Michael Bassingthwaighte

Major Michael Bassingthwaighte is an infantry graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon. He has served in the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment, the School of Infantry, on staff at the Royal Military College Duntroon and as the Aide de Camp to Commander Training Command-Army. He has served as the Reconnaissance Platoon Commander with the 3rd Battalion during INTERFET in 1999; as the Adjutant/Battle Captain with the Al Muthanna Task Group 3 / Overwatch Battle Group (West) 1 in Iraq in 2006; and as the Officer Commanding the Security Task Group with the Reconstruction Task Force 3 in Afghanistan in 2007/08. Major Bassingthwaighte is currently posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and will attend US Army Command and General Staff College in 2009. Major Bassingthwaighte was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 2009 for his service in Afghanistan.