Warrant Officer Joel McMahon was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia and educated at Servite College. He enlisted into the Australian Army in 1998 and was allocated to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps as a rifleman.

On completion of initial employment training Warrant Officer McMahon was posted to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. During his tenure at the 3rd Battalion, Warrant Officer McMahon served at all levels from rifleman to Platoon Sergeant and Operations Sergeant.

MAJ Hagerty enlisted into the Army as a Signals Operator before graduating from the Royal Military College – Duntroon as an Infantry Officer. He has held numerous positions within the Army including Platoon Commander, Mortar Line Officer and Officer Instructor Mortar. His most notably held position was as a Staff Officer in Personal Operations where he oversaw the successful force flow of troops into Iraq as part of Operation OKRA.