An army by any other name

Readers might recall that the May 23 and November 7 editions of Army carried articles about changes to new Reserve Categories of Service to be implemented with the introduction of new Defence (Personnel) Regulations.

From December 1, 2002 the General Reserve will be known as the Active Reserves and the Inactive Reserve will be known as the Standby Reserve.

After further consideration a High Readiness Reserve category may be raised in 2003.

What is the impact on current reserves?

The answer is very little so far.

So what has changed?

The most significant change is that the Chief of Army now has the authority to raise new reserve categories to meet Army’s capability requirements.

Current serving ARA and Active Reserves will have better access to the Standby Reserve.

On separation from the ARA and Active Reserve, members will have the opportunity to volunteer for transfer to the Standby Reserve.

This is particularly useful to those who think they may want to serve later as it will be much easier to resume a military career.

From July 2003, all new applicants joining the ADF as ARA or Active Reservists will have a five-year obligation in the Standby Reserve following separation from their service.

As mentioned in an article published earlier this year, the Army Individual Emergency Force (AIEF) will be absorbed into the Active Reserve and the scheme will be closed to new entrants.

Conditions of service will continue to apply for current members for the remaining period of their contract provided they continue to meet the minimum annual requirements.

Current AIEF members should have received a letter outlining their options.

Those who have not been advised should contacted their sponsor/affiliated unit in the first instance.

So what does it all mean?

This latest change is the final phase of initiatives to enhance the legislative and regulatory framework for both the ARA and reserve components.

It allows the CA to raise specific categories of reserve in order to meet new or emerging capability requirements.

This will support wider Army development particularly in the areas of mobilisation and combat force sustainment.

The endstate is to maximise the capacity of the reserve to contribute to the Army’s current and latent capability.

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