New director for ADA begins his watch

By Sgt Jonathan Garland

MANY diggers are unaware of the organisation and most of the rest have little real idea what it does, so the news that the Australia Defence Association (ADA) has a new executive director is probably not at the forefront of the Army’s consciousness.

The new man is Neil James and one of his goals is to raise the profile of the association with those it helps – the uniformed members of the ADF.

“The ADA is a community watchdog that basically does two things – helps make sure the digger is properly equipped to do his job, and that he’s not sent off to do jobs he’s not equipped for, or that he shouldn’t do,” he said.

Since 1975 the ADA had been the only truly independent, community organisation working to promote the best defence, and Defence Forces, for Australia. It received no public funding, existing only on subscriptions from members, military and civilian, across Australia.

“Because we’re independent, we’re able to say things on behalf of the forces that need to be said but that the ADF often can’t say.”

Mr James is a former Army officer who graduated from Duntroon in 1976 and served in a variety of posts around the world, culminating with a posting as senior ADF member on exchange with the New Zealand Defence Force.

“In a 30-year career I saw a hell of a lot – if I had my time over, I’d do it again.

“Still, after 30 years, when your RMC classmates make up the senior leadership of the Army, you start to go a bit stale and you really should hand over to younger people.”

With the experience of serving alongside military forces from around the world, he said officers and NCOs in the ADF are spoiled with the quality of soldiers they lead.

“The ability of the Australian digger to think for himself and improvise is something that lots of other armies just don’t have.”

Details on the ADA, including membership information, can be accessed at www.ada.asn.au .

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