ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Our thanks to the official Army Soldier's Newspaper for the following articles
Proud to serve while planning her career
By Captain Tadek Markowski
Pte Myleisha Masso from 7CSSB during Exercise Pozieres Run at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland.
Photo: Cpl Janet Pan
Pte Myleisha Masso grew up in Townsville, where the Army’s presence is almost unavoidable.
So when the 25-year-old decided to leave home and find a career, Defence was a ready choice.
“I thought it would be something very purposeful. I’m from a family of six and I wanted to do something good for myself and my family,” Pte Masso said.
“It was a good opportunity to grow. And while it sounds clichéd, I really wanted to push myself.”
As a distribution operator with the 7CSSB based at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, Pte Masso conducts warehousing, supply and combat logistics operations.
“Quey’s [quartermasters] are really important, especially in the field environment. If the water, ammo and food isn’t taken out, the mission’s not going to be completed,” Pte Masso said.
'I thought it would be something very purposeful. I’m from a family of six and I wanted to do something good for myself and my family.'
Pte Myleisha Masso
Part of 7 Bde, members of 7CSSB recently spent up to eight weeks in the field supporting back-to-back exercises in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area north of Rockhampton.
Nearly 2000 military personnel and hundreds of vehicles were involved in Exercise Diamond Run, a combined-arms training activity, which was followed almost immediately by 1 Div’s Exercise Pozieres Run, Army’s largest exercise of the year.
“We hold everything, especially at the main Q [quartermaster]. We have everything from pens to weapons, right up to the really expensive items,” Pte Masso said.
“I like to think of it as customer service as well. We deal with many different people wanting lots of different things.”
Pte Masso is the first person in her immediate family to serve in the ADF, something that gives her a great sense of satisfaction.
“It’s definitely made my parents proud. My mum’s over the moon,” Pte Masso said.
“Her background is Kalkadoon and Kudjala, so my family’s from that Cloncurry, Mt Isa, Charters Towers area.
“It feels good to me, knowing that I’m a part of both cultures and that I’m here doing something for my country.”
Pte Masso, who will post to 6RAR next year, said she planned to use her time in the military to set herself up for success in the future.
“I want to start studying. I’d like to become a nurse. I want to be able to help people,” she said.
“There’s a couple of options to do that, you can either become an officer and do it that way, but there’s also a few different study programs available.”
Pte Myleisha Masso looks after supplies
during Exercise Pozieres Run.
Photo: Cpl Janet Pan
Federation Star for Army Major
By Maj Patrick Cochrane
Maj Jodie Stewart, centre, receives the Federation Star from CO APSU Lt-Col Melissa Joy, right, and Army Principal Chaplain Kerry Larwill during the APSU mid-year command conference in Canberra.
Photo: Maj Patrick Cochrane
More than 40 years after arriving as a fresh-faced clerk recruit at Kapooka, Maj Jodie Stewart was recognised with the Federation Star on her birthday during the Army Personnel Support Unit’s (APSU) mid-year command conference in Canberra.
The award was presented by CO APSU Lt-Col Melissa Joy and Army Principal Chaplain Kerry Larwill.
Enlisting in 1986, Maj Stewart’s career has included postings across Australia and deployments to Egypt and Afghanistan.
Looking for more opportunities to lead, she commissioned as an officer in 2023.
Maj Stewart said she had witnessed many changes during her time in uniform.
“When I enlisted, so much of what we did was paper-based, and technology was nothing like it is today,” Maj Stewart said.
“I've seen enormous changes in the way Army operates, from uniforms and personnel systems to the introduction of computers, the internet and mobile technology.
“Looking back, it’s incredible how quickly the time has gone. It doesn't feel like more than 40 years, and I've been fortunate to have experienced so many different opportunities, worked alongside some amazing people and been part of an organisation that has continually evolved.”
Beyond personnel administration and deployment on operations, she took part in adventure training in the United States and, in one memorable moment, painted the Chief of Army's face during Cancer Awareness Day activities in 2010.
Then WO1s Jodie Stewart, left, and Kim Blackwell-Woodford paint the face of former CA Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie in 2010.
Photo: Steve Dent
Maj Stewart considers raising a family among her greatest achievements, while balancing the demands of serving.
Lt-Col Joy said Maj Stewart’s career reflected a sustained commitment to Army and its people.
“Jodie has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism throughout her career and has always approached every role with a genuine desire to serve,” Lt-Col Joy said.
“Her willingness to embrace new challenges, continue developing herself and support those around her has left a lasting impact on the people and teams she has worked with.”
Principal Chaplain Larwill said the milestone highlighted the contribution made by members who dedicated decades of service to the nation.
“Four decades of service is an extraordinary achievement,” Principal Chaplain Larwill said.
“It speaks to the dedication of an individual committed to serving others in a people-oriented role.
“We thank Jodie for her enduring contribution to the Australian Army, the Australian Defence Force and the people of Australia.”
Dynamic duo delivers more than snacks
By Capt Tadek Markowski
Ben Ridley and Claudia Ridley, of Everyman's Welfare Service, operate the Everyman's truck, providing refreshments and snacks to soldiers during Exercise Diamond Run at Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
Photo: Cpl Janet Pan
A trip to the shops for Adelaide-based couple Ben and Claudia Ridley can often run to $5000 and only keep them supplied for three days.
That’s because they’re volunteers with Everyman’s, the charity that supports Australian soldiers with hot drinks and snacks during training activities, large-scale exercises and even overseas deployments.
Throughout July, Ben and Claudia crisscrossed the dusty roads of Shoalwater Bay Training Area in two “brew trucks” to satisfy the cravings of nearly 2000 ADF personnel.
To reach dispersed units taking part in 7 Bde’s Exercise Diamond Run, they were often up at 4am and dispensing morale-boosting refreshments until midnight.
The volunteer work is a labour of love for Ben. He traces its origin to a remote patrol base in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan and his own military service.
“While I was in Afghanistan, I started reading the bible and it changed my life,” Ben said.
He was in the Australian Army for nearly 11 years, joining in 2004 and discharging in 2014. Most of that time he was with 8/9RAR.
“It was the best job I ever had. And I never imagined in a million years that I’d be doing Everyman’s,” he said.
“But, for me, I’m now motivated by love – love for God, love for my fellow man and my brothers in arms, and my country.
“And I wanted to give back something to the younger generations coming through, to look after their welfare.”
Claudia, who is from Brazil and travelled to Australia to study English for a Master’s degree, met Ben in Brisbane on week two of her visit, just before he left for Afghanistan. They have now been married 13 years.
'We’re completely volunteer-based; we don’t get paid. We both work part-time in Adelaide, and sometimes we’re out here for seven to eight weeks at a time.'
Ben Ridley and Claudia Ridley with the Everyman's truck during Exercise Diamond Run at Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
Photo: Cpl Janet Pan
The couple started operating the mobile canteens together three years ago, and prior to that Ben had been doing it on his own.
“Claudia came on board and it’s the best thing ever,” Ben said.
“She can talk to women a lot better than I can, and she brings a different energy. It’s really nice to have her around.”
The off-grid capable canteens are a huge hit with soldiers living on a diet of ration packs.
“Definitely the sausage rolls and the pies are their favourite,” Ben said.
“It’s something they can’t get themselves. The coffee machine is also popular, [but] it depends who you ask. The younger guys are into their energy drinks.
“But it never gets old seeing [their] faces light up when we pull into a position.”
Distance is no obstacle for this dynamic duo. Last year, they drove from Adelaide to Darwin in a military convoy to attend Exercise Talisman Sabre.
“The best part is making connections and friendships,” Claudia said.
“The worst part is not being able to shower every day. I’m OK for about two days, but after that I can get a bit moody.”
An ADF unit directly sponsors each Everyman’s. In the case of Ben and Claudia, support comes from 10/27 RSAR, where Ben began his military career as a reservist.
The money they receive from soldier donations goes back into restocking the trucks and keeping them on the road with the aid of a Defence-supplied fuel card.
“We’re completely volunteer-based; we don’t get paid. We both work part-time in Adelaide, and sometimes we’re out here for seven to eight weeks at a time,” Ben said.
“We just want to keep going and to continue [a] tradition that’s been going since WWII.”
Trained and ready to fight
By Capt Charlie Miranda
Maj-Gen Ana Duncan meets with Col Roland Spackman and WO1 Michael Dixon during Exercise Pozieres Run at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland.
Photo: Cpl Johnny Huang
Moving through Exercise Pozieres Run, Maj-Gen Ana Duncan couldn’t help but be impressed.
The commander of Forces Command noted the fusion of realistic battlespace effects to simulate the chaos and friction of war, new technology being integrated into combat training, and lessons from Army’s training schools being used in the field.
But what impressed her most was the single-mindedness of the men and women in the area of operations, moving with a sense of urgency and purpose in what Maj-Gen Duncan said was preparation for war.
“Everyone is learning, everyone is training, everyone is strengthening our ability to fight and win,” she said, while visiting the exercise at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in central Queensland, an area of more than 450,000 hectares.
More than 6500 personnel and columns of armoured vehicles and firepower used the area during the exercise.
Drones flew overhead, firefight skirmishes broke out at various locations into which confused displaced civilians (played by Army soldiers) inadvertently entered to reflect contemporary warfare.
Maj-Gen Duncan said war was fundamental to the military lexicon and it was what the ADF was preparing for.
“The Army, the Navy, the Air Force – we exist to prepare for war,” she said.
“We have done that my whole career and we are not doing anything different now.
“If you have military power as part of an instrument of national power, you have it to deter.
“Anyone in the ADF will tell you our job is to be as potent as possible, to be ready to fight and win. None of us want a fight, none of us are seeking a fight, but absolutely we will be ready if that time comes and our government tells us to.
“We are not being afraid to use that terminology, combat terminology. That lexicon is fiercely being readopted and we should be very proud of what we are doing today … what we are doing is just talking about our profession, the profession of arms with our language. We are not being hawkish, that is just what our nation expects us to be – professionals, and we are very proud of it.”
'Every sporting team wants to get back for their next sporting game; it’s not different for us in the Army. We want to be as ready as we can on the pitch for our next fight.' Maj-Gen Ana Duncan
Maj-Gen Ana Duncan meets with an Army officer during Exercise Pozieres Run at Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
Photo: Tpr Wade Musicka
Maj-Gen Duncan said training was constantly evolving to mirror contemporary warfare.
“We get prepared, we get ready, and I’m very proud to be here today and watch these incredible Australians who choose to be here, who choose to serve and bring their expertise in this manner,” she said.
She said experiences during the exercise would enable the land domain training system – the doctrine that directs Army’s learning – to evolve further.
“Feeding outcomes back, it’s very important,” Maj-Gen Duncan said.
“This exercise is enabled via the Combat Training Centre and the command teams themselves, who take the observations and the insight, then we will work out the lesson to be learned and fed back into the training system.
“Then through the fusion of the Battle Lab, we will adjust our doctrine – it might be [that] a command team wants to adjust their TTPS [tactics, techniques and procedures], their SOPs. Not everything has to be a massive change and that is part of this continued evolution.
“Every sporting team wants to get back for their next sporting game; it’s not different for us in the Army. We want to be as ready as we can on the pitch for our next fight.”