Letters
to the Editor
Zero
tolerance in stores
Readers
may not be aware, but as of July 1, Defence will have a zero tolerance
for deficient or damaged stores.
Previously
there were zero tolerances for sensitive equipment, like weapons, ammunition
and computers.
Now this
zero tolerance is applied to all stores. I assume that this is to bring
it into line with the zero tolerance for drugs.
This zero
tolerance means if a unit conducts a stocktake and it finds a single
black pen missing, then this deficiency will require a formal investigation.
I believe
that we should take this idea further and we should apply the zero tolerance
to the following:
- Range
practices – soldiers must achieve 100 per cent accuracy with all
rounds issued to them. Anything less will require a formal investigation.
- Fuel
Consumption on vehicles. If a vehicle is rated at achieving 10km per
litre and it only achieves 9km per litre, then it will require a formal
investigation.
- AIRN
compliancy. Units are to achieve 100 per cent AIRN compliancy. If they
cannot achieve this, then a formal investigation is required.
These are
only examples of what the zero tolerance can be applied to, the list
could be endless.
Do readers
think that these examples are achievable? I don’t think so. These
examples are as impossible to achieve as a zero tolerance to stores
deficiencies.
Defence
needs to take a serious look at this statutory requirement and reset
the tolerance figure to a realistic figure.
These days,
when units are managing multi-million dollar accounts, it is absolutely
ludicrous that they are required to worry about the loss of such miniscule
proportions.
I won’t
be holding my breath while waiting for sanity to prevail.
WO1 J.L. Muir
RQMS (WAR), 3RAR
Kapyong Lines, Holsworthy Barracks, NSW
Some
ideas for retention
Irony is
... paying tax in your civilian job so when you do an Army Reserve weekend,
you can earn a fraction of it back.
With GST
in place, what can you buy or do that costs money that you don’t
pay tax on?
Tax-free
yes, but only initially. It’s like saying this hamburger’s
fat-free, if you don’t eat it.
Here are
some thoughts for some benefits to reservists, reduce the amount being
paid daily and introduce:
- Once-a-year
retention bonus (could be incorporated into the tax system so you get
it back when you put in your tax return).
- Deductions
when paying for education for reservist’s children (books, enrolment,
and all those other levies which seem to be in place).
- Cut university
costs.
- Tax-free
benefits when purchasing items such as cars, houses and even the weekly
groceries (how sweet would this be).
- The abilty
to participate in a degree or certificate through correspondence through
the ADF.
- Get a
Bronze first aid medallion when you go through recruit course.
These ideas
may seem stupid to look at, but if it attracts one more person to my
unit, or keeps someone in, then where’s the harm?
Gnr Rob Fitzpatrick
16 Fd Bty
Launceston, TAS
Contact
Uruguay
My name
is Capt Sebastian Fasanello and I´m an ATO in the Army of Uruguay.
I attended
the Commonwealth and Foreign Ammunition Technical Officer Course at
the Army School of Ammunition at Kineton (UK) in 1997.
I would
like to have contact with ATs and ATOs from Australia and share experiences
in this most enjoyable job of the EOD IEDD bussiness.
Capt Sebastian Fasanello
Army of Uruguay Ordnance Service
EOD/IEDD Unit
e-mail: fasasebas@hotmail.com
First
things first
Good management
within Army and the ADO is required in this age of economic rationalism,
budgetary constraints and accountability.
But at
what stage of management implementation do we say ‘enough is enough’?
In the
past two years, individual units and HQs have had to roll out and adapt
ACMS, SDSS, ASMS, PMKeys, QETO, CSIG Implementation, SED Review and
a whole host of other management programs.
While these
may technically improve our management of resources, there is rarely
time allocated away from our normal training to implement these practices.
So what suffers?
Obviously,
the core business of soldiering. In a time when our tempo is at its
greatest, we are spending valuable time, with less manpower, to implement
these management techniques to appease the bean-counters.
We publicly
pat ourselves on the back with our timely compliance of national standards
and best-practice management at a time when retention problems are skyrocketing
and recruiting is down significantly.
So who
is running the Army now? When the implementation of new management and
financial accounting programs takes a higher priority than individual
training, obviously the accountants are.
Officers
and soldiers are becoming business managers, not leaders. If we had
wanted to be purely managers, we would have gone to uni and done a Bachelor
of Business Management.
But we
didn’t.
We joined
the profession of arms to become soldiers.
I understand
technically the need for more detailed accountability, but all we get
now are deadlines and more deadlines for rollout, compliance and account
keeping.
When does
it end?
When does
AHQ or TC-A or Land Command just say stop, and focus back on what we
are here for? We seem lost in the wilderness, unsure of the line in
the sand between an Army and simply another government department.
Capt Gerry McGowan
Adjt QUR
St Lucia, QLD
Lack
of child-care
I am writing
to you to establish why there is such a lack of full-time day care in
the Puckapunyal Military area. Being that Pucka is a Training Command
area there a lot of senior members who have families and both members
are in the service, as has been this way for some time now.
I know
of the part-time day care on the barracks. It is open from 9.30am until
noon each day. There is Pucka preschool for three to four year olds,
but again only half days a few days a week. Then there is home care,
which can be full days if needed, but whose house am I putting my child
in. How do I know what is going on with my child? Is there a learning/development
structure which my son has had in a full time day care facility since
he has been six month old and the rules and regulations that govern
the home care program are not to my satisfaction. For example, if my
child breaks something in a house, am I up for the cost? How do I know
that my child did it? I would have to take the word of the carer.
I know
there is full-time day care in the near by town of Seymour. I would
have to travel to Seymour twice a day and again it opens at 7.30am.
(The same time I start work.) What if I cannot get my child in this
day care as, it has a waiting list?
My husband
and I have been posted to Brisbane and Townsville where there are numerous
day care facilities around the cities but we have used the Defence Force
recognised facilities and found them to be very good. Both these areas
support large military establishments, which are no different to Pucka,
so why wouldn’t Pucka have a full time day care which provides
structured learning and development as well?
I have
spoken to the Family Liaisons Officer – Pucka, and I have been
told that there is a full-time day care centre on the way. However,
what do I do between now and then? Pucka Military Area has its own fire
brigade, theatre, golf club, shops and security. I have to ask, what
is the priority for the members of the ADF?.
Each week
I am reminded of how the Army, in this day and age, is family orientated
and how I should be able to balance my choice of job and having children
at the same time.
Yet if
I choose to put my family first I am limited to what I can do and I
am seen as not an effective NCO as someone who doesn’t have kids.
Maybe I
have not got all the information I need. If someone could enlighten
my situation I would appreciate it.
Cpl Trish Coad
9 Tpt Sqn
Two
incomes, two jobs
While reading
a recent Army newspaper [May 22] the title of one of the letters to
the editor caught my eye – ‘We need respite postings’.
Obviously
a unit with heavy operational commitments is seeking respite for its
soldiers? This wasn’t the case.
The author of the letter seeks postings for dual-income couples starting
a family.
Now, few
would disagree that parenting is a time-consuming, at times stressful
task, as is being a member of the Defence Force.
Combining
both increases the stresses involved and it is difficult to do both
effectively.
This is
the reason people are asking for concessions. They are unable to do
justice to both tasks. With both parents full-time ADF members the struggle
is greater.
The decision
to take on this burden is taken by both the parents involved, so the
consequences need to be accepted by these people.
In all
cases they were obviously aware of the requirements of Defence Service
prior to starting a family.
My concern
is the increasing trend of these dual income couples to seek assistance
from people outside of their decision making process; suggesting that
if no one helps they are being hard done by.
The people
they are asking for assistance are the taxpayer (to fly the children
to their grandparents) or other ADF members (doing the ‘hard’
tasks as they sit in a respite posting).
Would they
prefer a married Defence member with children whose partner is fulfilling
the role of full-time parent, to take on the burden of these hard tasks?
It certainly
can’t be considered equitable for someone in a less secure financial
situation to bear the brunt of the work, as dual income parents languish
in ‘respite’ postings.
If you
want two incomes – do two jobs. If parenting is hard, make concessions
yourself, if possible with the employer.
One of
these authors quotes 27 years combined service; well, there is a significant
amount of long service leave that could be used here.
If you
want the employer to make concessions, it is reasonable to expect you
to do the same. Extended leave without pay could be one option.
The Education
Department allows teachers many years of Leave Without Pay for family
raising, probably because they understand the importance of a parent’s
role in early childhood development.
Yes, this
does mean short-term financial loss. Job sharing may be an option, its
initiatives like these that should be negotiated; not ‘easier’
options for the parents, at the cost of the taxpayer or other serving
members.
Now, I
don’t know the full details of any of these authors – for
instance, LSL may not be available.
If I am
guilty of misrepresentation, I apologise. My comments are based on the
evidence supplied.
If the
balance between being a parent and a full-time ADF member isn’t
working it is surely time for a hard decision – family or income.
As for
having to make a choice between careers; I would say that if you are
at work and your child is in daycare, you have already made that decision.
Capt D.M.South
LWDC
Puckapunyal, Victoria
Not
first nursing CO
I wish
to bring to your attention that the article in Army edition 1075 [June
5] needs to be clarified.
Your article
on page five indicates that Lt-Col Wendy Taylor has been appointed as
the first “Nursing CO” of a Australian Military unit.
Wg-Cdr
Maree Dean was appointed CO of 6 RAAF Hospital Laverton in 1984.
And more
recently (1998) Wg-Cdr Margaret Hine was appointed CO of the same hospital
and following her appointment became the first Nursing Officer to command
a unit in Timor.
Perhaps
your article should have said “First Army Nursing Officer”,
but in this case the RAAF beat us to the punch!
WO2 Tony Giuliani
Area Health Services – Victoria
RAAF Williams, VIC
In
remembrance
On behalf
of Vanessa, Nicholas and myself I would like to thank the CO and members
of 2/14LHR(QMI) for their support after the passing of our daughter
Chelsea.
Their support
during this time has been greatly appreciated. Thank you also to the
members and families of other units, and the Defence Special Needs Support
Group that knew Chelsea.
Your special
thoughts and wishes are with us at this sad time and have touched us
as she touched all of you.
Cpl Jason Lehmann
Tech Spt Tp
2/14 LHR (QMI)
History
worth buying
I would
like to congratulate WO1 Kelly and Army, on the magnificent stories
put out in the history page.
Part of
the May 22 story hit me between the eyes.
Sister
Ross-King joined the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in July
1917. My great-uncle, Cpl Clifford L. Wallis, C Coy, 33rd Bn, was wounded
on July 22 and died of wounds on July 23, 1917. Sister Ross-King would
have come into contact with him! Small world.
I had two
other great-uncles in the 33rd: LCpl M.J. Wallis, MM, and Pte L.O. Wallis
– all in C Coy at the time. I hope this is of interest.
Is Army
going to publish the History stories? It would be a great book –
one that I would buy.
Brian Wallis
3RAR-9RAR 1968-1969
Editor’s Response: Army does not have the funds to publish
the Just Soldiers series, however, WO1 Kelly is preparing the series
for publication in book form, publisher yet to be identified.
Not
Anzacs
There’s
a fair degree of journalistic licence in your front-page article, “ANZACS
2003” [April 24].
Though
we often refer to our soldiers as Anzacs, this is incorrect. It refers
only to those who served in WWI. In fact, the soldiers serving on Op
Falconer are not Anzacs.
They are
not members of a combined Australia-New Zealand Force. This is even
more so this year, as it is the first time Australians and New Zealanders
have not fought together.
This is
not to decry our efforts in the Middle East. Far from it.
However,
it would be better for Army to refer to “the spirit of the
Anzacs” in its reporting of our current force.
Maj Greg Smith
Perth, WA
A
great birthday
As I browsed
through the latest copy of Army I noticed with some dismay the
absence of any reference to 6RAR’s birthday on June 6 in the On
This Day section.
Although
I recognise the importance of the other significant events, I would
have thought that the recognition of a unit that exists on the current
ORBAT would have made a mention.
Although
the battalion has a relatively short history, it has achieved a great
amount in this time, certainly enough to warrant a mention in the Soldiers’
newspaper.
WO2 S. Marshall
RTC TAS
Hobart, Tasmania
E-mail
group set up for home school members
An e-mail
group has been set up for ADF members and families who home educate.
For further
information please go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ADF_home_education/
or email:
ssdct@optusnet.com.au or
contact: Sarah Tuckerman on (02) 6284 3110.
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