After a 19-year hiatus, Chief Petty Officer Tony Yarnold has re-joined the Royal Australian Navy as a reservist to provide support for Operation Covid-19 Assist.
CPO Yarnold moved to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, from Terrigal, NSW, after serving in the Navy for 25 years.
He said the opportunity to re-join the Navy and support the Queensland community was a call to duty.
“I felt I had to volunteer my service,” CPO Yarnold said.
“Being with Army at Gallipoli Barracks has provided a distinctive opportunity to work alongside not only Navy but also Army colleagues.”
CPO Yarnold has been working within the Tactical Operations Centre.
“It has been challenging yet enlightening,” CPO Yarnold said.
“Army does speak a whole different language to Navy, but it has given me a renewed sense of comradeship, teamwork and significance being part of the ADF support to the Queensland Community”.
For the operation, everyone was required to complete three days of training to prepare for various roles as part of Joint Task Group 629.3.
“There was an initial two weeks posting with the option to stay on, which I gladly did, and intend to see this operation out to its conclusion,” CPO Yarnold said.
While on operation, CPO Yarnold also celebrated his 60th birthday.
“I would encourage any ADF reservists past or present to consider getting on board to support our colleagues and the greater Australian Community,” he said.
“And don’t let age be a barrier; I turned 60 on this Operation.”
