Community & Business
20 February, 2026
Final flight for Army dad
Circumstance intervened when retiring Australian Army Aviation Training Centre Warrant Officer Class One Jason Mears had the chance to take one of his final training flights with his daughter Charlotte.
After 34 years of Service, Warrant Office Class One (WO1) Jason Mears took one final flight with daughter Sergeant (SGT) Charlotte Mears in December 2025.
In what was a special moment for both dad and daughter, WO1 Mears couldn’t pass an opportunity to do some training and practice with SGT Mears.
“It was awesome, a huge privilege and (I am feeling) quite proud,” he said.
SGT Mears, based at 723 Squadron, HMAS Albatross in Nowra is one of two of WO1 Mears’ three children who are working in Defence.
“(The children) got really good at unpacking my boxes,” WO1 Mears joked when asked about raising a Defence family.
In total, WO1 Mears says he has spent 12 years of his career in Oakey over five postings.
Recounting the highlights of his Army career, WO1 Mears spoke of his time undertaking work at Christmas helping local communities, and tasking deployments to East Timor and the Middle East.
“I was in East Timor moving cargo, and rescuing AME (Air Medical Evacuation) for four trips with most deployments taking three months,” he said.
“By the time I left, I knew the place like the back of my hand.”
WO1 Mears also spent five months from 2008-2009 moving cargo for the Australian Army in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Prior to his retirement, he worked with Australian Army Aviation Command at headquarters in Canberra.
For his final period of service, WO1 Mears returned to Oakey as an instructor, where he says he enjoyed passing on his knowledge.
After a well-deserved holiday, the soon-to-be retired WO1 says he intends to volunteer his time at the Australian Army Flying Museum in Oakey.
