In January 1994, he was posted on promotion as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Base Administrative Support Unit - Liverpool. In January 1996 he assumed his position as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Sydney based, 7th Field Regiment.
Warrant Officer Kelly was posted as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 4th Field Regiment, in January 1998. He was posted to the Multinational Force and Observers- Sinai in July 1999, as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Contingent and as the Force Training Development Warrant Officer. It was during this tour of duty that he was awarded a Director Generals Certificate for leadership.
Warrant Officer Kelly returned to Australia in January 2000 and assumed his position as the Regimental Sergeant Major, Ceremonial – Army. During his tenure he accompanied Australia’s Federation Guard, on Royal Duties in London. Also in 2000 he was tasked as the Army’s Technical Advisor to the TV mini series ‘My Brother Jack”. In the lead up to Army Centenary 2001, he was also responsible for the Army Banner concept which included its design, procurement, presentation and introduction into service, and for the planning and conduct of the Army Centenary Parade. In October 2001, was posted as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Brigade and in January 04, as Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Division and in January 2005, he assumed his posting as the RSM Training Command – Army.
Warrant Officer Kelly deployed to Iraq in November 2006 as the Senior Military Advisor to the 1st Iraqi Training Battalion. On his return to Australia, he was commissioned to the rank of Major. Upon his commission he was posted to the position of Liaison Officer for the Centre for Army Lessons (CAL), to the major commands. This was a new position, which Major Kelly had to develop from scratch. In 2009, MAJ Kelly was deployed at short notice to the Middle East as the Visits Officer – HQ JTF 633. On his return to Australia, he was posted to the Centre for Army Lessons, Puckapunyal where he assumed the role of Staff Officer Grade Two - Force Generation and Modernisation - Lessons Support Team. His current posting is as the Officer Commanding - Leadership and Military Skills Section, at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) which he assumed in January 2012.
His Honours and Awards include the Medal of the Order of Australia, the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp IRAQ 2003 and ICAT, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Australian Service Medal with Clasps SINAI and SE ASIA, the Centenary Medal, the Defence Force Service Medal with four Clasps, the Australian Defence Medal, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal, a Commander Australian Defence College Commendation, a Chief of Army Commendation, a Commander 1st Division Commendation, the Army Combat Badge and the United States Army Achievement Medal.
Major Kelly is married to Deborah and they have three children, Craig (RASIGS), Scott (RAEME) and Brooke. The Kelly’s have four grandchildren – MacKenzie, Caleb, Isabella and Lincoln.
Major Kelly is a keen military historian and his book “Just Soldiers” which was launched in 2004, received critical acclaim. He is currently researching and writing a sequel to his first work. He is also writing “Close But Not Close Enough” - Australians Recommended for the Victoria Cross but were not Awarded.
He enjoys exercise including swimming, paddling, bike riding and walking the dog. His more passive pursuits are military research, movies, entertaining and reading. |
