For Army Reserve Captain Anthony Nguyen, serving his country has always depended on the support of people who aren't wearing a uniform.
As Australians pause at 11am on 11 November to remember those who died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peace operations, Anthony says his own reflections extend to the network of people who make military service possible.
“For me, it's not just about the serving members, but the support network around the serving members,” he says.
That includes families, but also employers and colleagues who step in when reservists are called away from their civilian jobs.
“Whenever I go on exercise, it takes a village to pitch in to cover my role. It's not just my manager, it's other team members, other stakeholders.”
Two careers side by side
Anthony has spent almost a decade at Commonwealth Bank, starting as an intern before joining the graduate program and working across RBS Home Buying, Customer Service Direct and, more recently, Wealth & Private.
He joined the Army Reserve in 2017, towards the end of his graduate program, and has since risen to the rank of Captain while continuing his military and banking careers side by side.
Reserve service is a regular commitment. Anthony parades each week, generally spends one weekend a month in the field and can be away for two or three weeks for training or specialist courses.
Exercises and operations can also arise at short notice. During the ADF response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Anthony was called away for two weeks with about two days' notice.
Anthony says support from his managers has helped make that possible. CommBank provides up to 20 days of military leave a year, with managers able to approve additional leave at their discretion.
But he says policies are only part of the picture.
When a reservist leaves for an exercise or operation, their work doesn't disappear and other people have to step in.
“It's not just me out there serving the community that should be recognised, but it's the ecosystem that sits behind me to enable me to do that,” he says.
“Because if that doesn't exist, I wouldn't be out there.”
Support behind the service
That support was recognised this year when CommBank won a NSW 2026 Australian Defence Force Employer Support Award after being nominated by Anthony.
Anthony nominated CommBank in recognition of the support provided by his people leader, Jay Carpio Colon, who has helped him continue his Army Reserve service while developing his career at the bank.
For Anthony, good employer support is about more than allowing reservists time away. It's also about recognising what they can bring back.
“What's important is not just the time off,” he says. “It's essentially an understanding that what the reservists are doing is providing back to the communities in other ways, but also they're developing skills that can be brought back.”
Bringing military experience to work
Anthony says his Army and civilian careers have developed alongside each other.
Leadership and logistics experience gained through the Army has helped him manage people, work with stakeholders and make decisions about competing priorities at CommBank.
“The people leadership skills that Army teaches you, it's directly transferable to the stakeholder management skills that we have here,” he says.
“Particularly logistics, that has helped me prioritise and focus on what's really most valuable here at the bank.”
Military service isn't always immediately visible in a civilian workplace.
Anthony says people can work alongside former or current serving personnel without knowing about that part of their lives, particularly when their military experience was years earlier.
“I think it's valuable to share how those stories have shaped their experiences,” he says.
CommBank's Veterans Employee Network brings together more than 100 veterans, serving members, reservists and Defence family members across the organisation.
The network provides a way for people with shared experiences to connect and to tell stories that might otherwise remain largely unknown to their colleagues.
Remembering those who served
Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the Armistice that ended fighting in World War One in 1918.
At 11am on 11 November, Australians observe one minute's silence to remember those who died or suffered while serving in wars, conflicts and peace operations.
For Anthony, it's also a reminder of the people standing behind those who serve today.
From family members at home to colleagues taking on extra responsibilities at work, their contribution can be less visible.
But without them, he says, serving would be much harder.
“None of us serves alone.”
