In 1991, a young sub-lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy stepped off HMAS Westralia at the Port of Tanjung Priok, Indonesia, on the first visit of his first naval deployment to the South China Sea.
Thirty-five years later, Vice Admiral Justin Jones returned to that very same place, coincidentally visiting a RAN ship deployed on that same mission.
"It feels like yesterday I was posted to a ship doing the same thing. I told the crew I am envious of them and the future of the Navy is bright indeed," Vice Admiral Jones said.
Addressing the crew of HMAS Toowoomba during a port visit to Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Vice Admiral Jones spoke of Defence's mission to maintain a persistent presence in our region.
"Maintaining a presence via Australian Defence Force assets in the region means that we are enforcing our rights to freedom of navigation and overflight. That is international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," Vice Admiral Jones said.
While his rank has changed over the past three decades, one thing that has remained constant for the Chief of Joint Operations has been his steadfast dedication to duty and resolute philosophy on service.
"I've always said the moment I stop enjoying myself or feel I don't have a sense of purpose anymore then it is probably time to retire, but 38 years later I am still here because I have that same sense of purpose and satisfaction of serving the nation, and most of all working alongside exceptional people," Vice Admiral Jones said.
In his current role as Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Jones said his responsibility was to ensure Defence operated as an entire integrated force - Navy, Army and Air Force, public servants and contractors - across the five domains of sea, land, air, cyber and space.
"Integrated planning and operations goes well beyond the five services in Australia working together. We need to think about the role of industry, academia, the rest of the whole-of-government apparatus, all the levers of state power and our allies and partners," Vice Admiral Jones said.
'I am still here because I have that same sense of purpose and satisfaction of serving the nation, and most of all working alongside exceptional people.'
During town hall meetings with Toowoomba's crew, he urged them to not only focus on their individual capability. He reassured them that their colleagues from the Australian Army and Air Force were with them at sea.
"The crew will be rightly focused on doing their jobs well and Toowoomba's role and contribution during the deployment. However, they are a cog in the machinery that is the integrated force of the Australian Department of Defence deployed in the region, working in synergy and coherently to maintain our presence and exercise our rights and freedoms together," Vice Admiral Jones said.
As Toowoomba continues on her deployment across South-East Asia and East Asia, Vice Admiral Jones encouraged the crew to uphold the rich history of excellence the Australian Defence Force has held in the region for generations.
"We have been here a long time. If you go back in history from the Second World War in the Pacific, Vietnam and into the modern era and the Cold War, we have been operating here consistently for decades," Vice Admiral Jones said.
His final message was not only to Australian Defence Force personnel, acknowledging their friends, families and loved ones who share the responsibilities of a life of service.
"They are fundamental to what we do. We cannot do the tasks and missions we have been given without the love and support of our families, and indeed our friends, at home," Vice Admiral Jones said.
Commanding Officer Toowoomba Commander Alicia Harrison said the crew was honoured that the Chief of Joint Operations' first visit to a RAN vessel in 2026 was Toowoomba.
"It has been wonderful to see the Chief of Joint Operations interact with the sailors and officers on board Toowoomba. They impressed him with their engaging, enthusiastic and passionate questions that demonstrated that their minds are on the job we've been given," Commander Harrison said.
Toowoomba is undertaking an Indo-Pacific regional presence deployment throughout South Asia and South-East Asia, conducting training, exercises and other engagements with Australia's regional partners.
Regional presence deployments demonstrate Australia's commitment to and engagement with the region.
The deployments play a vital role in Australia's long-term security and prosperity by protecting Australia's interests, preserving the global rules-based order, enhancing cooperation and relationships with regional partners and allies, and developing capability and interoperability.
