Annual Report 2004-05

Outcome Three: Army Capabilities

Capability Performance Information

Output 3.10 Capability for Protective Operations

The protective operations capability contributes to the strategic tasks of being prepared to defend Australia and to support peacetime national tasks. While retaining long-term utility for defence of Australia tasks, the protective operations capability also provided reinforcements for Regular Army units. Elements of this capability are also trained to assist in domestic security incidents. The protective operations capability provides forces at high to low readiness. The capability is grouped in 4^th, 5^th, 8^th, 9^th, 11^th and 13^th Brigades, which are Army Reserve formations based across Australia.

	Performance Targets	Performance
	Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Partially Achieved. The protective operations capability achieved the levels of preparedness directed for the six Reserve Response Forces drawn from 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 11th and 13th Brigades. The remainder of the capability was unable to achieve most preparedness tasks as directed in the military response options due to deficiencies in equipment and personnel shortages in all trades. Personnel shortages are being addressed through recruiting and retention programs. Initiatives such as the Reserve Response Force have focused specialist elements within these brigades towards meeting a shorter readiness notice. In 2004-05 the output provided personnel for the transit security element in support of border security operations, and provided a section for security tasks in the Solomon Islands. The output also provided personnel to supplement Regular Army units both in Australia and on operations.
	Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Partially Achieved. Most training activities were successfully conducted. Some collective training activities were reduced in scope due to deficiencies in equipment and personnel.
	The 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 11th and 13th Brigades, each comprising: - a Brigade headquarters; - two or three infantry battalions; - an armoured reconnaissance unit; and - combat and logistic support units.	This target was partially achieved. The quantity for the Reserve Response Forces was achieved during 2004-05. While there were personnel shortfalls in the remainder of the capability, personnel from the output still provided a reinforcement capability for the combat force component of the Army.