Defence News

BC · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2026 1:40 pm

I've seen that right arm rate a few times, but I cannot find what "Branch" it is supposed to represent.

I could assume it's a Male, Female and Transgender Branch or more likely the Human Resources branch!!

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2026 2:44 pm

There are three bods :3some:

inside the wreath, so you could be right, BC... He, :hello2:

She

and 'It' :bye:

However, I think your other guess is correct, it's 'HR' :3some:

or Personell or whatever... :finga:

............

Seejay · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2026 12:03 am

I believe it's the National Guard branch badge. She's also using an SLR (sans bayonet) which is what the NG uses.

Shep · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2026 7:51 am

Interesting thing l noticed this year was that officers and senior Sailors wear the same coat these days. Eight shiny buttons on the front instead of the six matt brass ones that we used to wear. Obviously cuts costs.

BC · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2026 12:14 pm

If I remember correctly, I think the change came in the late 70's.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2026 12:24 pm

It also explained why yankee sailors :usa2:

in San Diego were often prone to :happy1:

saluting

our WOs, CPOs, POs and even MOBIs in #1s...

...as from memory, (and as shown in the image above,) :salute1:

US Officers' dress uniforms only had 6 buttons... :yea:

Ray Lawrence · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2026 6:57 pm

Shep wrote:

Interesting thing l noticed this year was that officers and senior Sailors wear the same coat these days. Eight shiny buttons on the front instead of the six matt brass ones that we used to wear. Obviously cuts costs.

It's still shiny buttons for grunters and matte for senior sailors, when I was made up in '81, my new rigs came with shiny buttons and the XO blew his top at the next divisions, not a happy time for me at the next pp1a's.

Shep · **Posted:** Sat May 02, 2026 8:23 am

They're all shiny now Boris

Stroppy Chippie · **Posted:** Sat May 02, 2026 11:48 pm

The text to the left of the sailor refers to Federation Guard. Might the three figures represent the three services?

Seejay · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2026 7:35 am

It's beeen confirmed elsewhere that it's the Federation Guard badge.

On another subject entirely - namely Border Force - you may remember some weeks back that Thursday Island residents complained publicly that foreign fishing boats were raiding their (TI) fishing grounds almost with impunity. That was rectified rather rapidly and the BF have been snaring the poachers there ever since. :pirate:

After counting the number of boats that are out of the water or laid up alongside here in Cairns, plus a mate's phone call to advise the numbers immobile in Darwin, it would seem that we have around two BF actually on patrol.

At the same time, the Indons continue their upgrades of their fleet and I believe they have now been gifted an aircraft carrier.

Hmmm.

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