The communities we create

Doug enlisted as an Airfield Defence Guard (ADG) in 2010, playing a part in securing air bases inside and outside the wire for seven years. For him, the choice to enlist in the Air Force seemed obvious, with many family members also in the RAAF and other Defence services.

“I chose the Air Force because I knew it would give me the opportunity to push and test myself both physically and mentally. When I joined, I knew I wanted to be in a combat role and being an ADG gave me exactly what I was looking for,” he explains.

“I got to see Australia, more so than I would have done on my own accord and travel overseas. People I served with were able to travel to America, Japan, and Singapore.”

Doug was deployed twice during his service in 2012 and 2013 to Multinational Base Tarin Kot in Afghanistan.

“Our job there was similar to home but with the added layer of being in a very intense war-like theatre,” he says. “It was a completely different world to experience than how we live in Australia and was a real eye opener.

“And no matter how hard something was, I knew I had mates around me going through the same and we’d help each other get through it.”

fostering community

After finishing his time in the RAAF in 2017, Doug is now President of RSL Queensland’s Springfield Sub Branch.

“Growing up, the RSL was a big part of my life and we would assist our local chapter every ANZAC Day,” he says. “Now I have the opportunity to work with RSL Queensland to better the organisation and play a part in its future.

“It’s our organisation, it’s for the members. And as a younger member I am inspired because we are the ones who will inherit the organisation and it’s important we step up to make sure its long-standing history continues.”

And Doug is eager to point out that his work in the Springfield Sub Branch is a part of a much larger network.

“The guys from Greenbank and Sunnybank, for example, have been fantastic to us as we start out. So, our support extends beyond just our local area and into all of Queensland.

“There’s a bit of a perception that after you finish your service you’re left to dry and if your mates are still serving, it can feel lonely. But there are communities like RSL Queensland that you can go to and reconnect.”

A time to reflect

For Doug, commemorating the RAAF Centenary gives him the opportunity to personally reflect on his service.

“It is a time to reflect on what we as a service have achieved over the last 100 years and think about how we’ll adapt and change in the next five to 10 years,” he says.

“The next generation will be pioneers as the service evolves, with new technology like unmanned aircraft – I think we’ll be looking at a completely different Air Force.

“I think joining as a young member or joining as part of the Gap Year program is a fantastic life experience and I’d definitely do it again.” 

Then. Now. Always

The RAAF marks 100 years of service to Australia on 31 March 2021. Read more about the RAAF journey.