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In the know

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Embarked Forces and HMAS Kanimbla’s ships company came together in December last year for a moving Service of Reflection for CAPT Mark Bingley (171 Squadron) and TPR Josh Porter of the Special Air Service Regiment. CAPT Bingley and TPR Porter were both tragically killed in November last year. They were two of 10 personnel aboard an Australian Army Black Hawk helicopter which, while attempting to land on the deck of HMAS Kanimbla during a training flight, was lost into the sea.

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GNR Daniel Frawley prepares to launch a Skylark Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) during operations in the Ad Bibdibah desert near the Saudi Arabian border. The Overwatch Battle Group (West)-Two has carried out its largest operation since arriving in southern Iraq in November in support of Operation Catalyst. A large portion of the Battle Group set up a Forward Operating Base in the Ad Bibdibah Desert in the Al Muthanna province during an operation to gain a greater understanding of the desert region near the Saudi Arabian border.

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As the sun rises on a freezing Afghan winter morning, a 1st Reconstruction Task Force mission awakes and prepares for another day of engineering works to improve the situation for the local population. The mission involved an overnight stay 'outside the wire' in sub-zero conditions in southern Afghanistan.

ROMAN upgrade underway

The ROMAN upgrade project is officially underway. The project will be implemented in two stages; Stage One, a software upgrade due for completion late-2007; Stage Two, additional functionality, mid-2008.
It will have a new ‘look and feel’ and be supported by a comprehensive training program delivered to finance staff late this year.

We will be establishing a national network of Local INformation Coordinators, or LINCs. LINCs will provide support for finance staff during the upgrade and provide an initial point of contact regarding questions on implementation and training.

A national roadshow will be conducted during March and April, to provide briefings on the project to ROMAN users and LINCs.

If you would like more information on the project, or are interested in becoming your local LINC, you can send an email to the team at: ROMANupgrade@drn.mil.au or visit the project website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/ciogweb/sites/UAF/

Youth crew wanted for tall ship Young Endeavour

Photo of the tall ship Young EndeavourYoung Australians aged 16-23 can now apply to get on board the tall ship Young Endeavour for a sail training program in 2007. Setting sail for 11 days from Townsville, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Bundaberg, Brisbane, Southport, Newcastle, Hobart, Devonport, Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Sydney, berths are available from June to October 2007. Participants do not require any sailing experience.

Over the course of a voyage, 24 youth crew learn all aspects of sailing a 44-metre, square-rigged tall ship on the open sea including climbing the 30m mast, setting sails, navigating, keeping watch and taking the helm. A voyage on the Young Endeavour develops skills in teamwork, communication, leadership and motivation. Youth crew also have the chance to explore outstanding wilderness regions and remote Australian coastlines.

Applicants need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents, able to swim 50m and be in good health. Youth Crew members are selected via a ballot. Applicants can apply for voyages online at www.youngendeavour.gov.au or by phoning 1800 020 444, from 26 January to 31 March 2007. Travel assistance is available to residents of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Eleven-day voyages cost $1495 with financial assistance available to low-income applicants (conditions apply).

Decommissioning of HMAS Adelaide

Photo of HMAS AdelaideHMAS Adelaide is scheduled to decommission in late 2007 after 27 years of outstanding service and excellence. To celebrate the life of the Navy’s number one warship, a hard-cover book will be produced about the ship’s life, from womb to tomb. The book will be available soon after decommissioning. In order to gauge the quantity required, as well as the costs, registrations of interest are sought.

Articles, photos, stories, other items of interest or memorabilia for possible inclusion in the book are sought from former members of the ship’s company. Scanned or original items are preferred. Any items submitted will be professionally copied and returned to the owner.

A Decommissioning Ball is planned at a date and venue in Perth, yet to be determined. Serving and former members of Adelaide’s company and a guest are invited. Registrations of interest are requested in order to evaluate the size of the venue required.

Adelaide’s point of contact for both the Decommissioning Book and the Ball is LCDR Brian Chase, at: 01d@f01.navy.gov.au or HMAS Adelaide, Warships Mail Section, Rockingham, WA 6958.

Introduction to Capability Development

The Capability Development Executive (CDE) has released the first of two e-learning courses focused on the development of new capabilities within Defence. The ‘Introduction to Capability Development’ course is designed to provide a basic understanding of what capability development is and how processes have evolved since the Defence Procurement Review in 2003.

The course is aimed at people within Defence or industry who want to better understand the capability development environment. Based on the Defence Capability Development Manual (DCDM), topics include fundamental inputs to capability, capability planning principles, the capability lifecycle, the role of CDE and key stakeholders, the Defence Capability Plan and the two pass approval process.

The second e-learning course, ‘The Capability Development Process’, is scheduled for release in April 2007. This course will explore capability development processes as they apply to a practitioner (CDE desk officer) and will consider the detailed requirements for First and Second Pass approval in particular.

‘Introduction to Capability Development’ can be accessed via the CAMPAS e-learning domain on the DRN, and is also available on CDROM. Queries regarding the course and requests for the CDROM should be addressed to the DCDM Helpdesk at: DCDM.Helpdesk@defence.gov.au.

‘Defining the 21st century warrior: myth, reality, relevance’

Do we have the warriors we need?

Do we have the military forces required for the changing face of conflict?

Is it possible to prepare for both war and peacekeeping?

Is military operational effectiveness compromised by political interference and social pressure?

The University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy (UNSW@ADFA) is calling for papers for presentation at the above conference, to be held on 24-25 September 2007 in Canberra.

This conference seeks to address these questions; to define the fundamentals of the prevailing warrior ethic; to discuss their relevance to the training and preparation of modern military forces; to examine internal and external pressures for change; and, to establish the nature of change for future military operational effectiveness.

Scholars, military personnel and interested parties are invited to submit proposals that will encourage exploration of the notion of the 21st century warrior and the character of modern military forces.

Please forward abstracts (limit 250 words) for individual papers or a panel and Curriculum Vitae by 30 March 2007 to Conference Convenor: Dr. Kathryn Spurling, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, ACT 2600, or email: k.spurling@adfa.edu.au. For further general information please visit http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/.

‘Attracting and retaining critical talent segments’, Corporate Leadership Council presentations, Canberra and Sydney

The Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) provides best practice and quantitative research on topical human resources issues to staff at leading global organisations, and conducts global tours to present research findings to member organisations.

  Sydney Canberra
Date Thursday,
15 February 2007		 Tuesday,
20 February
2007
Time 0830 – 1630h 1000 – 1200h
Venue Four Seasons Sydney,
199 George St,
Sydney		 Lecture Theatre 2,
Royal Military College,
Duntroon,
Canberra

This year, the CLC will deliver briefings in Canberra and Sydney on attracting and retaining critical talent Segments. These briefings are designed to help members build targeted employment strategies focused on attracting critical and scarce talent populations. They will also highlight planning practices from leading organisations that improve the transparency and effectiveness of retention strategies. The briefing in Canberra is an abridged presentation specific to Defence personnel, while the briefing in Sydney is open to personnel from all CLC member organisations.

Personnel interested in attending the presentations should e-mail Ms Elizabeth Perrin at: elizabeth.perrin@defence.gov.au for information regarding nomination. Nominations for the Canberra presentation close COB Monday, 12 February 2007.

Photos provided by Public Affairs

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