Top military accolade for Rockhampton soldier
A Rockhampton soldier’s relentless drive to strengthen Australia’s army reserves from the ground up has been recognised on the national stage, earning him a prestigious accolade in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Matthew Solis was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for his multi-year dedication to building a vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability within the 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment.
Infantry reconnaissance is a critical tool for military commanders, relying on highly fit, elite small teams operating close to enemy lines to gather battlefield intelligence. However, when WO2 Solis arrived at the Rockhampton-based unit in 2016 after a stint in the full-time Army, he discovered this essential capability was completely missing.
Recognising a major vulnerability in the Reserve forces, WO2 Solis and a fellow soldier took matters into their own hands, drafting a capability paper to pitch the idea of a dedicated reconnaissance platoon. Armed with the support of a forward-thinking Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major, they successfully trialled the concept.
From there, highly motivated local reservists were selected to train alongside full-time units, bringing elite field craft and specialised skills back to the Central Queensland battalion.
The newly formed platoon proved its mettle on the international stage during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021, where two reconnaissance patrols successfully embedded with the full-time 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The capability further proved its worth in 2023, augmenting full-time patrols at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
The success of WO2 Solis’s model has since sent positive shockwaves through the wider Army Reserve, with the capability expanded across the 2nd (Australian) Division. Proving that specialised support elements are viable for reservists has also paved the way for new mortars and direct-fire support weapons platoons.
Beyond boosting battlefield readiness, the initiative has solved a long-standing personnel issue by drastically improving member retention. Specialised infantry soldiers transitioning from full-time service can now continue using their advanced skill sets rather than returning to regular riflemen roles.
Reflecting on his medal, WO2 Solis remained humble, emphasising that the honour belongs to the entire unit. He noted that while his name is on the citation, the award truly reflects a massive, collective team effort by dedicated local soldiers who have put in the hard yards since 2016.