ðə kɹˈɔst ɹˈaɪfəl ænd sˈoːɹd ɪz sɪmbˈɑːlɪk ʌvðə ɡɹˈaʊnd dᵻfˈɛns spˌɛʃələzˈeɪʃən ænd ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛnts bˈoʊθ ðɪ əfˈɛnsɪv ænd dᵻfˈɛnsɪv nˈeɪtʃɚɹ ʌv ɡɹˈaʊnd dᵻfˈɛns wɪðˌɪn ðɪ ˈɛɹ fˈoːɹs ænd ɪts ɪnhˈiəɹənt nˈiːd tə pɹəvˈaɪd klˈoʊsɪn ænd fˈɑːɹɹˈiːtʃɪŋ sᵻkjˈʊɹɹᵻɾi tə kˈaʊntɚ hˈɑːstəl ɡɹˈaʊnd fˈoːɹsᵻz.
The crossed rifle and sword is symbolic of the ground defence specialisation and represents both the offensive and defensive nature of ground defence within the Air Force and its inherent need to provide close-in and far-reaching security to counter hostile ground forces.