A Gallantry Decoration has been awarded in this year's Queens' Birthday honours list, recognising Corporal Mitchell Howden for leading an heroic rescue of injured personnel at Camp Taji in Iraq while risking his own life.
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It was the first decoration for acts of gallantry in action in more than two years.
The honours list also recognised 70 military personnel for distinguished and conspicuous service, along with 33 recipients in the military division of the Order of Australia.
Women made up 19 per cent of the recipients in both categories, mirroring the female participation rate in the Defence Force.
Corporal Howden received a Commendation for Gallantry for his actions while a section commander in the Quick Reaction Force Platoon, Task Group Taji X on March 11, 2020.
The incident occurred during the aftermath of a large indirect fire attack on Camp Taji, in which two Americans and one British soldier were killed. An addition 14 personnel were injured, five critically.
The citation from Defence credited Corporal Howden with displaying bravery of the highest order, exemplary leadership and a disregard for his own safety by entering a burning building containing suspected unexploded ordinance.
"Despite firefighters having declared the building too dangerous to enter, Corporal Howden led several searches, inspiring his men to follow him, which resulted in the rescue of two contractors who were incapacitated through injury," the citation states.
"His gallant actions and inspirational leadership when faced with extreme danger saved several Coalition lives."
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The ADF pulled out of Camp Taji in June last year, less than two months after the deadly rocket attack, wrapping up a five-year mission to training the Iraq Security Forces in their fight against Daesh.
The final commander of the Iraq-based task group, Colonel Nick Foxall, was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership as part of Monday's honours.
The highest military division awardee in the latest honours was Major General Adam Findlay, who was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. The general was recognised for leadership of cultural change while serving as a commander of special operations in Iraq and as Special Operations Commander Australia.
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Harley Dennett
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
