Major Kieran Morgan and Major Anthony Griffin prepare for next step

With a combined service record of 80 years, two Army 5th Aviation Regiment officers are leaving the unit after having the best adventures of their lives.

Major Keiran Morgan and Major Anthony Griffith are leaving the army 5th Aviation Regiment after a combined service of 80 years. Picture: Evan Morgan

With a combined service record of 80 years, two Army 5th Aviation Regiment officers are leaving the unit after having the best adventures of their lives.

The unit’s Second in Command Major Kieran Morgan was born and raised in Townsville and joined the army as a fresh-faced seventeen-year-old private three weeks after graduating from Heatley State High School.

His first posting was back in Townsville with the then 2/4th Battalion where he stayed for six years and included a deployment to East Timor.

The Major then took a short break from Defence before rejoining and moving to a different army core but only managed to get posted back to Townsville towards the end of his career.

He said at different postings around the country he was trying to decide if each was here he felt he could make a home but the Major was elated to finally come back to the city where he was born.

Major Keiran Morgan and Major Anthony Griffith are leaving the army 5th Aviation Regiment after a combined service of 80 years. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Coming back to Townsville. It was coming home and I was overjoyed to come to the 5th Aviation Regiment.

“This unit has a long history with Townsville. It belongs to Townsville, and I’m sure the Townsville community has pride in 5th Aviation Regiment being here.

The Major said there were three highlights of his career.

“There’s deployment overseas on operational service, and the other two highlights were the book ends of my career.

“Firstly, to serve here in the 2/4th Battalion, and also to serve here as a second commander of the 5th Aviation Regiment.”

He said he was not leaving Defence yet but was transitioning to a new role.

“I’m moving into a new position and getting close to the end of my career, I crossed the 40 year line mid this year.

“It feels interesting to be leaving an operational unit and moving into a more staff role. It’s finding that balance as I start to transition towards staying with defence in a more relaxed capacity.”

Major Keiran Morgan and Major Anthony Griffith are leaving the army 5th Aviation Regiment after a combined service of 80 years. Picture: Evan Morgan

He said he had enjoyed every year in the army so far.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. I’ve had some wonderful opportunities in the army, and I’ve taken whatever opportunities have presented to make my career as enjoyable as possible.”

Fifth Aviation Regiment’s operations officer, Major Anthony Griffith, is also moving on after 40 years and had spent the majority of his time with the unit first arriving in 1987 as a corporal when it was in its infancy in the Garrison City.

“I’ve held a number of positions in the unit, going up for the ranks over time. So I’ve seen it go from literally nothing to what it is today,” Major Griffin said.

“I consider this my home unit. Everybody has that one unit. We move around a lot in our careers, but you always have that one unit you consider your home organisation, and Fifth Aviation is that for me.”

He was also with the unit at the time of the Blackhawk tragedy in 1996 which resulted in 18 fatalities.

“I was here for the tragedies in 96 and I was flying that day, and that’s a big deal for us. We remember that.”

The major has also been involved in numerous overseas deployments and also humanitarian aid operations overseas and in Australia.

“Twice with the regiment Cambodia, Timor, Middle East and Afghanistan, also done a lot of other non-war fighting type trips with just regional support. Done a lot of time in Papua New Guinea, doing drought relief and other humanitarian operations.”

Major Griffith also said the army career had given him the adventure of a lifetime.

“It’s been the best adventure. It’s given me everything that I have. It’s introduced me to my wife. It set me up for the lifestyle that I’ve now.

“It’s given me skills that been important to me. There’s been skills that I’ve been able to contribute to society with, and there’s just other bits and pieces that you learn through it, that going to carry me in good stead as I get older and just move around for next phase of my life.”

Originally published as Major Kieran Morgan and Major Anthony Griffin prepare for next step