Letters to the Editor

Take it or leave it
Reserve price
A major search
Keeping abreast of the issue
Hats off for ASODs
Bang the gong

Fire for Effect

How to write to Army News

Take it or leave it

It’s not always easy to keep track of your leave. Photo by Pte Shannon Joyce, Army news

CURRENTLY I’m serving on Op Catalyst and am due to head home in the next couple of weeks, which, like everyone else, I’m looking forward to.

As part of the process for leaving, like all operations, we are to receive leave calculations, which is not an issue.

The issue that I am raising is not about leave entitlements, but more in regard to the International Campaign Allowance (ICA) for leave accrued on deployment.

Due to the fact that I deployed on Op Anode last year, I had already accumulated my 10 days field for the leave year 03/04.

This means that I did not accrue any more field leave for the first three months that I have been deployed on Op Catalyst.

I’ve recently been informed that because I have not accrued field leave for the first three months deployed (because I already have my 10-day quota), I do not receive the ICA.

Not receiving the field leave days I can handle, to a certain extent. To not receive the entitlements for the same period as the other people that I deployed with, because I was deployed previously for over 100 days in the same financial year is a real kick in the teeth.

I’ve been lucky in the amount of deployments I’ve received, I’m not complaining about that at all.

Should I be disadvantaged though, by not receiving my full entitlement because my unit, corps and the ADF require me to deploy twice within the same financial year?

I’m sure that I am unlikely to be the only person in this situation, so should the current policies of accrued leave and entitlements now be re-assessed to reflect the high operational tempo that we are currently serving in so that more members like myself are not disadvantaged?

Sgt P. McKay
1CSR, Robertson Barracks, NT

Director Service Conditions, DPE Gp-Capt John Price replies;

Defence policy provides for the accrual of field leave for field service chronologically after July 1, each year. Starting from this date, once a member has served a total of 100 days field service and therefore been granted the maximum of 10 days field leave, any further field service does not attract additional leave.

This principle-based policy is relevant to all ADF members no matter if serving within Australia or overseas.

As identified by Sgt McKay, this policy can mean that in a leave year a member may serve 100 days in the field in Australia and receive 10 days field leave.

Another member may serve 50 days in the field in Australia and 50 days in the field on, for example, Operation Anode.

This member will similarly receive 10 days field leave and in addition will receive deployment allowance for the five days field leave accrued on Op Anode.

If this member is then, in the same leave year, deployed on Op Catalyst, any time spent in the field will not attract further field leave and therefore the corresponding payment of additional International Campaign Allowance (ICA). Another member deployed on Op Catalyst, with no field service in the leave year prior to deployment, and who serves in the field on Op Catalyst for 100 days or more, will receive 10 days field leave and ICA for the 10 days.

In summary, it is not possible to choose which days in the field should count for the accrual of field leave to gain the greater benefit.

No change to this arrangement is contemplated.

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Reserve price

I REFER to an article Reserve your future plan by Maj Grant King in Army [Edition 1111, December 2]. The article paints an impression that it is simply a matter of ticking a box and ARA members can transition into the reserve. I wish it were as simple. The Army Museum Bandiana has vacant positions just waiting for experienced ex-ARA members.

The museum has 13 reserve positions on establishment, only four are presently filled.

Nine have remained vacant since the new establishment was approved. I regularly receive enquiries from ARA members wishing to transfer to the reserve and work in the museum.

Unfortunately there are no ARTS [Army Reserve Training Salary] allocated against these positions.

We need to fill these positions to continue with the development of the museum. We also need to clear the backlog in the registration of historical items, cataloguing of books, manuals and technical publications and research.

The Army Museum Bandiana is not a traditional reserve unit, members do not parade one night a week or on weekends.

The museum is one of the largest and most diversified Army Museums in the country, which operates seven days a week and is open 361 days of the year.

Reserve members parade during the weekdays up to the maximum level that I am allocated. Other than the manager’s position, we have many other positions.

Presently we have three ex-Vietnam Veterans’ working as reserve members.

Corps advisors carry out research, cataloging, display work and the answering of inquiries from the public in relation to corps history.

Reserve service with the museum will allow members to plan holidays during the year, travel overseas or to go caravanning when the weather down south is too cold.

Members can work for several weeks on a project and then have time off. We undertake AIRN testing twice a year. Members can serve until age 60.

All we need are ARTS, please help.

Maj Graham Docksey
Manager, Army Museum Bandiana

Advice from AHQ is that the Army Museum Bandiana was given an increase of ARTS and Maj Docksea was advised December 9. The chain of command was already working on the problem and it was solved before this letter went to print. – Editor

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A major search

I AM writing in an attempt to find Phil Kersley, who was a major in the Australian Army about 20-25 years ago. He was sent to Huntsville Alabama, USA (Redstone Arsenal), during his tenure and became like family to me.

I believe he was from the Queensland area but cannot be sure.

If anyone has any information on this person, please contact me at Paige paigebodine@earthlink.net or phone in the USA (1-850-423-0587, 1-850-689-0687, 1-850-305-1980.

Paige Bodine
USA

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Keeping abreast of the issue

I AM writing to express my concern with the photo published on page 13 of Army, [Edition 1110, November 18, 2004]. The photo displays topless women.

While I am not personally offended by this and acknowledge the fact that these woman are in their native dress, there is clearly an equity issue here.

If your newspaper was to publish pictures of an Australian (Caucasian) woman’s breasts, it would be clearly unacceptable.

Therefore, I do not believe that it is appropriate to display any females breasts in your publication.

WO2 Tony Mackay
WO EME, HQ LSF

SO1 PersOps-C, Lt-Col David Tyler responds;

A cornerstone of Defence’s Equity & Diversity policy is that people’s differences should be valued and respected.

I am not sure whether WO2 McKay would have been more comfortable had the women in the photo been encouraged to wear t-shirts in order to conform to white anglo-saxon norms of behaviour at the expense of their own traditions and customs.

Respect for diversity is just as important as the principle of equity.

Equity does not mean that all people should be treated in the same way regardless of cultural or other differences.

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Hats off for ASODs

TIME and time again I have witnessed members in full ceremonial uniform wearing the slouch hat incorrectly with brim up.

The official opening of Parliament recently was the last straw.

Isn’t it time all the seniors out there took note, spoke to their officers and soldiers and got the hat worn correctly as stated here in ASODs?

http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/home/documents/data/ARMYPUBS/ARMYMAN/ASODV2/ASODP03/01.pdf

WO2 David O’Reilly
HQ Joint Logistic Command, VBM Melbourne

ASODs provideds the following for the wearing of the brim up with the slouch hat: Worn brim up with all ceremonial orders of dress (with the exception of AFV mounted parades). Dress 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D. The order of dress is determined with consideration of the occasion. For all ceremonial occasions, one of the above orders of dress is decreed. This applies to members on parade, reviewing officers, hosts and spectators. – Editor

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Bang the gong

AS A former soldier, I find it very interesting that current soldiers are more pre-occupied with what medals they may be entitled to or can apply for.

Prior to the Battle of Waterloo there were no campaign medals, thankfully the Duke of Wellington sought reward for his troops who were at that battle. That has now been passed on, for reward.

In an old soldier’s view, if you have done nothing you will get nothing – you earn medals, we are not Americans.

Dom J’bbus
former- soldier (K Force)

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Old mate search
I AM an ex-soldier who was discharged from the Army in 1997. My last unit was 1CSSB Med Coy, Robertson Barracks. I am looking to catch up with friends or acquaintances that were based at the Med Coy from May 1994 to August 1997. Since leaving the Army I have pursued nursing in Queensland and now work for a “911” ambulance service in Houston, Texas, in the US, as a paramedic. It would be great to catch up with some of my mates if they are still serving.

Terence Moore
gone4adive@hotmail.com

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All in a day’s work
I BELIEVE the story on Lynx chopper pilot Capt Scott Watkins in Iraq has been sensationalised by various media outlets.

He did his job for heaven’s sake, and flew his “airborne infantry taxi” home to base where his wounded off-sider was swiftly evacuated to hospital.

Many thousands of choppers in Vietnam received much more severe enemy groundfire of all calibres, and managed to safely return to base.

It was all in a day’s work. Just ask units supported by the EMU Squadron (US Army 135 AHC) and retired Maj-Gen John Hartley, of the expertise of chopper pilot of all free world armies in Vietnam.

Former Major Bernie McGurgan (Maj-Rtd)
Capalaba Qld

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Save on vehicle costs
I WORK at RACV and as a reserve at 4CSSB’s Wangaratta Detachment.

At RACV we often have newly posted memberrs from Puckapunyal who are not aware their RAC membership is transferable from state to state without paying a new joining fee. Also the years of membership are retained when changing states, this matters if you want savings on maps and so on.

With insurance, RACV and NRMA (only these two, as far as I am aware) have an agreement for “years of insurance”, this can be a considerable saving on house/contents and vehicle insurance.

I know it is not a big issue, but I have had three members, who were not aware of this.

Pte Rae Smith
4CSSB, Beersheba Barracks

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Two thumbs up Army
I’M just sending an e-mail to say that the paper is so good I can’t get enough of it.

I like all things military and I’ve been through basic traing and I was wondering if you could you could do a piece about ARTC and how hard some of the training is – if not all of it.

Keep up the good work and I cant wait until the next edition, and thanks for the great stories in every page.

Luke Andrew

We have plans to cover basic training at ARTC next year. – Editor

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Fire your well-aimed shots at a deserving target through the Fire For Effect column.
Keep them short and snappy.

Longer letters will be edited.

HOW TO WRITE TO ARMY NEWS

It is the right of all soldiers to correspond with Army. Soldiers wishing to air their views through letters to the editor have access to the newspaper without using the chain of command.

Letters will be edited for spelling and grammatical errors and newspaper style, and may be edited for space.

Preference is given to typed letters of fewer than 300 words. Letters will be rejected where they are too long, abusive, cover a subject that has been exhausted or can be answered in the author’s unit.

They will be published only when they include the author’s name, unit (where applicable), location and contact number.

Send letters to: The Editor, Army Newspaper, R8-LG-029, Russell Offices, Dept of Defence, Canberra, ACT 2600. Phone (02) 6266 7612, fax (02) 6265 6690 or e-mail : armynews@defencenews.gov.au (Please note this is not an internal e-mail address and therefore requires Sec: Unclassified in the subject line when sending from a DRN terminal)

The opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not represent the views of the editor or the Army.