21 December 2023
At the end of the successful Exercise Yama Sakura 85 in Japan, the 1st (Australian) Division held a transfer-of-authority ceremony in Hokkaido to farewell Major General Scott Winter and welcome Major General Ash Collingburn.
The timing and location of the event, while on an exercise with key partners the United States and Japan practising for large-scale combat operations, was symbolic of the division’s desire to “get better quickly” according to Major General Winter.
“I’m proudest of what I think our people have been able to achieve under my command,” Major General Winter said.
“I’ve found they have consistently taken my intent and made things better than I could have imagined. Being on Exercise Yama Sakura is a great example of that. We have really built towards something special.”
The 1st (Australian) Division continues to enhance its preparedness for warfighting operations through participation in large multinational exercises such as Exercise Freedom Shield (South Korea), Exercise Talisman Sabre (Australia and US) and Exercise Yama Sakura (Japan).
“The division is Army’s ‘unit of action’ for large-scale combat operations,” Major General Winter added.
“A clear highlight of my time in command was the opportunity to command the 1st (Australian) Division in the field, with 10 different nations serving alongside us, during Talisman Sabre this year.”
Major General Collingburn, who returns to divisional headquarters for a second time, said he would continue the division’s efforts in consolidating and preparing for large-scale combat operations.
“I last served in divisional headquarters when I was a young captain in the operations branch. Back then it was a complete division,” Major General Collingburn said.
“I’ve taken command at a critical juncture. The division is almost complete again, with the exception of the all-important enabling formations. So we’ve almost gone full circle and I’m very excited to be part of it.
“Major General Winter and I think along the same lines. He has done a tremendous job to put the division back together and I look forward to continuing to build on his work and really reinforce the war-fighting focus that he has cultivated.”
Major General Winter will assume the role of Deputy Commanding General US Army Pacific in January.
“I thank the men and women of the 1st (Australian) Division. They have been my inspiration every day. In true mission command style, they have taken my intent and developed the division as a world-class fighting force,” Major General Winter said.
“I wish Major General Collingburn and the team every success.”
