2 July 2018
Secretary, CDF, VCDF and VCDF designate, CN, CAF, CJC
Defence senior leaders
My ANZAC counterpart, Major General Kelly - CA New Zealand Army,
Fellow Generals of the Army
RSM-A WO Grant McFarlane
Members of the Army
Distinguished Guests, Family and friends
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good Morning.
I wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are meeting this morning, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present.
Taking command of the Australian Army today is an incredible honour.
To do so in your presence is special. You represent all of Army, past and present, the joint team we are so integral to, our families and community that we are intrinsically part of and whose support we depend so much on. Thank you for being here. I commit to serving with you and for all of you.
It is my good fortune to assume command after General Campbell, whose tenure saw commitment to the completion of Army’s rolling program of initiatives - the Hardened and Networked Army, Adaptive Army and Plan Beersheba. This work has provided the essential foundation for our Army of today, and enables our future Army.
We are grateful for his authentic and ethical leadership, reinforcing our values and making us stronger. I commit to building upon this work and Army should expect continuity and momentum from me with respect to my predecessor’s policies and direction.
Receiving the Army banner during this transfer of command today symbolises such continuity. As custodian of this national institution, I deeply feel the responsibility of service to the Nation, of delivering results today and leading the Army into the future – and of honouring our hard earned legacy.
And so it is a great privilege that my first official duty will be on the western front to represent our Defence Force at the centenary commemoration of those extraordinary achievements in the battle of Le Hamel.
Thoughtful leadership, innovative tactics, exceptional teamwork, courageous soldiering, a determination to win.
100 years later the spirit of the digger endures, that unique character of the Australian soldier earning acclaim wherever they are – committed on the world stage, at home or in our region, working with others, defending and advancing Australia’s interests, making a difference.
That is our way. It is the Australian way.
Our Army is in great shape … and always with more to do.
We are an Army in motion.
We are committed, engaged, always learning, innovating and building ever-more effective teams. We seek to optimize our potential. And we must, as we prepare for the challenges we face now and in the future.
Army has a vital role to play as part of the joint force, to assure our warfighting capability into the future, and to offer the broadest utility by leveraging our unique strengths, to operate across all domains and across the continuum.
We will harness the whole Army, enable and leverage the potential of the joint force and the entire enterprise. Our success will hinge on harnessing the full capability of all our people, strengthening partnerships, in combination with technology, to operate in new and creative ways.
As we do this we will remain accountable, actively build and sustain trust and continually strengthen our foundations as a profession, while remaining committed to our Army values of courage, initiative, respect and teamwork so that we can achieve our potential.
I am honoured to lead the Australian Army, an extraordinary team of Australians.
We have a strong foundation, great people and much to be proud of.
We are an Army in motion, and it is a great time to be an Australian soldier.