Brigadier Dave McCammon farewells 3rd Brigade after two years as commander

Brigadier Dave McCammon is leaving the Garrison City and the ‘best job in the army’ after two years as Commander of 3rd Brigade. Find out about his favourite moments in Townsville.

Brigadier Dave McCammon is leaving the Garrison City and the Ôbest job in the armyÕ after two years as Commander of 3rd Brigade. Commander 3rd Brigade, Brigadier David McCammon, DSM and Bar gives orders during Exercise Brolga Run, on 21 May 2024, at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Picture: Supplied.

Brigadier Dave McCammon is leaving the Garrison City and the ‘best job in the army’ after two years as Commander of 3rd Brigade.

He said it would be difficult to leave Townsville where the community gave so much support to Defence and it had been a privilege to be in command of the Brigade and its remarkable cadre of soldiers.

“There is no better job in army than being the commander of 3rd Brigade and that’s for a couple of reasons,” Brigadier McCammon said.

“Firstly, our people are amazing. They do amazing things every day. They get a little bit of information or a brief task, and then they, on their own initiative, they just make amazing things happen.

“Over the last two years, we’ve seen people from this brigade deployed to PNG, Solomons, Philippines and even Antarctica, doing incredible things, and it’s just a privilege to be around them.

“I come to work and every day I’m inspired by the stories I hear.

“Then the second part of being commander 3rd Brigade is how grateful I am for the community support that this brigade gets.

Brigadier Dave McCammon is leaving the Garrison City and the Ôbest job in the armyÕ after two years as Commander of 3rd Brigade. Australian Army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment conduct an assault on the enemy main defensive position during Exercise Brolga Run 23 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Picture: CPL Riley Blennerhassett

“There is no greater Garrison City in Australia than Townsville, and every day, we see amazing support for our soldiers and our veterans in the community.

“That goes across all facets, and I’ve never served somewhere where people are so helpful.”

The Brigadier said that essential bond with the Townsville community had only grown stronger with time.

“I think of Major General Scott Winters work over the floods (2019). I think the work that Steve Price and John Caligari have done over decades to bring that relationship together.

“I have only played a very small part in something that community leaders and the former mayor Jenny Hill, have been doing over the previous decades, and I’m privileged to play a small part in that relationship.”

He said the Brigade had enjoyed strong ties with the city’s sporting teams and charities.

“What a privilege to be associated with both the Townsville Fire and the Cowboys, both community teams that do so much in and around the community as well.

“We’re very proud of our relationship with both and our relationship across all facets of Townsville. I am particularly proud of the work we’ve done with the Ronald McDonald House, an amazing charity that does such incredible work for people when they’re at their most difficult places in life.

Brigadier Dave McCammon is leaving the Garrison City and the Ôbest job in the armyÕ after two years as Commander of 3rd Brigade. Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Brigadier David McCammon (right), DSM and Bar, accepts a gift from the Commanding Officer of Lombrum Naval Base, Commander Buni Dorea, during the closing ceremony of Exercise Puk Puk on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. Picture: Supplied.

“Also working with Legacy in the community as well. So all of those have been a privilege such as the work we did with Run Army - two years to grow that community based activity, to see the community and army get together on that day and raise so much money for charity.”

He said it was hard to narrow down the highlights of his Townsville posting.

“Every day, I see great things getting done, and they’re usually on people’s initiative, seeing people grab something and grow it and take it and own it, and whether that’s training, whether that’s doing something in the community or whether that’s on High Range.

“But it’s hard to go past our exercises on up on High Range, some of the live firing the team has done up there.

“Also seeing the work that we’ve done in the South West Pacific and Run Army, and particularly proud of the Anzac Day Jersey we did with the Cowboys as well.”

He said the appointment of Colonel Boniface Aruma as Deputy Commander of 3rd Brigade had forged even stronger ties with PNG.

“The first of its kind in the ADF and he’s been incredible. You’d think something like that would take a year or two to bed in, but he’s been at the forefront of our relationship with PNG, and he has been such an amazing asset to the brigade - particularly when I’ve been away, having him there to support the brigade has been fantastic.

“I think we’re in a geographically in a very important position. Townsville, it is the gateway to the South West Pacific.

“Our relationship with the Papua New Guinean Defence Force, which is has been decades in the making, but really has taken a huge leap forward with the appointment of our deputy commander, Boni, who has done such great work in bringing those two teams together, and also he’s done amazing work in the community in Townsville.

“This year alone, we’ve had 600 soldiers over five rotations deploy into Papua, New Guinea and it’s a great to work with them. We get as much out of the relationship as they do.

“Our people come back better. It’s an austere, difficult environment. And again, because of their resilience and their attitude, they just make things happen, and it’s always a privilege to go over and see.”

Brigadier Dave McCammon is leaving the Garrison City and the Ôbest job in the armyÕ after two years as Commander of 3rd Brigade. Australian Army soldier Private Jack Sewell from 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment completes a combined amphibious assault exercise on Exercise Alon as part of Indo=Pacific Endeavour 2023 in the Philippines. Picture: Supplied.

During his stewardship there had been numerous deployments by 3rd Brigade soldiers to PNG and Australia’s other Pacific neighbours and he said it was important to strengthen those bonds.

“This year, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment has taken the lead for our relationship with the Solomons and under the activity name of Coast Watchers, and they’ve helped the police force in their surveillance training.

“That work has been so well regarded. In fact, the Police Minister from the Solomons visited Townsville on Monday and came here and to see 3rd Brigade, because of that work.

“That activity in Indonesia (Exercise Keris Woomera) was the first to live fire like that with the Indonesians, and those relationships are incredibly important.

“We’re living in a more and more uncertain world, and when things are uncertain, it’s best to have friends.

“I think also it’s worth acknowledging, not only that work overseas with our partners, we also had significant numbers of the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force come to Townsville, in what was a first and exercise with the brigade, and we’ll see that grow into next year.

“We saw large elements of US Marine Corps and US Army come again to exercise on High Range with us, which again, will grow into the future.

“Part of that is the 3rd Brigade and High Range, but a big part of that is how welcoming the Townsville community is to the ADF and our partners.”

The Brigadier said his biggest regret about his time in command was that he and his family had to leave.

“My biggest regret is having to leave and there’s always more to do.

“I just wish I had more time in Townsville, and it will be very difficult to leave, and I know my daughters certainly don’t want to leave, and my wife doesn’t want to leave, and I think that’s because it’s been such a home to us.

His next posting will be to Canberra to take charge of the Australian Army Cadets.

“I look forward to building and growing the Army Cadets and offering opportunities to young people and I would offer to anyone that if you’re looking for something to do, if you’re looking for activities for your children. There is no better place than the Australian Army Cadets for those in high school.”

But The Garrison city has not seen the last of the Brigadier.

“I will come back at every opportunity I get, and I think my family’s view is that once the army is finished with us, we will be back in town for good.”

Originally published as Brigadier Dave McCammon farewells 3rd Brigade after two years as commander