Defence

The Defence department’s new Secretary, Dr Ian Watt, has now had the opportunity to put his feet under the desk and to seek input from the senior leadership group on the precise roles that each has to play. His inaugural column on p10 is a valuable insight into his roles and priorities.

In relation to our theme of training and development, it is interesting to note the Secretary’s comments on leadership training in shaping those who are promoted into positions of responsibility. “The simple fact is that you can’t expect people to be good leaders and managers if you don’t give them a helping hand with development and training opportunities,” Dr Watt said.

Likewise, the stories presented in this edition speak for themselves in terms of the initiatives that Defence utilises to train and develop its workforce.

There is an insight into language refresher
courses to assist personnel in operational locations
overseas; the Graduate Development Program’s
annual study tour; the Australian Defence Force
Academy’s Open Day. Navy, Army and Air Force
are also well-tuned to importance of training and
development and we have been able to highlight their efforts.

Governance is the process by which an organisation is led, managed and held to account. It includes organisational culture and values, key principles of accountability and stewardship, and review functions which provide confidence about both performance and conformance.

This definition of Governance, and the theme for this edition, is one widely accepted in Defence.

Indeed, there are many, many more definitions, just as there are articles from which we were easily able to include as content for what has equalled the largest edition of the year.

The obvious choice for our cover story was also easy, but we will leave it for you to decide whether new Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner is on a “steep learning curve” or possibly a “vertical line”, as some have described the Defence portfolio.

Defence is also engaging in a rigorous period of reform and we have spoken to the key players driving the Strategic Reform Program, which outlines the 15 reform ‘streams’ and how they will affect the Groups and Services.

This doesn’t come without risk, so it would also have been remiss of us not to include an article on the Defence Audit and Risk Committee (DARC), where pressures such as climate change, the global financial crisis and a spate of high profile corporate failures have increased the level of scrutiny of organisations.

A number of initiatives have also been timely for the theme of governance and you will find plenty of information on the pages within.

There’s a new Defence Instruction on unacceptable behaviour, a new directorate dealing directly with Freedom of Information and Records Management, the release of the electronic Defence Security Manual, along with some timely words on Defence branding and use of the Defence logo.

Who ever said governance was a boring subject?

At this halfway point of the year, we at Defence Magazine figured it would be timely for a nice holiday…of sorts.

This edition treks not only throughout Australia, but takes an around-the-world journey to explore Defence’s wide and vital role in the community, albeit without the palm tree-fringed beaches.

The Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Force welcome in the new Ministerial leadership in Canberra, while also advocating the importance of Defence’s role in their world.

From there, a member from the Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department speaks about his experience of incorporating niche-community specialists into a large organisation.

Our cover story takes us into some of Arnhem Land’s most inspiring landscape and the heartland of the Defence Indigenous Development Program where 20 new Army recruits proudly received their slouch hat and NORFORCE colour patch during a recent graduation.

As part of the 2009 Defence OHS Awards, we speak to Navy engineers in Western Australia on the merits of their confined space trainer, which was just one of the innovative winners now in line for national recognition.

Back on the east coast, the ship’s company of HMAS Newcastle takes a welldeserved bow for its efforts in assisting a very special school in its home town.

In Afghanistan, the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force documents how it is rebuilding communities, while we also look at a logistics course for Iraqis in Sydney that will greatly assist their own defence force.

From there, we transit to Woodside Barracks in South Australia, sail to HMAS Stirling in WA, before boarding an Air Force C-17 for a goodwill visit to Indonesia. All in a day’s work really.

Equipment, projects and capability lie at the core of the Defence enterprise. Across our organisation these three words mean many things to many people.

As you read through this edition of Defence Magazine, you’ll see we’ve focussed our efforts on giving tangible examples of what these words mean and how they bind to take Defence forward.

For our friends in Chief Information Officer Group it means planning for a single, completely integrated, high-speed network that connects all fixed and deployed locations across Defence.

For those in Joint Health Command, it means setting in motion the recommendations agreed on in Professor Dunt’s comprehensive review of mental health services across the ADF.

And for Army, we’ve dedicated our cover story to a project more than 90 years in the making. Now well underway, you’ll get an archaeologist’s view of how a group of up to 400 fallen Australian and British soldiers are being expertly recovered and indentified in preparation for their honourable burial.

Flicking through you’ll also find a pictorial spread from this year’s Anzac Day commemorations, as well as an update on the evolution of Navy’s Amphibious Deployment and Sustainment Project—an undertaking that will ultimately provide the ADF with the most capable and sophisticated amphibious warfare capability Australia has ever seen.

As the dust settles on the Defence White Paper 2009 and its development team scurries back to former duties, we have compiled an edition dedicated to almost 18 months of work to which all areas of Defence can take ownership.

Beyond this page is an insight into how the White Paper came to be and furthermore, how the whole of Defence will respond to its ramifications.

You will also see the Secretary of Defence, Nick Warner, say that Defence has a broken backbone, but more importantly, outline how it is already being fixed.

And while this edition gives homage to the White Paper, you will not need to read between the lines to realise that the legacy of the White Paper now relies on the Strategic Reform Program – three words that will get plenty more column centimetres in editions to come.

The Strategic Reform Program (SRP) outlines the challenges that Defence’s Groups and Services face in their quest for greater efficiency and the White Paper is now the mandated vehicle from which the SRP will be driven.

The White Paper dictates that many of Defence’s vehicles will be upgraded, which in turn generates efficiencies. However, the deep reform required will be driven by the way in which Defence’s capability is delivered.

Former Defence Secretary, the late Sir Arthur Tange delivered similar reforms during his nine years as Secretary from 1970-1979, and Defence will now embark on an even more rigorous program of reform.

In the words of Secretary Nick Warner: “We were always waiting for the moment when we had the roadmap for deep, holistic and strategic reform that would realise tangible and long-term change in Defence. “That moment has now come.”

For this third edition of the year, we’ve cast the bowlines, sharpened the bayonet and taxied the flight line for an approach to the theme of supporting operations.

After all, it is the one thing we all work towards – be it directly or indirectly.

There was also an endless list of articles to pursue. Navy and Army chefs have revealed some of their not-so-secret recipes, while we’ve also spoken to a Navy supply officer on how much the ship’s company of HMAS Parramatta went through on its recent deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations.

We also uncover the importance of predeployment training and in particular, focus on the work of Air Force’s 92 Wing in South Australia, which has been hailed as a lifesaver. Likewise, the Army’s 39 Personnel Support Battalion details its significant rise in tempo, having put more than 7000 people through force preparation training last year alone.

Defence Support Group looks at how legal advice shapes what occurs on deployment, while DSTO details the work of its operational analysts who deploy alongside those in uniform to see first-hand what the needs of our troops are.

This second edition of the year focuses on the concept of work-life balance. We’ve asked what this means of many people while compiling the edition and achieving a healthy work-life balance is definitely a very individual assumption – be it spending time with your family after a long day’s work, or simply ensuring that you at least have lunch away from your desk.

Beyond this, you’ll see an insight from a family that has struck a delicate balance between very senior positions and raising two young children under five. As part of our wrap-up of the devastating bushfires in Victoria, we talk to a group from Defence who are also volunteers with the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service.

But the last word here must really go to the Secretary and Chief of Defence Force, who, not surprisingly, agreed that achieving a work-life balance is a difficult challenge, but not something to be ignored.

On that note, we hope you take the time out to enjoy reading this edition.

There are no better examples of events of the first six weeks of 2009 to highlight the theme for this edition of Defence Magazine: Defence – where are we?

As we go to press, Defence assets are being utilised to fight devastating fires in Victoria, while also supporting communities ravaged by severe floods in North Queensland.

Just five days into the year, the Chief of Defence Force announced that Australia had lost its eighth soldier in Afghanistan when Private Gregory Michael Sher was killed in a rocket attack in Oruzgan Province.

Eleven days later, the CDF stepped out again to salute Trooper Mark Donaldson as he became the first Australian in almost 40 years to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

We pay tribute to the heroism of both soldiers in this edition.

High operational tempo; The dedication and commitment of our people;

The new generation; Proud; One team.

These are just some of the words within this edition used to describe the efforts of all
those in the Australian Defence Organisation in 2008 – and this is just from the Chief of Defence Force, Secretary and Service chiefs.

And as 2008 draws to an all-too-sudden close, it is worth taking more than a moment
to read the reflections of Defence’s senior leaders – if for no other reason than to see
what slipped by in the blink of an eye.

The various groups in Defence have also run the rule over their year that was, while the second half of this is edition is focussed on the intricate workings of our good friends in the Intelligence, Security and International Policy Group. Here, you’ll find staff profiles, tips for protecting yourself while online, as well as two very interesting insights from civilians who have deployed overseas with the Group.

In a nutshell though, the common theme for this edition is that we have all achieved exceptional results in very challenging circumstances and should be able to log off on 2008 with an overwhelming sense of achievement.

However, as our cover photo reflects, now is the time that we spend with families, while also sparing a thought for those still at work away from their loved ones.

Finally, thank you to all who have contributed to ‘the mag’ this year and we look
forward to working with you again in 2009.

Aussies lead combined diving task group
A single mosquito has the alarming potential to bring our major military operations to a halt-something of a worst nightmare for Professor Dennis Shanks and his team at the Army Malaria Institute (AMI), where prevention is always seen as better than a cure.
Army Malaria Institute, Taking the bit out of malaria
The warning bells have been ringing for some time now about the Australian skills shortage, however Defence and defence industry are doing something about it through a collaborative effort.

Aussies lead combined diving task group
More than 20,000 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and Coastguardsmen, representing 10 countries, converged on the sunny shores of Hawaii recently for RIMPAC 2008 - a three-week exercise intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating countries.
Redress of grievance changes streamline process
ecent changes to the Defence Force Regulations 1952 will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the redress of grievance process for Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

Values-based Leadership
Defence is a unique organisation. Military and civilian personnel work together to ensure the Australian Defence Force is well trained, well equipped and well prepared to protect Australia and its national interests both at home and abroad. Strong leadership is central to achieving this goal in both operational and non-operational environments.
The Sword of Truth: ADF Investigative Service
Provost Marshal of the Australian Defence Force (PM ADF) Colonel Tim Grützner is putting his hand up for an additional title - that of also having the best job in the military.

Farewell to Chief of Air Force
Air Marshal (AIRMSHL) Geoff Shepherd, has recently retired after 37 years of Air Force service. He reflects on his career and some of the future challenges facing the Royal Australian Air Force.
Farewell to Chief of Navy
The retiring Chief of Navy (CN) has paid resounding tribute to the men and women of the Service.

HMAS Sydney II commemorated
A moving service to remember and honour the loss of HMAS Sydney II and her crew was held on 16 April over the site where the warship was
Tribute to Lance Corporal Jason Marks:Lance Corporal (LCPL) Jason Marks, a soldier serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) in Afghanistan, was killed during a gun-battle when Australian soldiers were engaged by Taliban extremists using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades in Oruzgan Province on 27 April.

White Paper: Setting the strategic direction
e have all heard about the White Paper and how it is a key priority for Defence. But what does it mean for Defence people and the organisation broadly? We spoke to Deputy Secretary White Paper, Mike Pezzullo, to find out more about the White Paper process and how it will shape Defence’s strategic direction.
The Gallipoli campaign : he Anzac landing on 25 April 1915 was one of two main assaults on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The First Australian Division and the New Zealand and Australian Division were to land near the promontory of Gaba Tepe, about half way up the peninsula, while British forces landed at Cape Helles, at its southern tip. The two forces were to converge on the central mass of the Kilid Bahr Plateau, which dominated the Dardanelles.

From Territory to Territory : As Member for Lingiari, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP is the representative for most of the Northern Territory. As if that wasn't a big enough job, he has just taken on a new challenge as the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel.
From Cams to Capital Hill : Dr Mike Kelly is a 20 year Army veteran with a strong desire to make a difference. He's now making that difference in a new role, as Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support.

Environmental Management in Defence: Defence's environmental vision is to be a leader in sustainable environmental management to support the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) capability to defend Australia and its national interests.
Environmental Impact Assessment in Defence :With responsibility for over three million hectares of land, Defence is one of the largest landowners in Australia. Much of this land includes significant habitats that support endangered plants and animals, as well as heritage and cultural sites.

Occupational Health & Safety in Defence - 2007: A commitment shared by Defence Senior Leaders who are directing OHS performance to better protect our most important capability, our people.
Defence Families of Australia: Families of Australia (DFA) is a group formed to represent the view of Defence families. Its aim is to improve the quality of life for Defence families by providing a recognised forum for their views and by reporting, making recommendations and influencing policy that directly affects families.
Tribute: Private Luke Worsley .

Defence Reform up and running: The first changes to the way Defence does its business are up and running as part of the Defence response to the Defence Management Review (DMR) and a broader agenda of reform. System of Defence Instructions: The Defence Reform agenda includes a focus on improving governance structures within Defence, particularly, the visibility, currency and consistency of internal Defence policy and instructions.
Tributes: Sergeant Matthew Locke, Trooper David Pearce.