The Cove Podcast

Advising, Not Commanding: Inside ADFs PNG Defence Cooperation Programme with WO2 Dathan Rolfe

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Cove Podcast, we unpack the reality of a posting to the Defence Cooperation Programme in Papua New Guinea. Joined by Warrant Officer Dathan Rolfe, we explore what it means to operate in an environment where influence matters more than authority and relationships outweigh rank.

From competing for the position and preparing family for an accompanied move to Port Moresby, through to the professional demands of advising the PNG Defence Force, this conversation highlights a side of service many soldiers never see. It’s not a warfighting deployment, but it is operationally significant, shaping regional stability, strengthening partnerships, and reinforcing Australia’s strategic interests in our near region.

This episode is about career risk, professional growth, family commitment, and why PNG matters far more to Australian security than most realise.

From Snow to Slouch Hat, Transitioning Between Two Armies with LTCOL Devon Matsalla

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hardgrave sits down with a former Canadian Army Colonel who traded snow boots for a slouch hat and brought 26 years of coalition experience with him.

From early service in the reserves as a bagpiper to deployments in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and later leading multinational warfighting seminars within Australia’s 1st Division, this conversation explores what happens when two professional armies—shaped by different histories, geographies, and cultures—collide in the best possible way.

They unpack the Canadian Army’s identity forged at Vimy Ridge, its bilingual and multicultural foundations, Arctic operations and the Canadian Rangers, and how a “do more with less” mindset contrasts with Australia’s operational focus in the Indo-Pacific. Along the way, they discuss coalition warfare, sustainment, capability development, and the subtle but telling differences between militaries—from equipment procurement to wearing the slouch hat correctly.

This episode is a practical and candid look at professional military culture, adaptability, and what junior and senior leaders alike can learn from operating across nations.

Mission Culture: Rethinking Army as a Profession with SGT John Wellfare

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we sit down with Sergeant John Welfare, winner of the 2025 Chief of Army Essay Competition and Chauvel Prize, to unpack his argument that the Australian Army must undergo a professional transformation if it is to remain relevant within the integrated force. Drawing on the story of Ignaz Semmelweis and the medical revolution of the 19th century, John challenges the Army to confront its institutional blind spots, rethink its expertise, and align its culture with external necessity rather than internal tradition. This is a conversation about jurisdiction, professional mastery, self-regulation and what it truly means to be a modern professional soldier.

Principles of leadership for 10 or 10,000 with MAJ GEN Stephen Day DSC AM

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hardgrave is joined by Major General Stephen Day, DSC AM, author of the ADF Leadership Doctrine, to explore leadership as a matter of character, not just competence. The conversation examines why moral courage, judgement, and self-awareness sit at the centre of leadership in the profession of arms, and how these principles apply whether leading ten people or ten thousand. Drawing on operational experience from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as national crisis leadership during Australia’s drought response, Major General Day reflects on command, followership, decision-making under pressure, and what the doctrine demands of leaders when it matters most.

The Rise of Drone Racing in Defence - CAPT Tom Gash and LCPL Chris Quaill

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hargrave explores the fast-growing world of drone racing and uncrewed systems, focusing on the people, skills, and pathways behind the technology. Joined by Lance Corporal Chris Quayle and Captain Tom Gash from the ADF Drone Racing Association, the conversation examines how drone racing builds technical mastery, decision-making under pressure, and community across kids, cadets, serving members, and veterans. The discussion connects this emerging sport to modern Defence capabilities, highlights the crossover between hobbyist skills and military applications, and looks ahead to where drone racing and uncrewed systems are heading more broadly.

Fighting in the Arctic: America's Arctic Angels - WO2 William McGovern and SGT Nathan Groen

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:00 -0000

“One foot in the snow, here we go.”

In this week’s episode, the host sits down with WO2 Will McGovern (2/14 Light Horse Regiment) and SGT Nathan Groen (1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment) to explore their recent deployment to Alaska as Observer-Trainers with the 11th Airborne Division’s “Arctic Angels.” SGT Groen is the Direct Fire Support Weapon’s Platoon Sergeant at 1 RAR and WO2 Will McGovern is a Squadron Sergeant Major at 2/14 LHR. In January 2025, they supported the 11th Airborne Division’s rotation through the U.S. Army’s newest Arctic combat training centre, Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC), designed to test war-fighting capability in one of the harshest environments on Earth.

H-hour was at 0001 on 23 January 2025 with a large-scale airborne insertion: paratroopers from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) jumped from C-130s and C-17s into Army Allen Airfield and Drop Zone Buffalo. Their mission: seize and secure the airfield, establish a foothold against not just an opposing force but one of the most unforgiving climates imaginable. Temperatures plunged below –35 °C as soldiers fought to gain positions, build defensive works, and operate under deep snow and arctic winds.

WO2 McGovern and SGT Groen explain how they were selected for this rotation, how they integrated with an allied formation and contributed as Observer-Trainers, and where they as the two Australian on the exercise tried to add insight in the joint, multinational context. They reflect on the logistical challenge of sustaining operations in sub-zero conditions, the physical and mental strain on troops, and the adjustments required in tactics, movement, and sustainment to remain effective when the environment is as lethal as the enemy.

Beyond the drop and snow-covered patrols, we dive into what Arctic warfare demands: from cold-weather equipment and sleep systems, through mobility on snow and skis/ahkios, to the scale of U.S warfighting. JPMRC 25-02 isn’t just a rotation — it’s part of a broader push by the U.S. Army and its allies to re-learn Arctic warfighting skills lost in two decades focused on counterinsurgency.

This episode offers a rare window into modern Arctic combat training — combining parachute assaults, joint multinational forces, and the brutal test of sub-zero environments. For planners and leaders in Australia’s Army, it’s a prompt to ask: are we ready to fight in the world’s harshest environments?

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Command Responsibility: Holding Senior Leaders to Account - MAJGEN Chris Smith

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘[W]hat we're trying to do is restore what has been a loss of trust for a number of reasons over the recent decade or so between generals and rank and file to be frank ...’

In this week’s episode, CAPT Todd Lempa sits down with Major General Chris Smith, the Deputy Chief of the Australian Army, to discuss command responsibility and the uncomfortable question of how armies — including our own — hold senior leaders to account. Building on his earlier episode on Warrior Culture, MAJGEN Smith reflects on the Australian Army’s struggle, common across many militaries, to recognise and act on professional failure or a lack of success at senior levels. Drawing inspiration from Thomas Ricks’ The Generals, he explores how accountability in command has eroded over time and what that means for trust and confidence in the profession of arms.

We examine the 2012 Camp Bastion attack in Helmand Province, where Taliban fighters infiltrated the perimeter, killing two US Marines, wounding several others, and destroying or damaging eight USMC AV-8B Harrier aircraft — one of the most significant single-day losses of American airpower since Vietnam. The breach occurred after elements of the UK-led security force thinned out perimeter manning to support operations elsewhere. While no British officers were held to account, the United States Marine Corps relieved two generals of command following the attack. MAJGEN Smith uses this event to frame a discussion on vicarious responsibility, arguing that senior leaders sometimes need to step aside — not because of personal culpability, but to restore trust and confidence in their institution.

He acknowledges that the Brereton Inquiry put a lot of attention on the NCOs and troops, but that no senior leaders were held to account. In his view, this reveals a broader failure to uphold the principles of command responsibility that underpin the trust soldiers place in their leaders. Across the episode, MAJGEN Smith challenges senior leaders to confront a hard truth: that leadership accountability cannot stop at the tactical level if the profession is to maintain legitimacy, trust, and moral authority.

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One Size Does Not Fit All – WO2 Tavis Nicholson

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘It was grinding on me day in, day out—patrolling, heat, and loads I wasn’t built for.’

In this week’s episode, CAPT Todd Lempa sits down with WO2 Tavis Nicholson, the Warrant Officer Physical Training Instructor (PTI) at the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D), for a follow-on conversation expanding on his earlier episode, ⁠Beyond Snake Bites: The Evolution of Army Physical Training⁠. This time, we move past concepts and dig into the practical reality of how to programme physical training intelligently across Army — not by guesswork, but by understanding the science and applying it tactically.

WO2 Nicholson starts by breaking down the foundational physical qualities soldiers actually need to perform: strength as the base of load carriage and durability; aerobic capacity as the silent engine behind every long patrol and recovery cycle; and the role of strength endurance, anaerobic capacity, and power layered on top. Drawing on Bondarchuk’s exercise classifications and years of coaching experience, he explains how units can move away from ‘one size fits all PT’ and instead build training around what soldiers actually lack — using ability-based grouping to tailor strength, aerobic, and endurance work without losing cohesion or tempo.

We explore why methods like Repetitions in Reserve (RIR), Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) lifting, Maximal Aerobic Speed intervals, threshold running, and Zone 2 work differently for different soldiers, and why sequencing sessions correctly matters more than any individual exercise. WO2 Nicholson then talks to what he calls Avatars, scientifically backed Employment Classification profiles that describe where each trade in Army should dedicate their time at PT, contrasting a Rifleman with a Vehicle Mechanic.

Whether you’re a section commander looking to better understand your unit PT program, a platoon sergeant trying to reduce injuries, or an officer wanting to understand how to get the most out of your teams in-the-field and on operations, this episode provides the practical tools needed to build soldiers who can perform under pressure, recover quickly, and stay in the fight.

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Resources:

⁠Little Black Book of Accessory Methods & Workouts⁠

The Double-Edged Sword: Jamming and Machine Learning - MAJ Tom Berry

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘If an adversary is operating in a highly enabled headquarters and we’re not, we will fall behind instantly ...’

In this week’s episode, the host sits down with MAJ Tom Berry, a Signals Officer posted to Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC), to unpack the realities of jamming, machine learning, and the future of command-and-control on the modern battlefield. Building on a recent episode titled Tactical Communications with CAPT Jack Virtue, this conversation shifts from line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications to the complex world of electronic warfare, adaptation, and decision-making advantage.

We break down the assumptions many of us still hold about jamming — including the belief that enemy EW will simply “switch off” our command posts and force us back to maps and talcs. MAJ Berry explains why jamming rarely works like that, how most systems retain offline data even when real-time feeds are denied, and why jamming is a double-edged sword that exposes the emitter as much as the target. From GPS and SATCOM spoofing to tactical-level EW effects and A2/AD systems, he outlines the conditions, power requirements, and vulnerabilities that determine how and when jamming is actually effective.

The episode then explores mesh networks, distributed architectures, and what resilient, reconfigurable communications webs can offer a formation — and their limits. We discuss why mesh networks reduce bandwidth stress on BLOS communications, how they support tempo, and why even the best mesh still depends on a reliable BLOS hop.

Finally, we dive into machine learning and its role in enabling commanders and staff. MAJ Berry explains how ML helps find “needles in haystacks,” reduces the staff effort required to decypher useful information, and gives command post staff and commanders the space to create shock, surprise, and decision advantage. We also examine the tension between a commander’s information requirements and the creeping “1000-mile screwdriver” — what leaders need to see versus what they want to see. This episode challenges long-held assumptions about jamming and machine learning — and argues that if we consistently drop to map-and-compass we will be left behind by those armies embracing machine learning to accelerate their decision-making speed.

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South Sudan to Line Creek: The Adaptation of Combat Integration - WO1 Chris Sharp

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘'[T]here were .50 cal rounds coming off of Technicals that were ripping through the accommodation buildings…’

In this week’s episode, CAPT Todd Lempa sits down with Warrant Officer Class One Chris Sharp, Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Armoured Regiment, to talk about Operation ASLAN, getting selected as the RSM of the Army’s first Combat Experimentation regiment and training soldiers in Africa to transforming an armoured regiment at home, WO1 Sharp’s story is one of challenge, adaptation, and belief in people over platforms.

He reflects on his deployment to South Sudan on Operation ASLAN, where he served as a Training Warrant Officer embedded with the United States military, navigating the complexities of operating alongside multinational partners in one of the most demanding environments on Earth. Returning to Australia, he learned he’d been selected as the RSM of the 1st Armoured Regiment — a proud moment quickly tempered by peers questioning whether he was going to a “real armoured combat regiment.”

What followed was an exciting and fast paced change. He began 2025 watching every armoured vehicle in the compound loaded onto trucks and driven away, leaving behind an empty regiment compound. But by the end of the year, his soldiers had delivered one of the standout performances of Exercise Talisman Sabre 25, using uncrewed aerial systems, armed First Person View (FPV) drones, and automated M113s to outmanoeuvre and outthink the enemy party. The result was not just tactical success — it was a cultural one, with soldiers begging to stay in the unit they had helped reinvent.

This episode captures what leadership looks like when tradition meets transformation — how an RSM can build pride, purpose, and lethality in an era where the definition of “armoured” is changing fast.

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Command in Combat: Hard Decisions and High Standards – BRIG Dave McCammon

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘Nothing narrows the focus more than being properly shot at ...’

In this week’s episode, the host sits down with Brigadier David McCammon, the Commander of the Australian Army Cadets and Head of Corps – Infantry, to explore what it truly means to prepare for combat, be in combat, and return from it. Few senior officers have deployed so frequently at the tactical level. From commanding platoons and companies to leading a battalion and a brigade on operations, BRIG McCammon’s operational experience stretches from East Timor and Kosovo to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East.

He reflects on the lessons forged through over two decades of command: the importance of preparation, discipline, and maintaining standards even when they’re unpopular; the leadership required to make hard calls under pressure; and the enduring truth that combat exposes character—it doesn’t create it. We unpack the “70% solution,” why morale isn’t about keeping people happy but giving them something to fight for, and what it means to be the “first adult in the room” when chaos breaks out.

Drawing on his experiences commanding Australia’s first Operational Mentor and Liaison Team in Afghanistan, Task Group Taji, and most recently JTF 1118 during Operation Beech, BRIG McCammon discusses accountability, resilience, and the moral courage required of leaders in war. He offers blunt advice on why he prefers to reign in a stallion as appose to flogging a donkey and what Australia’s next generation of soldiers and officers must do to be ready for the wars ahead, even if there is no obvious deployment date.

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Spiritual Toughness: The Big Three Questions – CHAP Gav Keating

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 18:00:00 -0000

“It would be so much easier to say, ‘hey, I was riding on my white horse on the road to Damascus and I got struck down by lightning... but that’s definitely not what occurred.’”

In this week’s episode, the host sits down with Chaplain Gav Keating, whose journey through the Australian Army spans from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, to the Special Air Service Regiment, to commanding the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment and leading Task Group Taji 6 as a Colonel on Operation OKRA—before making the shift to study theology and become an Army Chaplain. Now serving as the padre at 5/7 Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, Chaplain Keating reflects on the link between leadership, purpose, and what he calls spiritual toughness.

We explore how spirituality—defined not as religion, but as the search for meaning, purpose, and identity—underpins resilience and fighting spirit in soldiers. Drawing on his experience leading troops in combat and counselling them in peace, Chaplain Keating discusses the “big three” questions posed by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Who am I? Why am I here? How then shall I live? He uses case studies from his own operational experience and Senator John McCain’s time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam to explore what keeps people going when others are deliberately trying to break them.

From the moral component of fighting power to the power of reflection, we unpack how spiritual strength becomes a force multiplier in the profession of arms. Chaplain Keating introduces his concept of a Spiritual Appreciation—turning the Military Appreciation Process inward—and explains what happens when institutions fail to live up to the trust their people place in them.

He closes with a challenge: to take the time to write a personal mission statement and define what truly matters in your life. In a world of relentless tempo and external noise, he argues that clarity of purpose is not something that comes easy—but that it’s the foundation of resilience, leadership, and a strong fighting spirit.

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The Invisible Front: The Importance of Effective Counterintelligence - MAJ Paul Patty

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 18:00:00 -0000

'These people aren’t ghosts, as much as they attempt to be or seem like it ...’

In this week’s episode, we sit down with MAJ Paul Patty, an Intelligence Officer in the Australian Army, to unpack counterintelligence (CI) in modern conflict. MAJ Patty is an expert in counterintelligence, and his skills have been relied upon in both the private and government sectors. We open with two stark contrasts: a contemporary case study on Ukraine’s operational planning and the consequences when CI is poorly conducted, set against the UK’s Double-Cross system in the Second World War—a successful approach to turn Axis spies to report bogus information back to Germany. We also examine how Russian services seeded spies inside Ukraine and across other post-Soviet states to run grey-zone deception operations, leaking operational plans back to Moscow and distorting Ukrainian decision cycles before contact.

We also confront a hard truth at home: Australians are not immune to recruitment by Foreign Intelligence Services. The classic levers of MICE—money, ideology, coercion, and ego—remain timeless vulnerabilities. Understanding how these levers are pulled, and recognising them early in ourselves and our teams, is essential to preventing insiders from becoming access points into our operations.

From there, MAJ Patty lays out what CI is (and isn’t): not just security compliance, but a campaign to degrade, deny, and manipulate an adversary’s understanding of our intent, capabilities, and movements. We explore how offensive and defensive CI intersect—neutralising hostile HUMINT networks, protecting sensitive capabilities, countering technical collection, and planning for counter-sabotage and partner-force integrity—and why CI effects must be integrated into operations from the start, not bolted on at the end.

Whether you’re a junior leader looking for practical CI habits or a planner figuring out how to wire CI into targeting, deception, and signature management, this conversation offers a clear, hard-edged primer on how to fight for decision advantage when it matters most.

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Warrior Ethos: from Non-Combatant Evacuation to High-End Warfighting - WO1 Scott Krum

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘Everyone wants the view, but nobody wants the climb.’

In this week’s episode, we sit down with WO1 Scott Krum, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, to revisit the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the Kabul Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) and to ask, plainly, what we demand of soldiers and officers in 2025 and beyond. From 14–30 August 2021, a US-led, coalition-supported NEO moved approximately 124,000 civilians through Hamid Karzai International Airport; Australia evacuated over 4,200 people on 32 flights. WO1 Krum takes us onto the ground with the Ready Battle Group—through the North Gate and Abbey Gate—to unpack readiness under pressure, ethical restraint amidst chaos, and how discipline and purpose hold when the stakes are highest.

We then pivot to Warrior Culture: what readiness really means (your equipment, your skills, and the reality that sometimes you’re going without), why purpose must be understood and owned at every level, and how healthy competition—especially at a section level—sharpens a unit. We tackle Australia’s tall-poppy syndrome, why a fear of failure (and a candid Black Box Review) is a feature not a bug, and how resilience is built in hard times. We then turn our sights to unit identity and death symbology before WO1 Krum sets a clear standard for behaviour, restraint, and fighting spirit.

We close with WO1 Krum’s challenge to the listeners: if you want to win in Army you must get FILTHY — forget what others think you can do, find intrinsic motivation, take the little wins, remember that what we do is tough, build good habits, and remember that only you can do it.

This episode is recorded from the Australian Army Infantry Museum in Singleton NSW with one of Australia’s most senior and respected soldiers.

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The Unseen Ties: Exploring Civil-Military Relations – Prof. Risa Brooks PhD

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘The problem is if society becomes accustomed to or reliant on using the army to solve problems or to address failures of civilian capacity.’

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr Risa Brooks PhD, a Professor of Political Science at Marquette University and a leading scholar on civil-military relations, to unpack the enduring tension between military effectiveness and democratic control. Drawing on Peter Feaver’s concept of the “problematique,” Dr Brooks examines how this dilemma plays out in democracies like Australia and the United States today.

We explore the public face of the military — why trust, transparency, and perception matter, and why uniformed leaders must tread carefully when engaging publicly. Dr Brooks discusses the risks of politicisation, the responsibilities of senior leaders, and the limits of professional dissent in systems that prize both loyalty and independence.

The conversation also turns to the paradox of trust: how high public confidence in the military can lead to its overuse in civilian roles, and what that means for long-term legitimacy. We ask whether silence is always the right response to criticism, whether the expectation of apolitical conduct can itself be a trap, and how accountability should be exercised by senior leaders in difficult times.

Finally, Dr Brooks highlights what healthy civil-military relations look like in practice, points to international models worth learning from, and offers practical advice for Australia’s emerging leaders on how to strengthen civil-military trust for the future.

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A New Era of Decision Making in the Australian Army – CAPT Jimmy Wilson

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘Our boss at the time [was] very experienced in [Air Mobile Operations] and really raised us... [to be] tuned into the detail in terms of planning chalks and serials and bump plans ...’

On this episode of The Cove Podcast, we sit down with CAPT Jimmy Wilson, a Small Group Instructor at the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D), to unpack the Australian Defence Force’s new Decision Making and Planning Process (DMPP). An Infantry Officer with service in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment; the Combat Training Centre; and the 8/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, CAPT Wilson now teaches the Army’s newest officers how to plan and make effective decisions.

The DMPP replaced the Military Appreciation Process (MAP) which was made up of the Combat Military Appreciation Process (CMAP), Individual Military Appreciation Process (IMAP), and the Staff Military Appreciation Process (SMAP). The DMPP now includes two processes, the Immediate Decision-Making Process (IDMP) and the Deliberate Military Appreciation Process (DMAP). At its core, the DMPP puts the commander back at the centre of planning—driving the process through timely, intuitive decision-making. As CAPT Wilson explains, this isn’t about reinventing the wheel, but codifying practices already being applied on major exercises and operations and allowing more flexibility and intuition.

Whether you’re a junior leader grappling with planning for the first time, or part of a formation headquarters staff transitioning from the MAP to the DMPP in your formation, this episode provides practical insight into how RMC-D is rolling out the new training package—and what it means for leaders across the Army.

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Survival Starts with Hygiene: How to Thrive in the Field - LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘Again, you’re talking to someone who used to shave and drink out of the same cup ...’

In this week’s episode, we welcome back LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS, the Senior Medical Officer in the Directorate of Army Health. An infantry Combat Team Commander turned Medical Doctor, LTCOL Wing brings his expertise in military medicine and prevention. His first appearance on the podcast covered the Military Employment Classification System; this time, we explore a topic with immediate, practical consequences for every soldier — field hygiene.

From the campaigns at Milne Bay and the Huon Peninsula to the more recent deployment of Australian forces to INTEFET in East Timor, history reminds us that disease and poor sanitation can cripple armies just as easily as the enemy. General Douglas MacArthur is famously quoted as saying ‘[t]his will be a long war if, for every division I have facing the enemy, I must count on a second division in hospital with malaria and a third division convalescing from this debilitating disease.’ In this conversation, LTCOL Wing explains why hygiene remains a commander’s responsibility, and how discipline in the basics — cleanliness, waste management, water control, and illness prevention — is a combat multiplier.

He breaks down what good hygiene looks like in austere environments, from simple routines every soldier can maintain without showers, to wider practices like dipping cams and medication. We discuss common illnesses in the field, how quickly poor hygiene can degrade operational effectiveness, and what leaders at every level can do to prevent infections before they spread, particular by enforcing strict routines and checks.

Drawing on his medical expertise combined with his time in command in-the-field, LTCOL Wing offers practical, evidence-based advice: how antimicrobial wipes stack up against soap and water, how bacteria is passed through the urinary tract, and the role of medications like doxycycline in prevention. He also shares some essential hygiene rules every soldier should follow during high-tempo operations to remain healthy and combat effective.

This episode is a timely reminder that maintaining health in the field is as much about discipline and leadership as it is about medicine — prevention against illness or injury in our potential operating environment will sustain a large fighting force to win.

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Leading source: The Battle Lab’s article on Field Hygiene published on The Cove.

Targeting the Future: the Army's Newest Brigade - BRIG Nick Wilson

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘We are at the cutting edge of making what we have work.’

In this week’s episode, we sit down with BRIG Nick Wilson, Commander of the Australian Army’s newest brigade, the 10th Fires Brigade. Having just returned from Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, BRIG Wilson talks us through putting his brigade through the ultimate test providing short-range, ground-based air defence, long-range multi-domain strike and specialist targeting effects to the 1st Division, the 2nd Division and the Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC).

We start by discussing the current state of play in Army Fires and the role his brigade plays within the Australian Army and the wider ADF, seeing the introduction of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) and the vast array of munitions that can be fired from each to enable the joint fight. The brigade now comprises of the 54th Siege Battery (soon to become the 14th Regiment), the 16th Regiment and the 9th Regiment and is enabled by the 1st Intelligence Battalion and the 7th Signals Regiment.

We explore the brigade’s unique command and control relationships, the sensor-to-shooter link that underpins its effectiveness, and the way the 10th Fires Brigade integrates both offensive strike and air defence effects across Australia and abroad. BRIG Wilson also highlights what the brigade achieved on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, including the first-ever Australian Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) launch from a HIMARS from Mount Bundey Training Area to Bradshaw Training Area, a Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) launch in Shoalwater Bay and a simulated HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) mission onto Christmas Island with coalition partners.

This is joint targeting and how the Australian Army’s fires enable the combined joint fight.

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Beyond Snake Bites: The Evolution of Army Physical Training - WO2 Tavis Nicholson

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘[W]e're not like a professional sporting team that our whole week is designed around that gameday on Saturday, [our] people are required to do their job day in, day out ...’

In this week’s episode, we sit down with WO2 Tavis Nicholson, the Warrant Officer Physical Training Instructor (WOPTI) at the Royal Military College – Duntroon, to explore how physical preparation underpins preparing for and winning wars in the Australian Army. Drawing on his experience training across conventional units and with Special Forces candidates, WO2 Nicholson outlines how physical fitness translates directly into a soldiers’ resilience, availability, and durability on combat and in war.

He discusses his philosophy of programming — know the demands, know the baseline, train the gap — and how this approach ensures soldiers are fit for purpose rather than following passing fitness fads. Drawing lessons from his time with elite sporting teams, he highlights how careful programming, minimum effective dose training, and a focus on longevity can help extend soldiers’ careers and minimise injury. At the same time, he cautions against lowering standards to match societal norms, arguing instead for holding the line on the physical requirements that military service demands.

This conversation is a deep dive into the art and science of physical training, balancing strength, endurance, and recovery with the unique occupational requirements of Army. Every physical training session must be balanced against the high physical demands of our day-to-day jobs. It’s about being intentional, adaptable, and consistent — ensuring every soldier is combat effective when it counts and to prevent injury.

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Subscribe to The Cove Podcast to make sure that you do not miss out on any of the heavy hitting content we have planned and WO2 Nicholson’s second episode on the practical elements of becoming and staying fighting fit.

Small Boats and Brave Men – Dr Tom Richardson PhD

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘[T]hat’s a brigade-sized amphibious operation planned and executed in a week …’

In this week’s episode, we dive into the Huon Peninsula Campaign of 1943–44 and examine how the Australian 9th Division used littoral operations to outpace and outfight the Japanese. Our guest this week – Dr Tom Richardson PhD – is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales – Canberra. He specialises in military history and amongst his many publications is an article called Small Boats and Brave Men, published in the Australian Army Journal.

Following the fall of Lae in September 1943, the Australians turned their focus to securing Finschhafen, a vital harbour on the Huon Peninsula. Using small landing craft to bring tanks, artillery, and supplies forward along the coast, the 9th Division overcame difficult jungle terrain and fierce resistance to seize the town. From there, the campaign culminated in the dramatic combined-arms assault on Sattelberg Ridge, where infantry, armour, artillery, and engineers worked together to dislodge entrenched Japanese defenders. These actions highlight how littoral mobility and a coalition force enabled the Australians to fight heavy and manoeuvre decisively in some of the most demanding conditions of the Second World War.

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Leading Sources: Richardson, T. (2023). Small Boats and Brave Men: The 9th Division and the use of the Littoral in the Huon Peninsula Campaign, September 1943 – January 1944. Australian Army Journal, Vol. 19, No. 2. Available at: Army Research Centre

Dean, P. J. (Ed.). (2013). Australia 1943: The Liberation of New Guinea. Cambridge University Press.

Getting Real: Learning from Feedback and Failure - WOFF Ken Robertson

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘[T]he best piece of advice I've had in years past is that if it hurts a little ... there's probably a fair element of truth to it...’

In this week’s episode, we explore how to seek feedback and turn it into actionable advice for commanders. Our guest, WOFF Ken Robertson, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force (SEAC), is the Australian Defence Force’s most senior enlisted leader. As the first person appointed to the role, he has advised GEN Angus Campbell and ADM David Johnston while representing the soldiers, sailors, and aviators of the ADF.

WOFF Robertson shares his journey from being a fiercely competitive junior aviator and sportsman to recognising the power of deliberate reflection and embracing honest feedback over decades of personal growth. He outlines his approach to gathering insights from tens of thousands of ADF members, uncovering the real value in spending time with those he represents. He also explains how he distils this feedback into clear, meaningful advice for the CDF and senior leaders.

Today, he actively seeks feedback from people who challenge his perspective, a habit that has helped him become confident in his identity as both a leader and a person. He deliberately immerses himself in the ADF squadrons, ships, and battalions to witness and celebrate their achievements firsthand. In doing so, he strengthens trust, stays connected to the lived experiences of the force, and ensures the advice he provides to the nation’s top commanders is grounded in the reality of those achieving amazing things for our organisation.

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Talisman Sabre – SQNLDR Zac Smit

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘The scale of Talisman Sabre from a geographic perspective is difficult to comprehend and, in some cases, it can be quite difficult to describe.’

In this week’s episode, we talk through all things Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest Australian Defence Force Exercise this year. Our guest this week – SQNLDR Zac Smit – is an Operations Officer in the Exercise Control on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 and has lived and breathed this exercise since January this year. We record on-the-road from the Combined Joint Information Bureau at Gallipoli Barracks in South-East Queensland.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 included 43,000 participants in an area spanning 5,300km, 24 warships including 2 carrier strike groups, 270+ aircraft flying 2,000 sorties for the duration of the exercise, the 1st (Australian) Division employed together as the Army’s unit of action, multiple combined joint forcible entry operations via air and amphibious insertion methods, the first live firing of Defence Australia’s HIMARS and Precision Strike Missile, the largest ADF medical effect since the Vietnam War, and the full-activation of Joint Logistics Command Australia’s theatre logistics system.

In this episode, SQNLDR Smit talks about how much different this Talisman Sabre was to Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023, what we set out to achieve in terms of exercise objectives, the impact that global issues can have on the entire exercise and then finally the lessons learnt or takeaways from his perspective in the hot-seat of the Exercise Control Current Operations. Teams of ADF, our partner nations and civilians worked tirelessly 24/7 to achieve some huge successes on one of the largest exercises ever conducted by the ADF.

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Combat Experimentation – LTCOL Jake Penley

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘The way that we designed the Battle Group was on platform and systems of uncrewed and crewed variants that are theoretically attainable within the next two years ...’

In this week’s episode, we talk through combat experimentation in the Australian Army, getting after emerging technology, learning fast and developing the latest TTPs. Our guest this week – LTCOL Jake Penley – is the Commanding Officer of the 1st Armoured Regiment in Adelaide SA and has been tasked with shifting the unit from an Armoured Cavalry Regiment to the Army’s combat experimentation unit. From participating in Project Convergence Capstone 5, a large-scale experiment without the constraints of training levels that allows the US Military, its allies and Defence industry to have at it testing future concepts and the newest war fighting technology to participating in the North Queensland War Fighter, this is the cutting edge of future land warfare.

From running Lavarack Barracks out of maps to enable a huge analytical wargame ran by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) to receiving pallets of brand-new equipment with little instructions, 1st Armoured Regiment is balancing emerging technology and learning with our traditional understanding of tactics and control measures. Tactics and control measures, LTCOL Penley argues, which only become more important with the innovation and leading-edge technology. Working with industry, both Primes and small manufacturers, as well as DSTG mean that any failures are fast, and lessons are learnt quickly to enable the unit to solve the problems of future land warfare.

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The Training System – WO1 Brad Doyle & WO1 Mick Reyne

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘[On] basic para-course… you must be consciously competent … because you're the only person who is going to pull the reserve handle if there is a malfunction at that stage.’ This week’s episode is centred on how we can improve the training that we deliver in units, making the most of the resource that we have to develop creative training from the individual to the collective. Our guests this week are WO1 Brad Doyle and WO1 Mick Reyne. WO1 Brad Doyle is the Command Sergeant Major (CSM) of Forces Command and WO1 Mick Reyne is the Training Warrant Officer - Army.

The Systems Approach to Defence Learning (SADL) is a tool that anyone designing or delivering training can use to ensure that the training that they deliver achieves the right outcomes and encourages continuous evaluation. It includes the ADDIE Cycle, which includes five steps: (1) analyse, (2) design, (3) develop, (4) implement, and (5) evaluate. Taking a skill from unskilled through to competent is done under supervision with the end goal of that individual being able to employ that skill safely in the workplace. This marks the transition point from individual to collective, where that skill must be practiced as part of a collective to proficient and then expert.

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Supporting Army Helicopters – CAPT Shannon McGee and FSGT Jason Smart

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 19:00:00 -0000

'Watching those aircraft take off ... and knowing that you are part of that success, part of that story, there's not many better feelings.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about the challenges and opportunities of keeping the CH47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters in the air. Our guests are CAPT Shannon McGee and FSGT Jason Smart from the Army’s new 16 Aviation Support Battalion in Townsville, Queensland. CAPT Shannon McGee is a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineer on the CH47 Chinook and FSGT Jason Smart is an Aircraft Technician who has seen the introduction-into-service of the MRH90 Taipan and has deployed supporting Army helicopters multiple times, including in the first days of INTERFET in Dili and later from a patrol base in Balibo, both in Timor-Leste.

The 16 Aviation Support Battalion is tasked with keeping the fleet of CH47 Chinooks in the air to meet Army’s need for rotary wing lift while preparing for the introduction-into-service of the Australian Army’s newest helicopter, the AH-64 Apache combat helicopter. Both 1 Aviation Regiment and 5 Aviation Regiment will fly out of Townsville, operating from Hamel Lines at RAAF Townsville. The Apache is replacing the Eurocopter Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter and will become the 1 Aviation Regiment’s attack aviation platform. The first AH-64 Apaches are scheduled to commence flying operations in the next six months and many of the aircrew and support staff have already commenced training in the United States to prepare to be thrown the keys.

The team that supports Army flying operations include maintainers, Aviation Ground Crew, Life-support Fitters, and engineers. The come from the Army, RAAF and civilian contractors that have maintained helicopters at Hamel Lines for decades, conducting everything from routine to deep maintenance. They will be joined by Maintenance Augmentation Teams provided by the United States Army and field service representatives from Boeing to enable the introduction-into-service. Army aviation is at the start of exciting times and these are the people that get to create history.

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Recon by Fire – CPL Andrew Noseda

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘We are never going to be combat ineffective because of atmospherics... we can work in the rain, we can work in the mud, and we can work in the jungle.’ In this week’s episode, we talk all things infantry reconnaissance and how reconnaissance patrols enable the fight. Our guest this week - CPL Andrew Noseda - is currently the acting Platoon Sergeant for the Reconnaissance Platoon at the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. He was the Section Commander for the battalion’s Duke of Gloucester Cup team and his team took out second place out of all the teams submitted by the regular infantry battalions. He has been in reconnaissance for the last four years, two as a digger and two as a Patrol Commander, and he talks us through the purpose of dismounted infantry recon and what a recon patrol can offer commanders.

Observation Posts (OP) and Point Target Reconnaissance (PTR) are the primary means by which infantry recon will answer their Commander’s Critical Information Requirements, ranging from questions about the terrain/weather to the enemy disposition and pattern of life. Recon patrols are prime targets for enemy engagement and are inherently vulnerable. They operate in isolation, with limited communications and they often carry all the stores and equipment necessary for their task on-foot. They can be inserted via vehicle, boat, helicopter or on-foot to set the preconditions for the main force.

Infantry recon can be supplemented with engineer recon, armoured recon and Joint Fires Observers to enhance mobility, endurance, to answer more of the commander’s questions and to target the enemy with Offensive Support. The Basic Reconnaissance Course is the first course in the continuum and can be completed by both infantry and other corps. The Patrol Commander is responsible for briefing the commander that they are attached to on what they can achieve. The earlier in planning that the Patrol Commander is included, the more refined the specified tasks their patrol is allocated in orders to better enable the commander’s intent.

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Tactical Communications – CAPT Jack Virtue

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘There are a number of things to [jamming] and I don’t think we necessarily train it well because it’s a very complex concept.’ In this week’s episode, we talk all things tactical communications or more specifically the options available to communicate within a combat brigade. Our guest this week – CAPT Jack Virtue – has been the signals officer for a combat signals regiment, a combat engineer regiment and an artillery regiment all within a combat brigade. He has also been a communications planner for rotary wing attack aviation and has just finished a posting to the Joint Data Network Unit, integrating Army, Navy and Air Force assets into the joint fight.

Combat net radios remain the primary means of transmitting information in a brigade. Any planner needs to understand, integrate and monitor the development and establishment of tactical communications. Terrain, weather, distance, dispersion and even whether it is night or day can have an impact on how easy it is to establish and maintain communications. For ease of understanding, the backbone of brigade and below communications can be separated into line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line-of-sight options (BLOS). LOS options include Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) bands which are both relatively easy to operate; however, can be constrained by terrain conditions and only reach longer distances by using retransmission. BLOS options include High Frequency (HF) and Satellite Communications (SATCOM) which can reach far greater distances; however, can be more difficult to use and in the case of SATCOM can be disrupted or denied.

Communications proficiency is a perishable skill, and it is paramount to conduct regular training and Command Post Exercises (CPX) well before the time comes to run it live. Like weapon drills, CAPT Virtue argues that if you do not maintain hands on with the equipment and the theory behind communications, you’ll lose the competency that is so hard fought for. This episode sets the preconditions for a future episode with the Commanding Officer of the 1st Armoured Regiment on combat experimentation and a future episode on machine learning in command posts and jamming.

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Junior Leadership – CPL Mitchell Clark

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘I was always the digger that had slightly out of regs hair, my sunnies fit so nicely on my head so why wouldn’t I put them there and I obviously love non-issued gear ...’ In this week’s episode, the creator of the popular Instagram page Tuesday Night Violence Co. joins us again to talk about his approach to junior leadership. CPL Mitchell Clark is currently posted as the Training Sergeant at 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (2/17 RNSWR). He has bounced in-and-out of full-time and part-time service and today he talks us through how he approaches leadership in an organisation full of volunteers that can choose to show up or not show up.

CPL Clark came to Army with a teaching background and finds real fulfilment in teaching and mentoring diggers as a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer. He has done jungle training in Malaysia as part of Rifle Company Butterworth, has deployed to Iraq with 6 RAR, was a Team Leader on Operation Resolute as part of the Transit Security Element and his career is not dissimilar from those he serves alongside. Like many, he went through his digger for life phase but realised how much he could give back by promoting and mentoring other soldiers.

CPL Clark takes us through his five reflections on how to be a good junior leader which are: (1) your character flaws are your problem and your responsibility; (2) you set the standard for your team; (3) look the part; (4) use common sense; and (5) be the mentor. He also shares a personality triad that he most relates to which combines professional competence, professional attitude and likeability. To be a good leader, you must have at least two of these traits. To be a good leader long-term, CPL Clark argues that one of those two traits must be professional competence. Honesty, self-reflection and embracing vulnerability are the cornerstones of junior leadership and in this episode, we talk through what it is like to make the leap.

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Subscribe to The Cove Podcast to make sure that you do not miss out on any of the heavy hitting content we have recorded. If you haven’t already done so, go back and listen to CPL Clark’s previous episodes Tuesday Night Violence Co. and Reserve Integration.

Adapting to the Threat – LTCOL James Ellis-Smith

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘The reason [the adaptation] is so quick is because they’re being pressed by a very capable adversary.’ In this week’s episode, we shift focus to how Ukraine and Russia are adapting to the threat as each fight in war. Our guest this week – LTCOL James Ellis-Smith – has just raised the Training Intelligence (G72) cell at Forces Command Headquarters, feeding real-world analysis into our training to bring our adversary analysis into the specific and contemporary. He is also a PhD candidate at the Australian National University, studying intelligence and command at the tactical level of war.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the conflict has been defined by rapid adaptation and brutal attrition. Long-range precision fires, the widespread use of unmanned aerial systems, contested logistics, and a return to trench warfare have epitomised the conflict. We can learn a considerable amount from the pace of adaptation in this fight, with both sides attempting to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology and training, techniques and procedures (TTPs). The addition of low-cost guidance kits to ‘dumb’ munitions has enabled both sides to deliver precision effects using existing war stocks, fundamentally changing the economics of precision munitions. Wireless drones that were susceptible to jamming have been replaced and complimented with drones flown using fibre optic cables.

Among the many sobering realities of this conflict are reports of frontline medics stabilising wounded soldiers under fire, only for those casualties to be killed during evacuation—struck by precision weapons kilometres from the point of injury. In this episode, LTCOL Ellis Smith helps us unpack what these developments mean for Army’s thinking on training, adaptation, and preparing for the demands of contemporary and future conflict. He also seeks to distinguish those lessons that we ought to take into our Primary Operating Environment versus those that are unique to a land conflict between two nations that share a large land border.

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Subscribe to The Cove Podcast to make sure that you do not miss out on any of the heavy hitting content we have planned and if you haven’t already listened, go back to The Future of Land Warfare episode with Dr Jack Watling from RUSI.

Lift Helicopters in Modern Conflict – CAPT Mac Purbrick

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘The guys are firing in bursts, but you can put a significant rate of fire down to allow us to extricate ourselves from a situation ...’ In this week’s episode, we are joined by a CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilot from the 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville QLD. Recorded at the Avalon Air Show, our guest this week – CAPT Mac Purbrick – runs us through the state of play in Army aviation and how to fight rotary wing aircraft under all types of threat.

C Squadron at the 5th Aviation Regiment is about to celebrate its 30th birthday, flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters since they were handed over by the Royal Australian Air Force in 1989. It is the Swiss army knife of helicopters, being able to conduct Air Mobile Operations, carry underslung howitzers, carry generators into flood zones and conduct Aeromedical Evacuation but it's baseline is being able to operate off a ship at night, with little clearance off the ground and fly into a landing zone the aircrew has never seen before. CAPT Purbrick talks about what happens when it goes right but more importantly what happens when it goes wrong.

When planning with lift aircraft, unsurprisingly a commander needs to focus on an effect rather than an entire scheme of manoeuvre and plan for contingencies. What happens to my callsign if the primary landing zone becomes untenable and we get dropped 5km off? What happens to my callsign if all timings are pushed by 20 minutes because the aircraft has to sit in holding outside of the air defence threat waiting for a recon section to clear the landing zone?

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Tensions in Kashmir - Dr Ashok Sharma PhD

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘Strategically, Kashmir offers high altitude military advantage and critical water sources. Emotionally, it invokes pride, pain and nationalism on both sides.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about the most recent tensions in Kashmir, a contested region between India and Pakistan. Our guest this week – Dr Ashok Sharma PhD – is a Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales – Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy. His research is in International Politics and he is an expert on South Asian geopolitics.

On 22 April 2025, a terrorist attack in Indian-Administered Kashmir which killed 26 civilians who were mostly Hindu tourists led to escalations between India and terrorist organisations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir. India responded to the terrorist attack by launching nine missile strikes onto targets in both Pakistan and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, followed by a series of skirmishes and drone strikes between the two countries. Pakistan then claimed to have shot-down five Indian fighter jets. Four days of tense escalation from the two nuclear nations were halted when a ceasefire was brokered on 10 May 2025.

Kashmir was partitioned in 1947 between India and Pakistan with a Line of Control dividing both countries ever since. Conflict has continued between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with the first Indo-Pakistani war in 1965 and the Kargil War in 1999, and countless skirmishes in between. Beyond the geopolitical rivalry, the region has experienced waves of insurgency, crackdowns, and political unrest, particularly following the rise of separatist movements in the late 1980s. The revocation of Article 370 by the Indian government in 2019, which removed the region’s special autonomous status, further intensified tensions. This episode tells the story of Kashmir and how complex this long-standing feud between nuclear powers really is.

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The Turning Point - LTCOL Steve Young

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘Morale in the face of steel doesn’t always work.’ In this week’s episode, we take off from where we left off with the Bombing of Darwin and the Sparrow Force’s work in Timor combating the Japanese advance through South-East Asia and the Pacific. Joined by my regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young, this episode is about the turning point in the Pacific, the Battle for Milne Bay.

Following the Bombing of Darwin and Sparrow Force’s deployment onto the island of Timor, the 7th Brigade was sent to Milne Bay to establish airfields using the US 43rd Engineering Regiment. The 7th Brigade, under BRIG John Field, would be bolstered by the 18th Brigade under the command of BRIG Frank Wootten. Milne Force as it would become to be known was also allocated two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter squadrons, making a Combined Joint Force commanded by MAJGEN Cyril Clowes.

This episode tells the story of the Australian’s first win in the Pacific and the turning point for the Japanese Thrust. It started in the dead of the night, LT Robinson’s platoon established the first hasty ambush against the Japanese landing force, then a battalion tasked with fighting patrols was rerolled into the defence of KB Mission, two Japanese tanks advancing without lights and then illuminating Australian’s whose only defence was the Sticky Bomb which was not designed to be used in humid climates. These stories characterise the fighting in Milne Bay which was a battle of a thousand skirmishes fought in the pitch black.

The RAAF’s 75 Squadron (who now fly F-35A Lightning II multi-role, supersonic, stealth fighters) is again mentioned in this episode, as both 75 Squadron and 76 Squadron fly P-40E Kittyhawks in air combat against Japanese Mitsubishi Zero’s to oppose the Japanese beach landings. As each aircraft would land for refuelling and rearming, the underside would be sprayed in mud as the aircraft matting got pushed further and further into the New Guinea mud. The Aircrew and Maintainers would use their bare hands to claw the mud from the underside before a pilot would take off again, exhausted and riddled with malaria and dysentery. The commander of 76 Squadron SQNLDR Peter Turnbull DFC was killed in action defending Milne Bay.

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Lead Source:

Veitch, M., 2019. Turning Point: The Battle for Milne Bay 1942 - Japan's First Land Defeat in World War II. Hachette Australia.

Reserve Integration - CPL Mitchell Clark

Sun, 25 May 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘Mobilising the Reserve provides the Regular Army with a relatively quick solution for plugging manpower gaps and also the means to prime the pump.’ In this week’s episode, the creator of the popular Instagram page Tuesday Night Violence Co. joins us again to talk about his reserve battalion. CPL Mitchell Clark is currently posted as the Training Sergeant at 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (2/17 RNSWR). He has bounced in-and-out of full-time and part-time service and today he talks us through what a typical reserve infantry battalion looks like, and the value that those who volunteer to be a part of our organisation bring.

CPL Clark came to Army with a teaching background and finds real fulfilment in teaching and mentoring diggers as a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer. He has done jungle training in Malaysia as part of Rifle Company Butterworth, has deployed to Iraq with 6 RAR, was a Team Leader on Operation Resolute as part of the Transit Security Element and his career is not dissimilar from those he serves alongside. From diesel mechanics to medical professionals to architects, CPL Clark’s section looks a little bit different to a regular infantry one.

High levels of motivation, bang-for-buck training and a vast breadth of experience epitomise our Reserve workforce. If you get to work with a reserve unit, ask plenty of questions to not only get to know your attachments but also what they can offer in terms of getting after problems that your current callsign might try to solve in more conventional means. 'Choccos’ bring a wealth of knowledge from their full-time professions and trades to an Army that is trying to solve more-and-more complex problems.

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Subscribe to The Cove Podcast to make sure that you do not miss out on any of the heavy hitting content we have recorded with CPL Clark and many other amazing guests. if you haven’t already done so, go back and listen to CPL Clark’s previous episode and Mobilising through History which CPL Clark recommends in this episode.

Ready, or Not: Leading Troops in a Violent Peace – COL John Papalitsas

Sun, 18 May 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘So, a fistfight ensues a couple of meters inside East Timor and the situation deteriorates very quickly.’ In this week’s episode, we talk through what it is like to deploy with no notice and little preparation onto an island that is on-fire and in turmoil. Our guest – COL John Papalitsas – was a brand-new infantry Platoon Commander at the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment when he got word that he would deploy his platoon to East-Timor as part of International Force East Timor (INTERFET). Listen in as he describes what it was like as the boat arrived and throughout his six-month deployment, telling the stories of the men and women that were deployed.

COL Papalitsas saw the Ready Parachute Company Group come in to do PT in the morning, conduct what they thought was an equipment check and by the afternoon deploy to RAAF Base Tindal to stage for an infill into Timor. With five-days' notice, his platoon followed up and flew to Darwin NT before deploying to Timor via ship on HMAS Jervis Bay. He talks of witnessing the aftermath of a massacre at the Hotel Tropical, his platoon deploying from Maliana by Blackhawk helicopter to clear some militia, giving his soldiers the order to fix bayonets in the form-up point, a tense checkpoint exchange between a section of his platoon and the Indonesian National Armed Forces and retrieving the local mayor’s daughter before she was dragged across the border by the militia.

Finally, COL Papalitsas uses a quote to epitomise his approach to leadership: ‘A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way’ - John C. Maxwell. Like many of the other guests we have had on The Cove Podcast have argued, it is on you to become as competent as you can and to own your job. You must show those around you that you mean the things that you say and that you are willing to do everything that you ask of your subordinates. You must also show them what right looks like, setting an incredible example for those that are always watching. This is leadership where it matters, where there may be no right-or-wrong, so get yourself as prepared as you can because like this young platoon commander at 3 RAR, you may have no idea when you’ll deploy.

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The Battle for Dili Aerodrome – MAJ Guy Warnock

Sun, 11 May 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘You think your whole life is going to flash before your eyes but I couldn’t think of anything.’ In this week’s episode, we continue with the defence of the Dili Aerodrome, using 2/2 Independent Commando Company as a case study to examine a small Australian force going up against a large opposing military. Our guest – MAJ Guy Warnock – just returned from years in the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) in Timor-Leste but this is not where his interest in the history of Timor first started. MAJ Warnock deployed to Timor as a Special Forces Operator from the Special Air Service Regiment in the first few months of INTERFET.

If you want to walk the ground of Sparrow Force, the 2/2 Commando Association of Australia (inc.), along with members of DCP-TL, have collaborated with a Timor-based adventure company to develop a Kokoda-style trek up through the mountains of Timor that follows some of the network of tracks used by the soldiers of the 2/2 and 2/4 Independent Companies and their Timorese comrades.

It’s five gruelling days covering 96km with a walking tour of the battle for the Dili Aerodrome developed by MAJ Warnock on day one and finishing with a 1700m gain in the last 36 hours or so to reach the highest peak on the island of Timor - Mt Ramelau at just under 3,000m.

Options also exist to visit the crash site of the RAAF No.200 Flight B24 Liberator A72-159 which crashed in the mountains above Dili on 17 May 1945 killing all 15 Australians on board, including five men from the Services Reconnaissance Department - AKA: ‘Z’ Special Unit and the wreckage of HMAS Voyager (I) on the south coast of Timor-Leste at Betano, which ran aground and was lost on 23 September 1942 as it attempted to evacuate elements of SPARROW Force and replace them with LANCER Force based on the 2/4 Independent Company.

Maddog Adventures

maddogadventures.com.au

La Rende! (No Surrender!) Trek

https://maddogadventures.com.au/adventures/la-rende-trek/

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Sparrow Force - MAJ Guy Warnock

Sun, 04 May 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘Tough men wanted for tough missions.’ In this week’s episode, we continue with the island of Timor but go back to WWII, using Sparrow Force as a case study to examine a small Australian force going up against a large opposing military. Our guest – MAJ Guy Warnock – just returned from years in the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) in Timor-Leste but this is not where his interest in the history of Timor first started. MAJ Warnock deployed to Timor as a Special Forces Operator from the Special Air Service Regiment in the first few months of INTERFET.

Sparrow Force, our focus in this episode, was made up predominately of the 2/40th Battalion from the same brigade that provided the battalions for Lark Force and Gull Force but was bolstered with the 2/2nd Independent Commando Company. Sparrow Force’s task was to defend Timor from invasion by the Japanese but although Lark Force could move into Rabaul in New Guinea early because it was Australian territory, it was not until the strike on Malaya and Pearl Harbour that Sparrow Force could deploy from Darwin onto Timor to begin to prepare the defences. The 2/40th Battalion was centred on Kupang in the Dutch-held West Timor and the 2/2nd Independent Commando Company was tasked with defending the airfield in Dili in the Portuguese-held East Timor.

The 2/2nd Independent Commando Company was trained by British training teams that brought new equipment and weaponry to enable unconventional tactics and guerilla warfare. Wilsons Promontory was chosen as the commando training area and was given the codename ‘No. 7 Infantry Training Centre’. As soon as the commandos arrived in Dili, they began to learn the language and the lay of the ground, completely unaware that Singapore was about to fall. This episode is the first part of telling their story.

Sources & References:

The Cove Podcast and MAJ Warnock want to acknowledge the work of the 2/2 Commando Association of Australia (inc.) and in particular that of Mr Ed Willis, the son of a 2/2 soldier who has put in many decades of hard work, research and trips to Timor-Leste. All the further reading and information needed on the battle for Timor is here, including being able to purchase Ed’s recently released battlefield guide “Timor in WW2 - an Australian Army Site and Guide” which is available at their excellent website: www.doublereds.org.au

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Subscribe to The Cove Podcast to make sure that you do not miss the second part of the Timor series on Sparrow Force in WWII, when the enemy land. The next episode continues with Sparrow Force in Kupang and on the 2/2 Independent Commando Company mounting a guerrilla campaign in the hills that surround Dili.

Tuesday Night Violence Co. - CPL Mitchell Clark

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘I taught 11,000 people how to put up a stretcher.’ In this week’s episode, the creator of the popular Instagram page Tuesday Night Violence Co. joins us to talk through equipment and gear setup. The creator – CPL Mitchell Clark – is currently posted as the Training Sergeant at 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (2/17 RNSWR) but spends his spare time providing ‘hot chips’ for diggers on fitness, gear and tactical planning activities. CPL Clark has bounced in-and-out of full-time and part-time service and today he takes us through his philosophy for gear selection and setup and what having his gear squared away does for his mindset.

CPL Clark came to Army with a teaching background and finds real fulfilment in teaching and mentoring diggers as a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer. The Instagram page gives him the ability to reach almost 12,000 followers and he started when he returned from a rewarding deployment to Iraq, trying to work out what was next. He now conducts Research and Development for several different companies, designing gear to improve his DP1 and then thrashing prototypes to help diggers in the battalions spend hard earnt money on excellent equipment.

CPL Clark uses the conditions faced by Lark Force in Rabaul to emphasise that we need to make what we have work, and that our issued gear is world-class and envied by fighters in other nations. When looking at either issued or non-issued equipment, versatility and redundance are the two most important things that must be considered. Versatility so that everything we carry is high value and redundancy to ensure that we can still fight even when things go wrong. We go through packs, sleeping gear, shelter and heaps of other equipment to describe what makes fighters more lethal. We sum up the episode with CPL Clark taking us through three high value items that you should consider when posting into your first unit.

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Subscribe to The Cove Podcast to make sure that you do not miss out on any of the heavy hitting content we have recorded with CPL Clark and many other amazing guests. If you haven’t already done so, go back and listen to Invasion Rabaul and Age in War which CPL Clark recommends in this episode.

From Swanbourne to Dili – MAJ Guy Warnock

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 19:00:00 -0000

‘Language leads to culture and then culture leads to understanding.’ In this week’s episode, we talk through what it would be like to deploy to a pacific or southeast Asian nation using Timor as our case study. Our guest – MAJ Guy Warnock– just returned from years in the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) in Timor-Leste but this is not where his interest in Timor first started. MAJ Warnock deployed to Timor as a Special Forces Operator from the Special Air Service Regiment in the first few months of INTERFET.

MAJ Warnock tells stories about diggers predicting that the Australian Army would end up in Timor years beforehand, troopers itching for any information that they could find before flying into Dili, including learning Bahasa in the halls of Swanbourne Barracks from a tape player and how his force element equipped themselves before deploying. To the soldiers that first deployed to Timor on INTERFET, this was the main event.

Commanders now need to encourage all soldiers to learn a language. Language leads to culture and culture leads to understanding. Allowing soldiers to learn a language like Bahasa or Tetum and then seeking opportunities for them to deploy on Mobile Training Teams or post to DCP will build the soldiers we need for the fighting of tomorrow. Lean into the qualifications, interests and expertise that you already have in your team because you may be surprised at what each member can offer. Make a deliberate effort to force continuity in command. Large changeover of commanders and their staff make it incredibly difficult to build highly functional teams that can deploy into volatile and uncertain countries to either kill the enemy or protect the people of the host nation.

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Subscribe to The Cove Podcast to make sure that you do not miss our second and third episode in the Timor series on Sparrow Force in WWII centred on Kupang in West Timor and Dili in East Timor and on the 2/2 Independent Commando Company mounting a guerrilla campaign in the hills that surround Dili.

Special Operations: Mindset for Selection and Beyond – SOCOMD Psychologists Mel & Georgia

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 19:00:00 -0000

Serving in Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an aspiration for many and attainable for some. It is a popular choice for ADF members seeking to take their career to the next level and civilians wanting more out of life than a trade or corporate job can offer.

Recruiting is underway to identify the next generation of Special Forces Operators, Engineers, Signallers, Medics and Enablers. Depending on the role, some candidates participate in the Special Forces Selection Course (SFSC) – one of the longest and most gruelling selection courses in the world.

We’ve partnered with the ADF School of Special Operations to produce a series of episodes to give you insights straight from the source. If you’re interested in joining SOCOMD’s units - 1st Commando Regiment, Special Air Service Regiment, 2nd Commando Regiment, Special Operations Engineer Regiment or Special Operations Logistics Squadron then this is the series for you.

This episode features two SOCOMD Psychologists who discuss enhancing mindsets and building mental toughness for the Special Forces Selection Course. Together they possess a wealth of collective experience in SOCOMD and have witnessed first-hand how mental preparation can impact performance on Selection, the Reinforcement Training Cycle and Operations. Their discussion provides helpful strategies to assist candidates when responding to different scenarios during Selection and beyond. The insights they have gained from engaging with successful and unsuccessful candidates provide helpful tips to assist future candidates facing those tough and challenging moments on Selection. The key takeaway - if you are not there at the end of Selection, you won’t have the opportunity to be selected. Therefore, you need to build those mental skills to help you persevere and thrive to the end.

SOCOMD is looking for high calibre individuals who are ready to play a part in cutting-edge warfare now, and into the future. Could it be you?

Find out More: Special Forces Operator - ADF Careers

Warrior Culture – MAJGEN Chris Smith

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘Nations that win wars are those that subjugate the individual for the team or more importantly the cause for which you are fighting.’ In this week’s episode, we sit down with the Deputy Chief of Army, MAJGEN Chris Smith to discuss warrior culture. Join us as we try to define the warrior culture that we ought to aspire to in the Australian Army.

Warrior culture, MAJGEN Chris Smith argues, needs to be a culture that wins battles, and by extension wins wars. It must sustain morale and a fighting spirit. It needs to imbue soldiers with the ability to kill. It must be a noble culture with an element of restraint, mirroring the expectations of the society that sends us to protect it. It needs a strong sense of loyalty, loyalty to the government and the cause for which we fight for. It must include an obedience to the lawful orders of the chain of command complimented by a strong sense of discipline.

Many have experienced combat; few have experienced war. Particularly the war we are planning for. War looks more like what was fought in Europe during WW1 or our own experience in the pacific during WWII. When looking for ideals, we ought to question when an individual becomes more obsessed with how they appear, coming up with some sort of call or warrior appearance rather than why they fight. Vanity shows a disrespect for the business we are in.

MAJGEN Chris Smith uses stories from Gladiator, the 1st and 2nd AIF, the story of Achillies and Hector, and the Kibeho Massacre in Rwanda in 1995 to discuss or start to define the needs of a modern warrior culture for the Australian Army. In war, he argues, there exists Sheep, Sheep Dogs and Wolves citing Dave Grossman’s On Killing. In war, we ought to be the Sheep Dogs that protect the Sheep; however, ever present is the tendency to drift into becoming a Wolf.

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The Cove Podcast was given explicit permission to use the snippet of audio that contains the US Army Sergeant Major from The Jedburgh Podcast. To listen to the full episode, listen to The Jedburgh Podcast Episode #143: There’s No Do-overs In The Next Fight – Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer

When the Peace Ends: 12 Months as a UN Observer – MAJ Mick Evans and CAPT Rhys Turner

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘You can’t discern where [the rockets were] actually landing and by night, the noise is enveloping.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about the conflict in Israel, Lebanon and Syria with two people that were on the ground on October 7th, 2023. Our guests – MAJ Mick Evans and CAPT Rhys Turner – talk us through their deployment on OPERATION PALADIN and what it was like being there when thousands of rockets started flying.

OPERATION PALADIN is the Australian Defence Force support to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), whose activities are spread across Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syrian Arab Republic. Both guests deployed for a lengthy 12-month stint, with MAJ Mick Evans spending his time in Syria and CAPT Rhys Turner spending his time in Israel and then southern Lebanon. We explore the geo-political situation in one of the most complex regions and conflicts in the world, attempting to unpack everything that they both learnt over their long deployments.

We talk to the training they received at the Peace Operations Training Centre, their infiltration into what was intended to be a ‘normal’ deployment, what happen on and after October 7th and the varying conditions within each country. Rhys observed the Israeli mobilisation where thousands of troops were mobilised and moved throughout the country. Mick was at an Observation Post that had rockets flying over the top of his position, dropping short some 600m from their position.

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Fighting Fit – LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘You don’t need to be dead to sell life insurance.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about how to look after yourself and those that you command. Our guest this week is the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) for the Directorate of Army Health – LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS – who was an infantry officer who deployed to East Timor as a Company Second-in-Command, to the Solomon Islands as an Adjutant and to Afghanistan as a Combat Team Commander and then chose to follow a life-long dream of becoming a doctor.

On this week’s episode, we shift tact from the future of land warfare and history to talk through some more practical skills to help commanders and individuals negotiate the systems that enable recovery. While often misunderstood, the Military Employment Classification (MEC) System is not a medical system, it is a personnel system. It’s designed to put up a forcefield to enable an individual's rehabilitation, and most of the members that need to recover from injury return to a deployable MEC status on completion. Medical Officers and those that provide healthcare to ADF members make recommendations; however, they do not make decisions on an individual’s MEC status. Once a member is reclassified to a different MEC status, they should be presented at an Individual Welfare Board and then at regular Unit Welfare Boards to ensure that the member’s rehabilitation is on-track and that they are receiving the support that they need.

An Individual Welfare Board is more encompassing and held ad-hoc to consider all relevant information regarding the support to a member and their family. A Unit Welfare Board considers the need of all members within a unit and are commonly held quarterly. Welfare Boards are not just conducted for a member undergoing medical rehabilitation or recovery, they can also be conducted for complex personal issues; or, for those being investigated for, and/or charged with, a serious offence. Both types of Welfare Boards are designed to provide subject matter expert advice to the chain of command to ensure that the correct support is being provided to achieve the best possible outcome for the member and their family.

This episode contains the practical skills to negotiate the MEC System, to get the best outcome for the members that we support and to return to fighting fit. If you have civilian dependants, sign up for the ADF Family Health Program to be eligible for unlimited GP visits and $800 per dependant in family benefit for other services. Find more details at https://adffamilyhealth.com/.

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Australia's Pearl Harbour - LTCOL Steve Young

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘The warning time that they thought they had completely evaporated in a moment.’ In this week’s episode, we take off from where we left off with Lark Force in Rabaul, New Guinea as the Allies continue to combat the Japanese advance through South-East Asia and the Pacific. Joined by my regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young, this episode is far closer to home, focused on the largest attack on home-soil being on Darwin, Northern Territory.

Following Pearl Harbour, the United States identified a need to establish bases that could be held against an initial Japanese onslaught and eventually used to mount counter offensives. The United States chose Darwin because of its deep-water port and its proximity to the Philippines. The assumption was that if the United States could ship stores to Brisbane and Sydney, they could move these stores via road and rail inland to Darwin to stage before the Philippines. Darwin, at this time, consisted of four main streets, the newly established Larrakeyah Barracks and RAAF Base Darwin, a single deep-water port, and a population of less that 6,000.

On the 19 February 1942 (74 days after Pearl Harbour), The Nagumo Force was tasked to attack Darwin. The commander sent 242 aircraft to destroy ships afloat in the Darwin Harbour, strike aircraft on the newly established RAAF Base Darwin and the civilian airport and attacked Darwin to deny its use by the Allies. The Nagumo Force managed to kill 250, wound 300-400 people, destroy 30 aircraft, sink 11 vessels and damage 25 vessels. Both the Japanese and the United States overestimated the impact that Darwin would have on the Pacific War and we explain why in this episode.

The Bombing of Darwin is commemorated on 19 February each year in Darwin, with 8/12 Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery providing a blank firing demonstration with M2A2 105mm Howitzers, the 1st Aviation Regiment providing Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters and the RAAF’s 75 Squadron providing F-35A Lightning II multi-role, supersonic, stealth fighters to simulate the Japanese bombing and the Allied defence.

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Special Operations: Fuelled for Success During Selection - MAJ Angela Uphill PhD

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

This episode features Army physiotherapist, MAJ Angela Uphill PhD who conducted her doctorate on observations from Special Forces Selection. Working within SOCOMD’s Human Performance Optimisation cell, she undertook a comprehensive research project to assess the physical and performance impacts of Selection on candidates. We discuss the data and findings to gain insights about the indicators for who was more or less likely to make it through to the end of Selection. MAJ Uphill also provides some helpful tips to assist with your own training and preparation.

SOCOMD is looking for high calibre individuals who ready to play a part in cutting-edge warfare now, and into the future. Could it be you?

Find out More: Special Forces Operator - ADF Careers

Ethics in Future Land Warfare - CHAP Joshua Bouzanquet, CAPT Matthew Malcolm and WO2 Tony Campbell

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

'With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we can now expect Large Scale Combat in Future Warfare' CAPT Malcolm delves into what we might expect with LSC being one of the main strategies of integrated deterrence. This brings together Allies, Partners and Industry to achieve the desired effect; we must think beyond the land domain and even outside of Army or the military, as we are now working as part of an integrated force. He also explains that with new developments in technology (automated systems, AI and others) which also affect the way that we fight, each of these considerations brings up ethical questions in the way that we fight.

CHAP Bouzanquet adds his perspective on ethical decision making with the acceleration towards automation: as we increase the range of our capabilities, we decrease the response time that we have to make an ethical decision, which in turn increases the lethality and the effects through new and emerging technologies. The choke point is going to be the ethical and legal questions that come into play with these new processes. ‘How do we ensure that we are not creating an ethical lag in our processes?’

WO2 Campbell adds with this improved level of technologies, we could be in a whole other country and ‘still be witness to traumatic events and then…jump down for a schooner at the Seaview with our mates’. Realistically, we have to be able to empower everyone, through good education and mentorship, to make decisions within the battlespace that are the right decision on the ground.

Join CAPT Todd Lempa as he interviews WO2 Tony Campbell, S7 at ADFA; CHAP Joshua Bouzanquet, padre at RMC; and CAPT Matt Malcolm, PhD in Philosophy and bringing an academic perspective to the ethics discussion.

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Recruit Instructing - CPL Jade Numans

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘[A] recruit instructor is … the first point of contact really, for a soldier’s journey’. CPL Numans explains that your main role as an instructor is to train your section of recruits in all the basic soldierly skills, to be ready for Army. You are with them from the moment they step off the bus, through all the drills and lessons, culminating in the field phase where they conduct infantry minor tactics. These are the basic skills that all soldiers need to know. Finally, you are there for them when they March Out.

CPL Numans reflects on some of the lighter moments of being an instructor, such as wasting a recruit’s time when they’ve come to you for assistance, but they need to be on parade or attending a lesson. He also reflects on activities such as ‘Skit Night’ where the recruits can take the mickey out of their R.I.s.

Our guest this episode, CPL Jade Numans is a current recruit instructor at 1RTB, joins us to provide insight into both the organisation and his role, and what these might achieve for Army.

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Close Air Support - OC JTAC Troop and a Fighter Combat Instructor

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

'Black Dagger is our activity that gives JTACs the exposure they need to drop live ordinance in close proximity to friendlies.' In the first joint podcast between The Cove Podcast and Hangar 46, we host CAPT Craig Hogendyk (OC JTAC Troop) and Pete (a Fighter Combat Instructor at 1 Squadron, RAAF) to discuss all things Close Air Support (CAS).

We discuss how to become a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) or a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), explain the training pipeline and how each role is employed at the hyper tactical level. Black Dagger is the culminating exercise for the small panel of JTAC students that get a chance at being given a Dagger Call Sign. We discuss how difficult it is to hit land targets with precision accuracy while remaining concealed on the ground from the enemy. CAPT Hogendyk has controlled aircraft such the Tiger Armed Attack Reconnaissance Helicopters from Army’s 1st Aviation Regiment, A-10 Thunderbolt II Attack Aircraft and B-52 Stratofortress Strategic Bombers from the US Military and has controlled Pete’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Pete recently finished his Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) and qualified as a Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI), Australia’s equivalent of Top Gun. Although this episode is centred on CAS, Pete talks us through all of the other roles that a Super Hornet can fulfil and all of the weaponeering behind choosing the right ordinance to strike a variety of deliberate and opportunistic targets.

Join the host of Hangar 46, Miss Cass Bowers, and the host of The Cove Podcast, CAPT Todd Lempa, to discuss real integration at the hyper tactical level.

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Invasion Rabaul - LTCOL Steve Young

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘It is really important to look at our defeats’. LTCOL Young explains that Rabaul is potentially one of the most shameful episodes of Australian marshal history. In 1942 The Australian War Cabinet decided not to provide any further reinforcements to the Malayan barrier, leaving the garrisons at Ambon, Timor and Rabaul totally alone with no evacuation plan. This set the conditions for command.

COL Scanlan was the commanding officer of Lark Force during the Battle of Rabaul. With limited resources at his disposal, and no plan to execute, he gives the order that it is ‘every man for himself’ as his troops are facing down an invading Japanese platoon.

Our guest this episode, LTCOL Steve Young, joins us to shed some light on the tactical considerations behind an experience of command in isolation and how difficult the environment and enemy is to defeat under those circumstances.

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Ethical Decision Making - CHAP Joshua Bouzanquet and WO2 Tony Campbell

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘We need to have the ability [and] confidence in ourselves … that we are making ethical decisions’. Today’s episode is on Ethical Decision Making, and with this quote, WO2 Campbell explains that the decisions that our officers and leaders often must make are so far beyond the immediate realm and have the potential for far reaching consequences.

CHAP Bouzanquet deftly provides an explanation for the subtle differences between Ethics and Morality. Ethics is the process in which we decide what is right or wrong based on a set of laws and rules set by the courts and is very action and consequences based. Morals is more based on who we are: what type of human being am I and what do I bring of my humanity? Whilst anyone can follow a set of rules; it is how we interpret those rules that becomes the question about our moral character.

WO2 Campbell also explains the framework ADFA currently uses to guide our future leaders in their journey towards ethical decision making, and that is to ‘build up muscle memory’. This includes understanding what the rules and laws are, understand what our duty is in any given situation and what the desired outcome is, and who we are as an organisation and what virtues and values we have. Finally, there is reflection where we evaluate our thinking, particularly around big decisions, and ask ourselves fundamental questions.

Our guests this episode, CHAP Joshua Bouzanquet and WO2 Tony Campbell, join us to provide insights into the reality and consequences of the complex decisions that we often must make on the fly when on deployment.

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Recruiting - LTCOL Trevor Watson

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘Change is never easy’. Today’s episode is on Recruiting, and this quote underpins the challenges we all face when transitioning into the ADF workforce. Meaningful change takes time, patience and commitment to achieve.

Recruitment is a ‘human-to-human endeavour’. While there are systems in place to support it, it boils down to a real person talking to a prospective recruit, making them feel valued and want to join. It is about our ability to connect with people.

The main goal for recruiters is to determine how soon someone wants to achieve their goal of joining the defence force and then ask them a line of questions which helps us determine their interests. Many people apply to be a combat engineer, or an artillery operator, but there are not that many of those roles available. Our job is to find them a role which is a good fit and aligns with their interests, so that they can achieve their primary goal of joining Army.

Our guest this episode - LTCOL Trevor Watson, Deputy Director of Recruiting Delivery joins us to help de-mystify how the Army’s recruiting system works.

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Project Convergence - LTCOL Tommy Gains

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

‘They call it trading steel for blood’. Welcome back to the 2025 season of The Cove Podcast. Our first episode this year is on Project Convergence.

Project Convergence is not a command post exercise, it is also not a training exercise. It is a large-scale experiment without the constraints of training levels that allows the US Military, its allies and Defence industry to have at it testing future concepts and the newest war fighting technology. Firing remote HIMARS with an Xbox controller, flying blood forward from a hospital to a wounded soldier with an unmanned drone and combatting large swarms of enemy drones, this is where technology meets future fighting.

Our guest this episode - LTCOL Tommy Gains - began his experimental journey at the US Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico. He is now the lead planner on Australia’s contribution to Project Convergence and has spent the last two years designing how the Australian Army leans into this experiment.

Project Convergence Capstone 5 will run in March 2025 on the west coast of the USA but also takes the experiment to the Pacific for the first time. Whether you get the privilege of taking part or whether you observe from afar as the experiment occurs, this is your chance to be a part of the cutting edge of Future Land Warfare.

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The Royal Military College - LTCOL Brian Hickey

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 06:30:00 -0000

LTCOL Brian Hickey is the current Commanding Officer of the Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D) and he is in-charge of the current 12-month Officer Commissioning Program trial.

Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D) has recently shifted from the traditional 18-month program to a more intense 12-month course. In this episode, LTCOL Brian Hickey provides valuable insights into what has changed, what has stayed the same and how it impacts the development of the Army's future lieutenants. We also explore the growing emphasis on leadership in the training and the role of simulation in planning assessments, which is revolutionising how cadets are tested on their decision-making abilities.

In addition, LTCOL Brian Hickey shares the benefits of having consistent instructors throughout the duration of a cadet’s training, fostering deeper mentor relationships and better continuity in learning. The realisation that instructors at RMC-D are more likely to become Officer Commanding's, Squadron Sergeant Majors, and Company Sergeant Majors than those from any other unit leads to the CO demanding that they mentor and develop those that will soon become the Platoon or Troop Commanders in their sub-units.

Finally, we go through five common myths about the Officer Commissioning Program trial and get the truth about the changes to RMC-D.

Whether you've been through Duntroon yourself, are on the path to go through officer training or you're a soldier that demands to know what your Platoon Commander was taught, this episode is packed with insight into how RMC-D is shaping the commanders and war fighters of tomorrow.

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The Japanese Thrust – LTCOL Steve Young

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

‘History offers us examples of when deterrence has failed but there is still a requirement to deny’. In this week’s episode, we delve into Australia's National Defence Strategy and explore how the concept of Deterrence through Denial has been employed in history. Joined by our regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young, we examine the strategic significance of the Forward Observation Line during World War II, with a focus on three airfields: Laha in Ambon, Kupang in Timor, and Rabaul in New Guinea.

We focus on Gull Force, Sparrow Force, and Lark Force, three Australian military units that faced the Japanese advance in the Pacific—one of the most audacious military advances in human history. These forces were deployed to the island chain to Australia’s north during a time when the nation was not only under threat in the Pacific but also deeply involved in other theatres of war, from Europe to North Africa and the Middle East.

LTCOL Steve Young explains how the Forward Observation Line was intended to act as Australia’s deterrence against the Japanese thrust into the Pacific, and how this strategy was ultimately shaped by the challenges of operating in remote, hostile environments against a much larger enemy. Exercise Shaggy Ridge—a gruelling food and sleep deprivation exercise undertaken by each staff cadet at the Royal Military College – Duntroon—was originally known as Exercise Timor. Exercise Timor was designed to simulate the hardships faced by Sparrow Force as they withdrew under intense pressure from Japanese forces during the campaign in Timor. We set the preconditions to tell this story in detail in a later episode.

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Leading source:

Evans, D., 2010. The Ambon Forward Observation Line Strategy 1941-1942 A Lesson in Military Incompetence (Doctoral dissertation, Murdoch University).

Special Operations: Physically Optimised for Selection – PTIs Kampo & Ben

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

This episode features two Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) from Human Performance Wing – Kampo & Ben. They are involved in multiple phases of Special Forces recruitment, including pre-Selection physical training, Selection itself and the post-Selection Reinforcement Training Cycle. Drawing on their experience over the years, we discuss becoming physically optimised and ready for Selection and the 30-week physical training program. Kampo & Ben also provide some helpful tips to assist with your own training and preparation.

SOCOMD is looking for high calibre individuals who ready to play a part in cutting-edge warfare now, and into the future. Could it be you?

Find out More: Special Forces Operator - ADF Careers

Special Operations: Becoming Part of The Command - OC Selection Wing

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

This episode features MAJ J, the OC of Selection Wing – responsible for the attraction, screening and selection of the workforce across the Command. We discuss the process to join, roles available, help and resources available, and delve into how candidates are assessed during Selection.

SOCOMD is looking for high calibre individuals who ready to play a part in cutting-edge warfare now, and into the future. Could it be you?

Find out More: Special Forces Operator - ADF Careers

Decision Making and the Planning Process - MAJGEN Chris Smith

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

In this thought-provoking episode of The Cove Podcast, we sit down with Deputy Chief of Army, MAJGEN Chris Smith, to discuss what war would look like and the vital role of human decision-making in military operations.

MAJGEN Chris Smith challenges the notion that technology and machine learning will replace the instincts and experiences of commanders. Drawing on historical examples like the Battle of Crete during WWII, he argues that while information is crucial, it is action—and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure—that ultimately wins battles. The human element, particularly the experience of the commander, remains central to success on the battlefield.

MAJGEN Chris Smith also reflects on the importance of a broad range of experiences in developing effective military leaders, comparing the honing of war-fighting skills to perfecting a golf swing. Whether through direct experience or by studying the decisions of past commanders, the development of critical thinking and decision-making abilities is essential. Where experience cannot be built in combat operations, many great commanders have built experience vicariously through reading about how commanders make decisions when the stakes were high.

We delve into the Decision Making and Planning Process, exploring how this framework helps commanders navigate complex and high-stakes situations. The Decision Making and Planning Process returns art and judgement back to the planning team and brings the commander to the forefront of the decision making process.

Join us for an insightful conversation about leadership, decision-making, and the future of warfare with one of the Australian Army's most senior and involved leaders.

Age in War - LTCOL Steve Young

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode, we sit down with our regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young to explore the challenging realities of age in war. Drawing on historical context, we delve into the physical and psychological toll large-scale combat takes on the human body, particularly during intense missions like those in the Pacific theatre during World War II. The average age of commanding officers pre-WWII was 48 years old; however, in 1945 it had dropped to just 30 years old, meaning there were some officers commanding entire battalion groups while in their twenties. We reflect on how the unique demands of the Pacific campaign played a role in this change and how younger leaders were thrust into positions of responsibility during a time of all-out-war. Additionally, LTCOL Young takes us through a pivotal moment in Australian political history: the 1938 vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. In response, Menzies outlined his government’s significant achievements in preparing Australia for the impending war, underscoring the extraordinary demands placed on both political and military leadership at the time. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of age, leadership, and resilience in wartime, as we look at how the realities of large-scale conflict demand more than ever from the soldiers and officers that fight in it.

Peak Performance and High Standards - BRIG James Davis

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 20:03:00 -0000

In this episode we sit down with BRIG James Davis, an exceptional leader known for his unwavering commitment to physical fitness and his ability to set high standards for himself and others. He shares his insights on maintaining rigorous fitness standards, how important our job really is, and balances this by talking about the potential pitfalls of running on “red-line” for decades. He candidly discusses the realities of Army life, emphasising that we cannot compromise on the demands of war. Throughout the episode, he also highlights his recent experiences in fitness competitions, showcasing the drive and dedication that has fuelled his journey to one-star. This episode offers invaluable lessons on discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence.

The Future of Land Warfare - Dr Jack Watling

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Dr Jack Watling wrote a book in the back of an armoured vehicle in Ukraine while watching technology be employed for the first time on the front-line. Starting life as a journalist and now an academic, his book titled The Arms of The Future is centred on the future of land warfare. In this week’s episode of The Cove Podcast, Jack argues that we are shifting from mechanised to informatised warfare, he flips the current Army structure on its head and explains how challenging it is to fight in contested amphibious operations.

Mobilising through History - LTCOL Steve Young

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 18:00:00 -0000

On this week's episode of The Cove Podcast, our new host CAPT Todd Lempa invites LTCOL Steve Young to discuss the difficulty of mobilisation in large scale combat. We discuss the need for reinforcement, the importance of leaving your best soldiers out-of-battle and the conditions that led to the Australian Army to peak at 476,000 personnel in 1943. LTCOL Young uses his passion for history to explain our current strategic challenges using historical case-studies, including how we have expanded training capacity for larger throughput using institutions like Scheyville, Portsea and multiple Recruit Training Battalions.

Safeguarding Australia's Military Secrets

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 03:40:00 -0000

Since 6 May 2024, Part IXAA of the Defence Act 1903 Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets (SAMS) requires certain individuals, notably former Defence personnel, to obtain foreign work authorisation (FWA) before working for a foreign military or foreign government body or providing training to a foreign military or government body that is related to Part 1 of the Defence and Strategic Goods List, or military tactics, techniques and procedures.

The new law is not intended to limit individuals from working for a foreign military or government body, it is intended to prevent individuals with sensitive Defence information and experience from unwittingly or deliberately undertaking work that is a threat to their own or Australia’s security.

In this episode, The Cove interviews Mr Peter West, First Assistant Secretary, Defence Security, who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the SAMS legislation. Listen in as we discuss the importance of Safeguarding Australia's Military Secrets, and responsibilities of Defence members and leaders.

Additional information and FWA applications can be found on the SAMS page of the Defence website.

Building Trust

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Trust is foundation of everything we do in the profession of arms. Trust within teams, trust up and down the chain of command, and importantly the trust placed in us by the Australian people.

In this episode, listen as SO1 Cove LTCOL Johnson interviews four leaders - Commander 3rd Brigade BRIG Dave McCammon, Health Officer CAPT Rachael O'Sullivan, and 3 Bde JNCOs CPL Connor Dawson and LCPL Che Morris, on the importance of trust and generating trust as a leader at all levels.

Interview with DCA: Army and the Defence Strategic Review

Tue, 14 May 2024 01:59:00 -0000

The Defence Strategic Review was released on 24 April 2023. The DSR recommended far reaching changes to the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) strategic posture and capability in response to what it termed ‘radically different’ strategic circumstances.

The DSR focuses on three things: (1) a specific threat, being the threat posed to Australia’s interests; (2) an integrated all-domain force with an emphasis on long-range precision strike; and (3) a strategy of denial (more particularly deterrence by denial). It implies a focus for the Army on land-based long-range precision strike, land-based air and missile defence, and close combat from or through fortified positions from the sea (littoral manoeuvre).

The DSR has drawn a share of criticism. So in this episode of The Cove Podcast, we sit down with the Deputy Chief of Army, MAJGEN Chris Smith DSC, AM, CSC to explore this in more detail and get his thoughts on what it all means for Army.

Leaders and Legends | MAJ Mark Beretta

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 04:39:00 -0000

In this special edition episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with MAJ Mark Beretta: Australia’s most watched sports presenter! From the outskirts of Geelong to the Channel 7 newsroom, Mark has had a career filled with highlights and fulfilled his lifelong desire to join the Australian Army later a few years ago. On top of early mornings working on Sunrise, he does three reserve days for Australian Army’s public relations. Mark believes in the importance of education and having a thirst to learn from the people around you. He discusses how career mentor programs can lift the whole team up and are often more rewarding for the mentor than the mentee. Hear Marks thoughts on service in Australian Army: how it teaches great leadership skills, inspires members to become ongoing parts of their community, and the growing popularity of ‘Run Army’.

Leaders and Legends | RSM-A Panel

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 22:00:00 -0000

In this episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with the current Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army, Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham, NSC, OAM, and five past RSM-A's, including: Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane, AM; Mr Don Spinks, AM; Warrant Officer David Ashley, AM; Mr Kevin Woods, CSC, OAM; and, Mr Peter Rosemond, CSC, OAM. At the Home of the Soldier, this was the first time since 1983 – when the first RSM-A was appointed – that such an event like this has occurred. Each of the participants progressed through the ranks on very different career paths to become the senior soldier of our Army, providing a wealth of experience for the audience to tap into. This was an amazing opportunity to hear about their lived experiences, whilst receiving advice on the evolving requirements of the Australian soldier.

Leaders and Legends | CPL Taylah Gentzen

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 22:00:00 -0000

In this 'Leaders and Legends' episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with CPL Taylah Gentzen about her military career and being an elite sportswoman. From starting as a rifleman to being a PTI at the School of Infantry, she has done things she never thought were possible. She has a passion for combat-sports and has competed at an elite level for 12 years. Taylah is the number one professional boxing lightweight in Australia. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science part-time, with a particular interest in the mental health and physical performance of female soldiers and athletes. Mark and Taylah explore the importance of having the courage to make mistakes, asking questions, and making time for conversations as a trainer.

Leaders and Legends | CPL Amy Kowski

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 22:00:00 -0000

In this episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with CPL Amy Kowski. From joining the Army as a gap-year as a caterer, to a psych assistant, and now studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) at the moment. Hear how CPL Amy Kowski is managing full-time work and full-time study, with some tips on how to balance her time and the changes to her priorities. She also explains her experience with Army Sports playing AFL: representing the Service in carnivals and bonding with teammates. Learning a lot about Army and a lot about herself throughout her career.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 7. Day in the Life of a Chaplain

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss what an Army Chaplain does. Who do they support? What is a Chaplains role in providing pastoral care? How is their role different out field or on operations?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Chaplain Kerri Frizzwell, COORD Chaplain at RMC-D.

Leaders and Legends | LT John Limbert

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:00:00 -0000

In this 'Leaders and Legends' episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with LT John Limbert about his time as the 2018 Forces Command Soldier of the year and his commissioning.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 6. Moral Injury

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss moral injury. What is moral injury? How do people recover from Moral Injury? Can it be prevented?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Colonel Mark Francis (Retd.) who is the Moral Injury Project Director for Joint Health Command.

Leaders and Legends | WO2 James Debono

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 23:00:00 -0000

In this 'Leaders and Legends' episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with WO2 James Debono about his involvement with the Army Secondment Program and – in particular – his time with the AFL.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 5c. ATSI Spirituality

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) spirituality. What is Indigenous spirituality? How are mobs (language groups) connected to the land? How does ATSI spirituality support Defence capability?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Captain Clint McGoldrick who is the RAACHD Indigenous Advisor.

Leaders and Legends | WO1 Nathan Cole

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:00:00 -0000

In this 'Leaders and Legends' episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with WO1 Nathan Cole about his time at the United States Army Sergeant Major Academy and hear some of his ideas on the professional development of our people.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 5b. Women, Spirituality, and the ADF

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we explore if faith and spirituality is expressed differently by women. How does spirituality support women in the ADF? Are there barriers? How can a female perspective on faith and spirituality enable Defence capability?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Reverend Kaye Ronalds who is the Religious Advisor Committee for the Uniting Church.

Leaders and Legends | WO1 Darren Murch

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this premier episode of 'Leaders and Legends', WO1 Grigg speaks with WO1 Darren Murch. Learning about the Command Sergeant Major of Forces Command 37-year career, his views on leadership and personnel development, and tips for being a successful Sergeant Major.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 5a. No Religion

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss No Religion. A large portion of Australia's population identifies as 'no religion'. What are their belief systems and worldviews? How can commanders support adherents to secular beliefs, other spiritual beliefs, no religious affiliation, and more?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Chaplain Ivan Grant, Deputy Command Chaplain of Forces Command.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 4c. Protestant

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss the Protestant tradition. What is the common ground in the Protestant faith? How does Christianity give believers a sense of purpose? In what way does the Protestant faith supports Defence capability?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by reverend Ralph Estherby who is the Religious Advisor Committee for the Protestant faith.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 4a. Catholicism

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss the Catholic faith? What distinguishes Catholicism distinct? How does the faith support a believer? How can commanders support an adherent to the Catholic faith?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Chaplain Thomas Zaranski. He was commissioned into the Army in January 2022 after completing the Special Service Officers Course at RMC followed by the Chaplaincy Couse at the Defence force Chaplaincy College.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 4b. Anglican

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss the Anglican faith. What is the story of Christianity? How does the Anglican faith support Defence capability? How can commanders support an adherent to Christianity?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Reverend Grant Dibden, who is the Religious Advisor Committee for the Anglian faith.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 3b. Judaism

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss the Jewish faith. What are the important values to Judaism? How can commanders support an adherent to the Jewish faith?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Rabbi Ralph Genende, OAM who is the Religious Advisor Committee for the Jewish faith.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 3a. Islam

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss the Muslim faith. Why is peace the essence of Islam? How does Islam support their believers? How does the Islamic faith support Defence capability?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Imam Ahmed Abdo. Ahmed is currently the Religious Advisor Committee for the Islamic faith and the President of the Council of Imams NSW.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 2c. Buddhism

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss the Buddhism belief. What are the core teachings? How does the faith support a believer? How can commanders support an adherent to Buddhism?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by LCDR Jeffrey Newton who is currently studying to be a Navy Chaplain.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 2b. Sikhism

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss Sikhism or Sikhi. What is the history of Sikhi? How does Sikhi support Defence capability? How can commanders support an adherent to the Sikh faith?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Sardar Ajmer Singh Gill who is President of the National Sikh Council of Australia, an umbrella body of the Sikh community in Australia.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 2a. Hinduism

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss Hinduism. What are its origins? How does the Hindu faith support Defence capability? How can commanders support an adherent to the Hindu faith?

Series 3 – Soul is presented by Subramanian (Sebu) Ramamoorthi. Sebu is currently the Religious Advisor Committee for the Hindu faith in Australia.

Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 1. Spiritual Wellbeing

Thu, 25 May 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss spiritual wellbeing. How do you make sense of life? What are ways to connect to your state of mind? How do you feel belonging? What is your purpose?

Series 2 – Mind is presented by Senior Chaplain Dan Hynes, Director of Spiritual Health and Wellbeing at the Joint Health Command.

CoveTalk | The Australian Civil-Military Centre with Nicola Rosenblum

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

This special edition CoveTalk is from the April episode of the 2 Div PME Series and features Executive Director Nicola Rosenblum's discussing the Australian Civil-Military Centre's (ACMC's) publication, 'Same Space – Different Mandates’. Which aims to improve stakeholder collaboration when responding to international disasters and complex emergencies, focusing on the complexity of interagency collaboration to promote productive relationships, dialogue, and constructive civil-military-police interaction.

Specific military challenges include: strict military protocols that limit options, NGO reliance on military in-extremis support and protection, as well as the need for neutrality in some contentious environments. Therefore, it is vital to form a fit-for-purpose understanding of each civil-military arrangement as there is never a template or one-size-fits-all solution. Each context requires a unique and nuanced approach, this is where the ACMC can help to provide literacy and illuminate the civil-military-police-government and non-government landscape.

This CoveTalk was livestreamed at 1700h (AEST) on Tuesday, 18 April 2023. Please note, this talk originally makes use of slides but they are not essential viewing to understand the presentation and Q&A.

CoveTalk | Interview with Captain Hugo Toovey

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

This special edition CoveTalk sees Major Mark Beretta interview Captain Hugo Toovey about his journey of survival and hope.

CAPT Hugo Toovey is a 30 year-old Army Captain, founder of 25 STAY ALIVE, and a survivor. Not only has CAPT Toovey survived both testicular cancer and bowel cancer, but he has recently been diagnosed with Crohns Disease and yet again finds himself on active treatment. Hugo understands how important health is – physical and mental – and how quickly it can change. The mission of 25 STAY ALIVE is to empower the younger generation to take charge of their health. Hugo is more determined than ever to save lives.

This CoveTalk was livestreamed at 1630h (AEST) on Thursday, 01 September 2022.

7th Brigade Combined Arms Seminar | 3. Design & Planning of Combined Arms Activities

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 02:00:00 -0000

On 2 August 2022, 7 Brigade held a Combined Arms Seminar at Gallipoli Barracks. Hosted by Lieutenant Colonel Ross Thomas, Commanding Officer 7 CSSB.

Major General Mick Ryan (retired) explores the technical side of combined arms activities and what is not in the doctrine, especially the fundamental role and responsibilities of commanders. If you would like to watch the full presentation – with slides – check it out on The Cove.

The last of three episodes from the Seminar. This valuable mini-series of Professional Military Education provides an understanding of the contemporary operating environment and some of the challenges facing the Australian Army going forward.

7th Brigade Combined Arms Seminar | 2. Combined Arms in the Ukraine Conflict

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

On 2 August 2022, 7 Brigade held a Combined Arms Seminar at Gallipoli Barracks. Hosted by Lieutenant Colonel Ross Thomas, Commanding Officer 7 CSSB.

Major General Mick Ryan (retired) presents on the status of combined arms in the Russia-Ukraine War. Exploring the trends and lessons that can help build Australian Army's combined arms teams. If you would like to watch the full presentation – with slides – check it out on The Cove.

The second of three episodes from the Seminar. This valuable mini-series of Professional Military Education provides an understanding of the contemporary operating environment and some of the challenges facing the Australian Army going forward.

7th Brigade Combined Arms Seminar | 1. Introduction & Keynote Address

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

On 2 August 2022, 7 Brigade held a Combined Arms Seminar at Gallipoli Barracks. Hosted by Lieutenant Colonel Ross Thomas, Commanding Officer 7 CSSB.

Brigadier Michael Say opens the Seminar with a brief Introduction. Followed by Lieutenant General Gregory Bilton, AO, CSC, Chief of Joint Operations' Keynote Address with key insights into contemporary operations and how it will shape combined arms in the future.

The first of three episodes from the Seminar. This valuable mini-series of Professional Military Education provides an understanding of the contemporary operating environment and some of the challenges facing the Australian Army going forward.

CoveTalk | Balancing Demanding Reserve and Civilian Careers with Major Mark Beretta

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The Cove’s Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Luciani interviewed Channel 7 presenter and reservist Major Mark Beretta on Thursday, 21 July 2022. Sharing his thoughts on balancing a high-profile civilian life with a role in the Army. Mark discussed his enthusiasm for using his specialist skills in the Army and what civilian employers get back.

CoveTalk | Interview with Former RSM-A: Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane, AM

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000

A bonus episode! Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane was interviewed by Major Mark Beretta – Channel 7 presenter and reservist – on Monday, 18 July 2022. With over 40 years of service, Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane served as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army from 02 July 2018 until 01 July 2022. This CoveTalk discusses the career of Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane; in particular his time as the Eleventh Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army.

CoveTalk | Greyzone and Cyber Operations

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0000

This CoveTalk discussed the intelligence, strategic, and international law implications relating to the 'greyzone' and cyber operations. In partnership with the University of Queensland and Future of Law team, the discussion was livestreamed here on The Cove on 23 May 2022, it is now available as a bonus episode! Hear from an expert panel chaired by Doctor Lauren Sanders and featuring: Associate Professor Andrew Phillips, Colonel Penny Saultry, and Katherine Mansted.

Preparing for the Future: Key Organisational Lessons from the Afghanistan Campaign

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 02:30:00 -0000

CAPT Samuel Cox from The Cove sat down with the report's author, MAJGEN Andrew Hocking, prior to the report's release and had a conversation about the report's contents. A must-listen.

3 Brigade Cove Conference - Dr Jo Lukins

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:58:00 -0000

Dr Jo Lukins is an expert in culture and mindsets of high performing teams and shares her experience and knowledge in 'Ethical Decision Making Techniques' to help you and your team reach your potential.

3 Brigade Cove Conference - LTCOL Steve Tilbrook MG (retd)

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:48:00 -0000

LTCOL Tilbrook MG is a retired Infantry Officer who was the recipient of the Medal of Gallantry for his action in Rwanda in 1995. Steve shares his lived experience of leading his platoon on deployment in Rwanda as part of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR).

3 Brigade Cove Conference - Brent Tate

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:40:00 -0000

Brent Tate is a retired NRL player who debuted with the Brisbane Broncos in 2001. He played 229 NRL games including 23 for Queensland and 26 for Australia.

3 Brigade Cove Conference - Claudia Brassard

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:31:00 -0000

Claudia Brassard is the coach of the Townsville Fire WNBL team. She played basketball for the Canadian women's team and represented her country at the Sydney Olympics.

1000 Miles to Light - Mr Pat Farmer, AM.

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 03:59:00 -0000

Mr Pat Farmer AM, delivers a lived experience brief, of a challenging, colourful and eventually successful life to the soldiers of Support Coy, School of Infantry.

'I wish I had known that' RSM-A Podcast

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 03:38:00 -0000

In this Podcast, RSM-A gives his 5 best 'I wish I known that' statements from our senior soldiers.

Future Technologies of War Conference - Anders Sorman Nilsson - Digital Adaption / Human Transformation

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 05:30:00 -0000

Anders Sorman Nilsson is a global futurist and awarded keynote speaker who discusses digital adaption and human transformation

Future Technologies of War Conference - Kate Devitt - Ethical Challenges for Future Technologies

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 04:56:00 -0000

Kate Devitt is the Chief Scientist at Trusted Autonomous Systems and during this Podcast discusses the ethical challenges for future technologies

Future Technologies of War - Rain Liivoja - Legal Challenges for Future Technologies

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 04:36:00 -0000

Rain Liivoja is an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland who is this Podcast discusses the legal challenges for future technologies

Future Technologies of War Conference - LTCOL Alex Palmer - Army AI | RAS | Robotics | Energy | Quantum Technologies

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 03:54:00 -0000

LTCOL Alex Palmer discusses Army AI, Robotic and Autonomous technology, Robotics, Power and Energy and Quantum Technologies

Future Technologies of War Conference - Dr Jeremy Anderson = DSTG Star Shots

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 03:42:00 -0000

Dr Jeremy Anderson is a Senior Scientist who discusses Science, Technology and Research (STaR) Shots and challenging, inspirational and aspirational S&T missions that will align strategic research to force structure priorities.

Future Technologies of War Conference - Dr Michael Creagh

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 03:25:00 -0000

Dr Michael Creagh the CEO of Skyborne Technologies discusses technologies under development that will be up for acquisition in the next 3-7 years.

Future Technologies of War Conference - BRIG Ian Langford - Future Land Warfare

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 03:02:00 -0000

Brigadier Langford the Director General Future Land Warfare discusses the future of Land Warfare

Future Technologies of War Conference - MAJGEN Mick Ryan - Generating a Military Advantage in the 21st Century

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 04:49:00 -0000

MAJGEN Mick Ryan, Commander Australian Defence College discusses generating a military advantage in the 21st century during the Future Technologies of War Conference

Brisbane Cove Conference 2021 | Military Ethics - LTCOL Tom McDermott

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 03:42:00 -0000

LTCOL McDermott conducts a presentation on Military Ethics at the Brisbane Cove Conference

Brisbane Cove Conference 2021 | Ethics = Values squared - Professor Melinda Edwards

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 03:38:00 -0000

Professor Edwards from QUT conducts a presentation on Ethics at the Brisbane Cove Conference

Brisbane Cove Conference 2021 | Adolescent Learning Strategies - Colonel Brad Kilpatrick

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 03:19:00 -0000

Colonel Kilpatrick conducts a presentation on adolescent learning strategies at the Brisbane Cove Conference

Brisbane Cove Conference 2021 | Putting Leadership Models to Work - Colonel Mal Brick

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 03:06:00 -0000

The first theme of 2021 'Knowing Yourself and Others as a Leader' has now concluded. The Cove team thanks all those who contributed articles and those who either organised or participated in the Brisbane Cove Conference.

In this article you will find all the resources used to support this theme. As a reminder, The Cove are engaging in specific themes in a condensed period of time as this will allow for a breadth and depth of perspectives on a single topic to be presented at once. Ultimately, this may lead to better connection and appreciation of shared ideas and space for dialogue on a single theme.

Cove Thoughts | Episode 2 - Achtung Twitter!

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:48:00 -0000

In this episode of Cove Thoughts, we are joined by Dr Emily Bienvenue from DST, Dr Zac Rogers from Flinders University, Clint Watts from the Foreign Policy Research Institute, MAJGEN Marcus Thompson from Information Warfare Division and Siobhan Heanue from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to talk about cognitive warfare, online manipulation and measures we can take to protect ourselves, our families and the Army from online threats.

Cove Thoughts | Episode 1 - Lessons from Long Tan

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:28:00 -0000

As the years pass, and our veterans get older, there are fewer opportunities to hear their stories first hand. In this episode of Cove Thoughts, produced especially to commemorate the 2020 Vietnam Veterans' Day, we talk to David Sabben about his experiences as a platoon commander at the Battle of Long Tan.

Occasional Podcast - Hall of Mirrors, Interview with Jim Storr

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 20:53:00 -0000

MR Jim Storr was interviewed by LTCOL Gregory Colton about his second book, Hall of Mirrors.

Occasional Podcast - The Lavarack Papers hosted by Jessica Ward

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 22:25:00 -0000

In this podcast - we hear from a number of junior officers who contributed to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Lavarack papers.

Interview with Major General Tim Cross CBE (Ret) ' The Changing Character of War'

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:44:00 -0000

In this Interview the Cove speaks with Major General Tim Cross on....

7 RAR on Deployment: Episode Five - Warrant Officer Dean Close

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 07:34:00 -0000

In this final podcast we meet Warrant Officer Dean Close who deployed to Iraq from May to December 2016 as the Operations Warrant Officer and then as a member of the Training Team as part of Operation OKRA.

7 RAR on Deployment: Episode 4 - Corporal Daniel Starr

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:52:00 -0000

In this last episode we meet Corporal Daniel Starr, who deployed to Afghanistan from June 2016 to February 2017. He was the Platoon Sergeant of the element responsible for conducting vehicle movements as part of Operation HIGHROAD.

7 RAR on Deployment: Episode 3 – Corporal Tyson Napier

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:44:00 -0000

In this third podcast we meet Corporal Tyson Napier, who deployed to Afghanistan from June 2016 to February 2017. He was Section Commander of a Force Protection element as part of Operation HIGHROAD.

7 RAR on Deployment: Episode 2 - Captain Luke Murphy

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:39:00 -0000

In this second podcast we meet Captain Luke Murphy who deployed to Afghanistan from June 2016 to February 2017. He was the Operations Officer for the Force Protection element based at the Afghan National Army Academy as part of Operation HIGHROAD.

7 RAR on deployment - Episode 1 - Lieutenant John Pandoulis

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:15:00 -0000

This short podcast series features members from the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment who highlight lessons learned during the Battalion’s ‘ready’ year and their deployment in the Middle East region. In this first podcast we meet Lieutenant John Pandoulis, who deployed to Afghanistan from June 2016 to February 2017 as a Force Protection Platoon Commander as part of Operation HIGHROAD.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 9 - LTCOL Michael Scott

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:07:00 -0000

In this final episode of Experiences on the Ground we again hear from Lieutenant Colonel Michael Scott. In this episode he reflects on his time as the Commanding Officer at the Academy.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 8 - WO2 Jorja Jones

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:05:00 -0000

In this eight episode we again hear from Warrant Officer Jorja Jones. Here she shares her thoughts on ‘recruiting soldiers from challenging backgrounds’. Jorja wrote a paper on this topic and a copy of this is available in the 2017 WONCO-A papers.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 7 - WO2 Jason Rubie

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:03:00 -0000

In this next episode we hear from Warrant Officer Jason Rubie who is also a student on the Regimental Sergeant Major Course.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 6 - WO2 Carl Hemburg

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:02:00 -0000

In this episode we hear the thoughts of Warrant Officer Carl Hemburg, a student on the Regimental Sergeant Major Course.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 5 - LTCOL Michael Scott

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:53:00 -0000

In the fifth episode we again hear from Lieutenant Colonel Michael Scott. In this episode he explains what to expect from a posting as an instructor at WONCO-A.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 4 - WO2 Jorja Jones

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:46:00 -0000

In this fourth episode we hear from Warrant Officer Jorja Jones who is an instructor on the Subject One for Corporal Course.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 3 - WO1 Matthew Dickson

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:45:00 -0000

In this third podcast we meet Warrant Officer Matthew Dickson who is the Senior Instructor (SI) of the Warrant Officer Training Team; the Team responsible for delivering training to the Subject One for Warrant Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major courses.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 2 - CPL Brooke Thomson

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:44:00 -0000

In this first podcast we meet the 2017 WONCO-A Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Scott and Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Andrew Stuart, who tell us about the Academy and the courses conducted there.

Experiences On The Ground At WONCO-A: Episode 1- CO And RSM

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 17:48:00 -0000

In this first podcast of a 9 part series we meet the 2017 WONCO-A Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Scott and Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Andrew Stuart, who tell us about the Academy and the courses conducted there.

Amphibious Series: Episode 3 - Using the Amphibious Capability to contribute to Contemporary Operations with Lieutenant Colonel Doug Pashley

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 16:38:00 -0000

In this episode, Lieutenant Colonel Doug Pashley Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment discusses: How the Australian Army is using its amphibious capability to contribute to contemporary operations; what opportunities does an amphibious capability offer commanders; lessons learned about conducting amphibious operations on Exercise Talisman Sabre and other unit experiences; the importance of junior leadership; the importance of communications architecture and the orchestration of effects.

Amphibious Series: Episode 2 - The Unit at the heart of Army’s Amphibious Capability with Warrant Officer Trent Morris

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 16:25:00 -0000

In this episode, Warrant Officer Class One Trent Morris Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment discusses: How 2 RAR’s structure supports amphibious operations; the development of the pre-landing force; unique challenges with the unit’s composition; the importance of robust Standing Operating Procedures, challenges of working in the Joint space, balancing multiple chains of command and transitioning to direct command under the 1st Divisio

Amphibious Series: Episode 1 - Defining Australian Amphibious Capability with Captain Samuel McKenzie

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:27:00 -0000

In this episode, Captain Samuel McKenzie from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment discusses: the definition of amphibious capability; what we need to know about amphibious operation; the littoral environment; how the relationship works between the Commander Amphibious Task Force (CATF – Navy) and the Commander Landing Force (CLF – Army) and Australia’s amphibious platforms.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 16 - Colonel Richard Vagg - Final Episode

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:25:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In this final episode, Colonel Richard Vagg looks back on what has been achieved as the men and women of Task Group Taji IV complete their mission and prepare to return home.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 15 - Reflections On Taji

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:18:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode fifteen, members of the Task Group reflect on their deployment experiences as they prepare to return to Australia.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 14 - A Visit To The Anzac Hospital

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:08:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode fourteen, we visit the Anzac hospital at the Taji Military Complex to meet some of the medical specialists from the full-time Army and the Army Reserve delivering healthcare to the Task Group.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 13 - Major Brian Hickey

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:02:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode thirteen, we meet Major Brian Hickey, the Officer Commanding Task Group Taji IV’s ‘Advise and Assist’ unit. His team is on a mission to support Northern Baghdad Operations Command to prevent terrorist attacks and secure northern approaches to Baghdad.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 12 - Sergeant Peter Papalia

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 11:49:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode twelve, we meet Sergeant Peter Papalia who is delivering training to Iraqi Security Forces at the Taji Military Complex just north of Baghdad.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 11 - Captain Isabelle Cowley

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 11:48:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode eleven, we meet Captain Isabelle Cowley who tells us about the training delivered to Iraqi police at the Taji Military Complex just north of Baghdad.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 10 - Craftsman Adrianna Rogers

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 11:42:00 -0000

Task Group Taji is a combined force of Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel that first deployed to Iraq in May 2015 at the request of the Iraqi Government. In series two, we follow the members of Task Group Taji IV as they complete their six-month deployment in Iraq. In episode ten, we meet Craftsman Adrianna Rogers who tells us about her job as a heavy diesel mechanic in support of the mission.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 9 - The Taji Gardener

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 11:59:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode nine, we meet a NZ Army soldier who provides force protection for the Task Group and has built a garden at Taji. He also talks about his Anzac heritage.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 8 - Anzac Reunion At Taji

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 11:50:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode eight, we hear the story of two former school friends – one Australian and one New Zealander – who were unexpectedly reunited on deployment with Task Group Taji IV.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 7 - Corporal Levi Stripp by The Cove

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 11:35:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode seven, Corporal Levi Stripp tells us about the medical training delivered to Iraqi Security Forces as part of the mission.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 6 - Colonel Richard Vagg

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 11:28:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode six, Colonel Richard Vagg explains how the mission is progressing as the Task Group reaches the halfway point of its deployment.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 5 - Lance Corporal Dylan Hart

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 17:20:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode five, we meet Lance Corporal Dylan Hart who has set himself the challenge of learning five new Arabic words each day as part of his mission to train Iraqi Security Forces.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 4 - Private Saatchi Siri

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 17:14:00 -0000

ADF on operations. In episode four we meet Private Saatchi Siri who shares her experiences as an evacuation medic at the Taji Military Complex just north of Baghdad.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 3 - Warrant Officer Class Two Adam Krongold

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 16:39:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode three, we meet Warrant Officer Class Two Adam Krongold who tells us how training is delivered to Iraqi Security Forces at the Taji Military Complex just north of Baghdad

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 2: Lieutenant Colonel Chris Gardiner

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 16:37:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In series two, we follow the members of Task Group Taji IV as they complete their six-month deployment in Iraq. In episode two, we meet Lieutenant Colonel Chris Gardiner, the Commanding Officer of the Training Task Unit, Task Group Taji IV.

Our Stories: Series 2 Episode 1 - Captain Tom Wickham

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 16:36:00 -0000

ADF on operations - Task Group Taji is a combined force of Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel that first deployed to Iraq in May 2015 at the request of the Iraqi Government. In series two, we follow the members of Task Group Taji IV as they complete their six-month deployment in Iraq. In this first episode, we meet Captain Tom Wickham who tells us about the training delivered to Iraqi Security Forces at the Taji Military Complex just north of Baghdad.

Our Stories: Series 1 Episode 7 - Warrant Officer Class One Jae Robinson & The Farewell Parade

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 12:49:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode seven, the final interview before Task Group Taji IV’s arrival in Iraq, we learn about the Farewell Parade that took place at Robertson Barracks in Darwin on 11 November 2017. The Regimental Sergeant Major of 1st Armoured Regiment, Warrant Officer Class One Jae Robinson, shares his thoughts as Task Group members prepare to leave Australia.

Our Stories: Series 1 Episode 6 - NZDF Health Integration

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 12:48:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode six, we meet the Environmental Health Technician and hear about her background in the New Zealand Defence Force. She also shares her experience of the Christchurch earthquake.

Our Stories: Series 1 Episode 5 - Corporal Kat Rooney & Private Hannah Mills

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 02:30:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In episode five, we meet Corporal Kathryn Rooney and Private Hannah Mills from Health Company at the start of the Mission Rehearsal Exercise.

Our Stories: Series 1 Episode 4 - NZDF Senior Officer & Anzac Integration

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 13:49:00 -0000

ADF on operations. In this episode the New Zealand Defence Force contingent performs a Haka on arrival in Darwin and Task Group Taji IV becomes a fully integrated ANZAC force.

Our Stories: Series 1 Episode 3 - At The Q-Store

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 02:14:00 -0000

ADF on operations - In this episode we visit the Quartermaster at the ‘Q-Store’ of the 1st Armoured Regiment in Darwin, as members of the Task Group are issued clothing and equipment before they deploy.

Our Stories: Series 1 Episode 2 - Captain John Moulton & Corporal Josh Cooper

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 13:49:00 -0000

ADF on operations - Captain John Moulton and Corporal Josh Cooper describe the medical training and marksmanship skills that will be delivered to Iraqi Security Forces during the mission.

Our Stories: Series 1 Episode 1 - Colonel Richard Vagg

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 15:00:00 -0000

Task Group Taji is a combined force of Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel that first deployed to Iraq in May 2015 at the request of the Iraqi Government. In series one, we follow members of Task Group Taji IV through their mission specific training in Darwin in October 2016 as they prepare to deploy. In episode one, we meet the Commander of Task Group Taji IV, Colonel Richard Vagg. He explains why the Task Group is deploying to Iraq and how the Australian Defence Force members under his command are training for their mission.

Why I Named My Daughter after Nancy Wake

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 14:59:00 -0000

In this podcast we here from Wyatt Frazer who discusses why he named his daughter after Australia's most famous war heroine, Nancy Wake, AC GM, and to hear his thoughts about fatherhood in the modern Army.

Interview With Anne Goyne

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 18:35:00 -0000

Interview with Anne Goyne by The Cove

Episode 25 - The Cove - Lieutenant Colonel Tom McDermott

Sat, 10 Dec 2016 13:00:00 -0000

Our new online learning portal, The Cove, was released on 9 December. Major Mick Cook spoke with the project lead, Lieutenant Colonel Tom McDermott, on how The Cove will provide professional military education opportunities for the men and women of the Australian Army.

Episode 24 - Elite Athlete - Private Heather Anderson

Sat, 03 Dec 2016 13:00:00 -0000

Private Heather Anderson comes from a family with a strong history of military service. She is also one of the Australian Army's elite athletes. Major Mick Cook chats with her about being a combat medic and a top tier AFL Women's league draft pick.

Episode 23 - Elite Athlete - Private Kate Lutkins

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 13:00:00 -0000

There are similarities between sport and military life, such as teamwork, respect, physical training and competition. The Army has recently had three of its members drafted into the inaugural AFL Women's League. Major Mick Cook spoke with Private Kate Lutkins about her selection and future in the Army as an elite athlete.

Episode 22 - Elite Athlete - Lieutenant Clare Lawton

Sat, 19 Nov 2016 13:00:00 -0000

Can you balance military service with an active sporting life? What happens if you are selected to play in the AFL and you are a serving Army member? Major Mick Cook met with Lieutenant Clare Lawton, a draftee for the inaugural AFL Women's League in 2017, to discuss these questions and more.

Episode 21 - Royal Military College - Staff Cadet Luke Hughes

Sat, 12 Nov 2016 13:00:00 -0000

What is it like to train for four years to become an Australian Army Officer? What is the difference between life at the Australian Defence Force Academy and life at the Royal Military College - Duntroon? What hope do these officer trainees at the college have for the future? Major Mick Cook sat down with Staff Cadet Luke Hughes to discuss these questions and more.

Episode 20 - Royal Military College - Staff Cadet Alice Brabazon

Sat, 05 Nov 2016 13:00:00 -0000

What makes someone choose to be an officer in the Australian Army? What is life like for trainee officers at the Royal Military College - Duntroon? Major Mick Cook sat down with Staff Cadet Alice Brabazon to discuss these questions and more.

Episode 19 - Exercise Hamel - Warrant Officer Class 2 Luke Burgess

Sat, 29 Oct 2016 13:00:00 -0000

How does the Australian Army assess the decisions made and actions taken during an exercise? Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare discusses this question, and others, with Warrant Officer Class 2 Luke Burgess, a tactical analyst from the Combat Training Centre.

Episode 18 - Exercise Hamel - Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Perry

Sat, 22 Oct 2016 13:00:00 -0000

How does the Army incorporate the lessons it learns in the field into what is taught in its training institutions? How is are the best practices learnt through experience developed to provide new soldiers and officers with the training they need? Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare spoke with the Commanding Officer of the Army School of Logistic Operations, Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Perry, to answer these questions.

Episode 17 - Exercise Hamel - Major Derek Hayles

Sat, 15 Oct 2016 13:00:00 -0000

How do you build a realistic environment for a modern military exercise? What is required to make the scenarios match reality? Major Derek Hayles explains how his team ensured Exercise Hamel was a reflection of what the modern soldier may face in the contemporary operating environment.

Episode 16 - Exercise Hamel - Brigadier Paul Nothard

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 13:00:00 -0000

What does it take to supply an Army in the field? How are essential service, such as medical support provided to the men and women in combat? Brigadier Paul Nothard explains what his brigade, the 17th Combat Service Support Brigade, contributes to the army during activities such as exercise Hamel.

Episode 15 - Exercise Hamel - Brigade Maintenance Area

Sat, 01 Oct 2016 14:00:00 -0000

How do you keep a combat brigade on the move? In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews some of the men and women who support the logistical operations of the combat brigade in the Brigade Maintenance Area. The Brigade Maintenance Area is the first line of supply, maintenance and medical support for the combat brigade.

Episode 14 - Exercise Hamel - Brigadier Tony Rawlins

Sat, 24 Sep 2016 14:00:00 -0000

How does the Australian Army provide a realistic 'enemy' for exercises such as Exercise Hamel? Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare discusses this question, and others, with the commander of the 7th Brigade, Brigadier Tony Rawlins.

Episode 13 - Exercise Hamel - Colonel Damian Hill

Sat, 17 Sep 2016 14:00:00 -0000

How does the Australian Army evaluate the training it conducts on major exercises such as Exercise Hamel? Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare discusses this question, and others, with the commander of the Combat Training Centre, Colonel Damian Hill.

Episode 12 - Training - Warrant Officer Don Spinks, OAM

Sat, 10 Sep 2016 14:00:00 -0000

How does the Australian Army train the modern soldier? Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare discusses this question, and others, with the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army, Warrant Officer Don Spinks, OAM.

Episode 11 - Innovation - MAJGEN Fergus (Gus) McLachlan

Sat, 03 Sep 2016 14:00:00 -0000

How does the Australian Army keep up with the latest technological developments? What are the key drivers for modernisation? How is an innovative idea integrated into the routine training of soldiers? How is a good idea turned into a battlefield ready piece of equipment? Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare discusses these concepts and more with the Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning - Army, Major General Fergus (Gus) McLachlan, AM.

Episode 10 - Exercise Hamel - Battle Group Jacka

Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:00:00 -0000

How do the men and women of the Army Reserve integrate into the Regular Army? How do they benefit from their role as citizen soldier? Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare chats with Signaller Candice Hickey, Private Chris Hart. and Lieutenant Lachlan Poppins about their time serving in Battle Group Jacka.

Episode 9 - Exercise Hamel - MAJGEN Paul McLachlan

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews the commander of Headquarters 1st Division and the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, Major General Paul McLachlan. What is a Deployable Joint Force Headquarters and how does it train to meets its diverse operational tasks? Major General McLachlan provides an insight into the modern Divisional Headquarters.

Episode 8 - Exercise Hamel - Military Police

Sun, 07 Aug 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews two members of the Australian Army Military Police, Lieutenant Megan Pate and Corporal Cassie Radunz. What do Military Police do in the field and what sort of training do they receive? They discuss their role in the field on Exercise Hamel.

Episode 7 - Exercise Hamel - Captain Louis Clun

Sat, 06 Aug 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews an Australian Army Chaplain, Captain Louis Clun. Chaplain Clun deployed on exercise Hamel to provide pastoral support to the men and women deployed to Cultana. What is it like to provide this type of support in the field environment? What training is involved for a chaplain to ensure they are able to provide this support when needed? Chaplain Clun explains his role on exercise Hamel.

Episode 6 - Exercise Hamel - Bombardier Lachlan Skaines

Tue, 05 Jul 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Bombardier Lachlan Skaines, an Australian Army Artillery Command Systems Operator. Bombardier Skaines is deployed on exercise Hamel and is providing simulation support within the Exercise Control headquarters. What if you are unsuccessful in the recruitment process? What does the modern, digital army look like, and what career paths are open to members of the Australian Army? Bombardier Skaines talks about his career so far, including dealing with rejection in the recruitment process, his current role and his future aspirations to become a helicopter pilot.

Episode 5 - Exercise Hamel - Captain Karmen Sampson

Mon, 04 Jul 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews an Australian Army Physiotherapist, Captain Karmen Sampson. Captain Sampson is deployed on exercise Hamel and provides physiotherapy support to the men and women of the 1st Brigade. What is it like to provide this type of support in the field environment and how do they train to ensure they are able to provide this support when needed? Captain Sampson explains her role on exercise Hamel.

Episode 4 - Exercise Hamel - Lieutenant Colonel Tom Biedermann

Sun, 03 Jul 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews the Commanding Officer of the reserve battle group, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Biedermann. This unit, Battle Group Jacka, is comprised of regular and reserve soldiers from the 4th and 9th Brigades. What are the challenges of training a reserve force to support a regular combat brigade? Lieutenant Colonel Biedermann explains the unique challenges facing Battle Group Jacka as it supports the 1st Brigade on Exercise Hamel.

Episode 3 - Exercise Hamel - Major Kelly Dunne

Sat, 02 Jul 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews the Officer Commanding the 8th Close Health Company, Major Kelly Dunne. How do you provide health support during a large-scale training activity such as Exercise Hamel? Major Dunne explains how she trains her team to provide the health support the soldiers need.

Episode 2 - Exercise Hamel - Lance Bombardier Tim Muhamad

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Lance Bombardier Tim Muhamad. What is it like to be an Indigenous Australian serving in the army? Lance Bombardier Muhamad talks about his journey from the Torres Strait Islands to the artillery gun line.

Episode 1 - Exercise Hamel - Brigadier Mick Ryan

Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode Captain Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews the Director General of Training & Doctrine, Brigadier Mick Ryan. They discuss Exercise Hamel, the Australian Army's major annual exercise. What does the exercise set out to achieve and why does it matter?

Senior Soldier Talk -Episode 1: Regimental Sergeant Major - Army

Mon, 18 Jan 2016 02:53:00 -0000

RSM-A Answers questions form the CPL's of the Australian AArmy