Former medic James DeAngelis has commemorated Anzac Day across the globe during his four overseas deployments for the Australian Army.
Now that he's a civilian dad, the recently-retired corporal is looking forward to taking part in the dawn service and parade in Brisbane with his kids.
"I love Anzac Day; it's a time to come together and acknowledge the sacrifices of the people before us," he told AAP.
"It's that one day when we give each other a nod and have a beer."
Mr DeAngelis, 28, spent last Anzac Day with US and British troops at Camp Taji in Iraq.
"During the dawn service we were formed up in a U-shape and I remember a contingent of American soldiers came down and joined us," he said.
"It's always special doing Anzac Day while on operations."
Mr DeAngelis said deployment and training exercises can be tough for defence families, and he was looking forward to spending this year with his children.
"It'll mean a lot for them - it'll probably end up being a bigger day for them than for me," he said.
Brisbane will mark Anzac Day with a dawn service at Anzac Square from 4.28am, which is the time the first boats hit the beach at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915.
A parade along George and Adelaide Streets will follow from 10am.
The Elephant Rock dawn service at Currumbin will start at 4.35am, the march at 10.55am and two-up at 1pm.
Up north, Townsville residents will surround the town's Cenotaph from 5.20am followed with the march at 9am.
In Far North Queensland, Cairns' dawn service will start at 5.30am and the march at 7am.
