Thread: The defence News's this week....

I know fo sure it's not the first time soldiers and sailors marched in Mardi Gras, not even the first time they did it in uniform but it is the first time it happened officially.

No mate, this is the news you should be broadcasting. Bob
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Home > Defence News Archive > Defence News Published: 29 January 2013
Australia Day Honours for Defence personnel

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• Medals
• It’s an Honour
• 2013 Australia Day Honours Lists

Australian Defence Force and civilian Defence members have been recognised for their service to the community and the nation in the 2013 Australia Day Honours lists.
Rear Admiral James Goldrick AM CSC RANR, has been appointed an Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service as Commander, Border Protection Command, Commander, Joint Education and Training, and Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy, and for outstanding scholarship in the study of Australian naval history.
Major General Grant Douglas Cavenagh AM has been appointed an Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force as Commander Joint Logistics and as Head Land Systems Division.
Major General Gerard Paul Fogarty AM has been appointed an Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service as Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633 in Iraq, Director General Personnel - Army and as Head People Capability.

Seven members of the ADF were appointed as Members in the Order of Australia in the Military Division:

• Captain Jonathon Sadleir RAN for exceptional performance of duties as the Director Navy Continuous Improvement, Commanding Officer HMAS Parramatta and as Staff Officer Global Operations.
• Major General Stephen Day DSC for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force as Commander of the 7th Brigade and Head Joint Capability Coordination.
• Lieutenant Colonel Michael Garraway for exceptional service in the field of officer career management in 2009 and as Commanding Officer, 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, from 2010 to 2012.
• Major General Paul McLachlan CSC for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force as the Director General Development and Plans - Army, and as the Commander of the 7th Brigade.
• Brigadier Barry McManus CSC for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force as the Director General Capability and Plans and as the Army Attaché to the United States of America.
• Brigadier Jane Spalding for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in the fields of recruiting and strategic reform.
• Colonel Wade Stothard for exceptional service as Commanding Officer Timor Leste Battle Group - Four, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, Military Assistant to the Commander Forces Command and Director of Officer Career Management - Army.

A further 11 members were awarded the Medal (OAM) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia:

• Warrant Officer Timothy Holliday for meritorious service to the Royal Australian Navy in the area of workforce and personnel career development within the Communications and Information Systems category.
• CPO Arron Watson for meritorious service in the field of marine engineering in the Royal Australian Navy.
• Captain A for meritorious service.
• Warrant Officer 1 Stephen Greenall for meritorious service as the Artificer Sergeant Major of the 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, as Maintenance Manager of Joint Logistic Unit North, and as Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Warrant Officer of the 1st Brigade.
• Warrant Officer 1 H for meritorious service to the Special Operations Command in regimental leadership roles.
• Warrant Officer 1 David Lehr for meritorious service as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd/10th Field Regiment, Joint Task Force 635 Operation ANODE Rotation 13, and the 1st Field Regiment.
• Warrant Officer 1 John Pickett for meritorious service as the Drill Wing Sergeant Major, Royal Military College Duntroon and as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 41st Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.
• Warrant Officer 1 Richard Verrall for meritorious service as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment and the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.
• Wing Commander Rudy Darvill for meritorious service in leadership, development and sustainment of the Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance Reconnaissance and Response capability.
• Warrant Officer of the Air Force Russell Kennedy CSCfor meritorious service in the field of Reserve training development and management within Director General Reserves - Air Force Branch.
• Squadron Leader Ravinder Singh for meritorious service in the field of airlift capability support.

Three Defence members will receive the Medal for Gallantry (MG):

• Corporal B for acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances.
• Corporal J for acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan, June 2010.
• Corporal N for acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances.

A further five ADF members will receive the Commendation for Gallantry for acts of gallantry in action:

• Private Nathan Bendle
• Private D
• Corporal Scott Smith
• Private Kyle Wilson
• Sergeant K

Lieutenant Colonel G and Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Smith CSC will receive a distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
Major J will receive the Bar to Distinguished Service Medal and a further nine ADF members will receive the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), 12 will receive Commendations for Distinguished Service, two will receive the Bar to Conspicuous Service Cross, 16 will receive the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) and 28 will receive the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM).

Two of Defence’s civilian staff have been recognised with Public Service Medals:

• Carmel Majella McGregor foroutstanding public service through administrative reforms including a crucial role in leading 'The Review of Employment Pathways for APS Women in the Department of Defence' and significant contribution in the development of the Reform of Australian Government Administration 'The Blueprint'; and
• Rachel Noble foroutstanding public service as Australia's National Security Chief Information Officer.

there have been people in the past who have attended in uniform and been charged.

This is the first time they have been given permission to and allowed to proactively co-ordinate and participate, and in all seriousness good on em.

However, my overarching policy still applies.

"I dont care what you do, just so long as you do it way the hell away from me."

I didn't say which uniform they wore but I do know that one of the drag queens from one of the bars was a Vietnam Vet.