UNCLASSIFIED

 

DEFENCE SERVICE CONDITIONS MESSAGE

 

ORIG No. PERS DSC 047/07

DTG:  030339Z OCT 07

 

SUBJ:  ADF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE (COS) – OPERATION MAZURKA
A.  DEFENCE SERVICE CONDITIONS MESSAGE PERS 065/04 OF 050425Z MAY 04

B. PACMAN VERSION TWO – CHAPTER 17

SITUATION

1.                  SVC ON OP MAZURKA HAS BEEN DECLARED NON-WARLIKE.  THIS MSG REPRESENTS A CONSOLIDATION OF previous MSG INTO A SINGLE CURRENT OP MAZURKA COS MSG and replaces ref A.

OP MAZURKA SPECIFIED AREA

2.                  OP MAZURKA specified area comprises eGYPT BETWEEN THE EAST BANK OF THE SUEZ CANAL AND THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY BETWEEN EGYPT AND ISRAEL ESTABLISHED BY THE PEACE TREATY BETWEEN EGYPT AND ISRAEL SIGNED IN WASHINGTON ON 26 MARCH 1997, AND AN ADJOINING AREA EXTENDING FIVE KILOMETRES INTO ISRAEL.

MISSION

3.         TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE COS FOR OP MAZURKA.

4.         THIS MESSAGE IS TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH REF B.

ELIGIBILITY

5.         TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FOL COS, ADF PERS MUST:

A.         BE ASSIGNED TO OP MAZURKA, AND

B.         BE WITHIN THE OP MAZURKA SPECIFIED AREA.

6.         ADF PERS WHO ENTER THE SPECIFIED AREA BUT ARE NOT ASSIGNED FOR DUTY TO OP MAZURKA ARE ENTITLED TO PEACETIME COS ONLY.

DEPLOYMENTS FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS

7.         PRE-DEPLOYMENT:

A.         PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE/TRAVEL.  DEPLOYMENTS OF LESS THAN SIX MONTHS DURATION DO NOT ATTRACT A PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE ENTITLEMENT.  SOME PROVISION EXISTS FOR SPECIAL CASES, SEE PACMAN V2-17.6.7.

8.         ON DEPLOYMENT:

A.         REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION.  SVC ON OP MAZURKA IS COVERED UNDER THE MILITARY REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION ACT.

B.         TAXATION.  PERS DEPLOYED ON OP MAZURKA MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTION FROM AUSTRALIAN INCOME TAX UNDER SECTION 23AG OF THE ITAA.  SECTION 23AG IS A GENERAL PROVISION THAT EXEMPTS CERTAIN FOREIGN EARNINGS WHERE YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN FOREIGN SERVICE FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN 91 DAYS.  ONCE QUALIFIED THE EXEMPTION APPLIES FROM THE FIRST DAY OF DEPLOYMENT.   IN THE ABSENCE OF QUALIFYING FOR A SECTION 23AG EXEMPTION, PERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM THE S79B OVERSEAS DEFENCE FORCES REBATE.  THIS EQUATES TO AUD 338 PLUS 50 PERCENT OF ANY OTHER ENTITLED REBATES PER ANNUM ON A PRO RATA BASIS. 

C.        DEPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE (DA).  IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DECLARATION OF NON-WARLIKE SVC, DA HAS BEEN APPROVED AT THE RATE OF DOLLARS FIFTY SIX CENTS FORTY SEVEN (AUD 56.47) PER DAY WEF 9 AUG 07.  DA IS PAID FOR EACH DAY OR PART DAY OF SVC IN THE OP MAZURKA SPECIFIED AREA DEFINED AT PARA 2.  THE ALLOWANCE IS PAYABLE FOR LEAVE ACCRUED INSIDE the OP MAZURKA SPECIFIED AREA.  DA IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX.

D.        OTHER ALLOWANCES.  OTHER SALARY RELATED ALLOWANCES, INCLUDING SEPARATION, FIELD, FLYING AND SEAGOING ALLOWANCE, ARE PAYABLE IAW NORMAL POLICY. (THAT IS, PAID IF THE PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENT ARE MET).

E.         MEALs AND ACCN.  IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MEALS AND ACCN WILL BE PROVIDED AT CWEALTH EXPENSE.  PERS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN MEALS MAY QUALIFY FOR THE PAYMENT OF TA (INCLUDING INCIDENTALS) IAW NORMAL POLICY.  PERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR CHARGES FOR MEALS AND ACCN PROVIDED IN THE OP MAZURKA SPECIFIED AREA.  ACCN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR MWODS LIVING IN OR LIVING OUT WHO RETAIN ACCN IN AUSTRALIA WILL BE WAIVED IAW NORMAL PROVISIONS.

F.         OTHER ALLOWANCES RELATING TO LONG AND SHORT-TERM non-operational DUTY OVERSEAS ARE NOT PAYABLE.

G.        adDITIONAL RECREATION LEAVE (ARL) FOR NON-WARLIKE SVC.  IN ADDITION TO BASIC RECREATION LEAVE PERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ARL FOR NWL SVC AT A RATE OF TEN DAYS PER YEAR ON A PRO RATA BASIS INSIDE THE SPECIFIED AREA.

H.         OTHER LEAVE.  FIELD LEAVE, FLYING LEAVE OR SEAGOING LEAVE MAY BE GRANTED IAW PACMAN.  PRIOR SVC NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN ASSESSING THE AMOUNT OF LEAVE PERS MAY ACCRUE IN THE OP MAZURKA SPECIFIED AREA.  AS PERS DEPLOYED ON NON-WARLIKE OPERATIONS ARE IN RECEIPT OF DA AND ARL, ERL IS NOT TO BE GRANTED FOR THE SAME PERIOD.

I.          RELIEF OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL FARES ASSISTANCE (ROCTFA).  DEPLOYMENTS OF LESS THAN SIX MONTHS DO NOT ATTRACT ROCTFA.

J.         cOMMUNICATIONS. ACCESS TO TELEPHONE AND MAIL SERVICES IS NOT A COS.  PERS MAY BE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELEPHONE AUSTRALIA.  THE FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF THESE CALLS IS TO BE SET BY HQJOC.

K.         HONOURS AND AWARDS.  INFO REGARDING MEDALS HAS BEEN ADVISED SEPARATELY.

DEPLOYMENTS FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE

9.         THE FOL ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS APPLY TO PERS DEPLOYING FOR SIX MONTHS or MORE.   (NOTE, REMOVALS OR TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FOR EXTENDED FAMILY SPT MUST RESULT FROM A NEED THAT EXTENDS FOR THE DURATION, OR AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT PORTION, OF THE MEMBERS ABSENCE ON DEPLOYMENT.  THERE MAY BE CASES WHERE CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE WHICH COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORESEEN BY THE FAMILY AND REQUIRE FAMILY SPT.  THESE SITUATIONS WOULD BE LIMITED TO COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE ILLNESS OF DEPENDANTS OR SIMILAR).

10.       PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE UP TO SEVEN DAYS INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS MAY BE GRANTED BY UNIT COMD DEPENDING ON THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.   PERS MAY BE GRANTED FREE TRAVEL WITHIN AUSTRALIA TO their HOME LOCATION WHEN PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE IS GRANTED.  IF A RECREATION LEAVE FREE TRAVEL ENTITLEMENT EXISTS THIS IS TO BE USED IN LIEU.  AS AN ALT, SPOUSES, CHILDREN, PARENTs, SIBLINGS OR ANY OTHER PERSON(S) NOMINATED BY THE MEMBER MAY BE APPROVED TO BE CONVEYED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE TO THE MEMBERS LOCATION PROVIDING THE COST DOES NOT EXCEED THAT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPENDED IF PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE AND PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE TRAVEL HAD BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE MEMBER.

REMOVALS FOR MWD

11.       REMOVALS FOR MWD. THE FOL OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE (NORMALLY tHERE MUST BE A REMAINING DEPLOYMENT TENURE OF SIX MONTHS AT THE TIME THE REMOVAL IS EFFECTED):

A.         LEAVE DEPENDANTS IN CURRENT POSTING LOC AND REMAIN IN EXISTING SVC RESIDENCE OR CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RA, AS APPLICABLE.

B.         WHERE THE DHA LOCAL HMC MANAGER IS SATISFIED (AND IF NECESSARY IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UNIT OC/CO) THERE IS A COMPELLING NEED FOR SPT TO THE MEMBERS DEPENDANT(S) FROM EXTENDED FAMILY, THE MEMBER IS ELIGIBLE FOR REMOVAL OF DEPENDANT(S) TO AN ELECTED DESTINATION WITHIN AUSTRALIA WHERE FAMILY SPT IS AVAILABLE AND RECEIVE THE FOL REMOVAL ENTITLEMENTS:

(1).       RELOCATION OF DEPENDANTS.  WHERE A REMOVAL ENTITLEMENT EXISTS THEN, ONCE DURING THE DEPLOYMENT, THE MEMBER MAY RELOCATE DEPENDENT(S) AND THEIR PERSONAL EFFECTS AND ONE MOTOR VEHICLE TO A LOC WHERE EXTENDED FAMILY SPT IS AVAILABLE AND CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HOME IN POSTING LOCALITY.    NO HOUSING ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE IN THE NEW LOCALITY.  AN OFFSET OF THIS ENTITLEMENT IS AVAILABLE WHERE UP TO TWO EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS may travel to the posting loc.  cost of offset is limited to the amount of NORMAL DEPT liability for travel by two extended family members from their home to thE loc where the members dependants live. OR

(2).       LIMITED REMOVAL OF THE DEPENDANTS PERSONAL EFFECTS (EXCLUDING FURNITURE) AND ONE MOTOR VEHICLE TO AN ELECTED DESTINATION.  STORAGE OF FURNITURE AND EFFECTS IN A dha APPROVED STORAGE FACILITY AT POSTING LOC.  ON RETURN FROM DEPLOYMENT, A SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL OF THESE EFFECTS FROM THE ELECTED DESTINATION AND STORAGE FACILITY TO THE MEMBERS RESIDENCE. OR

(3).       WHERE SUITABLE HOUSING IS NOT AVAILABLE IN FAMILY spt LOC, FULL REMOVAL TO AN ELECTED DESTINATION AND ON RETURN FROM DEPLOYMENT, A SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL FROM THE ELECTED DESTINATION TO THE MEMBERS POSTING LOC.

(4).       IN CASES WHERE THE MEMBER IS APPROVED TO UNDERTAKE A REMOVAL, EITHER TO STORE OR TO THE ELECTED DESTINATION, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MEMBER WILL BE ALLOCATED THE SAME accn ON RETURN TO THE OLD POSTING LOC.

C.        ALL COSTS FOR REMOVAL, STORAGE AND INSURANCE OF STORED ITEMS (IN A DHA APPROVED STORAGE FACILITY) WILL BE MET AT PUBLIC EXPENSE FOR THE DURATION OF THE DEPLOYMENT.

D.        SUBJECT TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTs PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT, TRAVEL FOR THE DEPENDANTS AND THE MEMBER TO THE ELECTED DESTINATION IN AUSTRALIA AND RETURN TRAVEL FOR THE MEMBER BACK TO THE CONCENTRATION AREA BY THE ENTITLED MEANS.

E.         ON RETURN FROM THE DEPLOYMENT, THE MEMBER may RECEIVE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FROM THE POINT OF ENTRY BACK INTO AUSTRALIA TO THE ELECTED DESTINATION AND SUBSEQUENT TRAVEL FOR THE MEMBER AND DEPENDANTS TO THE MEMBERS POSTING LOC BY THE ENTITLED MEANS.

F.         DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE.  FOR OPTIONS 10.B.1 AND 10.B.2, REMOVAL TO AND FROM FAMILY spt LOC IS TO COUNT AS ONE COMPLETE REMOVAL FOR DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE PURPOSES.

G.        STORAGE COSTS OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOSS ON SALE Of ONE VEHICLE AND ONE TOWABLE ITEM.

H.         TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE.

I.          RA FOR DEPENDANTS RESIDING IN ACCN AT THE ELECTED DESTINATION DURING THE PERIOD OF DEPLOYMENT, AND ANY OTHER NORMAL REMOVAL ALLOWANCE WITHIN AUSTRALIA AS APPLICABLE.

12.       FOR SINGLE PARENT MWD WHO DEPLOY OR WHERE BOTH PARENTS ARE ADF MEMBERS AND ARE DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME, A REMOVAL OF FURNITURE AND/OR EFFECTS TO STORAGE WILL BE APPROVED, IF REQUIRED.  THIS INCLUDES TRAVEL OF CHILDREN TO AN APPROPRIATE LOC within australia FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTENDED FAMILY spt AND STORAGE OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND A TOWABLE ITEM.

13.       REMOVAL/TRAVEL PROVISIONS ARE LIMITED TO TRAVEL WITHIN AUSTRALIA.  if THE REQUIREMENT FOR EXTENDED FAMILY spt is recognised and A MEMBER OR DEPENDANT REQUESTS TRAVEL TO AN OVERSEAS DESTINATION, ASSISTANCE IS LIMITED TO THE COST OF TRAVEL by the entitled means to and from the international terminal in australia nearest the members locality of posting from which a flight departs to the overseas loc.

14.       REMOVALS FOR MWOD

A.                 FOR pers LIVING IN – REMOVAL OF PERSONAL EFFECTS FROM THE LIVING-IN ACCN TO A dha APPROVED STORE.

B.                 FOR pers LIVING OUT – REMOVAL OF FURNITURE AND EFFECTS TO A dha APPROVED STORE.  DEFENCE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TERMINATION OF LEASE COSTS RESULTING FROM EARLY TERMINATION OF LEASES.  CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS CAN BE ALLOWED (PACMAN 17.7.13 PARA2 REFERS) WHERE IT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO THE CWEALTH FOR pers TO RETAIN ACCOn OR WHERE IT IS NOT PRACTICAL TO VACATE OR SHORT NOTICE.

C.                STORAGE OR LOSS ON SALE OF A VEHICLE AND A TOWABLE ITEM MAY BE PAYABLE. STORAGE OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND TOWABLE ITEM SHOULD BE ARRANGED ON BASE WHEREVER PRACTICAL.  WHERE THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, STORAGE MAY BE ARRANGED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE at A dha approved storage facility.

D.                MEMBERS VEHICLE MAY BE REMOVED TO AN ELECTED DESTINATION FOR STORAGE (EG. PARENTS LOCALITY).  IF THIS OCCURS, THE MEMBER MAY BE REIMBURSED THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING a VEHICLE TO AND FROM THE ELECTED DESTINATION.  THE LIMITATION OF COSTS IS UP TO THE VALUE OF THE STORAGE OF THE VEHICLE in a DHA approved facility FOR THE DURATION OF THE DEPLOYMENT.

E.                 DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE.  REMOVAL TO AND FROM STORE IS TO COUNT AS ONE COMPLETE REMOVAL FOR DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE PURPOSES.

RELIEF OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL FARES ASSISTANCE (ROCTFA)

15.       FOR DEPLOYMENTS OF SIX MONTHS OR LONGER, ROCTFA MAY BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS AND IS PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TAKING OF AT LEAST FIVE DAYS RECREATION LEAVE.  ONE ROCTFA ENTITLEMENT MAY BE APPROVED WHERE DEPLOYMENT IS SIX MONTHS BUT LESS THAN NINE MONTHS.  FOR DEPLOYMENTS EXCEEDING NINE MONTHS REFER TO PACMAN V2-17.7.22.

16.       THE ROCTFA DESTINATION For MWD who wish to return to AUSTRALIA IS limited to the previous posting loc or alt the loc to which the family has been moved at public expense.  For MWOD who wish to return to Australia the destination is limited to the previous posTing loc or alt the reported loc of the nok for recreation leave free travel purposes.   There is no offset for this entitlement.

17.             for pers who do not wish to return to Australia the ROCTFA destination is rome.  pers may offset the cost of return travel to rome against the cost of travel to an alt destination.  The alt destination must be suitable as a ROCTFA destination as determined by the comd.  ADDITIONAL ROCTFA OFFSET PROVISIONS APPLY TO pers DEPLOYED FOR TWELVE MONTHS OR LONGER, PACMAN V2-17.7.23 REFERS.

COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS

18.       EXCHANGE PERS.  PERS FROM OTHER FORCES ON EXCHANGE WITH THE ADF AND DEPLOYED TO OP MAZURKA HAVE NO ENTITLEMENT TO THE ADF DEPLOYMENT PACKAGE.

19.       THIS msg AND SUBSEQUENT msg WILL BE published ON THe pe page at http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/ AND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DPE/PAC. (ALL LOWER CASE).

 

QUESTIONS.  ALL QUERIES REGARDING COS ENTITLEMENTS ARE TO BE FWD THROUGH THE NORMAL CHAIN OF COMD.

 

UNCLASSIFIED