Heywire winner Jordan Curran, Darwin, NT.

"I've got to go, Jordan."

"EVERYBODY HIT THE GROUND!"

The sound of an explosion rattled through the phone.

The phone call was disconnected.

I stood there, confused, wondering what had happened to my dad.

All contact was lost for days while news headlines read "Australian soldiers killed in blast."

We were worried and confused.

Three days passed before we received a call to tell us that he was ok. I've never been so relieved and happy.

My dad is a soldier in the Australian Army, helping the Americans trying to stop poverty and regain peace in Afghanistan.

Dad's job is to transport soldiers through the streets of Afghanistan, making sure they reach their destination unharmed.

It's hard seeing your dad for only a short period of time between each trip. Knowing that he's in a danger zone puts a lot of strain and stress on the family.

Having your dad miss out on Christmas and all our family birthdays is hard. Being unable to celebrate his wedding anniversary with my mum always takes its toll on him.

The phone calls are usually short and scary, punctuated with the sound of gun fire. Just to hear his voice and know he's okay is the main thing.

The tours affect dad mentally. Every day, noises remind him of certain events that have happened overseas.

There was a time when we were walking through Darwin and a car back-fired with a loud bang. My dad hit the ground as if he was being fired at. I'd never seen my dad move so fast or be so afraid.

My dad was inspired to enlist by his father who he never knew. My grandfather was also in the Australian Army and fought in Vietnam. He died when my dad was only four, but dad was inspired by the photos he kept of his dad in uniform.

My brother was inspired by our dad to join the Army himself, and has just marched out of Kapooka training base. My mum was in the Army, as was my sister and two cousins.

Seeing my dad do what he does, and seeing how proud it makes him to know he is serving our country, has inspired me to join the Australian Defence Force myself and become yet another Curran in the Army.