Sweden’s government has told its citizens to prepare for war. The defence minister made the comments last week, as the war in Ukraine drags on, and Sweden moves closer to NATO membership. The government is reinstating the conscription programme that’s been paused for over a decade — and putting teenagers through boot camp.
One of the biggest changes Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Andrew Beaman has seen during his service is the complexity and amount of equipment soldiers carry.
“From a technical view, soldiers haven’t changed. For want of a better term, digs are going to dig. They’ve been digging for a long time and they’re going to keep doing that,” WO1 Beaman said.
“But when I joined in ’91, the most expensive piece of kit I carried was my SLR [self-loading rifle], and nowadays the rifle is probably the cheapest thing soldiers carry.”
With laser range finders, GPS and communication technology making soldiers’ equipment more advanced than ever, it was clear technical guidance was needed at senior warrant officer levels.
WO1 Beaman has become the first Artificer Sergeant Major Land, a newly created position to serve as the senior enlisted technical adviser in Defence’s Land domain, and the first Tier-C technical WO1 position in Army.
The role primarily mentors senior warrant officers, including RAEME (Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers), signals and construction engineer technical trades.
WO1 Beaman said his advancement acknowledged the skills and experience technical trades can provide senior leadership, not available from regimental warrant officers.
“With this position I want to embed the fact that technical trades are critical to the capability Army provides, and the advice we bring is valuable to senior leadership,” WO1 Beaman said.
‘There’s no set posting line you have to follow, but diverse knowledge helps you in more senior positions.’
He said the position gave soldiers an end-of-career goal while staying in a technical stream, and his advice for Tier-C hopefuls was to diversify their postings.
“Take an instructional posting to impart your knowledge and to hone your admin. Take a posting to CASG [Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group] to see how equipment is procured and managed at a fleet level. If an opportunity for a posting to recruiting comes up, take that,” WO1 Beaman said.
“There’s no set posting line you have to follow, but diverse knowledge helps you in more senior positions. You don’t want to be learning it when you are already there.”
WO1 Beaman enlisted after finishing high school in Albury, and thought an apprenticeship sounded better than being a labourer.
“I had a well thought-out life plan: join the Army and become a plumber. Get out of the Army and do plumbing. Become rich, because plumbers were rich,” WO1 Beaman said.
His eventual trade as a motor mechanic wasn’t his first choice. He had no interest or experience in it before his apprenticeship, but found he had a knack for it after starting.
A highlight of his career was the Anzac Day ceremony during his deployment to Bougainville in 1999.
“We left tour team site before dawn and travelled out to an old World War 2 Matilda tank that had been knocked out during a battle,” he said.
“We did our dawn service at the Matilda tank. It was simple but very moving. That same year I did Remembrance Day in East Timor, so ’99 for me was a reflection on the job we do as soldiers.”
Outside of work, WO1 Beaman spends his time building and racing jet sprint boats.
What started out as helping a mate back a boat trailer into the water turned into a 15-year hobby that has taken him around the world.
“I love the adrenaline of racing a boat at over 100 kilometres an hour on a race track that would fit inside a rugby field,” WO1 Beaman said.
“Nought to 100 in less than two seconds, racing on a track not much wider than the boat, going around U-turn corners, the G-forces are unlike any other motorsport, except maybe Formula 1.”
He races in the LS-Class and aims to compete in the world titles in New Zealand this year.
We want to bring to your attention an issue that a small number of our members have encountered regarding the delivery of our daily emails.
It has come to our attention that some of our emails are inadvertently being filtered into spam folders, and in some cases, recipients are receiving warnings about the emails. We understand the inconvenience this may cause, and we want to assure you that it is not an issue on our end.
After thorough investigation, we have confirmed that our domain is not listed on any spamlists, and we adhere to industry best practices to ensure the safe delivery of our emails. However, it seems that certain antivirus programs may be inadvertently marking our emails as spam. It can only be rectified at your end.
While we understand that this may be frustrating, we want to offer a solution that should help alleviate the problem. To ensure that you continue to receive our emails without interruption, we kindly ask you to whitelist our website/domain in your email client or antivirus software.
Whitelisting our domain will instruct your email client or antivirus program to recognize our emails as safe and prevent them from being filtered into your spam folder. Below are instructions on how to whitelist our domain in some commonly used email clients:
How To Whitelist A Domain – Don’t Miss Any Leads (mannixmarketing.com)
Our Domain address: www.frontine.asn.au
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in resolving this matter. Your satisfaction and uninterrupted access to our communications are of utmost importance to us.
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Each year on February 14th, we commemorate National Serviceman’s Day, a solemn occasion dedicated to honouring the selfless and invaluable contributions of those who answered their nation’s call to duty.
Dating back to the early 1950s and spanning through the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War, more than 280,000 individuals proudly bore the title of “Nasho,” symbolizing their unwavering commitment to safeguarding their homeland. The inaugural National Service scheme, extending from 1951 to 1959, stands as a testament to the dedication of over 220,000 men who underwent rigorous training spanning three months across various branches of the military, including the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force. These brave young Australians willingly set aside their personal aspirations, putting the needs of their country above all else.
The subsequent National Service scheme, operational from 1965 to 1972, called upon more than 60,000 young men to serve, with over 15,300 bravely participating in the Vietnam War while others dutifully expanded the Army’s strength on home soil when it was most needed. Seamlessly integrated into regular army units, these Nashos, initially trained by seasoned soldiers, eventually received training from their fellow peers as well. In Vietnam and Borneo, they proved themselves equal to any challenge, displaying remarkable courage and resilience alongside their regular counterparts as they navigated the trials of war.
Yet, amidst their valour, tragedy struck, with over 200 National Servicemen losing their lives or perishing during their service in Vietnam and Borneo. Like all those whose names grace the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, their sacrifice stands as an indelible part of Australia’s proud history. The debt owed to the 1200 Nashos who suffered wounds and to all who have served and endured hardships for the nation remains immeasurable and unrepayable.
Today, as we pause to reflect upon the enduring legacy of these 280,000 individuals, we pay homage to their indomitable spirit, unwavering dedication, and remarkable courage in the face of adversity. To each and every one of them, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable contributions to the defence and prosperity of our nation.
Their memory will forever remain etched in our hearts, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
Lest we forget.
From my inbox from Ernie Chamberlain – Thanks once again Ernie.
We are still in the celebratory week of the “Chinese/Vietnamese” Lunar New Year – ie Tết in Vietnam – that began on 10 February.
For Vietnamese, this is now the Year of the Tiger (Giáp Thìn) – that lasts until 28 January 2025.
Some readers of your FRONTLINE website might have Vietnamese friends that they would like to wish “Happy New Year!”.
If so, they could perhaps email the following Vietnamese-language New Year greeting to them – see below:
Title of the email: Chức Mừng Năm Mới – Tết Giáp Thìn 2024!
Kính chào ((insert friend’s first name)) –
Kính chúc ((insert friend’s first name)) và gia đình năm mới hạnh phúc và an lành ! ((ie meaning: “wishing you and your family happiness and peace)).
Kính ((insert your name))
Best wishes, Ernie
Ernie’s email address is: [email protected]
Australia’s Defence Force chief was caught off guard by revelations that a Fijian officer, who ascended to the role of deputy commander overseeing 3000 troops, was implicated in allegations of torture.
Colonel Penioni Naliva was designated as the deputy commander of the 7th Brigade stationed in Brisbane, as part of an initiative to integrate Pacific officers into the ADF.
Acknowledging a breakdown in standard procedures, Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell conceded his lack of awareness regarding the allegations and accepted responsibility for the oversight.
In a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, General Campbell admitted to shortcomings in the vetting process and pledged to conduct a thorough review to fortify the system.
Despite the allegations, Colonel Naliva has not been suspended; instead, he has been allowed to work remotely to support his family during what General Campbell described as a “fairly stressful circumstance.”
General Campbell emphasized that the allegations were unconfirmed, and no formal complaint had been lodged with authorities. He revealed that the appointment of embedded personnel, including Colonel Naliva, is under review to prevent similar oversights in the future.
Colonel Naliva was recommended for the position by the Fijian military, and he assumed his role in late January. The ADF had relied on assurances from the Fijian government regarding the colonel’s clean record in terms of police and national security clearance.
During the inquiry, Susan Bodell, a department official, acknowledged the failure to present crucial information to the Chief of the Defence Force during the appointment process, attributing it to an oversight that they are striving to rectify.
She explained that when a person resides in their home country, the ADF relies on the local authorities to certify their criminal record status, highlighting a gap in information that was not addressed during Colonel Naliva’s appointment.
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Photo: Provided by Hanwha Defence Australia
Hanwha Defence Australia’s training team recently conducted Redback IFV driver training in South Korea, marking a significant step in skill development and knowledge transfer. This initiative took place at Hanwha Aerospace Land Systems Business Group’s training area, showcasing ongoing collaboration between the two countries.
During the training, instructors received comprehensive education covering basic operator and maintenance tasks for the Redback IFV. Practical driver training sessions were held on HAS’ Driver Circuit, emphasizing the mastery of vehicle control, maintenance, and performance understanding in combat scenarios.
Phil Whitehead, the training manager at HDA, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, noting, “We successfully met all objectives outlined during the training, thanks to the invaluable support from our counterparts at HAS.” He emphasized that this activity laid a strong foundation of platform knowledge for the team, facilitating future instructor development endeavours.
The Redback IFV program is set to produce 129 vehicles in Australia, with deliveries scheduled to commence in 2027 and conclude by 2028. Additionally, eight prototype vehicles will be manufactured in both South Korea and Australia as the program progresses. The contract encompasses the development and delivery of training and support system components, extending until final acceptance in 2029, with initial support provisions for the first five years post-delivery.
Jae-il Son, president and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, highlighted the significance of this contract, stating, “The Redback IFV contract underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge capabilities. It further solidifies Hanwha’s presence in Australia alongside other defence projects like the AS9 and AS10 Huntsman vehicles.”
The collaboration between Australia and South Korea continues to strengthen, with opportunities for further growth on the horizon. Manufacturing all 129 vehicles at the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) facility in Geelong is expected to bolster high-tech vehicle manufacturing in the region and provide a potential export platform for Australian firms.
With China and India gridlocked over their border disputes, a peaceful resolution isn’t in sight. In fact, both nations are bolstering their military presence, which can easily spill over into an all-out war. If these nuclear superpowers clash, the military strength of both nations will decide the extent of the conflict. So, which nation has a stronger army: China or India? Check out today’s epic new video to find out which country holds an edge in military and army advantage.
The Department is aware that the withdrawal of Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Human Research Ethics Committee approval on Monday, 5 February 2024 has increased concerns in the veteran community regarding the Veterans’ MATES Program (MATES), particularly in relation to the sharing of data. MATES has sought to support veterans and their families to manage their health and aligns strongly with DVA’s objective to proactively support the health and wellbeing of veterans.
It is important to note that there has not been any unauthorised access of veteran data. The data has not been made available publicly or for nefarious purposes. DVA only ever provided client data for the purposes of MATES to a trusted organisation, the University of South Australia (UniSA) under strict data security and access policies.
DVA provided the data to UniSA in accordance with the ethics approvals in place at the time. This was done via a secure and carefully controlled channel. UniSA stored the data in a secure facility. Billing data was automatically de-identified before being accessed by researchers for the thematic review under the MATES program. The data did not include doctor’s notes. Identifying data was only used to communicate with the veteran themselves, as well as their doctor, in the event that the analysis of the de-identified data revealed risks to the veteran’s health. The letters that went to veterans and their doctors provided invaluable insights that supported those veterans receiving the most appropriate treatment possible.
Following an Office of the Australian Information Commissioner decision in April 2023, an external review was conducted concerning the administration of opt-out procedures in the MATES program. The review concluded all other such requests received by DVA to opt out of MATES had been properly implemented.
DVA takes its obligations under the Privacy Act extremely seriously and in August 2023 paused any provision of data to UniSA to enable a thorough examination of the existing arrangements. Since this time, no data transfers have occurred.
On 9 February, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs asked the Department to close down the MATES program and examine options for possible future programs that provide health benefits to the veteran community while meeting community and stakeholder expectations around ethical and data use requirements. Any future program would be subject to a new Ethics Committee approval.
Photo: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
Since 2006, Hamas has exercised control over the governance of the State of Palestine, particularly in Gaza City, which stands as the largest city within the Gaza Strip. For a comprehensive understanding of Hamas’ fundamental objectives and principles, you may find it helpful to watch the concluding segment of the provided video.