Australia’s Defence Force ready to fight as threats from China, North Korea and other enemies intensify
As global tensions rise with China and North Korea, Australia’s Defence Force have revealed how they are ready to fight and face the dangerous threat of conflict. See the exclusive video.
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Russia is threatening an all-out nuclear land war in Europe, North Korea is testing an undersea drone for “radioactive tsunamis” and there’s China’s likely assault on Taiwan, a clash with India on its Himalayan border and control of the Pacific.
Not a week goes by where the Australian public is not warned we are living in the midst of a deteriorating strategic outlook the likes of which we have not seen since World War 2.
But are our rank and file troops ready or thinking they are more likely to have to go to a war in greater numbers than any other deployment since the Vietnam conflict?
In a series of interviews with News Corp Australia, the verdict was categorical.
They follow the news, the danger was real but so too was the pride and honour in holding the burden of responsibility and their training skill set to defend Australia’s interests.
THREAT ON THE HORIZON
Army Royal Australian Engineers’ Sergeant Miles Stewart has been in the service for 15 years after joining because he wanted a challenge.
“I could have been an accountant but I’m not one of those who want to sit behind a desk, I want to be hands on and help as much as I can,” he says.
He faced dangers during his deployment to Afghanistan but says it always came back to training.
The 34-year-old recalled looking along the winding dirt road ahead of him from his base in Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan and not for the first time questioning what he was doing.
The combat engineer’s role was to clear the route ahead to escort convoys by exposing and destroying improvised explosive devices or enemy lying in wait.
“There’s been times where I’ve thought ‘what am I doing’ but at the end of the day this is assisting the army, assisting the mission and helping to make the world a safer place,” he said.
But he said like then and now he comes back to the same place.
“It’s definitely one of those things where for myself you come to accept the possible threat is out there and at the end of the day you’re looking out for yourself of course but also your mates behind you. So there is a reassurance there that you are doing it for yourself and mates.
“I think I came to terms with it before going over, this is a possible outcomes that could happen and potential events, in my head you are cautious you always are but in my head it did seem I was at home training in some aspects.”
He said he applies that thinking to his broader military career.
“With strategic threats today … you draw back on our past which will assist us in the future.
My thoughts about the threat on the horizon more so within that China aspect, is that it is still a fair way off but just like other countries we need to build capability – which is what I imagine they are doing too – it’s maintaining that training aspect, making sure we are well rehearsed in our drills in our activities and exercises so we fight both well individually and as a collective for combat threats that pop up.”
READY FOR ANYTHING
Speaking from his base in Holsworthy Barracks, Army transport corps’ Sergeant Simon MacKenna agrees.
The Victorian soldier was a tradie and a McDonalds manager before he joined 18 years ago to follow in the footsteps of his great grandfather who was an infantryman who fought in France in World War I.
“We always need to be ready for anything that comes forward I think and the strategic outlook of things is the more prepared you are, the better and more we will be postured for the future.
“Some of the strategic outcomes looming over the horizon we are keeping our ears close to the ground and what the media and what comes from higher up (commanders) to shape and prepare us for anything that comes foward. I don’t think there are any concerns, we train quite hard to move forward into anything that comes ahead.”
CHALLENGING TIMES
Speaking from the deck of HMAS Brisbane, weapons and electrical engineering Lieutenant Commander Louella Yu has travelled through South East Asia and Indo Pacific with the Navy, joining 12 years ago “to give back” to her adopted nation.
“These are certainly challenging strategic times for the Australian government and certainly for the Australian Defence Force. I think it is a huge responsibility for the people on the front lines and I believe that not only is it a huge challenge but it’s also a huge opportunity to bear that responsibility. For anyone who is in service and wears a uniform and does this for a job every single day that they turn up we are thankful, we are lucky that they do what they do, and it creates such a wonderful community … I think there are risks with any type of responsibility that you take whether or not that is in the defence force or any other job, there’s probably just as much risk crossing the street.”
FAMILY AFFAIR
For marine technician Able Seaman Seamus Rogers joining the Navy was to join the conversation at the family dinner table with his father and older brother having been in service.
“Personally I’m not worried,” he said of the looming challenges. “I know the Navy has provided the best training money can buy for me and I’m confident in our ability to look forward and accept the risk and rise to that risk should it be required … Pride in service, it’s definitely something you experience every day when you put the uniform on, having grown up watching dad put the uniform on and my older brother putting the uniform on, I knew as soon as I put the uniform on it was where I belong and hopefully where I stay … The conversations around the dinner table now are good. I’ve got my own stories to tell and some of mine rival my dads so I think I’m doing pretty well. ”
SERVICE TO COUNTRY
RAAF Flight Lieutenant Daniel Fisher also came to service from a family tradition.
He has served in the Middle East and well as on domestic operations including the recent bushfires and said if push came to shove he had faith his superiors and government of the day would make the right choice.
“At the end of the day there are challenges and those challenges just take a different shape and so you are always concerned but it’s a case of alert not alarmed. So I think it would be irresponsible not to be concerned with what is happening but certainly pay attention to it so whatever threats do emerge we would be well positioned should the military be called upon to address those.”
His colleague at RAAF Williamtown Sgt Daniel Cafaro, Airfield Defence Guard at No. 1 Security Forces Squadron, agreed every job had challenges but service to country and mates gets him through.
“The thing that keeps me in the service would be the good friendships and bonds that I have made throughout my time being in.”
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Originally published as Australia’s Defence Force ready to fight as threats from China, North Korea and other enemies intensify
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