The Chesterfield Colonel
@ChesterfieldO5
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Have whiskey. Will write. Defender of the Oxford comma. Baffled staff officer. Likes strategy, history, and infantry. Not necessarily in that order. Can gif.
Australia
Joined March 2009
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Today I handed over as Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment ‘Old Faithful’. It’s been an honour to lead
@AustralianArmy
soldiers of 3 RAR.
It’s time now to support my beautiful wife and kids as we battle breast cancer together.
K9 out.
#DutyFirst
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After 16 years of adventure in the
@AustralianArmy
, today I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. These rank slides all represent exiting chapters of my life, but it's the patch at the top that makes me the proudest by far.
...now to find a new twitter moniker.
#MilTwitter
help!
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Sorry
@RichardMarlesMP
but Mackenzie Arnold is Australia’s new Minister for Defence.
#Matildas
#FIFAWomensWorldCup2023
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Today I took command of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment ‘Old Faithful’; one of Australia’s mechanised infantry battalions. This is a unit with a proud history and a bright future ahead. Really looking forward to working with Australian soldiers again.
#DutyFirst
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Peter Scott was Commanding Officer of Old Faithful 50 years ago - from 1969-1972.
Yesterday, we paid him a visit in Adelaide
@RSLCare
, where the piper played ‘Our Director’ at Peter’s request.
He said that commanding 3 RAR was the greatest honour of his life. I tend to agree.
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"Without humans, war would be a relatively straight-forward affair"
My take on Thucydides and the inseparable union of war and human nature. Let me know what you think!
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‘Response to a Coward’ by David French.
One of the most important pieces of writing Australians need to read.
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At 2:43am on 22 Aug 2011, in a remote part of Afghanistan my patrol was ambushed by the Taliban and Private Matthew Lambert was killed by an IED. The hours that followed were some of the toughest. May his service and sacrifice never be forgotten.
#DutyFirst
#LestWeForget
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***PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT***
This account will be posting doggo-related content pretty much full time now because I just got an Australian Shepherd puppy
Twitter, meet Obi.
#GoodBoy
#AustralianShepherd
#Puppy
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‘A machine gun was giving us a bit of attention’.
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I've searched far and wide. I've read countless books (and also heaps of wikipedia articles) on strategy, war, and the human condition.
... I am still yet to find a better quote that sums up military planning than this:
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Battlegroup Kapyong. The finest group of young men and women on the planet.
Our team from
@AustralianArmy
and
@NZArmy
is ready to deploy on Exercise Brolga Run and learn some stuff.
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Someone asked me about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the geostrategic situation in Europe, and what flow-on impacts it might have for our strategy.
And I told them I don’t know because my experience at the tactical level doesn’t qualify me to comment with any credibility.
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Today marks the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong. The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment repelled a Chinese Division. It’s an honour to serve in ‘Old Faithful’ at any time, at any rank, in any capacity. I’m very lucky to command the pack of bastards.
#DutyFirst
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Anyone know the number for a good divorce lawyer?
I taught her to play yesterday and now I’m 3-0 down. I’m not ok with this at all.
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There’s a special place in hell for people who own tiny little cars and decide to park all the way in so it looks like an empty space right up until the last moment.
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Vale Harry Smith SG MC. Officer Commanding Delta Company, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment at the Battle of Long Tan.
#DutyFirst
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Corporal Liam Reynolds and these pack of bastards from Old Faithful have won the Duke of Gloucester Cup for 2022. I could not be a prouder Commanding Officer.
#3RAR
#DutyFirst
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0.5 health stars huh?
... good thing I ate 10 of them so I got my full 5 stars worth.
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I am 34 years old. Today I caught my first fish. This is not a drill.
#BasicallyAFishermanNow
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Today marks the 75th anniversary of The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). The RAR consists of Australia’s seven full-time infantry battalions. Each member has the honour of wearing the ‘Skippy badge’, which is inscribed with two simple, yet very profound, words - ‘Duty First’.
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COL Peter Scott DSO (Retd) was the 3rd Battalion’s IO at the battle of Maryang San in Korea and went on to be the 17th Commanding Officer of Old Faithful from 1969-72, including the battalion’s first tour of Vietnam.
Tonight
#17
and
#43
had a few quiet beers.
#DutyFirst
🇦🇺🦘
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D-day landings in 1944: 156,000 troops.
Victoria’s Coronavirus crisis: “Hold my beer”
#WereGonnaNeedABiggerArmy
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Turns out someone has already published my biography. Good read. Needs more pictures.
#AusPME
#MilTwitter
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As a combat veteran, I would say that choc-mint ice cream is the best flavour.
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Ladies and gentlemen,
Introducing... the new me; the Chesterfield Colonel.
The
@ArmchairMajor
baton has been passed to (the former)
@D_G_Ellis
.
Go forth and conquer on behalf of all Majors old boy!
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Built this tiny wooden tank with my kids. Next we’re going to build a tiny wooden Javelin to M-kill it from 2500m away, then use a tiny wooden JTAC to call in a tiny wooden JDAM on it.
#TankTwitter
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I woke up my girls to watch the
@Socceroos
this morning.
Eldest daughter asks “Are they the boy version of
@TheMatildas
?”
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Today I went to the clothing store and got fitted out with some new gear.
I can safely say that
@AustralianArmy
people have access to some of the best personal gear in the world. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come over the past 20 years.
...except the neck warmer.
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When I stop the microwave at 0:01 - I feel like a fully qualified bomb diffuser.
#EODisEasy
#BasicallyAnEngineerNow
#NoBiggie
#KeanuReevesInSpeed
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Me getting ready for work in the morning while she sleeps vs her when I’m trying to sleep-in.
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“History offers no ‘lessons’ for military officers. It does though provide a rich context for understanding the terrible phenomenon that was, is, and will remain war” - LTGEN Paul van Riper.
#RipperOfARiperQuote
#MakePMEFunAgain
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On 1 December 1983, the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment adopted the parachute role. For the next 27 yrs and 8 mths it maintained the role with dignity and pride
Today in memory of our hard-earned history the ‘para’ flag flew once again over Kapyong Lines
#DutyFirst
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Happy 120th Birthday to the Australian Army. Thanks to all who have served and are still serving.
@AustralianArmy
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Working on a command philosophy and thinking about maybe just using this meme instead.
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Privileged to attend the ANZAC Day dawn service at the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment.
I have ‘followed the sapper’ on many occasions and trust them with my life.
Ubique.
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At the end of each day before I leave the office, I’ve decided to do 1 push-up for every email I received, and 10 push-ups for every email I sent.
By the end of the 2019 I’m either going to be huge, or I’ll be a recluse.
#HQWorkouts
#PleaseDontEmailMe
#ExpectPhoneCallsInstead
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******** STOLEN VALOUR ********
Empty gym this morning and I wanted to do sprints. So I started the beep test at lvl 10 in order to track my progress over the coming weeks.
People showed up and started watching at lvl 14. People clapped at lvl 16. I finished and said nothing.
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Hold up. Why does everybody all of the sudden care if the US president goes 'off script'?
Didn't the last bloke go 'off script' for four years?
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Today marks the 70th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Australian Regiment.
Duty First.
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I gotta tell ya, there are some damn fine loggies behind the scenes that are making this whole thing happen. We couldn’t have done it without them. When all of this is over, be sure to thank the logisticians.
...ok and pilots.
#bushfiresAustralia
#OpBushfireAssist
Over the last few days
#OurPeople
have been busy getting much needed supplies into fire-affected areas. We have been working closely with our partners, including
@FoodbankAus
, and the other services to deliver these supplies via air, land and sea.
#OpBushfireAssist
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Counterinsurgency is an unsolvable Rubick’s Cube. Looking at one side is no good without consideration to how it impacts the other sides. And peeling off the stickers doesn’t work (looking at you US).
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This. Shit. Blows. My. Mind.
Tom Holland, 'From Persia with Love'. 2010
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This morning my boy and I failed to summit Mt Tibrogargen. Too much water on the rocks so we called it off about 100m short of the top. I’m sure there’s a lesson here somewhere, but right now it sucks.
Nice view though.
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My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago. Shitty news, but the support we’ve received from family and friends has been incredible. Thank you
@PMCart3r
and to everyone for the well-wishes this far.
#BreastCancer
I’m saddened that the people who provided us so much support during my daughter’s fight against cancer are now facing their own fight. Please help.
#fuckcancer
@ChesterfieldO5
@Richie_TTT
@julian_hohnen
@ab_actual
@NickTrotter1
@jasmin_diab
#GoFundMe
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This is some high level prank shit. 10/10.
Astronaut Mark Kelly once smuggled a full gorilla suit on board the International Space Station. He didn't tell anyone about it. One day, without anyone knowing, he put it on. (source: Reddit)
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Today I marched for the first time with the Royal Australian Regiment. I reckon I walked about six inches taller than ever before. I encourage other young veterans to do the same. We march in honour of those who have served before us, not to honour ourselves.
#ANZAC
#DutyFirst
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Congratulations to the
@AustralianArmy
@ArmySailing
Gun Runner crew: Chris, Shane, Joel, Aaron, Daniel and Trent.
They just completed the fastest Rolex Sydney Hobart for Gun Runner ever! 4days, 7 hours and 38 minutes and beat almost half the fleet on handicap.
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So I read this and, honestly, it scared the shit out of me.
The evolution of terorrism: ‘Open source warfare’. Stateless networks disrupting the legitimacy of states by targeting infrastructure and information to such an extent that the world order ceases to exist.
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A lazy Saturday afternoon for a mech battalion. Awesome work by the soon to be qualified crew commanders of Old Faithful.
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Infantry officer: at least three times cooler than any other job in the universe. Fact.
#WATCH
|| As training resumes as part of The Royal Australian Corps of Infantry regimental officer basic course, providing infantry platoon Commanders the skills and knowledge to command and lead in modern combat.
SOUND ON 🔊
#YourADF
@AustralianArmy
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@MidOfficer
1. Insist on ‘running on the spot, punching to the sky’ for PT. Not just the warm-up. The whole session.
2. Offer whisky to everyone before the morning conference.
3. Have the batman deliver two poached eggs and some beans exactly 12 minutes into a discipline hearing. Eat
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🇦🇺ADFA Open Day 2023 complete ✅
20,000+ attendees 👨👩👧👦👨👩👦👦👨👩👧👦
12,500+ live-stream audience 💻🧑💻📱
1000+ ADF Careers enquiries 💂🧑🚀🧑✈️
232 event stands and activities 🎸🏈🌮
3 amazing helicopters 🚁🚁🚁
2 RAAF fly-overs ✈️🛩️
2 epic platoon attacks 🔫
1 relieved event planner 😅
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By far the best part of
#ANZAC
Day is listening to kids playing and laughing in the background during the minute of silence - because those sounds are exactly what our service men and women fought for.
#LestWeForget
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Hey
@AustralianArmy
, how about making
@russellcrowe
an honorary General? After all, he was commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
#Gladiator
Actor Daniel Craig has been made an honorary Commander in the Royal Navy – matching the on-screen rank of
#JamesBond
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Danger Close. An awesome movie about some of the Royal Australian Regiment’s finest in Vietnam. Highly recommended.
#6RAR
#DutyFirst
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The
@AustralianArmy
team from 3 RAR has been awarded a bronze medal for their efforts in the Cambrian Patrol this year in
@ArmyInWales
An outstanding result for an outstanding team. Old Faithful is proud of their efforts.
#DutyFirst
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Caught up with his random civilian bloke for coffee today.
…had to convince him it was his shout.
@WarintheFuture
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For those officers looking for a duty statement, I’ll just leave this here:
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This guy’s panache-o-meter is off the chart.
"Frankly I had enjoyed the war."
Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart VC, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO (5 May 1880 – 5 June 1963).
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Stop scrolling. Smile. Nod your head. Put your phone down and think about how good this is for the next 8-10 hours.
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The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment just finished the Opie Trophy champion section competition. A section from Reconnaissance Platoon won the event and will represent 3 RAR at the
@AustralianArmy
Duke of Gloucester Cup competition in August at
@SOIAusArmy
. More:🧵
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Son choses ancient history for a year 11 subject.
Me after three wines: (pictured centre)“Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians...”
Son: (pictured left)...
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RSM: Sir, did you shave today?
Harry: ...of course I did RSM.
RSM: Very well Sir.
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‘I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the guys that wars can't be won without.’ - Ernie Pyle
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“Real leaders build trust. They do that by refining their character, examining their presence, developing their intellect, polishing their actions, clearly communicating their vision, and inspiring through example”
Mark Hertling, Former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe
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Thanks
@Anthony64549584
for the wonderful gift. My time as K9 has come to an end but the Battalion continues to do great things.
I’m glad the phrase “we honour the past as we prepare for the future” seems to have stuck.
#DutyFirst
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‘There’s only one thing men want and it’s disgusting’
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Great ad. Accurate. Perhaps more mud.
Still awesome.
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Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong. 3 RAR, with Canadian, US, and NZ allies repelled a Chinese Division. We remember the 32 soldiers who died and 52 wounded, as well as all who fought bravely.
We honour the past as we prepare for the future.
#DutyFirst
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Cyclone kit is ready. Stay safe Townsville.
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An outstanding Kapyong Day parade yesterday at 3rd Battalion ‘Old Faithful’ to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the battle.
Well done also to the 1st Battalion for marching at the Townsville Anzac Day parade today.
The Royal Australian Regiment is in great shape. 🇦🇺
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“War is sweet to those who have no experience of it, but the experienced man trembles exceedingly at heart on its approach” - Pindar
I can imagine Pindar as an old man, drunk, sitting in a bar in Argos in 438BC, telling this to a young Alcibiades... who obviously didn't listen.
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I hear you mate. I hear you.
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Found my new local cafe. The quality of the coffee is irrelevant.
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This is awesome.
A D-Day veteran in his mid-nineties puts on his regimental beret and gives a salute after jumping into France to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Get live updates on the D-Day commemorations here:
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It’s not because she’s Australian of the year, it’s because she’s Australian. And Australians can criticize and hold politicians to account (on both sides). That’s what makes being an Australian so awesome.
#FreeSpeech
🇦🇺
Since when does being Australian of the Year give you licence to personally attack our prime minister, asks
@kylie_lang
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