NSCnews Online - February, 2017 | Page 64

OVER AND OUT ... the Bassingthwaighte family Eleanor , Frank , Michael , Cath and Lorna pose for one last photograph as they leave the Battalion
Battalion 2IC MAJ Sisto Bernardo said LTCOL Bassingthwaighte led the unit through its greatest period of change since 2 / 4RAR was delinked in 1995 . MAJ Bernardo said to achieve the radical change in the Battalion ( from standard infantry to Landing Force in the Army ’ s Amphibious Ready Element ), the tempo during the past three years
had been similar to periods of operational deployment to Vietnam , East Timor and the Middle East . MAJ Bernardo said LTCOL Bassingthwaighte had supervised the introduction of the Amphibious Capability , certified the Amphibious Ready Element for operational capability , deployed elements of the Battalion on Operation Fiji
Assist and was leaving when the Battalion was just one exercise short of certifying the Amphibious Ready Unit . MAJ Bernardo said the relentless pace had not phased LTCOL Bassingthwaighte ’ s wife Cath or their children , Francis , Eleanor and Lorna . “ Cath has been dedicated in her support to the Battalion and is a friend to many of us ,” he said .
LTCOL Bassingthwaighte is posted to Military Strategic Commitments where he will advise senior leadership on Army capabilities and be a strong advocate for the amphibious capability ... and 2RAR . LTCOL Pashley accepted , and raised , a new Battalion flag to mark the change of command .
LTCOL Michael Bassingthwaighte ( left ) congratulates LTCOL Doug Pashley on his new command
64 | FEBRUARY 2017