His book exit wounds is the compassionate and deeply human account of his combat experiences and resultant struggle with emotional trauma. John cantwell ao dsc principal consultant john cantwell. John speaks his mind and the welfare of his diggers always comes first. A deeply personal, fast paced and insightful account of cantwell s life in the australian army. He was all set to get the top job of chiefofarmy when he came home in 2011, but he had a nervous breakdown and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. John cantwell, queensland country boy, enlisted in the army as a private and rose to the rank of major general. Major general john cantwell was a brilliant soldier, serving in the first gulf war in 1991, iraq in 2006 and as commander of all australian forces in afghanistan in 2010 before retiring in 2012. Major general john cantwell ao dsc australian regular army. He offers a well thought out leadership philosophy applicable to any aspiring leader. Join facebook to connect with john cantwell and others you may know.
Sep 30, 2012 updated mon sep 24, 2012 exit wounds the former commander of australian forces in afghanistan, major general ret john cantwell discusses his battle with posttraumatic stress disorder and the prevalence of the disorder in the armed forces. John cantwell general military wiki fandom powered by wikia. Australia has been at war for the past twenty years and yet there has been no standout account from these conflictsexit wounds is it. Sep 27, 2012 major general john cantwell discusses his book exit wounds, a searing story of the realities of australias recent wars and the enduring scars they leave on our armed forces, with professor amin. Cantwell talks about his battle with ptsd lateline. Major general john cantwell ao, dsc joined the australian army as a private in 1974. He attended officer training in 1981, and was commissioned into the royal australian armoured corps. Major general john cantwell ret served in the australian army from 1974 to 2012. Instead the ptsd that had long haunted him through two decades took hold and. John cantwell ao dsc retired from the australian army early in 2012 after a career lasting almost 40 years. Major general john cantwell was a brilliant soldier, serving in the first gulf war in 1991, iraq in 2006 and as commander of all australian forces in.
One australians war on terror melbourne university press, 2012. He is the patron or ambassador for several organisations that support wounded and emotionally damaged australian veterans. I always had an interest in the defence forces and joined the army as a private at the age of 17. As a country boy from queensland, john cantwell signed up to the army as a private and rose to the rank of major general. News limited defence chiefs have flatly denied that the military was facing an approaching tsunami of. Exit wounds, one australians war on terror by john cantwell. Exit wounds one australians war on terror by john cantwell. Updated mon sep 24, 2012 exit wounds the former commander of australian forces in afghanistan, major general ret john cantwell discusses his battle with posttraumatic stress disorder and the prevalence of the disorder in the armed forces. Major general john cantwell discusses his book exit wounds, a searing story of the realities of australias recent wars and the enduring scars. Composure in death9781258416898, correspondence of john sedgwick, majorgeneral9781258419752, correspondence of john sedgwick, majorgeneral9781275801479, dedication of the equestrian statue of majorgeneral john sedgwick9781904799498, correspondence of john sedgwick, majorgeneral9781499110722. Retired major general john cantwell s new book details how his long military career was cut short by post traumatic stress disorder.
Oct 01, 2012 major general john cantwell ao, dsc joined the australian army as a private in 1974. Mar 23, 2017 this was a moving tribute to major general john cantwell, lloyd, thank you. Cantwell was born in ipswich, queensland, on 9 october 1956 to cecily mary nee mcinnerney and daniel cantwell. News limited defence chiefs have flatly denied that the military was facing an approaching tsunami of posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd cases. He was on the front line in 1991 as coalition forces fitted bulldozer blades to tanks and buried iraqi troops alive.
Major general john patrick cantwell ao dsc is a retired senior australian army officer. Jul 23, 20 as a country boy from queensland, john cantwell signed up to the army as a private and rose to the rank of major general. When i joined i was attracted to the idea of adventure and mateship. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty. John cantwell retired from the australian army in early 2012 after a unique career spanning almost 40 years. Rising from the rank of private to major general he was on the shortlist to become the chief of army following successful command in the middle east. He was a tank officer and commanded at every level. Leadership in action describes the skills needed to. He served in the first gulf war with the coalition forces between 1990 and 1991, and in the second gulf war in 2006 and 2007, where he was promoted to deputy chief of army. Major general john cantwell ao dsc joined the australian army as a private soldier in 1974 and rose to generalofficer rank. This book is a great view of the militarys hierarchical system and the structures that go unseen by most people. Exit wounds is the deeply human account of one mans tour of the war on terror, the moving story of life on a modern battlefield. Exit wounds, one australians war on terror by john.
Channel 7s sunday night programme featured major general john cantwell, a man who has served in three wars. Jul 01, 2015 intriguing blur between fact and fiction in watsons pier by joshua funder, launch by major john cantwell, author of exit wounds, state library of victoria melbourne university press i admire. Retired major general john cantwells new book details how his long military career was. Cantwell was a member of the australian army cadets prior to joining the australian army in 1974 as a regular soldier with the rank of private. Since his retirement major general cantwell lectures on leadership and military affairs to a variety of defence, business and academic audiences. Initially joining the australian army as a private, john cantwell changed over to officer and went to the first gulf war in 1990 1991 where. Lessons for the real world from a real leader revisit johns bestselling. Review exit wounds by john cantwell traces magazine. In his autobiography exit wounds, john cantwell talked about how he did not reveal about his ptsd for 20 long years to serve in the army. He was on the front line in 1991 as coalition forces fitted bulldozer. John cantwell miltary international speakers group. John cantwell starting as a private soldier he rose through the ranks to become major general.
Interview with major general john cantwell retd, author. Majorgeneral john cantwells book exit wounds is his searing story of the realities of australias recent wars and the enduring scars they leave on our armed forces. Sep 22, 2012 majorgeneral john cantwells book exit wounds is his searing story of the realities of australias recent wars and the enduring scars they leave on our armed forces. Aug 05, 2015 major general john cantwell ao dsc has a new book out called leadership in action. Major general john patrick cantwell, ao, dsc born 9 october 1956 is a retired senior. John cantwell knows this from almost forty years of leading men and women in some of the toughest situations imaginable. Jul 23, 2015 revisit john cantwells exit wounds as we await the release of major general john cantwells new book leadership in action. For other people with the same name, see mark kelly disambiguation.
He developed a fear that his car might have bombs and this made him avoid cars as much as possible. Exit wounds by major general john cantwell, paperback from library, oct. The stigma of ptsd is a very deep wound in our worlds military heroes, and mr. Australia has been at war for the past twenty years and yet there has been no stan. The roots of the anglosaxon name cantwell come from when the family resided in kentwell, in the county of suffolk. Major general john cantwell discusses his book exit wounds, a searing story of the realities of australias recent wars and the enduring scars they leave on our armed forces, with professor amin. Intriguing blur between fact and fiction in watsons pier by joshua funder, launch by major john cantwell, author of exit wounds, state library of victoria melbourne university press i admire. A deeply personal, fast paced and insightful account of cantwells life in the australian army. Afghanistan and applying them to civilian workplaces is the idea behind major general john cantwell ret. Major general cantwell is the patron or ambassador for several veterans health organisations and is a prominent advocate for the care of veterans suffering. John cantwell author of exit wounds one australians.
John cantwell author of exit wounds one australians war. Major general john cantwell ao dsc has a new book out called leadership in action. Major general cantwell had a distinguished army career. Major general cantwells book tells the story of how he joined the army as a private in 1974, rose through the ranks and served in the 1991 gulf. Lessons for the real world from a real leader, which presents a unique framework of leadership techniques that work in any situation john is a retired australian army officer who served in three distinct wars combat duty in operation desert storm in 1991. Exit wounds is the book he wrote to explain and understand what happened to. Oct 01, 2012 major general retired john cantwell ao dsc retired from the australian army in early 2012 after a unique career spanning almost 40 years. About the authors major general john cantwell ao, dsc joined the australian army as a private in 1974. Major general cantwell will describe his experiences.
Kentwell dates back to the domesday book where it was listed as kanewella, part of the lands held by frodo, the abbots brother. Starting as a private soldier he rose through the ranks to become a majorgeneral. He served as commander joint task force 633 commanding all australian forces in the middle east area of operations and afghanistan from 12 january 2009 until 14. Jan 03, 2018 major general john cantwell ret served in the australian army from 1974 to 2012. Johns service record is exemplary and his devotion to a military life is clear. John cantwell ao dsc retired from the australian army early in 2012 after a career spanning almost forty years. Major general john cantwell back to the drawing board. Aelfgar held kentwell freely under siward of maldon as a manor with 2 carucates of land with soke. Starting as a private soldier he rose through the ranks to become a major general.
His senior management appointments included that of deputy chief of the army. Majorgeneral john cantwell ao dsc retired from the australian army in early 2012 after a unique career spanning almost 40 years. The former commander of australian forces in afghanistan, major general ret john cantwell discusses his battle with posttraumatic stress disorder and the. Composure in death9781258416898, correspondence of john sedgwick, major general 9781258419752, correspondence of john sedgwick, major general 9781275801479, dedication of the equestrian statue of major general john sedgwick9781904799498, correspondence of john sedgwick, major general 9781499110722, dedication of the equestrian statue of. Major general john cantwell discusses his book exit wounds, a searing story of the realities of australias recent wars and the enduring scars they leave on our armed forces, with professor amin saikal. Raw, candid and eyeopening, no one who reads this book will be unmoved, nor forget its imagery or words. Major general mark andrew kelly, ao, dsc born 31 october 1956 is a former senior officer in the australian army. As a major, cantwell commanded a british tank squadron as an. Major general cantwell served in 3 wars, operation desert storm, the iraq war and as the commander of australian forces middle east. The page turning action of his book will be laced through with his insightful descriptions of his personal struggle over decades with posttraumatic stress disorder. Major general john cantwell ao dsc was a private soldier for 8 years before attending the officer cadet school at portsea, where he graduated and was commissioned into the royal australian armoured corps. Sep 24, 2012 the former commander of australian forces in afghanistan, major general ret john cantwell discusses his battle with posttraumatic stress disorder and the prevalence of the disorder in the armed. Along the way he held a diverse range of command and senior m. Exit wounds john cantwell with greg bearup 9780522864670.
Revisit john cantwells exit wounds as we await the release of major general john cantwells new book leadership in action. Aug 26, 2015 taking the lessons from commanding forces in iraq and afghanistan and applying them to civilian workplaces is the idea behind major general john cantwell ret. He served as commander joint task force 633 commanding all australian forces in the middle east area of operations and afghanistan from 12 january 2009 until 14 january 2010, and as land commander australia from july 2005 to december 2008. Majorgeneral john cantwell international speakers group. As a young man from a large family, john cantwell joined the australian army at 17 as a private and rose to become a general. Major general john cantwell was a brilliant soldier, serving in the first gulf.
Being a military leader myself, i hope to apply his insights during my remaining days in uniform. Australia has been at war for the past twenty years and yet there has been no standout account from these conflicts exit wounds is it. He did not start as an officer but as a private soldier who rose through the ranks to become major general. Leadership in action by john cantwell lessons in leadership. Booktopia has exit wounds, one australians war on terror by john cantwell.
Interview with major general john cantwell retd, author of. Major general john cantwell retired has written a sobering account of his career with the australian army in the first person, with the editing and guidance of greg bearup with the result being the hard hitting and incredibly honest memoir exit wounds. Now he reveals all he has learned about leadership during his rise through the ranks from private to general in the australian army. Major general cantwells book tells the story of how he joined the army as a private in 1974, rose through the ranks and served in the 1991 gulf war and again in iraq following the 2003 invasion. Lessons for the real world from a real leader, which presents a unique framework of leadership techniques that work in any situation. Exit wounds, greg bearup, john cantwell melbourne university. Starting as a private soldier he rose through the ranks to become major general. Taking the lessons from commanding forces in iraq and afghanistan and applying them to civilian workplaces is the idea behind major general john cantwell ret. The former commander of australian forces in afghanistan, major general ret john cantwell discusses his battle with posttraumatic stress disorder and the prevalence of the disorder in the armed forces.
John patrick cantwell major general john cantwell on 25 april 2012 born 9 october 1956 ipswich, queensland allegianceaustralia servicebranchaustralian army years of service19742012 rankmajor general commands heldjoint task force 633 deputy chief of army 1st brigade battleswarsgulf war iraq war war in afghanistan awardsofficer of the order of australia distinguished service cross officer of the legion of merit major general john patrick cantwell, ao, dsc is a retired senior australian. Major general john cantwell ao dsc joined the australian army as a private soldier in 1974 and rose to general officer rank. John cantwell afom australian families of the military. Major general john cantwell, author of exit wounds. He commanded at the very highest levels and fought on the front line in. Not only was he a military hero while he was in service, he continues to be with the writing and publishing of this important book. Exit wounds is the compassionate and deeply human account of one mans tour of the war on terror, the moving story of life on a modern battlefield. He was on the front line in 1991 as coalition forces fitted bulldozer blades to tanks and buried alive iraqi troops in their trenches. Leadership lessons from australias top military commander 7. Exit wounds major general john cantwell with greg bearup. Major general john patrick cantwell, ao, dsc born 9 october 1956 is a retired senior australian army officer. Growing up in toowoomba, he was educated at downlands college and st. Leadership lessons from australias top military commander.
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