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Recruitment Summit

ADF recruitment Summit – making a difference

The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson MP, recently hosted a Recruitment Summit in Sydney where he was joined by the Minister Assisting, Bruce Billson MP, Australian Defence Force (ADF) cadets, new recruits, senior Defence personnel, school principals, career advisers and industry leaders in a free-flowing workshop aimed at improving military recruitment.

Dr Nelson said the most important asset the ADF has is its people.

“The men and women who wear and who have worn the uniform of the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force, have defined and shaped our values, our beliefs and our national identity,” he said.

“The ADF offers a range of exciting careers and rewarding training for young Australians, but we know that the ADF recruitment process can be slow to react and that potential recruits often pursue other career paths.

“A number of improvements are already in place that better reflect demographics and community standards, though more needs to be done to position the ADF as an employer of choice.”

He said his purpose in convening the summit was to explore four themes that underpin the achievement of that outcome:

  • Access: extending the reach of the ADF to a broader recruitment market and creating more pathways to military careers through linkages with other organisations.
  • Process: finding ways of improving and streamlining ADF recruitment timeframes and processes.
  • Marketing: getting a better understanding of how ADF careers are perceived in the wider employment marketplace and finding better ways to engage potential recruits and those who influence career choices.
  • Summation: gathering ideas for the future enhancement of ADF recruiting.

“Each theme was explored in depth and I thank all participants for contributing freely to the discussion and bringing new perspectives and options to improve ADF recruitment,” Dr Nelson said.

“A fresh approach will make a difference to ADF recruitment and I have asked that Defence review the summit proceedings and present a range of recommendations and action plans that can be implemented now to embrace contemporary practices and achieve improved recruitment.”

$1 billion retention and recruitment reform

On 15 December last year, the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, announced that over the next 10 years the Government would be committing an additional $1 billion to boost recruitment into the ADF and retention of people who have joined the ADF. These include:

Retention Bonuses

Critical Employment Category Retention Bonus: Retention bonuses of up to $25,000 for selected Navy and Army employment and rank groups who hold high-value skills and experience.

Army Expansion Rank Retention Bonus: An initial one-year retention bonus of $10,000 followed by completion bonuses of $30,000 for three years additional service for military ranks critical to Army workforce growth. (Corporals and Sergeants with two years service and Captains and Majors with three years service.)

Army Trade Transfer Bonus Scheme: Retention bonuses of $17,500 or $25,000 to encourage currently-serving soldiers to undertake trade training and transfer to technical trade employment groups critical to Army workforce expansion.

Instructor Allowances

Navy and Army Military Instructor Allowance: A $5000 per annum allowance will be paid to encourage personnel to undertake a posting as a training instructor in recognition of the additional demands associated with such postings.

Navy Recruit Training Instructor Allowance: A $10,000 allowance will be paid upon completion of each year of instructional posting to compensate for the additional demands placed on these personnel.

Sea Going and Submarine Service Allowance Review

Over $100 million has been earmarked for a review of Navy sea going and submarine service allowances, subject to independent Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal consideration.

Streamlining the ADF Recruitment Process

Defence Force Recruiting will be reformed to enable a greater number of applicants to be processed more quickly by reducing the length of the recruitment process from an average 30 weeks to six weeks for General Entry, two weeks for Reservists and less than three months for Officers. This will be delivered through an increased number of testing days; more streamlined administration services; a reduction in documentation required by candidates; better candidate case management; and, a one-day recruitment model for Army Reservists.

Creating more pathways to ADF careers

Defence will introduce a Military Gap Year Scheme for young Australians to experience military training and lifestyle. The Gap Year will be available to people who are between 17 and 24 years of age and have completed Year 12 or equivalent within the previous two years. This scheme will provide up to 1000 paid training, skills development and work experience positions in Navy, Army and Air Force for 12 months with no obligation to serve beyond that commitment. Earning up to $31,000, Gap Year participants may be employed, or gain experience, in:

  • Navy – Logistics, Engineering, Surface Ships, Submarines and Aviation trades.
  • Army – Armoured Crewman, Gunner, Rifleman, Driver, Cook and Stores trades.
  • Air Force – Logistics, Operations Support, Combat Support and Engineering trades.

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