Conflict Chronicles

Liz joined the RAF as a Chinook Crewman on her 19th birthday. Throughout her 17 year career on Chinooks she deployed to Iraq twice and Afghanistan 10 times, along with detachments to both the Falklands and Northern Ireland, her home ‘turf’. Out of all these tasks, her greatest was flying on the MERT aircraft during Op Herrick, recovering wounded soldiers from the battlefield, which shaped her outlook on life forever. On leaving the RAF, Liz joined the UK disabled flying charity Aerobility as the Wounded Injured Soldiers rep, which she was naturally drawn to. She now helps many of those injured soldiers on their recovery journey, getting into the skies to train as pilots.

Michael Lorrigan, he joined the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in June 2006. Serving with the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment of the Australian Army, as a Troop Leader. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan with an Australian Battle Group as a Manoeuvre Support Commander. On returning from deployment, Michael become restless within the military, after the intensity of Afghanistan. In 2015 he removed his Army uniform for the last time and departed to work as a civilian in the Middle East. With his desire to do more for other veterans, Michael returned to Australia in 2017 to start from humble beginnings his coffee empire, Café Two 14 in Queensland, Australia, since then he’s opened 5 more sites and started a franchised model. Not content, he was busy enough; at the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, he started Two 14 Recruitment to help Australian Veterans gain employment. Michael's commitment to helping others is truly humbling. He is currently concentrating on finding various methods to help veterans and civilians by financial or non-financial means. This includes creating fundraisers, donating where possible, and providing free food and drink donations to women’s shelters as survivors of domestic violence. Today, Michael tells his story of how an event in Afghanistan gave him a perspective on what it means to be an Australian Solider and the qualities that make the Australian New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) spirit so unique - endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship.

Will Stevenson, a solider from the frontline of conflict. Will served with B Coy (Viper Company) 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division of the US Army from September 2006 until December 2010. He deployed to Afghanistan for 12 months in 2008-2009, with his battalion taking over operations in Kunar Province and the surrounding areas. Viper company was responsible for occupying the Korengal Valley, and during their stay, we were involved in some 500-600 firefights, sustaining 13 men KIA and another 40 with serious wounds. Roughly 70% of all indirect and air-delivered munitions used in the country that year were used in support of Viper Company operations. Will is going to share a particular incident that occurred on 24 August 2008, when a helicopter was hit with a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) at his Fire Base in Vegas.

Lieutenant General Richard Nugee was commissioned into the Army in 1986. He completed operational tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Cyprus and Afghanistan. He also specialised in personnel (HR) roles, culminating in Chief of Defence People (equivalent to Global HR Director for Defence).

Numerous command and staff positions during his 21-year military service have resulted in exceptional management insight and expertise. During that time, he trained and led some of the most elite special operations teams in the world.

Twenty Four years of service in the British Army.

An RAF veteran, Liz McConaghy served a decorated career as a member of the Chinook Crew of the Royal Air Force. Aged just 21, Liz was the youngest aircrew member to be deployed to Iraq, going on to serve for 17 years, with four of those years as the only female ‘crewman’ in the Chinook wing. Deployed twice to Iraq and ten times to Afghanistan.

Jimi initially joined the United States Navy from 1964 – 1968. He served in several roles in the medical field, including 22 months on shore duty, in Da Nang, Vietnam as part of a medical logistics team. For Jimi, the Navy lacked the excitement he was seeking and in 1968 he joined the United States Army. With his outstanding skills and fitness, it was not long before Jimi made it into the 5th Special Forces Unit and found himself back in Vietnam as part of the war effort. He spent six months supporting the Civilian Irregular Defense Group on their missions. He then moved to the highly regarded Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (SOG), for eight months, leading high-risk missions deep into southeast Asia. In total, Jimi served 3 years and 4 months in Vietnam!

Anthony ‘Harry’ Moffitt recently retired from the Australian Defence Force after almost 30 years, most of which was spent with Australia’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment as a Team Commander and Team Specialist. He completed 11 active service deployments, including wounded in action in 2008. Harry completed his time with the SAS as its Human Performance Manager.  He’s a Registered Psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy working with sports teams, the military and industry.

Sarah enlisted in the Army in 1997. After graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy with a Bachelor of Arts, she completed the 12-month officer training course at the Royal Military College in 2000. In 2003, Sarah started work as an Intelligence Officer. In late 2006, she deployed to a US Air Force base in Iraq to provide strategic intelligence support to the Battlegroup.

Cate Carter is a Major in the Australian Army, having served as the Senior Intelligence Officer on operations in Bougainville and East Timor, and as Editor of the Army Journal. Currently, she is a Course Designer at the Centre for Defence Leadership and Ethics. She holds a PhD in Military Sociology from Deakin University and co-founded the Australian research group Military Organisation and Culture Studies.

The Wise Old Paratrooper. A gentleman with an impressive military history and background, a published author, a sniper, a black belt in Karate 6th Dan), fluent in Arabic, a business owner, a professional bodyguard, a cancer survivor, a media commentator, a husband, a farther to five children, grandfather to ten grandchildren, and now one of the most articulate British Military veteran campaigners.

As Phil knew he was part of history with the invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein, he was keen to take home a suitable souvenir from his time in the Middle East. Phil’s choice of trinket was a two-tonne, 8-foot statue of the toppled dictator, Saddam Hussein. Sixteen years in the British Army, Royal Engineers, leaving at the rank of Sergeant. Phil has severed all around the globe, from Northern Island, Bosnia, Cyprus, Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s been a driver for a senior General and a front-line driving instructor. He has been part of Engineer Commando Squadron, working directly for the elite Royal Marines in high-risk conflict zones.

U.S. Army Special Forces combat veteran of service in covert reconnaissance with the Studies and Observations Group, also known as MACV-SOG.

After triggering an ⁠improvised explosive device⁠ during a routine foot patrol in 2007, he suffered serious injuries resulting in a triple amputation. Hear Mark's story.

Life in the air and on operations. Natalie joined the Army in 2004 attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, she was commissioned into the Army Air Corps as an officer. She was immediately deployed to Basra, Iraq, in 2005 to complete a short tour, gaining insight into ground operations. Between the remainder of 2005 and 2006, Natalie completed the Army Pilots Course, gaining the prestigious ‘wings’ on completion.  From 2007-2009, Natalie was a helicopter pilot in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, and was operationally deployed. In 2008, was directly requested to undertake another tour in Iraq as the principal aid to a General in Baghdad, Iraq, returning to her flying duties in late 2008.   In 2014, Natalie left the Army as a Captain, she now works for a military charity

From the streets of Chicago to the front line of conflict.

Peter Davies, a former Colonel within the British Army. CBE - Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Today Peter is telling his story about the challenges of leadership and command of an infantry battalion.

Tim shares his experience and memories of his time on a particular vehicle patrol in 2009. A patrol that was ambushed by Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) with his own vehicle cut off from the others.