Defence

Marshalling Point

The Great Enablers
–ensuring operational success with outstanding support

ACM Angus Houston
Chief of the Defence Force

There is absolutely no doubt that we have experienced a very busy operational tempo over the last 18 months. Our current commitment is about 2900 personnel deployed on 10 operations around the globe. Additionally, we have about 300 Australian Defence Force (ADF) men and women deployed on security tasks in our maritime protection zone, as well as a small number of people on third country deployments. All our deployed members are performing extremely well under considerable pressure and doing a wonderful job for our country. I could not be more pleased with how our operations continue to progress and how well we are able to achieve our many and varied tasks.

I do not foresee our operational tempo changing in the near future. In addition to sustaining this operational tempo we must remain poised to offer an increased commitment to individual operations, just as we have seen in the past year with Operations ANODE and ASTUTE. Also, it is essential we are prepared for those of our responsibilities that are not foreseeable, and that may require an immediate response, as we experienced with Operations PAKISTAN ASSIST and BALI ASSIST.

I am acutely aware of the impact this continuing demand is having on our organisation. Our people here at home are doing an exceptional job enabling our operational commitment. I am very aware that most of our positive public recognition focuses on our performance overseas, and that our performance here at home is sometimes viewed in a less favourable light. It is for this reason that I want to pay tribute to the enabling functions within Defence by highlighting some of the specific ways in which the ADF is very well supported. Of course, it is simply impossible to recognise all our great enablers in this manner, but I think the work done by the following areas is outstanding and is very indicative of the manner in which the ADF is supported by the entire organisation.

Recently the Defence Materiel Organisation fast tracked a number of procurements in order to ensure our troops in Afghanistan were operating with the best possible equipment. For example, the Airborne Self Protection and Army Aviation Systems Program Office recently collaborated with industry in a $25 million rapid acquisition to prepare Army CH-47D Chinook helicopters for deployment. In just three months the Chinooks were fitted with vital electronic warfare and self protection equipment, additional weaponry and ballistic protection for crew and passengers, an impressive achievement that directly affected the safety of our troops.

The Chief Information Officer Group also provides critical operations support through their Defence Network Operations Centre (DNOC). The DNOC provides the ADF with the essential communications through which operations are commanded and Defence business is conducted. It also enables deployed ADF members access to both key operational systems and to email and telephone links to keep in touch with family and friends at home. The Military Operations staff, comprising ADF personnel, Defence civilians and contractors, maintain a 24/7 watch to guarantee essential communications to our deployed elements. It is interesting to note that they are currently supporting the largest offshore strategic communications infrastructure in the history of the ADF. We simply could not function on operations without the men and women within the DNOC. Every time an order is issued from Defence Headquarters; a logistics request is actioned from somewhere in the Middle East Area of Operations; or a deployed member emails his or her family, the DNOC’s Military Operations staff enable that communications delivery.

I’d also like to highlight the fantastic work of the small group of dedicated Officers and Defence civilians within the Military Strategic Commitments (MSC) Branch of Australian Defence Headquarters. MSC coordinates our joint, military and strategic input for engagement with Government, allies and Coalition partners, and other agencies. More importantly, they assist the Vice Chief of the Defence Force and myself in the development of the ADF’s intent for our commitment to operations. It is this coordinated intent that is translated into direction by Chief Joint Operations allowing Headquarters Joint Operations Command to plan, conduct and sustain our operations across the world. The MSC team also provides strategic situational awareness – those things we must know to ensure current and future ADF operations are planned and managed in line with the Whole-of-Government approach.

Of course, before we can send our troops on operation, we need to ensure we have the correct guidance in place. When the Government announced in July 2005 that Defence would send Special Forces and set up a Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan, a team in International Policy (IP) Division was working behind the scenes to support the mission. IP Division provides a link between Government, other departments and groups within Defence. For Afghanistan, IP officers sought detailed information on security and political conditions in Afghanistan, especially Oruzgan Province. Among other tasks, IP developed from scratch a detailed detainee policy, balancing the practical demands of a military operation with the need to conform to domestic and international law.

The relationship between the ADF and strategic agencies, such as the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) and Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO), has transformed over recent years with significant operational and tactical benefits being derived from those agencies’ strategic intelligence capabilities. Due to our current high level of activity in multiple theatres, DIO, DSD and DIGO have expanded their activities to include direct support to the planning and conduct of ADF operations. All three agencies have civilian and military analysts deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor to provide timely intelligence support to commanders and troops. This support often involves DIO, DSD and DIGO analysts working together for a unified intelligence product. This has significantly aided commanders’ decision making and directly contributed to saving the lives of ADF personnel. Intelligence provided to senior Defence decision-makers and deployed personnel has proven to be critical for operations planning and situational awareness.

The Directorate of Supply Chain Operations within the Joint Logistic Group remains focussed on maximising the supply chain in supporting our deployed personnel. Within this Directorate, Major Dave Blacker and his team of desk officers constantly monitor the provision of high priority and urgent demands for items required to maintain our deployed capability. The team monitors the entire supply chain and provides constant updates on the provision of items to the deployed elements, summarised each week in a Joint Operational District Report. The team is proactive in reducing the backlog of stores and responsive at all hours to the needs of our deployed forces.

Finally, I want to pay tribute to the crucial raise, train, sustain function provided by the three Services. It is no accident that the Royal Australian Navy is considered one of the most professional among the world navies. In addition to the exceptional men and women serving in ships, submarines and aircraft, there is an equally exceptional group of uniformed and civilian personnel ashore who ensure our deployed Fleet has the means to achieve its mission. These are the men and women of the Australian Navy Systems Command (NAVSYSCOM). The Command is diverse and complex and its activities include: providing properly trained and competent people for the Fleet; operating Fleet Bases and shore establishments around Australia; providing oversight and advice as the Navy’s technical regulatory authority; supporting platform and weapons systems including command, control, communications, information and electronic warfare; and, providing personnel support services through Navy psychologists, chaplains and Naval Police Investigators. Simply put, NAVSYSCOM’s mission is to support our Fleet so it can fight and win at sea.

In terms of the Australian Army, the Directorate of Logistics oversees the rapid acquisition of land materiel for operations. In recent times they have ensured the provision of a number of essential capabilities to Army elements in Iraq and Afghanistan, including hardened military and civilian vehicles (such as Mack and Unimog trucks) to provide enhanced ballistic protection. They have also overseen the provision of enhanced personal combat body armour and improvements to protection within the ASLAV fleet. All of these initiatives are designed to provide our soldiers with the best protection possible. The Directorate of Logistics provides essential capabilities for deployed Army personnel and continues to work towards the enhancement of our deployed force capability.

Wherever ADF units deploy by air transport, the Royal Australian Air Force air movements teams will be there to load and unload the aircraft, handling both freight and personnel. This capability is provided at eight main operating bases throughout Australia, and through an expeditionary capability held on short notice for world-wide deployment. These personnel, working in teams of three to eight members, are often the first ADF elements into a crisis site, and the last out. Currently, Air Force air movements personnel can be found in seven deployed locations supporting ADF operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. In recent years, they have supported virtually all operations and disaster relief missions, often at very short notice. Although small in size, air movements teams are a great enabler; ensuring the efficient and effective use of our Air Lift assets.

As you can tell from these few examples, Defence does a wonderful job in enabling the ADF’s outstanding operational performance. I deeply appreciate the way in which Aussie Servicemen and women are supported before, during and after deployment. As I have said before, our reputation as a world-class fighting force is due, not only to our performance as a defence force overseas, but also to our performance as a defence organisation here at home. So, I want to say a very sincere thank you to everyone within Defence for the great job you do for Australia.

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