Letters
to the Editor
Copping
a whistle blast
I wish
to convey my disapproval at the introduction of the ‘Defence Whistleblowers
Scheme’.
This scheme
undermines all military ethos and embedded practices such as chain of
command and destroys principles of war such as morale and flexibility.
It will
instill in our “New Army”, a sense of anarchy because our
leaders will be afraid to lead for fear of reprisal for any decisions
made by them.
It takes
away a commander’s right to manage and conduct his/her operations
as he/she has been trained and places yet another reason for looking
over your shoulder.
God help
the Army of the future, where we will have no leaders willing to use
their initiative.
Lastly,
I would also like to know who gave permission for this package to be
sent to member’s private addresses? If this concerns the military
and its members then send it to our military address.
Our home
life is our only chance to break from the rigours of military life,
so leave us to do that. I would be interested to hear a public reply
from the appropriate agency.
WO2 Wayne Harper
2 Cav Regt
Robertson Barracks NT
Claude
Neumann, the Defence Inspector General, replies:
Credibility
lies at the heart of all we do.
Failure
to maintain individual and corporate integrity and to identify and
properly address misconduct at all levels will damage the reputation
and effectiveness of Defence.
Defence
is committed to creating an organisational climate in which any person
feels able to report alleged misconduct without fear of victimisation
or discrimination.
While
there is a well-established process for raising concerns through the
normal chain of command or line management (which is strongly encouraged
as the preferred route), there are some occasions when people are
reluctant to do so.
To this
end, the Defence Whistleblower Scheme was launched last year and is
now fully operational.
The scheme
provides an alternative and independent process for reporting any
suspected misconduct that directly or indirectly affects organisational
health or effectiveness or that relates to a person’s professional
behaviour.
The main
aim of distributing the whistleblower scheme information is to give
the scheme the broadest possible exposure. In this regard, an information
brochure is being mailed to all current Defence members—as well
as individuals from a number of additional categories such as military
compensation recipients and officers and instructors of cadets—at
their home address to inform them of the whistleblower scheme.
A covering
letter from the CDF and the Secretary that accompanies the brochure
recommends that members read the brochure and become familiar with
it.
The brochure
outlines the features of the scheme and provides contact details for
either reporting misconduct or obtaining information about how the
scheme works.
After
nearly a year of operation, the scheme is proving to be a valuable
safety valve for both the Defence Organisation and the broader Defence
community.
One of
its strengths is that it provides an avenue for the resolution of
matters within Defence that might otherwise be aired with more publicity,
and almost certainly with less accuracy, outside.
A number
of people have used the scheme to seek information about the right
way to air a concern before taking any further action. In this way,
the scheme has made possible the early resolution of matters many
of which were simply a result of a misunderstanding or a lack of complete
information.
- For
further information on the whistleblower scheme, contact the whistleblower
hotline on 1800 673 502 or write to the Director Investigations,
CP3-2-015, Campbell Park, Canberra ACT 2600.
Excessive
DHA
Given the
majority of Australia is in the grip of the worst drought for 100 years
when will the ADF members receive a refund of the compulsory excess
water charges levied by DHA on MQ occupants. Surely by taking the money
since last September (2002) DHA are saying ADF members are not responsible
water users, nor good Australian citizens.
WO1 K.A. Golden
RSM TC-A
Victoria Barracks, NSW
Up
the guts
My points,
for “Fire for Effect”, in the last edition of Army [May 22]
was not written in malice towards DFRO. It was written, in a round about
way, in the hope that a reply to my letter would highlight how and why
DFRO do business and thereby save the chest pokes I, and my colleagues,
receive about the standard of soldiers and unit/corp vacancies of soldiers.
It was; however, written in my normal style of straight up the guts.
Sgt Colin Bishop
Careers Adviser
ADFRU-Brisbane, Brisbane Qld
A
stable diet
I am compiling
a web-based record of Australia’s Military uniforms on the web
site www.diggerhistory.info and have come close to hitting a brick wall
about the use of stable belts in the Australian Army.
www.diggerhistory.info/pages-uniforms/stable_belts.htm is all I
can get. I would appreciate any help from any reader.
Ted Harris
Ex 1RAR
tedharris@ozemail.com.au
Air-con
con
As a member
of the Army family in Darwin I have been posted here for approximately
four-and-a-half years.
During
this time I decided to take advantage of the assistance given to Defence
members that enables them to purchase a home in their posted locality.
As a result
of buying a home in Darwin I have placed myself in the unenviable position
of being discriminated against due to my wish to improve my financial
position and move towards one day owning my own home.
The introduction
of air-conditioning allowance to a selected group within the Darwin
region, who are already receiving subsidised housing, disadvantages
the group Defence is attempting to nurture.
To quote
the writing:
“The purpose of air-conditioning allowance is to provide, during
certain approved months of the year, a subsidy for electrical costs
associated with the operation of air-conditioning units provided in
service residence and rent allowance residence in prescribed localities
within Australia.”
By this
writing Defence personnel who purchase a home in Darwin are significantly
disadvantaged to the tune of thousands of dollars, negating the attractiveness
of HPAS.
Defence
has continually expressed its support and even actively encouraged personnel
to purchase there own home.
The purchase
of a home reduces the liability on DHA and encourages participation
in the wider community.
This policy
has erroded HPAS and should be reviewed.
Capt B. Robertson
HQ 1 Bde
Robertson Barracks, NT
Pull
your head in
OK. Enough
is enough. In reference to the letter from WO2 (rtd) Graham Wilson which
makes reference to the letter from Sgt Dave MacPhail – who cares
if regimental numbers have not been issued since 1961? I certainly don’t.
I think
that the point that matters here is that it is word or name that is
in common military usage. Granted it is not listed in ADFP 101, but
neither is Q-ie (store man), or boozer (Soldiers Club), or Sar Major
(sergeant major); all of which I hear daily.
I think
that if we took a sample of the Army and asked them what their reggie
number is, they would tell us their Army Number.
This has
given me a minor (and admittedly transitory) pleasure to know that no
matter how civilianised the ADF gets, it will never lose its slang.
Furthermore;
one would expect that a WO2 would derive pleasure from something more
than watching the bewilderment on the faces of their clerks when they
ask for a reggie number, and are promptly told in a no doubt smug manner,
“ I haven’t got one”.
Lets face
it, a clerk is not in a position to tell a WO2 to pull his head in and
stop being a smartarse now is he?
And I am
sure he has better things to do than get a history lesson which means
nothing to him anyway.
Just a
small comment.
WO2 Murray Brissett
3 RAR
Holsworthy Barracks, NSW
Testing
times
I was encouraged
to see the article reporting the fruition of the C-130J-30 paratrooping
trials [Army, May 03].
The testing
reported, involving 37 Sqn, 3RAR and 4RAR (Cdo), was only the final
stage of over two years of effort to provide the ADF with this important
capability.
In addition
to the aforementioned units, recognition is also due to other units
who made major contributions to this capability.
In particular,
Air Movements Training and Development Unit (AMTDU), Parachute Training
School (PTS) Nowra, RAE Surveyors, 176 Aerial Delivery Squadron (ADS),
92 and 86 Wing photographic, and my fellow members at ARDU; without
whose efforts the C-130J’s paratroop capability would not exist.
You may
not be aware that the testing conducted to provide this capability was
planned and managed by ARDU and AMTDU personnel.
Flt-Lt Mark Washusen
Project Manager
ARDU Trial E2469
Paratroop Role Expansion
Aircraft Research and Development Unit
I’m
forever blowing bubbles
I have
two main concerns about three different articles listed in Army, Edition
1074.
On page
25, Defence is able to assist members in their career transition with
funding from CTAS to do certain courses and two of these courses listed
are Scuba Instructor and Wine Making.
Firstly,
upon reading the list of ADFSC inappropriate sports in the ADF on the
back page, I felt concerned that we are encouraging members in their
career transition path to attend a course that is inappropriate within
the ADF - scuba diving.
Secondly,
there is the article on page one, about random breath testing and alcohol
abuse, and on a lighter note, we will once again help members in their
career transition to become winemakers.
What ever
happened to the Chess Championships and the drink called “Claytons,
the drink you’re having when you’re not having a drink”.
WO2 Darren Eddy
1MP Bn
VB-S, Paddington, NSW
Wait,
wait out
In mid-2000,
Defence civilians were given the opportunity to choose between three
months maternity leave at full pay or six months at half pay.
When enquiring
whether this would apply to defence members, I was told to wait-out
as it was being considered by DPE.
Three years
later, I am still being told to wait-out. Try telling this to my unborn
child due in five weeks.
Capt C.J. Bellis
5 Avn Regt
Townsville, Qld
Maybe
baby
I refer
to the latest Family Matters publication and laugh at the attempts of
DCO to give financial reimbursement for emergency child-care costs,
I assume that is if you can find licensed child-care to start with!
I finish
my Maternity Leave today and I am still wait-listed at five childcare
facilities as we have been for the past six months. Isn’t it lucky
after all those years in field force I still have almost three months
of BRL left.
If at the
end of three months we are still wait-listed, I can go on PTLWOP to
get a minimal income and call on the assistance of good friends but
friends usually aren’t licensed child-care providers to allow for
benefits and reimbursement.
The support
and assistance provided by my chain of command is great, but ultimately
it’s just a social issue that needs to be addressed further by
DCO some time soon.
If the
ADF is going to move all these families to one location, they should
ensure that there is infrastructure in place to provide adequate family
support.
Cpl K. M. Clark
1 Bde
Robertson Barracks, NT
Your
choice
In response
to ‘We need respite postings’ [Army May 22, 2003], points
are raised that pass the responsibility of parenting from themselves
to Defence.
The points
raised are that the couple concerned have been in field force for their
Army careers.
Well, becoming
parents, they have chosen a path and obligation to their child. In
an ideal world, yes, consideration should be given to their circumstance
but not passed on to their employer which is the tone of the letter
– as if it is a right.
They need
to make choices for themselves – whose career is to be of
more importance to them.
I can hear
the cries of distress as I type this letter – but in everyday civilian
life these choices are being made all the time.
Defence
families are no different to other 21st-century families and that’s
why there are difficult choices and decisions to be made.
Paulette Schmidt
Brookfield Qld
I
love my job
I am writing
in response to the letter submitted to Army in the May 22 edition titled
‘We need respite posting’.
The letter
made me think of my family as I am posted to ALTC MWD (S) and get to
see them between five and six times a year, depending on courses that
ALTC run. I am married with three children aged between 10 and two and
I could not count how many birthdays or family activities I have missed
because of my service obligations.
The letter
also made me think that I could be the only person in the Army that
has missed kids’ birthdays or family events, so I asked a few friends
in the Sgts Mess, I asked my mate who is a sole parent, I asked my mate
who has a child with special needs and I asked my mate who is married
with four children and they all had the same response, that they could
not count how many family event they have missed either.
I thought
“this is no good, I better go through my contract and find the
letter the Army sent me asking me to join”. I could not find my
letter and nor could any of my mates so we came to the conclusion that
we actually asked the Army if we could join and not the other way around.
Being smart
SNCOs, we also came to the conclusion if Army life did not meet our
needs any more, we could get out of the Army.
The author
of the letter also made comment that she loved her job and that made
her a rarity. Well again that made me think and I thought “I love
my job so we must be the only two people in the Army that loves their
job.”
So I asked
everybody in my mess that I knew if they loved their job. Well, after
speaking to about 100 members in the mess I found out that all of them
loved their jobs as well.
WO2 Simon Lanser
Finance WO
ALTC Albury/Wodonga
Singapore
brats
ANZ Military
Brats of Singapore are seeking out anyone whose father served in Singapore
during the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. We are an Internet reunion
group whose members lived and attended school in Singapore in search
of lost school mates with a longing to re-live magical days of a time
and place gone but not forgotten.
Our web
site was founded in June, 2001 and is a place to share memories, photos
and find each other.
With about
170 members it’s been a slow growth, though given that brats are
scattered around Australia and New Zealand and indeed the world, we
are not the easiest to be found.
Upon returning
home from our two-year postings, we do what brats do best, we blended
in and adapted to the next posting back in our country with no-one to
share the adventures we experienced of the last colonial days of the
Far East.
Our fathers
all now retired, we still very much feel a connection with the Australian
and New Zealand Defence Forces and, of course, Singapore.
If any
of the above means anything, you are alone with your memories no longer.
Please feel free to join us at http://groups.msn.com/ANZMilitaryBratsofSingapore
and you will be very much welcomed and sure to be reunited.
Jo-Anne Rendle
Founder and Manager of ANZ Military Brats of Singapore
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