Airfield Defense Association – Patron of the Airfield Defence Association

AIRFIELD DEFENCE ASSOCIATION of AUSTRALIA

ABOUT US

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Airfield Defence has a long and proud history that can be predated as early as the 1920’s.

Airfield Defence Guards and Ground Defence Officers (in varied forms over the years) have served to protect RAAF asserts from before 1929; up to and including current operations; as well as taking part in humanitarian relief activities throughout the SE Asia.

The Airfield Defence Association of Australia (“the Association”), was initially formulated in 1987 by a group of ex/serving ground defence personnel, after the Vietnam Veterans Welcome in Sydney. However, it wasn’t until 1991, that the Association was formally created and incorporated as an Incorporated body.

The Association is governed by an Executive Committee which currently meets monthly in SE Qld, in around the greater Brisbane area.

Association’s purpose, is to foster camaraderie among the serving and ex-serving members of the Airfield Defence fraternity. By building on the bonds formed in service and our shared identity we encourage our membership to become self-reliant and independent members of the community.

We respect each member’s contribution. We respect each member’s experiences and our shared oath of service, regardless of the number of years served, our mustering/category, or our rank. We recognise that service in airfield defence is physically and mentally demanding in wartime and in peace. We respect the sacrifice and commitment of every member.

Upon separation from the PAF, not all of our aviators will seek involvement with the Association immediately, but are welcome at any time.

We become members of the Association not for what we can get, but for what we may give back, and for what we can contribute to the culture and heritage of Airfield Defence. We encourage each member to be a productive and independent and self-reliant member of their community and a responsible member of the Association. The no-nonsense culture of Airfield Defence stays with us for life. We bury old rivalries; we move on from old disagreements.

The objectives of the Association are to preserve and continue the memory of those who died during service in Airfield Defence; to assist the sick, wounded, and needy among those who served or are still serving, to assist widows and children of deceased, former and serving members.

Applications for Membership are always welcomed from former members of the ADG mustering and Application forms may be downloaded from this site.

OUr NEXt events

The Patron of our Association

Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1994 as an Airfield Defence Guard, serving at No 1 and No 2 Airfield Defence Squadrons until he was accepted for commission to Ground Defence Officer in 1997.

As a junior officer he was posted to 2 Airfield Defence Squadron (deploying to East Timor on OP STABILISE/WARDEN); No 322 Combat Support Squadron; the RAAF Security and Fire School; Executive Officer, No 2 Airfield Defence Squadron (leading an Air Force detachment on OP TSUNAMI ASSIST at Banda Aceh airfield in December 2004 and January 2005); and Chief Instructor, Combat Survival Training School.

AVM Reynolds was promoted to Squadron Leader and posted to 396 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing in 2007. Soon after, he joined the newly formed Special Tactics Project within Headquarters Air Combat Group. He completed Commando Reinforcement Training Cycle that year and Joint Terminal Attack Controller Course in 2008. He led the Air Force Special Tactics Flight, which subsequently became B Flight (CCT), No 4 Squadron, deploying twice in support of Special Operations Task Group as part of OP SLIPPER.

AVM Reynolds was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2011 for his exceptional service to the RAAF in the promotion of Air Power. He was promoted to Wing Commander and appointed as Commanding Officer, No 4 Squadron in 2013, where he was responsible for leading Air Force’s Joint Terminal Attack Controller training, the Combat Control Teams and Forward Air Controller capabilities.

AVM Reynolds attended the United States Air Force Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama over 2017/18 completing a Masters in Strategic Studies in the Grand Strategy program. On return from the US in May 2018, AVM Reynolds was promoted to Group Captain and appointed as Chief of Staff within Headquarters Air Combat Group.

On promotion to Air Commodore in January 2021, he served as Deputy Director Operations (J3) in United States Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida. His performance in this role earned him the USSOCOM Medal, and the US Legion of Merit–Officer. In January 2023, AVM Reynolds returned to Australia and assumed the position of Deputy Air Commander Australia.

AVM Reynolds was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in August 2023 and appointed as Deputy Chief of Air Force.

AVM Reynolds holds a Bachelor in Professional Studies from the University of New England and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Air University.