The Cove Podcast
The Cove Podcast is the official podcast of the Australian Army, featuring candid conversations with the leaders, soldiers and scholars shaping the force today. Hosted by CAPT Todd Lempa, each episode pairs him with uniformed officers, soldiers, academics and international partners to unpack what modern warfare demands. Topics range from leadership, resilience and command culture to human performance, lessons from combat operations and the future of land power. Episodes include reflections from regimental sergeants major, generals discussing warrior culture, and psychologists exploring mental readiness. Grounded and authentic, it offers a look at how the Australian Army thinks, learns and fights.
Episodes
Language as a Military Skill: Learning Mandarin in the ADF with CAPT Alex Jack
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, CAPT Alex Jack shares his experience at the ADF School of Languages, from sitting the Language Aptitude Test and being selected for Mandarin through to the relentless pace of full-time language training. He discusses weekly assessments, learning thousands of new words and characters, developing speaking and translation skills, and the personal discipline requir
Counter-UAS: Adapting to the Drone Threat with LTCOL Paul Middleton, Deputy Director Force Modernisation HQ2 DIV
LTCOL Paul Middleton from Headquarters 2nd Division joins The Cove to discuss the integration of counter-uncrewed aerial systems during Exercise Austral Shield 2026. The exercise saw JTF 629 take newly issued LAND 156 equipment and trained operators into a collective tactical environment, moving beyond classroom training to test the equipment, tactics and soldiers against a realistic UAS threat. T
The Drone-Enabled Battlefield: Army’s RAS Revolution with CAPT Andy Dunn-Lobban, Remote and Autonomous Systems Cell
Captain Andrew Dunn-Lobban from the Land Combat College’s Remote and Autonomous Systems Cell joins The Cove to explore how drones and robotic systems are changing land warfare. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine and Army’s own experimentation, we discuss the emerging Drone Combat System, new training pathways, how drone teams may operate across the force, and what soldiers and junior commanders need
From Oxford to the Australian Army: Rethinking Officer Recruitment with LT Oliver Douglas
Lieutenant Oliver Douglas talks with John Hardgrave on The Cove Podcast to discuss his experience serving with the Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps while studying as a Rhodes Scholar. Drawing on his time inside both the Australian and British Army systems, he explores the cultural differences between the two forces and explains how the British UOTC model gives young people a rapid,
Bringing Them Home: The Search for Australia’s Missing Soldiers with Dr Aaron Pegram and Maj Craig Foreman
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hardgrave talks with Dr Aaron Pegram and Major Craig Foreman from Unrecovered War Casualties – Army explain the painstaking work involved in locating, recovering and identifying Australia’s missing service personnel. They discuss the historical research, forensic science and investigative expertise behind each case, before taking listeners inside the
From Soldier to Psychiatrist: Military Identity, Culture, and Transition with DR Jon Lane
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, host John Hardgrave sits down with Jonathan Lane—a veteran, psychiatrist, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ first Chief Psychiatrist—to unpack the powerful intersection of military culture, identity, and mental health. Jon shares his unconventional journey from infantry soldier to senior clinician, including operational deployments and frontline experien
Army Adaptation to Modern Warfare - MAJGEN Chris Smith
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, host John Hardgrave is joined by the Deputy Chief of Army to examine the return of positional warfare through the lens of Ukraine. The discussion explores reconnaissance-strike systems, drones, elastic defence, contested movement, sustainment, and the enduring requirement for soldiers to seize and hold ground. It also considers how these lessons may apply beyon
Train Smarter, Lead Better, Be Well - Lessons from AFL and Defence with Alastair Lynch and Dr Jon Lane
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, host John Hardgrave brings together AFL premiership player Alastair Lynch and Jonathan Lane for a powerful conversation on high performance, leadership, and life after structured environments.
Drawing on Lynch’s experience with the Brisbane Lions and Lane’s clinical and military background, the discussion explores the shared DNA between elite sport and Defence
The Soldier: Purpose, Profession and the Reality of War with MAJGEN Chris Smith, DCA
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, host John Hardgrave is joined by the Deputy Chief of Army to discuss The Soldier, Army’s new publication on the purpose and identity of the Australian soldier. The conversation examines why the publication was written now, what it says about Army’s core purpose, and why soldiers must be prepared honestly for the realities of war, violence, lawful killing, fear,
Peacekeeping, Protection and Perspective: Lessons from Operation ASLAN with Maj Mark Vele
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hardgrave speaks with an Australian Army officer Mark Vele about his 12-month deployment on Operation ASLAN with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. The discussion explores the realities of preparing for a UN peacekeeping mission, working in a multinational headquarters, living and operating in Juba, and the personal and professional challenges of s
Training, Culture, and Cohesion: A Rifle Company in Malaysia with Maj San-Joe Tan and Private Tom Lefevre
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, we unpack a recent Reginal Combat Team (previously known as Rifle Company Butterworth) rotation through the perspectives of a soldier and an officer. They discuss how they were selected, the lead-up training and integration between reserve and full-time soldiers, and what it’s really like operating and living in Malaysia. It’s a practical look at the challenges
On Call to War, Inside the Mind of an Army Surgeon with Brigadier Andrew Higgs, Director General Health Reserves Army
This episode of The Cove Podcast explores the unique career of an Army Reserve surgeon, tracing his journey from medical school to operational deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. He unpacks the realities of balancing a demanding civilian surgical career with military service, and the long pathway to becoming a specialist in both worlds.
The conversation dives into the role of Defence health pr
Advising, Not Commanding: Inside ADFs PNG Defence Cooperation Programme with WO2 Dathan Rolfe
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, we unpack the reality of a posting to the Defence Cooperation Programme in Papua New Guinea. Joined by Warrant Officer Dathan Rolfe, we explore what it means to operate in an environment where influence matters more than authority and relationships outweigh rank.
From competing for the position and preparing family for an accompanied move to Port Moresby, thr
From Snow to Slouch Hat, Transitioning Between Two Armies with LTCOL Devon Matsalla
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hardgrave sits down with a former Canadian Army Colonel who traded snow boots for a slouch hat and brought 26 years of coalition experience with him.
From early service in the reserves as a bagpiper to deployments in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and later leading multinational warfighting seminars within Australia’s 1st Division, this conversation explores wha
Mission Culture: Rethinking Army as a Profession with SGT John Wellfare
In this episode, we sit down with Sergeant John Welfare, winner of the 2025 Chief of Army Essay Competition and Chauvel Prize, to unpack his argument that the Australian Army must undergo a professional transformation if it is to remain relevant within the integrated force. Drawing on the story of Ignaz Semmelweis and the medical revolution of the 19th century, John challenges the Army to confront
Principles of leadership for 10 or 10,000 with MAJ GEN Stephen Day DSC AM
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hardgrave is joined by Major General Stephen Day, DSC AM, author of the ADF Leadership Doctrine, to explore leadership as a matter of character, not just competence. The conversation examines why moral courage, judgement, and self-awareness sit at the centre of leadership in the profession of arms, and how these principles apply whether leading ten people
The Rise of Drone Racing in Defence - CAPT Tom Gash and LCPL Chris Quaill
In this episode of The Cove Podcast, John Hargrave explores the fast-growing world of drone racing and uncrewed systems, focusing on the people, skills, and pathways behind the technology. Joined by Lance Corporal Chris Quayle and Captain Tom Gash from the ADF Drone Racing Association, the conversation examines how drone racing builds technical mastery, decision-making under pressure, and communit
Fighting in the Arctic: America's Arctic Angels - WO2 William McGovern and SGT Nathan Groen
“One foot in the snow, here we go.”
In this week’s episode, the host sits down with WO2 Will McGovern (2/14 Light Horse Regiment) and SGT Nathan Groen (1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment) to explore their recent deployment to Alaska as Observer-Trainers with the 11th Airborne Division’s “Arctic Angels.” SGT Groen is the Direct Fire Support Weapon’s Platoon Sergeant at 1 RAR and WO2 Will
Command Responsibility: Holding Senior Leaders to Account - MAJGEN Chris Smith
‘[W]hat we're trying to do is restore what has been a loss of trust for a number of reasons over the recent decade or so between generals and rank and file to be frank ...’
In this week’s episode, CAPT Todd Lempa sits down with Major General Chris Smith, the Deputy Chief of the Australian Army, to discuss command responsibility and the uncomfortable question of how armies — including our own —
One Size Does Not Fit All – WO2 Tavis Nicholson
‘It was grinding on me day in, day out—patrolling, heat, and loads I wasn’t built for.’
In this week’s episode, CAPT Todd Lempa sits down with WO2 Tavis Nicholson, the Warrant Officer Physical Training Instructor (PTI) at the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D), for a follow-on conversation expanding on his earlier episode, Beyond Snake Bites: The Evolution of Army Physical Training. This
The Double-Edged Sword: Jamming and Machine Learning - MAJ Tom Berry
‘If an adversary is operating in a highly enabled headquarters and we’re not, we will fall behind instantly ...’
In this week’s episode, the host sits down with MAJ Tom Berry, a Signals Officer posted to Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC), to unpack the realities of jamming, machine learning, and the future of command-and-control on the modern battlefield. Building on a recent episode
South Sudan to Line Creek: The Adaptation of Combat Integration - WO1 Chris Sharp
‘'[T]here were .50 cal rounds coming off of Technicals that were ripping through the accommodation buildings…’
In this week’s episode, CAPT Todd Lempa sits down with Warrant Officer Class One Chris Sharp, Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Armoured Regiment, to talk about Operation ASLAN, getting selected as the RSM of the Army’s first Combat Experimentation regiment and training soldiers in A
Command in Combat: Hard Decisions and High Standards – BRIG Dave McCammon
‘Nothing narrows the focus more than being properly shot
at ...’
In this week’s episode, the host sits down with Brigadier David McCammon, the Commander of the Australian Army Cadets and Head of Corps – Infantry, to explore what it truly means to prepare for combat, be in combat, and return from it. Few senior officers have deployed so frequently at the tactical level. From commanding platoons
Spiritual Toughness: The Big Three Questions – CHAP Gav Keating
“It would be so much easier to say, ‘hey, I was riding on my white horse on the road to Damascus and I got struck down by lightning... but that’s definitely not what occurred.’”
In this week’s episode, the host sits down with Chaplain Gav Keating, whose journey through the Australian Army spans from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, to the Special Air Service Regiment, to commandi
The Invisible Front: The Importance of Effective Counterintelligence - MAJ Paul Patty
'These people aren’t ghosts, as much as they attempt to be or seem like it ...’
In this week’s episode, we sit down with MAJ Paul Patty, an Intelligence Officer in the Australian Army, to unpack counterintelligence (CI) in modern conflict. MAJ Patty is an expert in counterintelligence, and his skills have been relied upon in both the private and government sectors. We open with two stark contrast
Warrior Ethos: from Non-Combatant Evacuation to High-End Warfighting - WO1 Scott Krum
‘Everyone wants the view, but nobody wants the climb.’
In this week’s episode, we sit down with WO1 Scott Krum, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, to revisit the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the Kabul Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) and to ask, plainly, what we demand of soldiers and officers in 2025 and beyond. From 14–30 August 2021, a U
The Unseen Ties: Exploring Civil-Military Relations – Prof. Risa Brooks PhD
‘The problem is if society becomes accustomed to or reliant on using the army to solve problems or to address failures of civilian capacity.’
In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr Risa Brooks PhD, a Professor of Political Science at Marquette University and a leading scholar on civil-military relations, to unpack the enduring tension between military effectiveness and democratic control.
A New Era of Decision Making in the Australian Army – CAPT Jimmy Wilson
‘Our boss at the time [was] very experienced in [Air Mobile Operations] and really raised us... [to be] tuned into the detail in terms of planning chalks and serials and bump plans ...’
On this episode of The Cove Podcast, we sit down with CAPT Jimmy Wilson, a Small Group Instructor at the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D), to unpack the Australian Defence Force’s new Decision Making and
Survival Starts with Hygiene: How to Thrive in the Field - LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS
‘Again, you’re talking to someone who used to shave and drink out of the same cup ...’
In this week’s episode, we welcome back LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS, the Senior Medical Officer in the Directorate of Army Health. An infantry Combat Team Commander turned Medical Doctor, LTCOL Wing brings his expertise in military medicine and prevention. His first appearance on the podcast covered the Military Emp
Targeting the Future: the Army's Newest Brigade - BRIG Nick Wilson
‘We are at the cutting edge of making what we have work.’
In this week’s episode, we sit down with BRIG Nick Wilson, Commander of the Australian Army’s newest brigade, the 10th Fires Brigade. Having just returned from Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, BRIG Wilson talks us through putting his brigade through the ultimate test providing short-range, ground-based air defence, long-range multi-domain str
Beyond Snake Bites: The Evolution of Army Physical Training - WO2 Tavis Nicholson
‘[W]e're not like a professional sporting team that our whole week is designed around that gameday on Saturday, [our] people are required to do their job day in, day out ...’
In this week’s episode, we sit down with WO2 Tavis Nicholson, the Warrant Officer Physical Training Instructor (WOPTI) at the Royal Military College – Duntroon, to explore how physical preparation underpins preparing for and
Small Boats and Brave Men – Dr Tom Richardson PhD
‘[T]hat’s a brigade-sized amphibious operation planned and executed in a week …’
In this week’s episode, we dive into the Huon Peninsula Campaign of 1943–44 and examine how the Australian 9th Division used littoral operations to outpace and outfight the Japanese. Our guest this week – Dr Tom Richardson PhD – is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales – Canberra. He specialises in
Getting Real: Learning from Feedback and Failure - WOFF Ken Robertson
‘[T]he best piece of advice I've had in years past is that if it hurts a little ... there's probably a fair element of truth to it...’
In this week’s episode, we explore how to seek feedback and turn it into actionable advice for commanders. Our guest, WOFF Ken Robertson, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force (SEAC), is the Australian Defence Force’s most senior enlisted l
Talisman Sabre – SQNLDR Zac Smit
‘The scale of Talisman Sabre from a geographic perspective is difficult to comprehend and, in some cases, it can be quite difficult to describe.’
In this week’s episode, we talk through all things Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest Australian Defence Force Exercise this year. Our guest this week – SQNLDR Zac Smit – is an Operations Officer in the Exercise Control on Exercise Talisman Sabr
Combat Experimentation – LTCOL Jake Penley
‘The way that we designed the Battle Group was on platform and systems of uncrewed and crewed variants that are theoretically attainable within the next two years ...’
In this week’s episode, we talk through combat experimentation in the Australian Army, getting after emerging technology, learning fast and developing the latest TTPs. Our guest this week – LTCOL Jake Penley – is the Commanding Of
The Training System – WO1 Brad Doyle & WO1 Mick Reyne
‘[On] basic para-course… you must be consciously competent … because you're the only person who is going to pull the reserve handle if there is a malfunction at that stage.’ This week’s episode is centred on how we can improve the training that we deliver in units, making the most of the resource that we have to develop creative training from the individual to the collective. Our guests this week
Supporting Army Helicopters – CAPT Shannon McGee and FSGT Jason Smart
'Watching those aircraft take off ... and knowing that you are part of that success, part of that story, there's not many better feelings.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about the challenges and opportunities of keeping the CH47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters in the air. Our guests are CAPT Shannon McGee and FSGT Jason Smart from the Army’s new 16 Aviation Support Battalion in Townsville,
Recon by Fire – CPL Andrew Noseda
‘We are never going to be combat ineffective because of atmospherics... we can work in the rain, we can work in the mud, and we can work in the jungle.’ In this week’s episode, we talk all things infantry reconnaissance and how reconnaissance patrols enable the fight. Our guest this week - CPL Andrew Noseda - is currently the acting Platoon Sergeant for the Reconnaissance Platoon at the 1st Battal
Tactical Communications – CAPT Jack Virtue
‘There are a number of things to [jamming] and I don’t think we necessarily train it well because it’s a very complex concept.’ In this week’s episode, we talk all things tactical communications or more specifically the options available to communicate within a combat brigade. Our guest this week – CAPT Jack Virtue – has been the signals officer for a combat signals regiment, a combat engineer reg
Junior Leadership – CPL Mitchell Clark
‘I was always the digger that had slightly out of regs hair, my sunnies fit so nicely on my head so why wouldn’t I put them there and I obviously love non-issued gear ...’ In this week’s episode, the creator of the popular Instagram page Tuesday Night Violence Co. joins us again to talk about his approach to junior leadership. CPL Mitchell Clark is currently posted as the Training Sergeant at 2nd/
Adapting to the Threat – LTCOL James Ellis-Smith
‘The reason [the adaptation] is so quick is because they’re being pressed by a very capable adversary.’ In this week’s episode, we shift focus to how Ukraine and Russia are adapting to the threat as each fight in war. Our guest this week – LTCOL James Ellis-Smith – has just raised the Training Intelligence (G72) cell at Forces Command Headquarters, feeding real-world analysis into our training to
Lift Helicopters in Modern Conflict – CAPT Mac Purbrick
‘The guys are firing in bursts, but you can put a significant rate of fire down to allow us to extricate ourselves from a situation ...’ In this week’s episode, we are joined by a CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilot from the 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville QLD. Recorded at the Avalon Air Show, our guest this week – CAPT Mac Purbrick – runs us through the state of play in Army aviation and how to fi
Tensions in Kashmir - Dr Ashok Sharma PhD
‘Strategically, Kashmir offers high altitude military advantage and critical water sources. Emotionally, it invokes pride, pain and nationalism on both sides.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about the most recent tensions in Kashmir, a contested region between India and Pakistan. Our guest this week – Dr Ashok Sharma PhD – is a Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales – Canberra at th
The Turning Point - LTCOL Steve Young
‘Morale in the face of steel doesn’t always work.’ In this week’s episode, we take off from where we left off with the Bombing of Darwin and the Sparrow Force’s work in Timor combating the Japanese advance through South-East Asia and the Pacific. Joined by my regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young, this episode is about the turning point in the Pacific, the Battle for Milne Bay.
Following the Bombing
Reserve Integration - CPL Mitchell Clark
‘Mobilising the Reserve provides the Regular Army with a relatively quick solution for plugging manpower gaps and also the means to prime the pump.’ In this week’s episode, the creator of the popular Instagram page Tuesday Night Violence Co. joins us again to talk about his reserve battalion. CPL Mitchell Clark is currently posted as the Training Sergeant at 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wa
Ready, or Not: Leading Troops in a Violent Peace – COL John Papalitsas
‘So, a fistfight ensues a couple of meters inside East Timor and the situation deteriorates very quickly.’ In this week’s episode, we talk through what it is like to deploy with no notice and little preparation onto an island that is on-fire and in turmoil. Our guest – COL John Papalitsas – was a brand-new infantry Platoon Commander at the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment when he got word
The Battle for Dili Aerodrome – MAJ Guy Warnock
‘You think your whole life is going to flash before your eyes but I couldn’t think of anything.’ In this week’s episode, we continue with the defence of the Dili Aerodrome, using 2/2 Independent Commando Company as a case study to examine a small Australian force going up against a large opposing military. Our guest – MAJ Guy Warnock – just returned from years in the Defence Cooperation Program (D
Sparrow Force - MAJ Guy Warnock
‘Tough men wanted for tough missions.’ In this week’s episode, we continue with the island of Timor but go back to WWII, using Sparrow Force as a case study to examine a small Australian force going up against a large opposing military. Our guest – MAJ Guy Warnock – just returned from years in the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) in Timor-Leste but this is not where his interest in the history of
Tuesday Night Violence Co. - CPL Mitchell Clark
‘I taught 11,000 people how to put up a stretcher.’ In this week’s episode, the creator of the popular Instagram page Tuesday Night Violence Co. joins us to talk through equipment and gear setup. The creator – CPL Mitchell Clark – is currently posted as the Training Sergeant at 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (2/17 RNSWR) but spends his spare time providing ‘hot chips’ for digge
From Swanbourne to Dili – MAJ Guy Warnock
‘Language leads to culture and then culture leads to understanding.’ In this week’s episode, we talk through what it would be like to deploy to a pacific or southeast Asian nation using Timor as our case study. Our guest – MAJ Guy Warnock– just returned from years in the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) in Timor-Leste but this is not where his interest in Timor first started. MAJ Warnock deployed
Special Operations: Mindset for Selection and Beyond – SOCOMD Psychologists Mel & Georgia
Serving in Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an aspiration for many and attainable for some. It is a popular choice for ADF members seeking to take their career to the next level and civilians wanting more out of life than a trade or corporate job can offer.
Recruiting is underway to identify the next generation of Special Forces Operators, Engineers, Signallers, Medics and Enablers. Dependi
Warrior Culture – MAJGEN Chris Smith
‘Nations that win wars are those that subjugate the individual for the team or more importantly the cause for which you are fighting.’ In this week’s episode, we sit down with the Deputy Chief of Army, MAJGEN Chris Smith to discuss warrior culture. Join us as we try to define the warrior culture that we ought to aspire to in the Australian Army.
Warrior culture, MAJGEN Chris Smith argues, needs
When the Peace Ends: 12 Months as a UN Observer – MAJ Mick Evans and CAPT Rhys Turner
‘You can’t discern where [the rockets were] actually landing and by night, the noise is enveloping.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about the conflict in Israel, Lebanon and Syria with two people that were on the ground on October 7th, 2023. Our guests – MAJ Mick Evans and CAPT Rhys Turner – talk us through their deployment on OPERATION PALADIN and what it was like being there when thousands of r
Fighting Fit – LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS
‘You don’t need to be dead to sell life insurance.’ In this week’s episode, we talk about how to look after yourself and those that you command. Our guest this week is the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) for the Directorate of Army Health – LTCOL Gordon Wing MBBS – who was an infantry officer who deployed to East Timor as a Company Second-in-Command, to the Solomon Islands as an Adjutant and to Afgha
Australia's Pearl Harbour - LTCOL Steve Young
‘The warning time that they thought they had completely evaporated in a moment.’ In this week’s episode, we take off from where we left off with Lark Force in Rabaul, New Guinea as the Allies continue to combat the Japanese advance through South-East Asia and the Pacific. Joined by my regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young, this episode is far closer to home, focused on the largest attack on home-soil
Special Operations: Fuelled for Success During Selection - MAJ Angela Uphill PhD
Serving in Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an aspiration for many and attainable for some. It is a popular choice for ADF members seeking to take their career to the next level and civilians wanting more out of life than a trade or corporate job can offer.
Recruiting is underway to identify the next generation of Special Forces Operators, Engineers, Signallers, Medics and Enablers. Dependi
Ethics in Future Land Warfare - CHAP Joshua Bouzanquet, CAPT Matthew Malcolm and WO2 Tony Campbell
'With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we can now expect Large Scale Combat in Future Warfare' CAPT Malcolm delves into what we might expect with LSC being one of the main strategies of integrated deterrence. This brings together Allies, Partners and Industry to achieve the desired effect; we must think beyond the land domain and even outside of Army or the military, as we are now working as part of
Recruit Instructing - CPL Jade Numans
‘[A] recruit instructor is … the first point of contact really, for a soldier’s journey’. CPL Numans explains that your main role as an instructor is to train your section of recruits in all the basic soldierly skills, to be ready for Army. You are with them from the moment they step off the bus, through all the drills and lessons, culminating in the field phase where they conduct infantry minor t
Close Air Support - OC JTAC Troop and a Fighter Combat Instructor
'Black Dagger is our activity that gives JTACs the exposure they need to drop live ordinance in close proximity to friendlies.' In the first joint podcast between The Cove Podcast and Hangar 46, we host CAPT Craig Hogendyk (OC JTAC Troop) and Pete (a Fighter Combat Instructor at 1 Squadron, RAAF) to discuss all things Close Air Support (CAS).
We discuss how to become a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO)
Invasion Rabaul - LTCOL Steve Young
‘It is really important to look at our defeats’. LTCOL Young explains that Rabaul is potentially one of the most shameful episodes of Australian marshal history. In 1942 The Australian War Cabinet decided not to provide any further reinforcements to the Malayan barrier, leaving the garrisons at Ambon, Timor and Rabaul totally alone with no evacuation plan. This set the conditions for command.
COL
Ethical Decision Making - CHAP Joshua Bouzanquet and WO2 Tony Campbell
‘We need to have the ability [and] confidence in ourselves … that we are making ethical decisions’. Today’s episode is on Ethical Decision Making, and with this quote, WO2 Campbell explains that the decisions that our officers and leaders often must make are so far beyond the immediate realm and have the potential for far reaching consequences.
CHAP Bouzanquet deftly provides an explanation for t
Recruiting - LTCOL Trevor Watson
‘Change is never easy’. Today’s episode is on Recruiting, and this quote underpins the challenges we all face when transitioning into the ADF workforce. Meaningful change takes time, patience and commitment to achieve.
Recruitment is a ‘human-to-human endeavour’. While there are systems in place to support it, it boils down to a real person talking to a prospective recruit, making them feel valued
Project Convergence - LTCOL Tommy Gains
‘They call it trading steel for blood’. Welcome back to the 2025 season of The Cove Podcast. Our first episode this year is on Project Convergence.
Project Convergence is not a command post exercise, it is also not a training exercise. It is a large-scale experiment without the constraints of training levels that allows the US Military, its allies and Defence industry to have at it testing future
The Royal Military College - LTCOL Brian Hickey
LTCOL Brian Hickey is the current Commanding Officer of the Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D) and he is in-charge of the current 12-month Officer Commissioning Program trial.
Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D) has recently shifted from the traditional 18-month program to a more intense 12-month course. In this episode, LTCOL Brian Hickey provides valuable insights into what has chan
The Japanese Thrust – LTCOL Steve Young
‘History offers us examples of when deterrence has failed but there is still a requirement to deny’. In this week’s episode, we delve into Australia's National Defence Strategy and explore how the concept of Deterrence through Denial has been employed in history. Joined by our regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young, we examine the strategic significance of the Forward Observation Line during World War
Special Operations: Physically Optimised for Selection – PTIs Kampo & Ben
Serving in Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an aspiration for many and attainable for some. It is a popular choice for ADF members seeking to take their career to the next level and civilians wanting more out of life than a trade or corporate job can offer.
Recruiting is underway to identify the next generation of Special Forces Operators, Engineers, Signallers, Medics and Enablers. Dependi
Special Operations: Becoming Part of The Command - OC Selection Wing
Serving in Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an aspiration for many and attainable for some. It is a popular choice for ADF members seeking to take their career to the next level and civilians wanting more out of life than a trade or corporate job can offer.
Recruiting is underway to identify the next generation of Special Forces Operators, Engineers, Signallers, Medics and Enablers. Dependin
Decision Making and the Planning Process - MAJGEN Chris Smith
In this thought-provoking episode of The Cove Podcast, we sit down with Deputy Chief of Army, MAJGEN Chris Smith, to discuss what war would look like and the vital role of human decision-making in military operations.
MAJGEN Chris Smith challenges the notion that technology and machine learning will replace the instincts and experiences of commanders. Drawing on historical examples like the Battl
Age in War - LTCOL Steve Young
In this week's episode, we sit down with our regular co-host LTCOL Steve Young to explore the challenging realities of age in war. Drawing on historical context, we delve into the physical and psychological toll large-scale combat takes on the human body, particularly during intense missions like those in the Pacific theatre during World War II. The average age of commanding officers pre-WWII was
Peak Performance and High Standards - BRIG James Davis
In this episode we sit down with BRIG James Davis, an exceptional leader known for his unwavering commitment to physical fitness and his ability to set high standards for himself and others. He shares his insights on maintaining rigorous fitness standards, how important our job really is, and balances this by talking about the potential pitfalls of running on “red-line” for decades. He candidly di
The Future of Land Warfare - Dr Jack Watling
Dr Jack Watling wrote a book in the back of an armoured vehicle in Ukraine while watching technology be employed for the first time on the front-line. Starting life as a journalist and now an academic, his book titled The Arms of The Future is centred on the future of land warfare. In this week’s episode of The Cove Podcast, Jack argues that we are shifting from mechanised to informatised warfare,
Mobilising through History - LTCOL Steve Young
On this week's episode of The Cove Podcast, our new host CAPT Todd Lempa invites LTCOL Steve Young to discuss the difficulty of mobilisation in large scale combat. We discuss the need for reinforcement, the importance of leaving your best soldiers out-of-battle and the conditions that led to the Australian Army to peak at 476,000 personnel in 1943. LTCOL Young uses his passion for history to expla
Safeguarding Australia's Military Secrets
Since 6 May 2024, Part IXAA of the Defence Act 1903 Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets (SAMS) requires certain individuals, notably former Defence personnel, to obtain foreign work authorisation (FWA) before working for a foreign military or foreign government body or providing training to a foreign military or government body that is related to Part 1 of the Defence and Strategic Goods Lis
Building Trust
Trust is foundation of everything we do in the profession of arms. Trust within teams, trust up and down the chain of command, and importantly the trust placed in us by the Australian people.
In this episode, listen as SO1 Cove LTCOL Johnson interviews four leaders - Commander 3rd Brigade BRIG Dave McCammon, Health Officer CAPT Rachael O'Sullivan, and 3 Bde JNCOs CPL Connor Dawson and LCPL Che Mo
Interview with DCA: Army and the Defence Strategic Review
The Defence Strategic Review was released on 24 April 2023. The DSR recommended far reaching changes to the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) strategic posture and capability in response to what it termed ‘radically different’ strategic circumstances.
The DSR focuses on three things: (1) a specific threat, being the threat posed to Australia’s interests; (2) an integrated all-domain force with an
Leaders and Legends | MAJ Mark Beretta
In this special edition episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with MAJ Mark Beretta: Australia’s most watched sports presenter! From the outskirts of Geelong to the Channel 7 newsroom, Mark has had a career filled with highlights and fulfilled his lifelong desire to join the Australian Army later a few years ago. On top of early mornings working on Sunrise, he does three reserve days for Australian Army’
Leaders and Legends | RSM-A Panel
In this episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with the current Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army, Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham, NSC, OAM, and five past RSM-A's, including: Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane, AM; Mr Don Spinks, AM; Warrant Officer David Ashley, AM; Mr Kevin Woods, CSC, OAM; and, Mr Peter Rosemond, CSC, OAM. At the Home of the Soldier, this was the first time since 1983 – when the first
Leaders and Legends | CPL Taylah Gentzen
In this 'Leaders and Legends' episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with CPL Taylah Gentzen about her military career and being an elite sportswoman. From starting as a rifleman to being a PTI at the School of Infantry, she has done things she never thought were possible. She has a passion for combat-sports and has competed at an elite level for 12 years. Taylah is the number one professional boxing ligh
Leaders and Legends | CPL Amy Kowski
In this episode, WO1 Mark Grigg speaks with CPL Amy Kowski. From joining the Army as a gap-year as a caterer, to a psych assistant, and now studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) at the moment. Hear how CPL Amy Kowski is managing full-time work and full-time study, with some tips on how to balance her time and the changes to her priorities. She also explains her experience with Army Sports p
Body, Mind, & Soul | Soul Series – 7. Day in the Life of a Chaplain
In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we discuss what an Army Chaplain does. Who do they support? What is a Chaplains role in providing pastoral care? How is their role different out field or on operations?
Series 3 – Soul is presented by Chaplain Kerri Frizzwell, COORD Chaplain at RMC-D.
