visit in the early 1990s and donated musical organs and school supplies like Japan-made crayons, water colours and pencils to the churches and schools here in Lubang," Mr Villas said.

"I vividly remember these donations because my mother was a grade school teacher and she was one of the beneficiaries."

"May he rest in peace."

"Onoda has become a part of Lubang history," said Gina Julaton, tourism chief of a Lubang municipality.

She said Lubang developed the Onoda trail and cave as a local tourist attraction in 2010.

"Japanese tourists and students have, in fact, come to Lubang just to experience Onoda's trail and life while in hiding. They are curious about his life here," Ms Julaton said.

[PMC]

G'day folks,

The following e-mail was sent to my Sub-Branch today regarding rumour mongering regarding DVA and our pensions to be reduced. This is utter noncence, please read the following letter below,

Regards,

RLI

Subject: FW: DVA TO GO - PENSIONS TO BE REDUCED ?

Ladies and Gentlemen

Firstly, please see the garbage about reduction in pensions and closure of DVA etc written below my email. There are a number of differing versions of the email around but they all come down the same thing – it’s bulldust!!

This all started because of an article in a sister ESO’s newsletter that was published on November 2013.

The issue re reduction in pensions etc as mentioned in your email is “old hat” dating back to 2005 when Mr Hendy was the Chief Executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce. I understand that Mr Hendy issued a discussion paper and that’s all it was – the discussion paper did not get an “airing” from the Federal Government of the time.

It certainly appears that someone has gone off with a gun fully cocked and loaded without first seeking comment from the Minister for Veterans Affairs.

Another email on this issue, and there have been a few going backwards and forwards (up to eight pages long!!), originated by Allan Peterson on 10 January 2014, contains a number of forwarded emails including one email sent by Senator Ronaldson on 8 January 2014 to Geoffrey Annett (not sure who he is) which states “Of course this is not going to happen Geoffrey. A ridiculous rumour that should never have been started and is a reflection on its author not others – Regards Michael”

It certainly is a reflection on the author/originator of the email – check the facts!!!

An email was sent out the other day regarding the indexation of DFRB and DFRDB yesterday – see attached.




Peter Bright
Secretary
Victorian Branch (VVAA)

[PMC]

A great story NP99,

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

G'day folks,

The following e-mail was sent to my Sub-Branch today regarding rumour mongering regarding DVA and our pensions to be reduced. This is utter noncence, please read the following letter below,

Regards,

RLI

Subject: FW: DVA TO GO - PENSIONS TO BE REDUCED ?

Ladies and Gentlemen

Firstly, please see the garbage about reduction in pensions and closure of DVA etc written below my email. There are a number of differing versions of the email around but they all come down the same thing – it’s bulldust!!

This all started because of an article in a sister ESO’s newsletter that was published on November 2013.

The issue re reduction in pensions etc as mentioned in your email is “old hat” dating back to 2005 when Mr Hendy was the Chief Executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce. I understand that Mr Hendy issued a discussion paper and that’s all it was – the discussion paper did not get an “airing” from the Federal Government of the time.

It certainly appears that someone has gone off with a gun fully cocked and loaded without first seeking comment from the Minister for Veterans Affairs.

Another email on this issue, and there have been a few going backwards and forwards (up to eight pages long!!), originated by Allan Peterson on 10 January 2014, contains a number of forwarded emails including one email sent by Senator Ronaldson on 8 January 2014 to Geoffrey Annett (not sure who he is) which states “Of course this is not going to happen Geoffrey. A ridiculous rumour that should never have been started and is a reflection on its author not others – Regards Michael”

It certainly is a reflection on the author/originator of the email – check the facts!!!

An email was sent out the other day regarding the indexation of DFRB and DFRDB yesterday – see attached.

Peter Bright
Secretary
Victorian Branch (VVAA)

Forward to next page.

[NP99]

G'day folks,

The following e-mail was sent to my Sub-Branch today regarding rumour mongering regarding DVA and our pensions to be reduced. This is utter noncence, please read the following letter below,

Regards,

RLI

Subject: FW: DVA TO GO - PENSIONS TO BE REDUCED ?

Ladies and Gentlemen

Firstly, please see the garbage about reduction in pensions and closure of DVA etc written below my email. There are a number of differing versions of the email around but they all come down the same thing – it’s bulldust!!

This all started because of an article in a sister ESO’s newsletter that was published on November 2013.

The issue re reduction in pensions etc as mentioned in your email is “old hat” dating back to 2005 when Mr Hendy was the Chief Executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce. I understand that Mr Hendy issued a discussion paper and that’s all it was – the discussion paper did not get an “airing” from the Federal Government of the time.

It certainly appears that someone has gone off with a gun fully cocked and loaded without first seeking comment from the Minister for Veterans Affairs.

Another email on this issue, and there have been a few going backwards and forwards (up to eight pages long!!), originated by Allan Peterson on 10 January 2014, contains a number of forwarded emails including one email sent by Senator Ronaldson on 8 January 2014 to Geoffrey Annett (not sure who he is) which states “Of course this is not going to happen Geoffrey. A ridiculous rumour that should never have been started and is a reflection on its author not others – Regards Michael”

It certainly is a reflection on the author/originator of the email – check the facts!!!

An email was sent out the other day regarding the indexation of DFRB and DFRDB yesterday – see attached.




Peter Bright
Secretary
Victorian Branch (VVAA)


That nonsense has been around a while.....imagine if pensions and DVA closed!!!

[oncedisturbed]

G'day folks,

Do any of our ex/or current defence members have any photos they would like to share with the forum ie; recruit training photos, (how we looked when we first started out) photo's through your journey whilst serving.

PS, Good luck and lets have a bit of fun and have a laugh how we looked when we were younger! (NP99 "sir" no Jedi night photos please!)

Regards,

RLI

Will see what I can find


Sent from my iPad using Motorculture mobile app

[Stropp]

I will have to dig out the old album :) :smileyvault-cute-bi

[Ian2011]

39576[attach=config]39575[
That's me with the silly looking hat in the front,

Not sure what I was doing in that pic but I had just spent about 2 hours trying to find my gas plug and piston with a threat of being charged for losing it.

[PMC]

G'day folks,

I received the following e-mail at my sub-branch, ithought i would share it with you all.

PS, Enjoy!

Regards,

RLI

Hi All,

For your information and distribution please.

Regards

Graham

Graham Anderson OAM JP
National Secretary
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
Telephone: (02) 4443 2911
Mobile: 0400 404 859

"It is important that I place on the record my deep concern regarding the reporting over the last few weeks in both new and old media that discredits the conduct of members of the Royal Australian Navy in Border Protection Operations.

There are few organisations in this land that are subjected to such relentless public scrutiny in almost every aspect of its business; this is a fact of life that Navy readily accepts as a national institution.

Similarly, there are few organisations that hold its people to such a high standard of personal conduct. Today’s Navy actively holds its people to account when they do not live up to the professional or personal standards that are required in serving this nation and its people. Our people are overwhelmingly supportive of this approach.

Ours is not a perfect organization, nor are our people infallible, but Navy is prepared to acknowledge its faults, take action and fix them.

An important component of our system of Government is civil control of the military. Navy’s role as part of the Australian Defence Force is to safely execute the lawful direction of Government, our people know this. Our people also know that by serving as members of the ADF they forgo some of the freedoms that the rest of the nation enjoys. It is clear there are those who exploit this.

I am exceptionally proud of the men and women of our Navy, particularly the way they serve on operations. They serve at sea and ashore, at home and around the world, each and every day with great dignity and often with considerable courage. They have 113 years of heritage and tradition to uphold, over a century of unbroken and honourable service to the nation protecting our ability to trade and contributing to our prosperity and security.

This generation of men and women who wear the uniform are worthy of more respect than has been shown to them in the past few weeks".

R.J. GRIGGS
Vice Admiral
Chief of Navy

[93patrol]

there is a reason these men and women are out there, the average person would go out and deal with the things that they deal with but they are more than happy to judge people for the jobs they do. plus I think the media is to blame for most of the hype going on

[PMC]

G'day folks

I thought i would share a bit of military history with you!

The following is a bio of a battle that took place in World War 2. I hope you enjoy it!

Regards,

RLI


World War II’s Strangest Battle: When Americans and Germans Fought Together

Days after Hitler’s suicide a group of American soldiers, French prisoners, and, yes, German soldiers defended an Austrian castle against an SS division—the only time Germans and Allies fought together in World War II. Andrew Roberts on a story so wild that it has to be made into a movie.

The most extraordinary things about Stephen Harding's The Last Battle, a truly incredible tale of World War II, are that it hasn’t been told before in English, and that it hasn’t already been made into a blockbuster Hollywood movie.

Here are the basic facts: on 5 May 1945—five days after Hitler’s suicide—three Sherman tanks from the 23rd Tank Battalion of the U.S. 12th Armored Division under the command of Capt. John C. ‘Jack’ Lee Jr., liberated an Austrian castle called Schloss Itter in the Tyrol, a special prison that housed various French VIPs, including the ex-prime ministers Paul Reynaud and Eduard Daladier and former commanders-in-chief Generals Maxime Weygand and Paul Gamelin, amongst several others.

Yet when the units of the veteran 17th Waffen-SS Panzer Grenadier Division arrived to recapture the castle and execute the prisoners, Lee’s beleaguered and outnumbered men were joined by anti-Nazi German soldiers of the Wehrmacht, as well as some of the extremely feisty wives and girlfriends of the (needless-to-say hitherto bickering) French VIPs, and together they fought off some of the best crack troops of the Third Reich. Steven Spielberg, how did you miss this story?

The battle for the fairytale, 13th century Castle Itter was the only time in WWII that American and German troops joined forces in combat, and it was also the only time in American history that U.S. troops defended a medieval castle against sustained attack by enemy forces. To make it even more film worthy, two of the women imprisoned at Schloss Itter—Augusta Bruchlen, who was the mistress of the labour leader Leon Jouhaux, and Madame Weygand, the wife General Maxime Weygand—were there because they chose to stand by their men. They, along with Paul Reynaud’s mistress Christiane Mabire, were incredibly strong, capable, and determined women made for portrayal on the silver screen.

There are two primary heroes of this—as I must reiterate, entirely factual—story, both of them straight out of central casting. Jack Lee was the quintessential warrior: smart, aggressive, innovative—and, of course, a cigar-chewing, hard-drinking man who watched out for his troops and was willing to think way, way outside the box when the tactical situation demanded it, as it certainly did once the Waffen-SS started to assault the castle. The other was the much-decorated Wehrmacht officer Major Josef ‘Sepp’ Gangl, who died helping the Americans protect the VIPs. This is the first time that Gangl’s story has been told in English, though he is rightly honored in present-day Austria and Germany as a hero of the anti-Nazi resistance.

Harding, is a respected military affairs expert who has written seven books and long specialized in World War II, and his writing style carries immediacy as well as authority. “Just after 4am Jack Lee was jolted awake by the sudden banging of M1 Garands,” he writes of the SS’s initial assault on the castle, “the sharper crack of Kar-98s, and the mechanical chatter of a .30-caliber spitting out rounds in short, controlled bursts. Knowing instinctively that the rising crescendo of outgoing fire was coming from the gatehouse, Lee rolled off the bed, grabbed his helmet and M3, and ran from the room. As he reached the arched schlosshof gate leading from the terrace to the first courtyard, an MG-42 machine gun opened up from somewhere along the parallel ridgeway east of the castle, the weapon’s characteristic ripping sound clearly audible above the outgoing fire and its tracers looking like an unbroken red stream as they arced across the ravine and ricocheted off the castle’s lower walls.” Everything that Harding reports in this exciting but also historically accurate narrative is backed up with meticulous scholarship. This book proves that history can be new and nail-bitingly exciting all at once.

Despite their personal enmities and long-held political grudges, when it came to a fight the French VIPs finally put aside their political differences and picked up weapons to join in the fight against the attacking SS troops. We get to know Reynaud, Daladier, and the rest as real people, not merely the political legends that they’ve morphed into over the intervening decades. Furthermore, Jean Borotra (a former tennis pro) and Francois de La Rocque, who were both members of Marshal Philippe Petain’s Vichy government and long regarded by many historians as simply pro-fascist German puppets, are presented in the book as they really were: complex men who supported the Allied cause in their own ways. In de La Rocque’s case, by running an effective pro-Allied resistance movement at the same time that he worked for Vichy. If they were merely pro-Fascist puppets, after all, they would not have wound up as Ehrenhäflinge—honor prisoners—of the Fuhrer.

While the book concentrates on the fight for Castle Itter, it also sets that battle in the wider strategic contexts of the Allied push into Germany and Austria in the final months of the war, and the Third Reich’s increasingly desperate preparations to respond to that advance. This book is thus a fascinating microcosm of a nation and society in collapse, with some Germans making their peace with the future, while others—such as the Waffen-SS unit attacking the castle—fighting to the bitter end. (Some of the fighting actually took place after the Doenitz government’s formal surrender.)

The book also takes pain to honor the lives of the “number prisoners” who worked at Castle Itter—faceless inmates from Dachau and other concentration camps whose stories have never before been told in this much detail. Whatever their political leanings or personal animosities toward each other, the French VIPs did what they could to help the so-called “number prisoners”—i.e. the ones stripped of their names—in any way they could.

One of the honored prisoners was Michel Clemenceau, the son of the Great War statesman Georges Clemenceau, who had become an outspoken critic of Marshal Petain and who was arrested by the Gestapo in May 1943. At Castle Itter he showed “unshakeable confidence” in rescue, and had clearly inherited the courage of his father, who’d been nicknamed “The Tiger.” During the attack, with ammunition running dangerously low—they got down to the last magazines of their MP-40s—their tanks destroyed, and the enemy advancing from the north, west and east, this septuagenarian kept blasting away. His father would have been proud of him.

The story has an ending that Hollywood would love too: just as the SS had settled into position to fire a panzerfaust at the front gate, “the sound of automatic weapons and tank guns behind them in the village signaled a radical change in the tactical situation.” Advancing American units and Austrian resistance fighters had arrived to relieve the castle. In keeping with the immense cool that he had shown throughout the siege, Lee feigned irritation as he went up to one of the rescuing tank commanders, looked him in the eye and said simply: “What kept you?” Part Where Eagles Dare, part Guns of Navarone, this story is as exciting as it is far-fetched, but unlike in those iconic war movies, every word of The Last Battle is true.

The Last Battle: When U.S. and German Soldiers Joined Forces in the Waning Hours of World War II in Europe’ By Stephen Harding. 256 pages. Da Capo. $25.99.

[CPOCSM]

G'day all. Spent 24 years in navy up until two years ago when I left and signed up for active reserves and now doing a nursing degree.

Joined 1988 as a radar plotter, now combat systems operators, thought I would just do 6 years, ended up staying and enjoying the puss! Paid off a chief petty officer combat systems manager, miss the outfit but enjoy the civvie way of life.

First pic just me, second pic was cover of rolling stone(inside front cover so technically on the cover...lol) last pic was the crew of HMAS Stuart in the Middle East..I am the short fat dude kneeling just to the right of the CO, in front.

39946399453994439943

[PMC]

G'day all. Spent 24 years in navy up until two years ago when I left and signed up for active reserves and now doing a nursing degree.

Joined 1988 as a radar plotter, now combat systems operators, thought I would just do 6 years, ended up staying and enjoying the puss! Paid off a chief petty officer combat systems manager, miss the outfit but enjoy the civvie way of life.

First pic just me, second pic was cover of rolling stone(inside front cover so technically on the cover...lol) last pic was the crew of HMAS Stuart in the Middle East..I am the short fat dude kneeling just to the right of the CO, in front.

39946399453994439943

G'day mate,

Congrats on your service to this great country of ours!

Regards,

RLI

[PMC]

The future of aviation!

Regards,

RLI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC8U5_4lo2c

[PMC]

G'day folks,

I thought i would share this tragic story with you. I am an RSL Advocate/Pensions officer and i am frustrated by the way the system is letting down our young Veterans who are suffering from PTSD. Early last year the call had been put out amoungst the Mid North Coast RSL Sub-Branches that a young Veteran had gone missing, typical soldiers both ex and current serving we started looking for young Sapper David Wood an Afghanistan veteran who lived between Casino and Lismore.

Tragically we got the call that the police had found young Sapper David Wood and he had taken his own live. This shattered me personally as i wanted answers how this young Veteran had slipped under the radar of DVA.

The following is a story that out lines what are soldiers are really suffering from.

PS, unfortunately, this is not a happy story.

Regards,

RLI


From: DVA-OVERWATCH

Reporter: Neil Doorley, TodayTonight – 18 November, 2013 - DVA, The Federal Government’s Killing Machine!

"It's not on that, in reality, the Defence Force and DVA is committing murder because they're not looking after that soldier", said Keith Payne. Keith is one Australia's greatest heroes, earning the Victoria Cross -- the military's highest decoration for valour -- when he singlehandedly rescued 40 of his men, under heavy fire, in the Vietnam War.
He killed his enemies and was shot at more times than he can remember but somehow the Army thought that would have no effect on him. "Nobody can understand war unless you've bloody been to war", Keith said.

When he came home, his war didn't end -- he had to keep fighting for recognition that he wasn't well because he was suffering what was then called 'battle fatigue'. "It just went on and on and the cost to the Department, sending me to specialists here, specialists there, transport aircraft -- what were they trying to prove?" Keith said.
It's now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "I was really, really angry and I kept saying to my wife, if this is what they are doing to me, what are they doing to my soldiers", Keith said.

It's a battle he's continued to wage since leaving the Army in 1975 after 23 years' service. "What I didn't realise and a lot of young veterans today won't realise -- they'll say okay, I'm getting out of the military saying we'll medically discharge you -- that's the easy way out, the very, very easy way out for the military to do that. They've done it in the past, and they'll do it until it's stopped", Keith said.

Keith Payne's counseled other sufferers of post traumatic stress and believes through neglect, the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are effectively condemning some to death. "This is where he gets depressed; he tries to get a job, because of his PTSD he ends up doing his narna with somebody. He gets disenchanted with his employment and now trying to look after a family, so everything is building up on him, and building up. Some of them go down the suicide lane -- it's wrong, it is dead wrong", Keith said.

33-year-old Leif Edwards served in East Timor and Afghanistan -- he was a high tech, modern warrior forced to fight his own emotions while on the battlefield. "I was having panic attacks -- fear of dying and fear of helplessness", Leif said. He came home in 2010 and two years later was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "I went straight to hospital and asked for help to see psychologists and psychiatrist because I knew something wasn't right", Leif said.

Leif took out his anger and frustration on wife Amy. "I'm anxious, I'm on edge all the time. I physically hurt my wife, verbally as well", Leif said. "I never thought I'd be married to someone that would treat me the way Leif does when he's having an incident, you know, have a mood or has been triggered by something", Amy said. Amy says she feared for him while he was away -- now, she just fears him. "I'm gutted -- it's not me, I don't know who it is", Leif said.

Leif has been discharged medically unfit, but Veterans Affairs rejected his compensation claim ruling his condition wasn't caused by his tours of duty. "He passed all his medical and mental health checks to deploy and when he got back he's not fit to serve in the Army, so only thing that happened to him between those two points was Army service", Amy said.

James Staples was in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. "You come back and start noticing all the small things -- you become anxious, depressed", James said. A corporal in the Infantry, he was deemed unfit for duty in October, 2011 but was forced to wait another 17 months before being discharged with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "It was torture -- it's like house arrest", James said. He's now struggling to survive on about a third of his old pay. He believes he's entitled to better compensation. "If we get the help we need and the help we deserve and shorten this whole way go about this, it wouldn't be so horrendous", James said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs argues James can still work. "Working in a service station, art framing, and for some reason they put security guard which I've never done which wouldn't be appropriate for me, a person with PTSD to carry a firearm around civilians --it just baffles me how they can come up with that conclusion", James said.

Veterans Affairs figures reveal more than 1500 veterans are suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since troops were deployed in East Timor, which tops the list with 777; followed by Afghanistan with 438 and Iraq - 347. That's on top of the 17,764 Vietnam War veterans.

It's the hidden toll of war which continues to grow, and includes combat engineer David Wood. "My most enduring memory was when we followed the coffin back out of tent, the huge number of World War 2, Viet vets, with their medals on their suits and that made me think of Anzac Day", said his grandfather, Roger.

The peace and quiet of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is a world away from the battlefields of Afghanistan, but the horrors of war were never far from the thoughts of David Wood. The 22 year old returned home from his second tour of duty last December and his family says he was a changed man, who was battling his own private demons -- including severe depression. "He told me a little girl died in his arms and I believe when that girl died in his arms, that was the end of David, that was the beginning of the end, the Taliban had got him then and there", said Roger.

David knew he needed help and started seeing a psychiatrist and while he was making progress, his family immediately feared the worst when he simply vanished on the 22nd of May. "He took off his dog tags and his dog tags also had a St Christopher medal -- he took them and laid them on the bed and that was probably the last thing he did before leaving his house", said Roger

David's disappearance sparked a large search involving members of his family, and soldiers from his old Army unit. About a week later, his body was found -- there were no suspicious circumstances. Sapper David Wood had taken his own life.

"It's heartbreaking to even think about it. He wrote a note saying he just wanted to go away for a while and be on his own", Roger said. Roger believes his grandson should be classified a casualty of war. "So that in a 100 years' time, my descendants can say that was my uncle, that was David Wood and he's on that honour roll", he said.

"He came home with more than scars, open wounds that we couldn't see. Underneath his shirt, he was bleeding", Roger said. He argues more must be done to help veterans' families read the warning signs.

The death toll is mounting as well in the United States where it's estimated 22 military veterans are committing suicide every day -- that's almost one an hour. "If you look at American statistics, statistics from the US, that suicide rates tend to outstrip rates of those killed in action", said psychiatrist Andrew Khoo.

Dr Khoo runs one of the few specialist Post Traumatic Stress Disorder clinics in Australia at Brisbane's Toowong Private Hospital. "Suicide unfortunately is the most tragic outcome of untreated mental illness", Dr Khoo said. Dr Khoo says the process of making claims has become a bureaucratic maze. "Many of the patients have their symptoms exacerbated by the process of getting their compensation through", he said.

With almost 70,000 Australian troops deployed since East Timor in 1999, the sad reality is nearly one in five may develop a mental health problem when they come home. That's about 14,000. "The Government will never baulk at spending money on submarines or the huge logistical exercises sending people overseas, so they shouldn't similarly be baulking at fairly compensating these guys -- we knew a significant proportion were going to be injured", Dr Khoo said.

"Any suicide is tragic and the Department actively monitors suicide in veteran community", said The Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Advisor Doctor Stephanie Hodson. "We actually do need to work on getting our staff more trained, but also about getting through these claims more quickly", Dr Hodson said. A former Army psychologist, Dr Hodson denies the Department's failure to plan ahead is resulting in long delays leaving claims -- and lives -- in limbo. "The Department is processing claims as quickly as possible but we acknowledge that some claims can take longer than we want", she said.

Incredibly, Doctor Hodson says part of the problem lies with the veterans themselves. "The problem is that it's not till someone is in crisis that they will actually start to look for the services. The treatment is there for veterans, we just need them to come and put up their hand and come and get it", Dr Hodson said.

DVA-OVERWATCH

When veterans’ eventually arrive at DVA’s door; often in quite a desperate state, DVA Delegates begin the slow and grinding process of exacerbating injuries’ as a means to exhaust and further damage people.

DVA methods’ have clearly been adopted from an insurance industry methodology well known by its four (4) distinct phases: Deny, Delay, Defend, and Damage – The 4D’s.
Overseeing the introduction of the DVA-4D’s, is the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (MRCC) comprised of: Military, Government and, Insurance industry executives who specialise in Exhaustion Strategies and Systems.

It is by no strange slight-of-hand that the DVA has adopted insurance industry practice, methods, and culture – in combining military and insurance ‘exhaustion stratagem’ with the artistry of ‘administrative complexity’ and ‘the consumption of time’ both time honoured tradition’s in the public service, it’s no wonder the symptoms of an evolving insurance fiefdom i.e. growth in ex-service organisations, and public protest from the most honourable, will grow in both number, and volume!

[Drift triker]

mental heath sux and dva dont give a f#ck about it as i am a exmember suffering from mental heath problems and get f#ck all help from them sorry dva boil my blood so bad

[PMC]

Corporal Cameron Baird, killed in Afghanistan, to be awarded the Victoria Cross


THE Victoria Cross will be awarded posthumously to Australian commando Corporal Cameron Baird, killed in Afghanistan in June 2013, Tony Abbott has announced.

The Prime Minister told parliament that Corporal Baird, of the Special Operations Task Group, was the 100th Australian recipient of the highest military honour for bravery in wartime.

Killed by small arms fire during a battle with Afghan insurgents, he was the 40th - and last - Australian to die in Afghanistan and the fourth Australian VC from the conflict.

“He repeatedly drew enemy fire away from his team members and charged enemy positions under heavy fire. His actions enabled the enemy to be neutralised and his team to be kept safe,” the Prime Minister said.

“Corporal Baird’s actions were in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force. He is an Australian hero.”

Mr Abbott said the Tasmanian-born Corporal Baird, 32, was already an iconic figure in the army.

He had already received the Medal of Gallantry for rescuing a wounded comrade during a firefight with the Taliban seven years ago.

Corporal Baird was now being awarded the Victoria Cross for “most conspicuous acts of valour” and “extreme devotion to duty”, the Prime Minister said.

“I salute Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG. We all salute him,” Mr Abbott told parliament, noting the commando’s “extraordinary courage”.

“We can hardly imagine what the likes of Corporal Baird and his comrades do, but we stand in awe.”

Addressing Corporal Baird’s family members in the public gallery, Mr Abbott said: “You have lost a son, a brother, an uncle and our country has lost a citizen, a soldier, a hero.’’

Addressing the media outside parliament, the soldier’s father, Doug Baird, broke into tears as he described his “extremely humble” son who rarely accepted praise while heaping it on his comrades.

The commando’s brother, Brendan Baird, said it was “a bittersweet moment as Cameron is no longer with us”.

“But we are honoured to have him recognised in this way and through him, all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their beloved country,” he said.

“Cameron never liked the limelight. He was a very humble man who would not see this as an individual award, but recognition of the entire 2nd Commando Regiment.”

Corporal Baird, from the 2nd Commando Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, was killed during an engagement with insurgents in the Khod Valley in southern Afghanistan on June 22, 2013.

“Words can hardly do justice to the chaos, confusion and courage that were evident that day,’’ Mr Abbott told parliament.

He read to parliament a testimony provided by a comrade of Corporal Baird during his last tour of duty.

“Corporal Baird’s initiative, fearless tenacity and dedication to duty in the face of the enemy were exemplary and absolute inspiration to the entire team.

“I was witness to the ultimate sacrifice’’.

Corporal Baird was on his fifth special forces tour to Afghanistan when killed, after joining the army at 18 and having also served in East Timor and Iraq.

He earned the Medal for Gallantry for braving fierce machinegun fire to recover the “mortally wounded” Private Luke Worsley during a prolonged firefight in Afghanistan on November 22 and 23, 2007.

Labor leader Bill Shorten praised Corporal Baird’s “professionalism, courage and skill” over eight foreign tours, including in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor.

“Corporal Baird was a real hero. A man who risked his life for his mates,” he said.

“Cameron Baird’ s friends described him as one of the most iconic members of the regiment – high praise for an elite unit recognised the world over for its professionalism, courage and skill.

“He obtains the place of highest honour in Australian and Commonwealth history.”

Born in Burnie, Tasmania, Corporal Baird he is survived by his parents, brother and his partner.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce will award the posthumous honour at a ceremony at Government House in Canberra next Tuesday.

Earlier awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in Afghanistan were Mark Donaldson, Ben Roberts-Smith and Daniel Keighran.


KEY FACTS ABOUT THE VICTORIA CROSS:

_ The Victoria Cross, the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime, was created by Queen Victoria in 1856 and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the Crimean War

_ The Victoria Cross for Australia was approved on January 15, 1991, as the pre-eminent gallantry award in the Australian system

_ It is cast from the metal of guns captured during the Crimean War 1854-56

_ The bar is decorated with laurel leaves and bears a ‘V’ from which the cross hangs

_ It is awarded for conspicuous courage, daring, valour, self-sacrifice or displays of extreme devotion to duty

_ 100 Australians have been invested as VC recipients

Corporal Cameron Baird is the 100th recipient, the fourth Australian soldier to be awarded the VC for service in Afghanistan and the fourth soldier to be awarded the VC for Australia and the first to be awarded posthumously

_ The other Afghan veteran VC recipients are Corporal Mark Donaldson (2009), Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith (2011), and Corporal Daniel Keighran (2012)

_ Australians have been awarded the British Victoria Cross in:

- Boer War, 1899-1902: 6

- World War I, 1914-18: 64 (including 9 at Gallipoli)

- North Russia, 1919: 2

- World War II, 1939-45: 20

- Vietnam War, 1962-72: 4

I salute you Corporal Cameron Baird from another Commando brother!

Regards,

Paul

[93patrol]

Men like this need to be our role models not afl or other sports identities. Soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice deserve a place in everyone's hearts and minds.

Rest in peace Aussie hero

[sooty_10]

Men like this need to be our role models not afl or other sports identities. Soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice deserve a place in everyone's hearts and minds.

Rest in peace Aussie hero
Aint that the truth......

A well deserved recognition of one of our fallen..... RIP all our brothers

[PMC]

Great to see the responses made so far to one of our fallen warriors!

Regards,

RLI

[93patrol]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-13/have-anzac-celebrations-become-a-military-halloween/5258966

hey Paul
you can have this removed if you want, but i was wondering about your thoughts on how much is being spent on the ANZAC legends and what is spent on the new returned soldiers welfare.

I find this very interesting as we are about to get more returned soldiers back into the australian workforce and communities with mental health problems and physical health problems related to their time away. i personally would like to see these men and women get the support they deserve

cheers Shane

[Gecko17]

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them."

Words that every New Zealander and Australian knows. There are few that haven't got a relation that either fought or lost their life in one of the wars that our country's have fought in. They deserve to be, and in my humble opinion, must be remembered! For not only their service but also for their sacrifice. None who have not witnessed the horrors of battle can truely relate to what has been experienced by our soldiers.

Which brings me to my next statement. Whilst we should never forget those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for their Country, we still need to ensure that those of our soldiers that make it home are given any and all support that they require. I have read too many times where an ex-soldier has suffered PTSD and been kicked to the curb and deemed no longer needed so no longer to be cared for. I have also lost a few friends, who, having felt there was no one they could turn to in their time of need, have ended up taking their own lives.

One of my friends and collegues, who served as a medic in Afghanistan, still suffers PTSD, and I am thankful that he is still able to utilise the medical services through the government as a ex-soldier. As an ex NZ police officer, through a governmental scheme, should I ever need it, I have free psychiatric services for life. I would love to hear that that is the case for all ex service personnel too.

I guess the point of my rambling is that, whilst we can never forget those that have fallen in War, we should never forget those that still suffer as a result of it.

[NP99]

mental heath sux and dva dont give a f#ck about it as i am a exmember suffering from mental heath problems and get f#ck all help from them sorry dva boil my blood so bad

Mate, you need to get yourself a good advocate. Some are excellent and others are crap....all the best.

[PMC]

Australia's 100th VC presented

Cameron Baird's parents accept the Victoria Cross medal on behalf of the Special Forces commando, the highest award presented for bravery during wartime.

Special forces soldiers such as those from the 2nd Commando Regiment are known to be a tight-knit bunch.

It was a sign of brotherhood and family that Doug Baird, accepting Australia's highest military honour on behalf of his son, paused, pointed and waved at the young men at the back of the room.

There at the back, where the emotion was palpable, sat Corporal Cameron Baird's mates from Bravo Company, 2nd Commando Regiment, many of whom were with him when he was killed while carrying out the acts of extraordinary bravery that earned him the Victoria Cross today.

Corporal Baird became the 100th Australian to receive the Victoria Cross when Governor-General Quentin Bryce presented the decoration to the Baird family at Government House in Canberra.

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In a similar spirit to Mr Baird's gesture towards the commandos, General David Hurley, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, observed the custom that every military member - regardless of rank - should salute a VC winner. He saluted the Baird family - father Doug, mother Kaye, brother Brendan and nephews Max and Riley.

The written citation - with previously unheard detail of the firefight of June 22 last year - painted a picture of a warrior to whom even other brave warriors looked up.

After leading the charge on the insurgent-held compound at Ghawchak village, Oruzgan province, Corporal Baird's weapon - an M4 rifle - jammed at a critical moment. He pulled back to clear it, then went straight back in.

Twice more he stormed the building. On the third attempt - drawing fire away from his comrades as he had done repeatedly through the firefight - he and his team managed to break through and kill the insurgents. But he was killed in the effort.

Speaking after the ceremony - which was attended by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Defence Minister David Johnston alongside Defence brass and Corporal Baird's mates - brother Brendan Baird revealed the family had resolved to put the award in the Australian War Memorial so that ''future generations can be educated on the meaning behind the medal''.

They would also put Corporal Baird's Medal for Gallantry in the memorial, he said.

Brendan said his brother would have been ''more than a bit embarrassed and probably a bit shocked by all the attention''.

''Cameron would be the first to tell you, 'This is not just about me. It's about my army family, my brothers in arms, the 2nd Commando Regiment.' While today is about Cameron, it's also about the mateship he shared with these blokes, with whom he trained, lived and fought alongside.''

Doug Baird, his voice breaking, paid tribute to the ''heavy lifting'' of the 2nd Commando Regiment, whose members - along with its predecessor, 4RAR - make up 11 of the 40 Australians killed fighting in the country, more than any other regiment.

''We are so grateful that their parents aren't standing here today - we would wish this on nobody else.''

Doug recalled visiting his son at the regiment's Holsworthy Barracks in the early days and staying in the dormitory with the boys from what was then called 4RAR.

''They were all very fresh, all very young and now we see a lot of those guys at the back of the room today. It started all then ... I was privileged to be part of it.''

Corporal Baird's actions epitomised the courage and quick-thinking needed to be a commando, said Warrant Officer Dave Ashley, the Army's Regimental Sergeant Major.

''He always led from the front. He was just a dynamo in that unit,'' he said. ''Even though his weapon failed, he fixed the weapon ... and got straight back into the battle. And it's that kind of momentum that needs to be continued to win the firefight.''

Warrant Officer Ashley said in all his lengthy experiences of travelling through army barracks talking to soldiers, he couldn't remember a person regarded with such ''professional regard and with such deep affection and by the people and soldiers that count the most, those mates that went into battle with him''.

''I know in both my head and in my heart that Cameron Baird is one of Australia's greatest ever soldiers.''

The young men at the back of the reception room in Government House could not be filmed or photographed - as members of the elite special forces, their identities are protected. But the sounds of quiet emotion could be heard from the back - tight throats and running noses.

''You can be a tough soldier and still be emotional,'' Warrant Officer Ashley said.

LEST WE FORGET

PS, Strike Swiftly

Regards,

RLI

[93patrol]

Brought a tear to my eyes reading that Paul the good are always taken too early but he and his mates are the epitome of Aussie spirit.

Lest we forget

[Gecko17]

Brought a tear to my eyes reading that Paul the good are always taken too early but he and his mates are the epitome of Aussie spirit.

Lest we forget

x 2! Gone too quickly but will live on forever in our memories.

[Warwick89]

First time in yrs I've been thanked by a member of the public for my service.

I was at the supermarket on my way home with the missus and a bloke (about 55yrs old) came up and shook my Hand and said"not enough people understand, I'd like to say thank you for what you do". Made my year

[growler2058]

40883...........



Sent from my iPhone using Motorculture mobile app

[growler2058]

Found this on stalk book
40957


Sent from my iPhone using Motorculture mobile app

[NP99]

First time in yrs I've been thanked by a member of the public for my service.

I was at the supermarket on my way home with the missus and a bloke (about 55yrs old) came up and shook my Hand and said"not enough people understand, I'd like to say thank you for what you do". Made my year

That happened to be a few years back at a shop in Yandina up on the Sunshine Coast. She was a good looking blonde in her 40s. I think she wanted to do more than shake hands though.......where are these bloody women when you're single :)

[PMC]

I have removed all material content because I have left this forum! I have only removed my personal photos, i think this thread is very important and i hope you good folks keep it going.

Kind regards,

RLI

[growler2058]

Bummer

Sent from my iPhone using Motorculture mobile app

[HuskyInAuz]

Wow, (RLI) helped me a lot with my 4.2 issues lately along with all the historical posts he had, he shall be missed. Hopefully to return someday with in his Duramax 'trol.

Oh, addressing the threads topic; USN (and was with/onboard the HMAS Melbourne (aka Tin Can Opener)), USNR, ORNG (Oregon National Guard), VV, btw.

[NP99]

Wow, (RLI) helped me a lot with my 4.2 issues lately along with all the historical posts he had, he shall be missed. Hopefully to return someday with in his Duramax 'trol.

Oh, addressing the threads topic; USN (and was with/onboard the HMAS Melbourne (aka Tin Can Opener)), USNR, ORNG (Oregon National Guard), VV, btw.

Wow, the tin can opener incident is about 50 years old....still a problem to those vets too.

Paul is right, this is an important thread. I'd ask all, if you come across dEfence news please post it here.

[HuskyInAuz]

NP99..
I wasn't on it for any 'openings' just when it came over from HI to NAS Alameda. Sick bay (I was Medical Corps) had a lasting reminder of one of the two events (Voyager or Evans) too long ago to remember which one it was. I remember vividly??, the 'wet' versus 'dry' Navy, we didn't want it to leave ;). What's even more of a small world phenomena is I was a member of the Coastal Patrol Jervis Bay and the radio shack was at Voyager Park .. took me about 6 months to realize why the park was named (locals don't read the signs). A mate of mine was a Chemist and his business partner was the CMO on the HMAS Melbourne. We missed each other by a few years (he passed away) when we moved down to Jervis Bay.

[CPOCSM]

Was trolling the internet and found the ad that got me to sign up. Still rouses a huge sense of pride seeing this old ad!

http://youtu.be/ET8EZBhTpfc

[raafy]

This was sent to me by my brother (also ex RAAF)
http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/retired-diggers-to-finally-get-the-pension-they-deserve/story-fnii5s3x-1226855182547

[NP99]

And in 1985 the dfda was introduced. I think from memory it bought all punishments into alignment with the three services. A mate of mine holds the honour of being the first person charged under the dfda :) I have also been responsible for sending soldiers on holiday to the DFCU as it was known in the bad old days...

[Dave_GU_ACT]

Gents, a bit of an intro thanks to Timmo who asked me what my forum name was. I'm Dave currently at Bungendore as the driver to a bigwig. In the process of leaving the green and joining the Puss (fingers crossed) new to Patrols as Ive seen the light from the other brand and wanted to say G'day.

[93patrol]

Good work mate. While you introducing yourself pop over to the intro thread and say hello there. We are a friendly bunch apparently and all the info in the world concerning patrols.