Letters
to the Editor
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A
US M1-A1 Abrams tank during training in the Middle East.
Photograph
by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Jeffrey Lehrberg, Fleet Combat Camera
Atlantic
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Questions
on the M1A1
IN REGARDS to the Army's descision to buy the M1 Abrams from the Americans.
It is a good vehicle though probably too big and too heavy for Australian
conditions. If a Leopard gets bogged in Mt Bundy's bulldust at 42 tonnes
what is a M1 going to do at 63.082 tonnes (cbt weight).
A few questions
need to be asked on whether the deal offered was complete or just enough
to sucker us into a long-term and expensive item of equipment.
Are we
going to get repair facilities with them or the patent to manufacture
parts, or are we going to get suckered to an American company for 20
years? The same applies to the facilities required to train gunners,
commanders, operators, drivers and RAEME soldiers on the new vehicle.
Are we
going to get the support vehicles to go with them, new ARVMs (RAEME
recovery vehicle) and the heavy lift transport vehicles?
Is it compatible
with the current vehicle inter-comunications systems or are we going
to have to buy that too?
Are we
going to get the equipment needed to re-tool ADI factories to make the
new ammunition or are we going to buy it? As the US decided to adopt
the 120mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun for the M1. It has also been designed
to accept the standard 105 mm M68 series rifled gun (which is the barrel
of the now-BAE Systems, RO Defence 105mm L7 with a US developed breech
mechanism) or the German Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun which has
the US designation M256. And the appropriate ammunition to go with it,
M829 APFSDS-T, which has a DU penetrator. Since then the M829A1 (development
designation M829E1) and M829A2 (development designation M829E2) have
been placed in production, M830 HEAT-MP-T (the latest round to enter
production is the M830A1, which is fitted with a new projectile and
fuse), M831 TP-T training round, M865 TPCSDS-T training round.
There are
other points both good and bad ranging from strategic to political but
that's for someone else.
Cpl Steven Messer
(Ex-RAAC 1 Armd Regt)
ARTC
Kapooka, NSW
Lt-Col Greg Akhurst, Combat Section Land Development Branch, RAAC
(ex- 1 Armd Regt), responds:
The decision to acquire M1A1 AIM under the Land 907 Tank Replacement
program represents the best capability at the best value for Commonwealth
dollar and the lowest program risk of all the options considered.
The tank
program was drafted as a whole of capability requirement, which included
integrated logistic support, training systems, training support, through
life support, support vehicles, configuration management, facilities
and Network Centric Warfare (NCW)opportunities.
As indicated
in CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy's comments during the announcement of the acquisition,
the program will acquire the necessary support vehicles, including ARVs,
transporters and tactical fuel trucks.
The program
will field the advanced, full immersion simulators at introduction into
service in order to maximise the benefit of the advanced systems and
minimise operating costs. It will also seek to field the best digital
communications and data system integrated on any land platform in the
Army. These systems will actually teach the Army the benefits and costs
of NCW and simulation when operating an advanced complex capability,
and inform the future combat capability program Land 400 Survivability
for Land Forces.
The ADF
has a policy of not procuring Depleted Uranium munitions; there is no
intention to change that policy. If Australian industry can provide
a cost effective alternative to the international procurement of 120mm
tank ammunition they will undoubtedly be considered. However, the intense
nature of the international 120mm tank ammunition market may preclude
this. The tank program office is aware of the characteristics of in
service natures of 120mm ammunition and will procure appropriate types
in adequate quantities for the tank capability.
The M1A1
AIM is a mature, battle proven design, part of a very large fleet and
offers excellent opportunities to develop the Army's knowledge of NCW
capabilities. The acquisition method represents an excellent ratio of
Commonwealth dollars expended to actual hardware in soldiers' hands.
The M1A1
AIM was selected for its suitability for Australian operational concepts
in Australian operational scenarios, as a part of an Australian Joint
Force. As a package this program represents the right capability, at
the right price and in the right timeframe for our Army.
I hope
that Cpl Messer gets the opportunity to return to the tank regiment
to serve with the new capability.
Who
is awake, who is asleep?
IT IS with
great alarm that I notice the large amount of Q staff and clerks that
are leaving the Army, particularly from within infantry units.
For a number
of years we have been told that we are doing a great job and our services
are welcomed.
However,
it never seems to be that way when it comes around to pay day or for
that matter any other day.
With the
setback in the renumeration tribunal over the pay issues and the continuing
long hours that are put in by all the Q staff and clerks across all
corps, it is no wonder that we are now seeing soldiers leave in their
droves.
I think
the hierarchy in the Army need to finally realise who is doing the work
and who is asleep at their post.
LCpl Stephen Fitzgerald
4RAR(Cdo)
Holsworthy Barracks, NSW
RAE
objects
I HAVE
read with growing disbelief the letters continually referring to the
"same qualifications but a higher pay level" when talking
about RAAOC versus RAE clerks.
RAE clerks
are not, in fact, on a higher pay level as the DFRT determination has,
as yet, not been heard.
As for
the qualifications, RAE must complete the Engineer Operations Specialist
Course and the Engineer IET Course to be deemed fully qualified as a
sapper clerk.
It is also
a requirement for RAE clerks to complete the all corps promotion cses
(Subjects 1 and 3), RAAOC promotion courses (Subject 4) and also the
RAE promotion courses (Subject 2 and 4).
Basically
this boils down to seven promotion courses to get to corporal.
So please,
stop using us as your reason to get paid more.
Cpl P.J. Spiranac
ORC
2CER, Brisbane
Different
roles
IN YOUR
recent edition [Army, April 8], Cpl Lobegeiger questioned why RAAOC
are not justifying their pay increase against other corps with similar
qualifications.
As an Examiner
Psychological in AAPsych (not RAPhysc), I am unable to come up with
any qualifications we have in common with RAAOC storepersons apart from
All Corps Soldiers training.
Perhaps
I have missed something - is there a part of my job I have not been
trained to do and have not been told about?
I doubt
that any of the IETs currently being trained at Bandiana are receiving
training for Examiner duties as part of their trade, nor would storepersons
be conducting psychometric testing and operational psychological screens
overseas.
Shouldn't
the justification be aimed towards those who do undertake similar duties,
hold similar qualifications, and receive the same civilian accreditation,
rather than aimed at ECNs where the role of the soldier is vastly different?
Cpl Julie Bodin
Examiner Psychological
RMC-A, Duntroon ACT
No
policy on rotating 24/7 shifts
FOR the
18 years that I have served in the Army, I have been posted to units
that have required to maintain a 24 /7 operational focus.
In all
the time I have been on shift myself or been involved in the management
of shift personnel there has been an issue with which shift roster is
the "best".
In this
day of enlightened and informed members, and the numerous policy making
bodies that abound in Defence all looking out for our best interests,
why is it there is no defined policy for rotating shifts to maintain
the 24/7 high operational tempo that is currently in vogue?
I'm sure
someone somewhere has the answer.
Sgt Tony Jaros
138 Sig Sqn
Simpson Barracks, Watsonia VIC
Lt-Col Dianne Gallasch, SO1 Pers Policy, DPERS-A, responds:
The author of the letter is correct - there is no defined policy for
rotating shifts to maintain the 24/7 high operational tempo.
The reason
is relatively simple in that many factors contribute to the tiring of
an individual.
They include
the number of hours awake, the environment and climate, the nature of
the work, the nature of the individual, ambient or background stress,
consequence of errors and many others.
As such,
no defined policy can be set for the myriad of circumstances surrounding
any one individual or job.
The actual
reference for this is SAFETYMAN (volume 3 part 1 Chapter 21 - Fatigue
Management, para 21.33 on Rosters).
Fatigue
management is, however, an increasingly important area for the ADF and
a number of initiatives have been undertaken to develop strategies and
systems to deal with this issue.
As an example
of current efforts in fatigue management, a number of groups within
Defence, including the Defence Safety Management Agency, the RAAF, the
RAN and DSTO, have worked with The Centre for Sleep Research (CFSR)
at the University of South Australia, who have conducted studies in
sleep and shiftwork research.
The Centre
has developed a fatigue modelling computer program called FAID, which
predicts the effects of disordered sleep resulting from shiftwork.
The program
has been designed against a body of data collected around the world
and in the course of the Centre's research.
It predicts
work-related fatigue by taking into account the duration and timing
of work periods, work history, and the biological components of sleep.
It has
been extensively applied in industries such as long distance transport
systems such as the trucking and rail industries.
The FAID
program has been applied in examining watch cycles in RAN vessels as
a means of managing fatigue during extended operations, for the management
of aircrew, and was trialed during the ADF deployments in East Timor.
If units
require specific advice on how to tailor shift work to their needs,
then they should raise a Science and Technology Support Request (STSR)
through the chain of command.
Please
refer to the following web site for advice on how to raise an STSR:
http://web-vic.dsto.defence.gov.au/workareas/SA_A/publications.htm,
or contact Lt-Col Jason Thomas, SO1 Science and Technology, AHQ on (02)
62651152.
Rwanda
reunion
ALL PERSONNEL
who served in Rwanda during July 1994 to January 1995 are invited to
join us for a reunion on Friday and Saturday August 20-21 this year.
The reunion
is in Canberra with a "meet and greet" planned at the Olims
Hotel, Bradden commencing at 1900 hours.
A dinner
for Saturday night is to be confirmed, also tours, etc, will be organised.
Accommodation can be booked at the Olims Hotel at a cost of $94 (double
standard room) by phoning (02) 62485511.
For further
information: PO Di Bron, (02) 62664001, or e-mail di.bron@defence.gov.au
or Leut Robin Barrett (02) 62664001, or e-mail robin.barrett@defence.gov.au
Leut Robin Barrett
SO3 Nursing Projects
Campbell Park Offices, Canberra ACT
A
dangerous mindset
IN THE
letters of Army, March 11, a psychologist complained of a commanding
officer who dared to remain informed whenever an outside agency feels
the need to interfere in soldier admin.
The implication
that the officer in question was concerned with covering his own backside
at the cost of common decency, and was more interested in looking good
is offensive.
Worse,
it is indicative of the dangerous mindset common in SSO-dominated corps
where specialist officers feel the need to champion the cause of problem
soldiers against their chain of command after hearing just one side
of the story.
If Maj
McGrogan is so concerned with officers feeling the need to look good,
why did he feel the need to write in simply because he did not receive
a pat on the back for doing his job?
The letter
ends with Maj McGrogan wishing that the soldier described as having
"serious issues" go for a commission simply because he repeatedly
said thank you.
There is
a little more involved in officer training and selection than good manners
during frequent visits to your nearest mental health specialist.
Capt Adam Dunbar
FO 108 Bty, 4 Fd Regt, Lavarack Barracks, Qld
Prompt
compassion
I WOULD
like to express my gratitude to DCO-Brisbane, SCMA and orderly rooms
of both 2CER and 8/7RVR. My father was recently diagnosed with a terminal
cancer and although devastating to both family and myself I was given
extremely prompt administration by all involved.
It took
only a matter of weeks for the whole process of a compassionate posting
to come into effect from the day I walked into DCO offices to the day
I was posted to my new unit.
Although
my posting date wasn't supposed to come into effect until the end of
March, my previous unit was able to liase with SCMA and my new unit
to accommodate my immediate removal.
I would
like to personally thank all those involved in my posting and it has
been one less problem to worry about throughout this unfortunate illness.
It is reassuring
to know that if a personal problem does occur, soldiers have this resource
at their disposal and the knowledge that the situation will be handled
promptly and compassionately.
Spr Ashley Turkenburg
8/7 RVR, Ballarat VIC
Thoughts
on water use
AFTER just
reading WO2 Greg Young's letter [Army, February 26], about his timer
and water restrictions that Sydney members are currently on I was just
wondering, if DHA is removing timers and alike, making sure members
are water wise, are they going to stop making Sydney members pay excess
water rates?
If they
are on restrictions, are they still being made to pay for water that
they do not use?
Just a
thought.
Cpl T.R Gibson
JMCC Honiara
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