3rd Brigade bids Brigadier Dave McCammon farewell as new commander Brigadier Ben McLennan steps into new role
The former commander of the 3rd brigade, Brigadier McCammon has completed his lap of honour around Lavarack barracks, as Townsville’s newest brigadier officially steps into his new role.
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The former commander of the 3rd brigade, Brigadier McCammon has completed his lap of honour around Lavarack barracks, as Townsville’s newest brigadier officially steps into his new role.
A small ceremony took place on Monday morning with commanding officers, regimental sergeant majors (RSM), local politicians and friends and family gathering to bid their farewells and hellos to the previous and new commander of the 3rd Brigade.
For the former commander, Brigadier Dave McCammon, it was a bittersweet goodbye to a role he labeled as one of the highlights of his career.
“(I’m feeling) mixed emotions. It’s always difficult to leave any posting in the army but this one is pretty significant and I’m pretty disappointed to be leaving Townsville,” he said.
“It’s special because Townsville is a very special place. It’s somewhere where we look after the army, we look after veterans. You feel that everywhere you go and it’s just a fantastic environment to soldier in.
“There’s something about the soldiers we build … you give them a little bit of advice or guidance and limited resources and they just deliver amazing things.”
The role of the brigade RSM was also handed over from Rob Munro to warrant officer Matthew Lines.
Brigadier McCammon said he was honoured to be passing on the torch to his longtime friend Brigadier Ben McLennan.
“He knows what to do. It’s one of those jobs you spend your whole life in the army getting ready to do,” he said.
“He’s been a battalion commander at the first battalion, those sort of things get you ready for this job and I’m sure he along with the new RSM, warrant officer Lines will do an amazing job.”
Looking forward, Brigadier McCammon’s new role will take him down to Canberra where he will run the Australian Army cadets program.
“(I’m excited to be) working with young people, getting the opportunity to give them an opportunity to develop their skills and … it’s always exciting to have a new challenge,” Brigadier McCammon said.
For Brigadier McLennan, he said it was a humbling experience to be stepping into the commanding role.
“I’m just looking forward to doubling down on the great work that brigadier McCammon, (RSM) Rob Munro, and their predecessors have done in this brigade for more than 100 years,” he said.
“I couldn’t think of a brigade in better shape to take over than one that’s been led by Dave and supported by Rob over the last two years.
“So I’m really excited. I’m also a little bit daunted, I gotta say, I mean it’s an enormous responsibility in a period.”
The former commander of the combat training centre said in a period of geopolitical instability, his goal will be to build on the brigade’s preparedness for conflict.
“An old saying, it comes from the 4th century, the Romans said ‘if you want peace, prepare for war,’” Brigadier McLennan said.
“(The army) has two roles, it is either to fight wars on behalf of our nation or to prepare for one.
“This brigade has done it throughout its 110 history and we will continue to do that over the next two years and that preparation, that rehearsal, that readiness, building those relationships, that will put us in good stead if crisis or conflict emerges.”
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Originally published as 3rd Brigade bids Brigadier Dave McCammon farewell as new commander Brigadier Ben McLennan steps into new role
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