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 Commander. His job was to advise on the Rules of Engagement, the use of force and charging or defending soldiers. He was based at the Tarin Kowt base in Uruzgan Province. Mr McBride was deployed in Afghanistan with CTU until February 2012.

21․ On 16 January 2012, he was posted to the position of Special Operations Legal Officer at the Rank of Major at Special Forces Command, at an ADF facility near Bungendore. In this role, he was responsible for the legal issues that arose during overseas deployments as well as domestic anti-terrorism operations. His principal responsibility was oversight of legal matters in Afghanistan.

22․ Between August and December 2013, Mr McBride was the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) Legal Officer and was deployed in that role to the Special Forces base in Tarin Kowt, Urzugan Province, Afghanistan.

23․ In December 2013, Mr McBride returned to Australia from overseas deployment and was based at Special Operation Headquarters at the Bungendore facility as a Special Operations Legal Officer. During that time, his private residence was in the ACT.

24․ On 19 January 2015, Mr McBride was posted to the Military Law Centre in Canberra.

25․ On 18 January 2016, Mr McBride was posted to the Directorate of Administrative Law and Advisings in Canberra as a Staff Officer Grade 2.

26․ From 7 September 2016, Mr McBride moved between various temporary positions at different locations.

27․ From 25 January 2017, Mr McBride was no longer part of the ADF. He was discharged for medical reasons, including due to suffering from Major/Agitated Depression, Attention-deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Abuse Disorder. In late 2016, he was also diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

28․ On 1 July 2012, 1 July 2013, 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015, Mr McBride was issued a Legal Officer Practising Certificate under ACT law.

29․ Mr McBride has not been previously charged with or convicted of any criminal offence.

Background–security

30․ The Commonwealth government applies the Australian Government Security Classification System (AGSCS) to Commonwealth records. The four levels of national security classification are PROTECTED, CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET and TOP SECRET. Significantly for present purposes, the SECRET classification indicates that a compromise of the confidentiality of the information could be expected to cause "serious damage" to the national interest, organisations or individuals. That damage may include