WO Grant McFarlane
Medal of the Order of Australia, Regimental Sergant Major - Army
Ex-Officio
NAC start date: 2019
Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane, OAM, grew up in country Victoria. Grant enlisted in the Army in 1980, and was assigned to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps on completion of Basic Recruit Training.
After Initial Employment Training he was post to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. During this posting he completed all of the regimental appointments.
As a Warrant Officer Class One he was appointed as wing Sergeant Major at the School of Infantry, and as the Career Manager for Infantry Sergeants.
In 2001, on completion of his Regimental Sergeant Majors Course, he was appointed as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment. In his career he has also been appointed as the Regimental Sergeant Major of 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division and Career Management – Army.
Warrant Officer McFarlane has been deployed on a number of operational and non-operational tours including:
- Malaysia
- East Timor with INTERFET (1999 – 2000)
- East Timor with Operation Astute (2006)
Following this he was the Regimental Sergeant Major the Combined Team in Uruzgan (October 2011 – February 2012).
In 2007 he was awarded the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. His other honours and awards including:
- Australian Active service Medal for service in East Timor and Afghanistan
- INTERFET Medal
- Australian Service Medal for service in South East Asia and East Timor
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Defence Long Service Medal (with clasps)
- Timor-Leste Solidarity Medal
- NATO Non Article five Medal (ISAF clasp)
Warrant Officer McFarlane is married to Tracey and has two sons, and a grandson who he loves spending time with. He has many interests including bike riding, kayaking and paddle boarding. He is an avid AFL (Essendon Football Club) and Rugby League (Newcastle Knights) supporter.