Brigadier Ben McLennan to take over command of the 3rd Brigade

Years ago, a young boy’s passion was ignited by the Australian Army in Townsville. Now, 25 years into his defence career, he is set to become the commander of the very brigade where his dreams first began.

Promotion ceremony for Brigadier Ben McLennan at Lavarack Barracks. Brigadier McLennan with Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Simon Stewart and his wife Rebecca and daughters Paige and Abby. Picture: Supplied

Years ago, a young boy’s passion was ignited by the Australian Army at Lavarack Barracks. Now, 25 years into his defence career, he is set to become the commander of the very brigade where his dreams first began.

Next week, Brigadier Dave McCammon will hand over command of the 3rd Brigade to Brigadier Ben McLennan.

Standing on the shoulders of so many other commanders, Brigadier McLennan said he shares their ultimate goal – to ensure their forces are as best prepared as possible for conflict.

“That is why we exist: to fight and win wars; or prepare to fight and win them,” he said.

“To achieve this we, 3rd Brigade, will focus on rehearsing as if it’s our last opportunity to do so, readying our amazing people and cutting edge equipment and enhancing our relationships with our allies, our veterans, our families and, vitally, our extraordinary Garrison City.”

Promotion ceremony for Brigadier Ben McLennan at Lavarack Barracks. Brigadier McLennan and Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Simon Stewart. Picture: Supplied

“I expect to be challenged every day and I feel that if I don’t feel challenged, then I’m not working hard enough, I’m not leaning hard enough into the role.”

As the Defence Strategic Review begins to take hold, Brigadier McLennan will begin his two year posting ahead of the busiest training period in the past 85 years.

Australian Army officer Colonel Ben McLennan CSC and Bar, lays a wreath at the 2024 Remembrance Day parade at ANZAC Memorial Park, Townsville, on 11 November 2024. PHOTO: CPL Guy Sadler

“In addition to the biggest training year the Australian Army has undertaken since World War Two, in 2025 the Australian Army is undergoing the biggest recapitalisation of equipment since World War Two,” he said.

“A large proportion, the lion’s share of that, is coming here to Townsville to the 3rd brigade and to the 16th brigade.”

“That’s going to be challenging because we get new capabilities this army has never had. It’s exciting, it’s challenging but a huge opportunity and that will come with all the second and third order benefits for Townsville.”

“We will be really focused on making sure we receive that equipment and learn how to operate and fight with it and win with it as quickly as we can.”

Commander Combat Training Centre Colonel Ben McLennan, CSC and Bar conducts a brief at Defence Establishment Berrimah, Darwin during Exercise Predator's Run 2024. PHOTO: CPL Johnny Huang

Born in Townsville, Brigadier McLennan can remember the exact moment in his youth where he decided he would follow in his fathers footsteps and become an officer in the Australian Army.

“When I was five years old, I went to Cavalry college. I must have been in kindergarten … and I remember we had an open day and they bought out one of the M113s and I got to ride in the back of it. That was it for me” he said.

As a five year old, Brigadier Ben McLennan’s imagination was captured by the Australian Army after he rode in a M113 Armoured personnel carrier during an open day.

After completing his military training at Duntroon, Brigadier McLennan received his first posting to Townsville as a young lieutenant.

A month later, he met his wife Rebecca and has since spent 16 years here throughout his career, returning as a captain, a major and a lieutenant colonel within the 3rd brigade as well as a colonel during his previous posting as the commander of the Combat Training Centre.

His two daughters, Paige and Abby were also born in Townsville.

He served overseas in East Timor, Afghanistan and the Philippines, represented the army on regional and global engagements in numerous countries including South Korea and the United Kingdom and completed an exchange in Canada.

The soon-to-be commander also holds a Bachelor in marketing and management, a masters degree in strategic studies, and a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff college.

Throughout his varied career in which he also served as the inaugural Australian Army liaison officer to the French Army, Brigadier McLennan said these changes will only further enhance the fact that Townsville is one of the best places to soldier and mount from.

“All of our brigades have extraordinary histories and great legacies,” he said.

“I think the one thing that differentiates the 3rd brigade … is that we are located in Australia’s premier garrison city, with a history, geography and community that is not replicated anywhere else in the country and arguably probably anywhere else in the world.”

Colonel Ben McLennan (third from left) deployed with 2RAR to East Timor in September 1999 as part of INTERFET. Picture: Supplied.

Brigadier McLennan said the support they receive from the region which allows them to take over communities such as Ingham and Charters Towers for military exercises or train at locations such as the Port of Townsville, Magnetic Island or Pallarenda are second to none.

“These are the opportunities that others don’t have and that is the key distinction between the brigades and we’re so fortunate, we’ve just got to make sure we don’t take that for granted.”

After spending so many years entwined with the Townsville community, he said he was looking forward to strengthening the already existing relationships the 3rd brigade has with key organisations and groups as well as its fellow defence personnel.

Commander Australian Combat Training Centre Colonel Ben McLennan discussing learning outcomes with his French Armed Forces counterparts Colonel Tony Garnier and Commandant Antoine Derulliere, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. PHOTO: CPL Julia Whitwell

“Relationships, whether it’s with your partner, financial relationships or any relationship in life. If you want it to reach its potential, if you want it to stay strong or to enrich it, you have to actually invest in it. That shouldn’t surprise any of us,” Brigadier McLennan said.

“That's what I see as one of my roles, enabled by a whole bunch of others here on this base, and in co-operation with other people in the community like (Brigadier) Fern Thompson and (Commanding Officer) Luke Headley, is continuing to invest, to give back to the community in appreciation and absolute gratitude of the gift we have that no one else has of this garrison city.”

Originally published as Brigadier Ben McLennan to take over command of the 3rd Brigade