By Lt-Col Des McNicholas
The way ahead for ADF Recruiting is now clear, with the government recently agreeing to enter into a collaborative contract with Manpower Services (Australia) to provide recruitment support to Defence recruiting for a four-year period.

The collaborative organisation will continue to be led by its director Col Mark Bornholt in partnership with a new general manager, the 1999 Australian Business Woman of the Year, Sheryle Moon.

The new structure will be called Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) with its HQ remaining in Canberra.

Col Bornholt stressed Defence’s ongoing accountability and the continuing role of ADF personnel in the recruiting process.

“Defence will remain accountable for outcomes (through) an inclusive Board of Management structure chaired by a ADF one star officer with one star representation from each of the Services and support agencies,” he said.

“Approximately 250 ADF staff will remain in DFR with 151 returning to their services after the transition is complete.”

“A full establishment review will be conducted in October 2002 and ADF staff will be consulted to determine individual needs and Service requirements before decisions on postings are taken.”

Col Bornholt said civilian staff in the regions would be declared potentially excess immediately to allow the maximum time for redeployment.

The change to the new structure should be complete by the end of June 2003, with individual states conducting business as usual until their respective two-week transition periods.

.