Brad Dunn's story

Brad Dunn had always wanted to be in the Australian Army. As soon as he turned 17, he convinced his parents to allow him to join. He enlisted in August 1979.

Brad spent the first 3 years of his service in the 1 Armoured Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, at Puckapunyal in Victoria. Then he moved into recruiting in his hometown of Wollongong. After 2 years in that job, he moved to 3/4 Cavalry Regiment at Townsville. Three years later he moved to the initial employment training wing, teaching new recruits from Kapooka how to become an Armoured Corps soldier.

As a sergeant, Brad specialised as a radio instructor. Then he returned to Townsville as a troop sergeant. That's where he was when he was selected to go to Cambodia.

The United Nations formed the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) on 14 March 1992.

Brad and 2 others from his unit deployed to Brisbane initially for some workup training. They were part of the last group of the first contingent to go and serve in Cambodia from 1992 to 1993.

In September 1999, Brad deployed to East Timor to join the International Force East Timor (INTERFET). It was a deployment that he found more natural than Cambodia. He deployed as part of an armoured unit with vehicles rather than as a small Communications team as he had in Cambodia.