When Warrant Officer Class Two Robert Parsons was four, his dad took him on base and showed him a Centurion and Leopard tank, setting him on a path to follow in his father’s tracks.

“Just seeing that raw power, it’s the biggest and baddest thing on the battlefield. I just wanted to be in it,” he said.

“Dad advised me to consider joining RAEME [Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers], get a trade, but I was so influenced by tanks and I think he knew it.”

Thirty-five years later, in 2023, they were the only father and son with the same rank serving in an armoured corps.

Robert’s father, WO2 William Parsons, joined at 17 and learnt how to drive a tank before he could legally drive a car.

“I was driving around 52 tons of main battle tank and I still had to wait three months before I could even apply for a learner permit to drive my dad’s Morris 1000 on Victorian roads,” William said.

“What other organisation places the trust in all its members, of all ranks, to do the job it trains them into the extent we do?

“Serving in the Army means we all get the opportunities to see and do all nature of work in different contexts and environments and operate equipment that is not available to the general population.”

Robert said the best part about having his dad the same rank as him was having someone with experience to lean on.

“He’s seen it all from a different perspective and from a different time as well,” he said.

“The Army is in his veins and in his advice as well, which I think really helped me throughout my career, looking after my soldiers and doing right by them.”

Robert enjoys the tight-knit armoured community, having been in the corps for 20 years, and values the intimacy formed with his crew when in confined spaces.

“I love the fact that I’ve got soldiers that I know personally and I can help them with anything,” he said.

William recently retired after serving 50 years in the corps. It’s believed he was the last serving Centurion-qualified soldier.

He also trained on Leopard, Chieftain and Challenger tanks, and witnessed evolution in design and technology.

“In Centurion we had active infrared spotlights for night vision, now we have thermal imagery. There is no comparison,” William said.

“Trading the Centurion for Leopard was like trading a truck for a sports car.”

One of his favourite memories was testing the limits of the new Leopard by driving full throttle over Spectators Hill at Puckapunyal.

“I proved that 42 tons of tank could fly as she lifted completely off the ground,” William said.

“Landing cost me three broken ribs, but it was worth it. We have always felt encouraged to explore and push the limits of our equipment in order to fully understand the capabilities. I hope that ethos continues.

“The photos of that are still in the tank museum.”

If the U.S. and China ever went to war, the battle wouldn’t solely be fought on the domestic front. It would be a confrontation that draws in the entire world. One that relies as heavily on the military bases each country has set up around the world as the fire and manpower that’s kept domestically. These military bases could prove to be decisive turning points in a potential war. Find out which country has the advantage in today’s epic new video!

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not try to blame others.

HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT senior citizens who took:

The melody out of music,

The pride out of appearance,

The courtesy out of driving,

The romance out of love,

The commitment out of marriage,

The   responsibility out of parenthood,

The togetherness out of the family,

The learning out of education,

The service out of patriotism,

The Golden Rule from rulers,

The nativity scene out of cities,

The civility out of behaviour,

The   refinement out of language,

The dedication out of employment,

The prudence out of spending,

The ambition out of achievement or God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others!

And, we DO understand the meaning of patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country.

Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts, as they stand at attention, as the Australian Flag passes by in a parade!

YES, I’M A SENIOR CITIZEN! I’m the life of the party…..Even if it lasts until 8 p.m.

I’m very good at opening childproof caps….. With a hammer.

I’m awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.

I’m smiling all the time because I can’t hear a thing you’re saying. I’m sure everything I can’t find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.

I’m wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that’s just my left leg.

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

Yes, I’m a SENIOR CITIZEN and I think I am having the time of my life! Now if I could only remember who sent this to me, I wouldn’t send it back to them. Or maybe I should send it to all my friends anyway. They won’t remember, even if they did send it.

Spread the laughter Share the cheer!

Let’s   be happy While we’re here.

THE BASE OF ONE WIND TURBINE! HOW CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY???

While wind power is often celebrated for its cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits, it is essential to acknowledge the downsides and potential drawbacks associated with wind turbines. One significant concern lies in the environmental impact during the lifecycle of wind power generation.

Firstly, the construction and installation of wind turbines require extensive groundwork, including excavations for foundations, transportation of components, and the use of large amounts of concrete. In onshore wind farms, the need for service roads can lead to additional land disruption. Moreover, these construction activities often rely on diesel-powered machinery, contributing to carbon emissions and contradicting the very goal of clean energy.

In densely populated regions, the opposition to onshore wind farms has grown, leading to a decline in installations in some countries like Germany. This resistance raises questions about the feasibility of implementing wind power in areas where people are unwilling to accept the visual and environmental impact, leading to setbacks in carbon reduction plans.

Additionally, the operational phase of wind turbines is not without its environmental concerns. Noise generated by the turbines has been a source of complaints from nearby residents. The impact on wildlife, particularly birds and bats colliding with the turbine blades, is a significant issue. In the United States alone, it’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of birds are killed annually due to wind turbine collisions, a figure that could rise with the anticipated increase in wind energy capacity.

Furthermore, the disposal of decommissioned wind turbine parts poses a challenge. While approximately 85% of a turbine’s components can be recycled or reused, the blades, often made from composite materials like fiberglass or carbon fibre, present a dilemma. Landfill disposal is not environmentally friendly, considering the size and weight of the blades, and alternative methods such as pyrolysis still involve energy-intensive processes.

As wind turbines from the boom period of the 1990s and 2000s reach the end of their lifecycles, the issue of turbine disposal becomes more pressing. Current methods are not sustainable for the increasing number of turbines expected to be decommissioned in the coming years.

While there are emerging efforts to address these concerns, such as using high-strength wood for turbine construction and innovative recycling techniques for turbine components, these solutions are in their early stages and may not fully mitigate the environmental impact.

In conclusion, while wind power undoubtedly plays a crucial role in the transition to clean energy, it’s important to recognize and address the environmental challenges associated with wind turbines throughout their lifecycle. Sustainable solutions and ongoing innovation are necessary to ensure that wind power remains a genuinely green and responsible energy source.

Amidst the ongoing conflict now entering its fourth month, President Biden’s trust in Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to be eroding. Sources familiar with the matter reveal that Biden has criticized Netanyahu, referring to him as a “bad f-ing guy,” and accusing him of eagerly steering the United States toward a full-scale war against Iran-backed terror factions in the Middle East.

Tensions between the two leaders have escalated, reaching a pinnacle in December when Biden reportedly abruptly ended a contentious conversation with Netanyahu. Disagreements persist over crucial aspects of the conflict, including the necessity to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza and the post-conflict vision for the Palestinian enclave.

Despite these frictions, Biden has reiterated America’s backing of Israel, even as forecasts suggest the conflict may persist into 2024, causing consternation among his Democratic support base.

Recent polling data indicates Biden’s struggle to connect with young voters, with a higher proportion favouring Donald Trump. The war in Gaza is believed by many political observers to be a key factor behind Biden’s lagging popularity. Biden’s camp perceives Netanyahu as detrimental to Democratic interests, prompting calls for Biden to pressure Israel into accepting a ceasefire agreement to avoid potential electoral losses in the upcoming November elections.

Ben Roberts-Smith’s appeal challenges a damning finding that he unlawfully killed two insurgents during an Afghanistan raid. His legal team argues that the verdict was based on speculation and flawed logic, emphasizing contradictions in testimony and military documents. Roberts-Smith, a disgraced war veteran, seeks to overturn a defamation loss related to media reporting of war crimes. The appeal questions the judge’s preference for witness testimony over contemporaneous documents, highlighting implausible details in the alleged murders. Roberts-Smith denies involvement in unlawful killings and challenges various findings, including accusations of bullying and ordering executions.

The hearing continues.

Recent deliberations within the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) hinted at the possibility of dispatching one of its two conventionally powered aircraft carriers to the Middle East, potentially in lieu of the United States Navy’s nuclear-powered USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), currently on deployment since October last year.

Questions have arisen regarding the readiness of a Royal Navy aircraft carrier for such a mission. HMS Queen Elizabeth and its counterpart, HMS Prince of Wales, operate with considerably smaller airwings compared to their American counterparts. Despite being equipped with the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, the Royal Navy’s flagship, valued at £3.5 billion, has never accommodated more than eight of these aircraft at once.

However, the discussion is now moot as HMS Queen Elizabeth faces mechanical issues, rendering it incapable of participating in significant NATO operations. The Royal Navy has redirected the recently repaired HMS Prince of Wales to partake in Exercise Steadfast Defender, the largest NATO exercise in Europe since the Cold War.

“Routine pre-sailing checks identified an issue with HMS Queen Elizabeth’s starboard propeller shaft, preventing her from sailing as planned,” stated Royal Navy Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns. “HMS Prince of Wales will assume her duties for Exercise Steadfast Defender promptly.”

Exercise Steadfast Defender, scheduled off Norway’s Arctic coast in March, will involve more than 40 vessels from over two dozen NATO nations and international partners. Prior to this, the carrier strike group was slated to participate in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland before engaging in Exercise Nordic Response, the maritime segment of Steadfast Defender.

The recurrence of propeller issues, previously affecting HMS Prince of Wales, underscores the need for added caution. The carrier experienced a similar setback, disrupting a deployment intended to take it across the Atlantic to the United States, necessitating the deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth instead.

While the presence of two carriers theoretically enhances operational flexibility, it will likely require at least a week to ready HMS Prince of Wales for sailing. This process entails expediting ongoing maintenance tasks, transferring equipment from its sister ship, and fuelling and provisioning the vessel.

The sidelining of the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier coincides with warnings from UK ministers regarding the nation’s inadequate preparedness for full-scale conflict, exacerbated by stockpile shortages and a recruitment crisis within the armed forces. Once a dominant force at sea, the Royal Navy now grapples with challenges in maintaining the operational status of its carriers.

Subjects: The Big Peace – Somalia, Rwanda, East Timor

Click Link.

www.dutyfirstpodcast.com.au

After seven long years in Vietnam, the Regiment went through an unprecedented period of peace, however this was all about to change as the international peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Rwanda and East Timor in the 1990s.

Featured interviews:

General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, AK, CVO, MC – 9RAR, 1RAR

His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia – 1RAR, 5/7th

BRIG Pat Mcintosh AM, CSC (retd) – 2/4RAR

MAJGEN Stuart Smith AO, DSC (retd) – 1RAR

Episode cover image:

Somalia. 1993-01-20. Private Paul Ingram, 1RAR (1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment), of Balwyn, Vic, with supplies for food distribution to the village of Sahmandeera. He is serving with the Australian contingent to the Unified Task Force in Somalia (UNITAF). By Dex, T R courtesy of AWM.

Produced by Pivot Studios for the Department of Veterans Affairs and The Royal Australian Regiment Foundation

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