Erin Molan: Defence force personnel deserve absolute respect

The Talisman Sabre helicopter tragedy has shown the dangers our defence force personnel face every day, writes Erin Molan

Last week, four Australian families would have been contacted in the middle of the night with the news their worst nightmare was playing out.

Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Corporal Alexander Naggs and Warrant Officer Jospeh Laycock were on board a Taipan helicopter when it crashed off the coast of Hamilton Island during the Talisman Sabre military exercises.

What started as a search and rescue mission has turned into a recovery, the four heroes killed serving their nation.

As the daughter of a former army officer during plenty of ‘peacetime’ years, I know a lot about lengthy and complex military exercises.

Dad would have been involved in hundreds over my lifetime.

When he’d come home, he would describe some of the things that went on and I was always astonished by his assertions of just how ‘real’ they were.

Training for war isn’t all simulators and theory, it is intense, dangerous and sometimes deadly.

I’ve heard plenty of water cooler chat over the past few days regarding this tragic incident. People are heartbroken for the men, their families, regimental colleagues and friends, but also seem to express shock that such a horrific accident can occur during ‘practice’.

It’s always a tragedy when we lose any member of our military, but it feels so much more intense when it could have been prevented.

Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle carrying Australian Defence Force personnel during the Southern Jackaroo trilateral exercise.

There are investigations occurring right now into the chopper itself and no doubt there will be plenty more findings to emerge regarding its troubled history.

It goes without saying that any organisational or individual failings that are found to have occurred must be examined robustly and forensically, and where appropriate be dealt with with the full force of the law.

But, that aside, I think it’s critical to reflect on why these types of military exercises need to be as lifelike as possible, and why the men and women of our defence force must be revered every single day, not just when they are deployed to serious operations.

Exercises like Talisman Sabre are dangerous. Even if all due diligence is done prior and every possible precaution taken the element of risk is always going to be there.

Big activities like this are the reason so many of our men and women survive war and come home.

The more prepared they are, the closer they can get to experiencing ‘the real thing’, the better ‘armed’ they’ll be to handle it.

The thought of losing a loved one during a peacetime exercise is unfathomable, and any death of a citizen wearing our nation’s uniform is a tragedy.

We can never diminish the significance of the contribution these four brave men made to the defence of our young and free magnificent country.

They did not naively walk onto the airfield last Sunday night.

Practising effectively to defend attacks by those trying to kill you isn’t ‘just rehearsing’, isn’t ‘just simulating’, it’s facing another situation of life or death, as it is every single day they put on our uniform.

To show any member of our Defence Force anything less than absolute respect and admiration 365 days a year is indefensible.

Australian Army soldiers during Exercise Trident in Queensland last year.

We cannot acknowledge their service only on ANZAC Day or during periods of conflict when Australian casualties occur.

We must wake up to the fact that there is a group of people who love this country more than themselves, and furthermore, who are willing to give their life for their country, and us, in peacetime and in war.

Most of us wouldn’t dream of committing our lives to that highest of callings.

Next time you see disrespect, dismissal or disservice against our ADF members - past or present - call it out.

They’ve had more than their fair share of pain already… particularly in recent times.

Some of the treatment they’ve been subjected to is a national disgrace.

If this tragedy isn’t a reminder of how much better they all deserve then I don’t know what is.

The families of these heroes
must be supported for the rest of their lives … it’s the least we, as a nation, can do.

This Wednesday I’m running a leg of the Legacy Centenary Marathon relay in Queanbeyan.

I’m filling in for Dad… he signed up to do it before he passed away in January this year.

I dedicate my leg to him, to Daniel, Maxwell, Alexander and Joseph, their families and to every single member of our defence force - past and present.

Lest We Forget.