I write in reply to Vetting SCMA in Letters to the Editor in Army, October 25, 2001.

The author of this letter expressed a belief that soldiers of his vintage (Vietnam) are not being deployed to East Timor regardless of fitness, experience and knowledge.

I am a serving ARA soldier who is the same vintage as the author. I served in Vietnam during the period 1969-70 with D Coy, 5RAR.

On my return from Vietnam, I corps transferred to RACT into the road transport stream. During the years that followed I watched numerous units and personnel deploy on operations overseas.

My trade was one of the unfortunate trades not required and I often wondered whether I would be given the opportunity to serve on operations again.

In January 1997, I was posted to 2RAR to the position of WO2 Transport Supervisor/Platoon Commander Transport Platoon.

As we now know, 2RAR was deployed to East Timor in September '99 as one of the lead units of INTERFET. I deployed with the battalion in my posted position.

On RTA in January 2000, I was posted to 10FSB at Ross Island into the position of OPSWO and during this time I managed the deployments of certain critical trade soldiers from 10FSB to Op Tanager and Op Bel-Isi.

As part of this task I dealt directly with LHQOPS and on numerous occasions I was an addressee of signals that requested nominations to fill positions on both Tanager and Bel-Isi. Some of these positions I feel sure would have been able to be filled by the author had he nominated and been successful in obtaining one of these positions.

I am about to deploy to East Timor once again. This time with the Force Logistic Squadron Rotation 4.

Interestingly enough, before both deployments, the only things required of me were that I was AIRN compliant, trade and rank qualified and, in the case of the FLS, completed FPC training. Not once did my vintage or Vietnam service have any bearing on deploying.

As the CO SCMA stated in his reply, SCMA rarely posts personnel on operations. Soldiers in most cases deploy with their posted unit or in other cases as a result of LHQOPS requesting personnel to fill certain positions.

I have been fortunate that on both deployments I have been serving in right unit at the right time.

If the author is genuine about deploying on operations, my advice would be to firstly consult with his Corps Manager at SCMA and submit his desire and secondly, as an infantry soldier, maybe he would like to return to a battalion. Battalions continue to rotate to Timor.

Like I said, in most instances be in the right place at the right time. Vintage has nothing to do with missing out on deployments.

WO2 T. Donovan
10FSB
Townsville, Qld