From the
Commander’s
DESK
W
E were delighted
to welcome partner
nations here in September,
competing with our best in
the inaugural Australian
Army International Military
Skills Competition.
Teams of soldiers
represented Falintil-Forças
de Defesa de Timor Leste
(F-FDTL), Papua New
Guinea Defence Force
(PNGDF), Republic of Fiji
Military Forces (RFMF)
and United States Marine
Corps (USMC), and joined
units of 3rd Brigade (3Bde)
for some tough challenges.
The competition, ably led
by RSM 3Bde WO1 Brent
Doyle, aimed to build
mutual trust, respect and co-
operation amongst military
forces in the Asia-Pacifi c
through a series of section or
squad-sized (10 personnel)
all-corps activities.
We achieved these
activities with enhanced
relationship building and
skills development.
All teams achieved gold,
silver or bronze standards
above baseline expectations
which indicates great
success for all participants.
EARNING and
innovation are
essential for 3rd Brigade’s
modernisation, which is
why we hold the annual
Innovation Day.
We gain from ideas,
improvements and updated
procedures by tapping into
soldier insights to help
enhance capabilities in the
Australian Defence Force.
I congratulate all
who participated.
I am happy to note
many of the innovations
also provided potential
for injury reduction
and greater workplace
safety for our people.
L
6 | OCTOBER 2017
COMD 3Bde BRIG Chris Field (centre) at the presentation after the inaugural Australian Army
International Military Skills Competition conducted by 3Bde last month
The Innovation Day
demonstrates the ability
for people to learn and
adapt to challenges in the
fi eld environment and
bring ideas to fruition.
OW the big exercises
have been concluded,
we are fi nding time
to conduct a wider
range of activities.
Team-building in the form
of sport is one of those.
Once again, in September,
we joined with James Cook
University (JCU) to compete
in the annual “Battle of the
Icons” sporting events.
This year, JCU and Army
won four sports each.
JCU were victors in
womens rugby, womens
netball, mens basketball
and mens rugby.
The Brigade won matches in
mens soccer, womens soccer,
mens Australian rules and
womens Australian rules.
Such competition
enhances, and promotes, our
community engagement,
active lifestyles, participation
through sport and values
of JCU and Army.
PORT continues to
build bridges in other
areas and this can be seen
with the newly-announced
partnership between the
JCU Townsville Fire and
the Australian Army.
The comprehensive
partnership will include
N
S
the JCU Townsville Fire
playing singlets having
the Army brand and
Rising Sun on them for
the 2017/2018 season.
During the season, the
Australian Army and
JCU Townsville Fire will
continue to work together
in the community.
This arrangement is
based on our shared
values and goals.
We both seek to inspire
and assist our people to
realise their personal best
and we both actively engage
in positive community
programs such as those
that work to reduce
domestic violence.
HE 3rd Brigade is
engaging with the
local community in
another positive way.
A collaboration with
Kirwan State High School
will lead to members of
the 3rd Combat Engineer
Regiment (3CER) delivering
150 dresses and shorts
made by the Kirwan
students to children in
Papua New Guinea.
The project is part of the
Dress a Girl Around the
World movement established
by the charity group Hope
for Women International.
I had the privilege of
accompanying CO 3CER
LTCOL Jen Harris to
Kirwan High School
recently where we were
presented with the dresses
T
and other children’s clothes
destined for those in need.
Delivery by 3CER will
be conducted during
Exercise Puk Puk, a
military engineering skills
building and infrastructure
development-focused
exercise in PNG this year.
Villagers around Lae
will be the benefi ciaries
of this great work by
these young girls.
E also have been
fundraising for
those in need a little
closer to home.
The Queensland RSL
Lavarack Barracks Open
Day and NQ Defence Trail
Run held on Saturday,
September 2 again proved
successful in raising funds
for Townsville Legacy.
This will help provide
support to approximately
750 local widows and 50
wards of Townsville Legacy
- a worthy cause indeed.
As always, all the best.
W
-COMD 3Bde
BRIG Chris Field AM, CSC