G'day there JAYB...

I reckon you're wasting your time trying to explain the origins of Army culture and/or folklore. unless you've worn a set of greens. It's hard for anybody to understand both the language and the import of that language. So critical in effectively conveying vital data especially during a contact situation.

As an aside, I could never understand why Long Tan got so much publicity, as opposed with FSB's Coral & Balmoral, where they lost *22 souls as opposed to *11 (I think) at Long Tan? I'm not juxtaposing a casualty count, rather the latter was a very concentrated well organised attack from the NVA (as was Long Tan). Nevertheless, if you were to ask the average member of the public about Coral & Balmoral, most would not have even heard of that important battle in Australia's, Vietnam War history.

**Sorry my memory is fading quite rapidly these days, with dementia setting in.

Hey ttbn,
"Absolute rubbish! It takes a warped mind to come up with that one."

Well I'm ok with the criticism, but I can't give you a free pass just for 'changing the issue'.
I wonder if you can actually back that statement up with simple logic and reason?

I'll make it really simple for you - black and white.

** Tell me how is it so that we are 'defending the nation' if the battleground is not on or within our borders? **

Which wars specifically represent 'Defending the Nation', rather than Australian taxpayers dollars used to fight other peoples wars?

Individual,

"Let them go out & kick ass..."

That's animal cruelty.

It's a matter of historical record that Japan never intended to invade Australia.
The Japanese Navy was all for it and made a proposal which was thrown out by the Army and Government.

There was no need because, after Hitler's win in Europe and the defeat of the USA, Australia would simply have had to do as it was told.

There is plenty on the Net.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_Japanese_invasion_of_Australia_during_World_War_II

AC,

I object to you calling the ADF 'mercenaries'; they cannot pick and choose, they follow orders. But I agree that protecting our nation by going to foreign countries is bullshite. The place for them is home, here, on our streets. They should be protecting us from the Muslims our stupid politicians brought here without sense or reason. Combatting terrorism is not a job for civilian police, who are not trained for war or combat - actually killing the enemy, rather spending a motza of our money on trials and imprisonment. All we get from sending troops overseas is more dangerous illegal immigrants.

Steelie & other Doubters. I suggest you pick up a copy of Bob Breen’s latest book “ A little bit of Hope” about $59, & read the “The world looking over their shoulder” also by Bob Breen, & Mc Cauley, that one is free.

Australia & it’s Soldiers are thought of throughout the World as the World leaders when it comes to behaviour & getting it right in their Peace Keeping Roles.

"THE WORLD LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS: AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC CORPORALS ON OPERATIONS IN SOMALIA AND EAST TIMOR."
Bob Breen and Greg McCauley

"A Little Bit of Hope"
By Bob Breen OAM
Australian Force Somalia - second edition

I've just had Bob sign my copy of "First to Fight" at the reunion. The Story of 1 R.A.R. attached to the 173D (S) Airborne 65/66.

A good book with a few mistakes, which we pointed out to him. He was going on "Company Commanders Reports" which, as we explained to him, often were not the Reports submitted by the Company Commanders. They were told to sign the rewritten Reports or, "It would not go well for the rest of their Careers, if they didn't."