WO1 Richard Verrall enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on the 28th of August 1985. On the completion of recruit and initial employment training, he was posted to the 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR MECH), WO1 Verrall served with the Battalion from 1986 to 1995.
During his time in the Battalion, WO1 Verrall was cross-trained as a driver and crew commander of the M113A1, a driving and servicing instructor, and a Mortar Fire Controller. He was subsequently promoted from Private through to Sergeant in the Battalion.
In January 1995, WO1 Verrall was posted to the School of Armour as a Sergeant Instructor in Tactics Wing. He remained at the School of Armour until December 1999 where he instructed on numerous courses for both Infantry and Armoured Corps.
In January 2000, WO1 Verrall was promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two and was posted as the Training Warrant Officer at 25th/49th Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment, (25/49 RQR) in Toowoomba. In January 2002 he returned to 5/7RAR as the Battalion Mechanised Warrant Officer, in October that year he moved to D Company as CSM and deployed to East Timor as part of AUSBAT VII.
With effect January 2005 Warrant Officer Verrall was posted to the 1st Division Headquarters as the CSM, and after the Boxing Day Tsunami deployed with the Headquarters on operation Sumatra Assist. On return to Australia and after some leave Warrant Officer Verrall began force preparation for rotation 5 Australian Army Training Team Iraq. On return to Australia in June 2006 he was posted as the CSM 7th Brigade Headquarters.
In 2007 WO1 Verrall assumed the post as RSM 2nd/17th Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment where he served until 2009. In 2010 he was appointed as RSM 7RAR, Richard is happily married to Donna and they have three children, Robert (27), Jessica (20) and Richard (19).
Honours and Awards:
On 26 January 2013 WO1 Verrall was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment and the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.
Australian Active Service Medal with clasps, Iraq and East Timor;
United Nations Medal for East Timor;
Humanitarian Medal (HOSM) for Sumatra Assist;
Iraq Campaign Medal;
DLSM with 1st clasp – 20 years service; and
The Australian Defence Medal.