Defence News

Employers of Australian Defence Force (ADF) reservists have visited their employees in Solomon Islands as part of Exercise BOSS LIFT this month.

The exercise provided 22 employers with a taste of life on operations and the opportunity to see the skills and experiences their employees are gaining from reserve military service on Operation ANODE.

Deputy Commissioner of Corporate Services and Governance for Fire and Rescue NSW, Rosemary Wilkins, who has two employees in the Army Reserve deployed to Solomon Islands, said her organisation valued the Army Reserve experience.

“It’s been a delight to meet these young men who are obviously learning not just the skills of being an Army Reservist, but they’re learning about the politics of a country, they’re learning about how you contribute to a humane effort, and that’s a great experience to bring back to Australia.”

Head of Cadet Reserve and Employer Support Division, Major General Paul Brereton said Exercise BOSS LIFT aimed to highlight to employers the importance of releasing reservists for active duty.

“We want these employers to understand what reservists do and the importance of the contribution they make to regional stability,” Major General Brereton said.

The Exercise also aims to build employers’ appreciation for the interchange of skills that reservists can bring back to their civilian employment and the skills they bring from their civilian employment to their military employment.

Employers can promote the significance of reservists’ work and they can take some pride themselves in the contribution they are making to regional stability by releasing reservists for operations, Major General Brereton said.

Exercise BOSS LIFT is conducted regularly as part of the Employer Engagement Program coordinated by the Defence Reserves Support organisation.

Operation ANODE is the ADF’s contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands which has assisted the Solomon Islands government with maintaining security, law and justice, economic governance and improving the machinery of government since 2003.