Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

Make sure you make every step a winner when doing administration within units so SCMA can provide effective and efficient service for soldiers, units and the Army. The soldier crossing the bridge is Cpl Santos Maddafari, 1CER, leading his section through the 1 Bde Obstacle Course.

Photo by Spr Bernie Pearson, 1CER. Photo illustration by David Sibley, Army newspaper.

Making your admin look easy

By Capt Reuben Priestley

Delays in the processing of applications for postings, leave, discharge and the like, cause disappointment to soldiers and their families.

Accurate and timely processing by units assist SCMA in achieving our aim of providing the best service for all.

number of ways that units can assist:

Regardless of a soldier’s length of service, six months notice of intent to seek discharge/transfer is required.

Applications with less than six months notice require extensive justification and will only be approved in extraordinary circumstances.

As an example, should an offer of civilian employment be forwarded as a reason, then the application should include documentary evidence from the prospective employer.

Applications by soldiers with a Return of Service Obligation (ROSO) will not be approved until the ROSO period has expired.

Approval/non-approval of the application will be given by signal from SCMA.

SCMA approves periods of Long Service Leave (LSL) greater than three months.

Factors considered by SCMA are detailed in the Army Pay and Conditions Manual, but two prime factors are the recommendation by the soldier’s unit, and a stated intent of the soldier to return to Army at the end of the LSL period.

The soldier’s unit will normally be required to confirm that they are willing to accept the vacancy in manning.

Applications must be received at SCMA at least six weeks before the requested commencement date. This will allow sufficient time for the processing of the application through DEFPAC, ensuring that the soldier is not paid during the leave period, thereby incurring a pay debit requiring repayment.

LSL will not be approved for any period prior to discharge.

If a soldier believes there are grounds to not accept a posting, then an application for retention is to be submitted as soon as possible.

The application should detail all of the grounds that the soldier wishes to be considered.

Each application is considered on its merits, however, dependants’ education (unless the child is undertaking year 11 or 12), a desire to continue residing in an own home, spouse employment and custody issues as a result of marital breakdown, will not normally be considered to be sufficient reasons in themselves for retention.

Applications received less than eight weeks before the date of posting will not normally be approved. Applications for retention on COPAS grounds require a supporting DCO report.

Applications can be submitted at any time, but soldiers should note that the widest variety of options will be available at the “normal” posting period of December and January each year.

As with applications for retention, soldiers should detail all of the factors they wish to be considered, and should ideally provide the Career Manager with a “left and right of arc”.

A desire to serve in a warm climate, for example, does not necessarily mean that the soldier must be re-posted to Brisbane.

If a soldier simply wishes to record a preference for a next posting to a certain location, then an AD148 (ADF Employment Preferences and Restrictions) should be submitted instead.

All applications for re-post will be answered by letter. SCMA will always attempt to comply with soldier’s career desires, but must balance the needs of the ADF, the Army and the individual in that priority.

Soldiers and units are encouraged to discuss plans with the relevant career managers or SCMA staff.

It is anticipated that all posting orders should be “struck” by July. Career managers have completed the annual the PAC (Personnel Advisory Committee) series, and will be preparing for interview tours. Units and individuals are requested to delay the submission of applications for retention and other “non-essential” requests until August.