RAA Liaison Letter – 2025 / 2026 Edition 37 Sergeant Major at the Royal Military College – Duntroon. Warrant Officers Hesketh most recent postings has seen him posted to the Headquarters of Special Operations Command as the Operations Warrant Officer, Army Headquarters within Army’s Advanced Capabilities. In January 2026, Warrant Officer Hesketh was appointed as the Regimental Sergeant Major of 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. Warrant Officer Hesketh has received a Soldiers Medallion for his role in introducing newly acquired equipment into 16 Regiment. In addition to receiving three commendations over postings at the Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College – Duntroon for his dedication to training the future junior officers of the Australian Defence Force and redeveloping the training packages in both units. Warrant Officer Hesketh’s operational experience began in 2001 aboard HMAS Kanimbla as a gunner of the Ground Based Air Defence Troop on Operation SLIPPER. He has further operational experience whilst deployed on Operation ASTUTE in 2008 as a Platoon Sergeant in an infantry role. Warrant Officer Hesketh is married to Alana and have three small dogs. He is a keen West Coast Eagles supporter and enjoys mountain bike riding and travelling Australia with his wife and dogs. WARRANT OFFICER CLASS ONE JOHN BERGER 20th Regiment RAA Warrant Officer Class One John Berger was born in Townsville in Apr 1977. He enlisted into the Australian Army on 07 Feb 1995 and allocated as a gun number with the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, and on the completion of initial employment training was posted to 1st Field Regiment. Earlier postings include 8/12th Medium Regiment, School of Artillery and Defence Force Recruiting. During these postings Warrant Officer Class One Berger’s employment included Detachment Commander, Command Post Sergeant, Instructor and Defence Force Recruiter. During this time Warrant Officer Class One Berger deployed to East Timor on Operation TANAGER in a Civil Military Liaison team in 2000, and on Operation RELEX as a Section Commander in 2002. In 2009, at the rank of sergeant, Warrant Officer Class One Berger trade transferred to ECN 250 and subsequently posted to 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery as a Troop Sergeant. In 2012 he was posted back to the School of Artillery as an Instructor, and in 2014 was promoted to warrant officer class two and spent the next two years as a Sergeant Major Instructor Gunnery. 2016 saw Warrant Officer Class One Berger posted back to 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery as Operations Warrant Officer and Battery Guide. He then spent time in Joint Operations Support Staff before being again being posted to 20th Regt, Royal Australian Artillery in 2020 as Battery Sergeant Major 131st Battery. Operations experience during this period include deploying to Afghanistan on Operation SLIPPER as a shift and Mission Commander in 2010/11, Operation APEC Assist in Papua New Guinea as Battery Guide in 2018 where he was awarded a Commander 1st Division Bronze Commendation, and Operation Flood Assist in 2022 as a Company Sergeant Major. Previous warrant officer class one positions include Master Gunner 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, and UAS Standards Warrant Officer at Headquarters Aviation Command. Warrant Officer Class One Berger took up his current appointment as Regimental Sergeant Major, 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in December 2025. Warrant Officer Class One Berger is married to Michelle and has two daughters – Ashleigh and Charli and one son – Riley. He enjoys jet skiing and camping with the family, and is an avid rugby league fan supporting Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. WARRANT OFFICER CLASS ONE SCOTT CHIVERS Adelaide University Regiment Warrant Officer Class One Scott Chivers was born on 23 June 1978 in Sydney, New South Wales. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 25 March 1997 and was allocated to the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery as a missile number. Following initial employment training, WO1 Chivers was posted to the 16th Air Defence Regiment, serving in both 110th and 111th Batteries as a missile number, command post operator, and detachment commander. During this period, he deployed to the Persian Gulf on
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