At Jervis Bay, Lieutenant Commander Iain Skea and Lieutenant Michael Skea stood side by side, reflecting on a rare opportunity - combining their Navy roles for the first time during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
Originally from south-east Queensland, Lieutenant Commander Iain Skea as the deputy lead of the Japanese live-fire exercise served as the range safety officer. Lieutenant Michael Skea led aerial surveillance as an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter pilot.
"After a decade, this is the first time we've been able to work together in our military careers on the same task," Lieutenant Commander Iain Skea said.
"I'm responsible for the land and the sea while Michael is handling the aircraft surveillance."
For the brothers, the experience is more than just a professional milestone - it's a family one.
"It's good to see how far Iain has come - I'm so proud of my little brother, seeing him as a warfare officer running such a complex evolution," Lieutenant Michael Skea said.
That complexity reflects the scale of Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australia's largest military training activity, involving more than 40,000 personnel from 19 nations.
The exercise includes amphibious landings, live-fire exercises, strike missions and logistics operations across air, sea and land.
Lieutenant Commander Skea said this year's missile activity stood out.
"The Japanese are firing more missiles, the flight paths are more complex, and they are showcasing their new electronic capabilities - it's exciting, fast-moving and cutting edge," he said.
Lieutenant Skea agreed, noting the scale and teamwork involved.
"It's impressive seeing how many people - from the ADF, the Japan Self-Defense Force, the United States and other partner nations - have to come together to make it work as one seamless exercise," he said.
The opportunity to work together rekindled memories for both of them, including how their upbringing influenced their paths to service.
"One of my earliest memories is sitting on the roof of the car at the end of the runway at RAAF Amberley, eating popcorn and watching jets take off at night," Lieutenant Commander Skea said.
"You can't do that anymore with runway perimeter fences, but it was such a great memory growing up in a military family.
"We moved around Australia as part of dad's 39-year Air Force career. His service shaped who we are."
