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Give
credit where it's due
Unfair criticism
Hat stand
PNG thanks
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Give
credit where it's due
AS A soldier
of 30 years' experience I have witnessed a lot of changes in the Army.
Many have been for the general good of all, but one attitudinal change
I see now is troubling: the number of soldiers who, when another soldier
receives a medal or award, comments that it's "another 'gong' for just
doing his job".
As a technical person this grates as a failure of logic, and as an alumnus
of the profession of arms it saddens me that other soldiers do not instinctively
pay the recipient the credit due for a job well done.
As for logic, the Infantry Combat Badge can only be awarded to infanteers
who do their job in a combat situation.
The Nursing Cross can only be awarded to nurses for doing their job.
The Victoria Cross can only be awarded for doing the job of a soldier
in the face of an enemy; no amount of bravery in other situations will
see it awarded. Members who were awarded the 10FSB Meritorious Unit
Citation are sometimes belittled by "you got that for driving trucks,
issuing stores and stuff".
Sure, this is not a bravery award but neither is an Order of Australia
Medal. Many awards recognise service under arduous conditions or in
exceptional circumstances where a member or group has excelled.
Everyone should bear in mind when Australia Day or Queen's Birthday
honours are published that nobody gets an award just for "services to
Training Command", for example.
Each of the awa r d s announced will come with a long citation which
details all the circumstances that made the service rendered by that
member exemplary.
I recommend to all, take the time to access one and read it before you
pass judgement.
We in the profession of arms must stick together.
Be happy for and proud of our members for their achievements.
WO2
Chris McLeod
1 Armd Regt
Roberston Barracks
TOP
Unfair
criticism
I FEEL
a response in justified to the letter from Mr Bernie McGurgan about
coverage of chopper pilot Capt Scott Watkins (Edition 1112, December
16).
I am curious as to how Mr McGurgan could possibly know that the story
was sensationalised by the media?
The only way he would know this is if he was the co-pilot of the helicopter
that had been hit by enemy fire, with the pilot wounded and in need
of urgent medical attention, and not knowing the full extent of the
damage to the helicopter but landing it on safe ground in spite of all
that.
If he meets this criteria, he should know the pressure that the co-pilot
must have been enduring, thus he would not "belittle" his achievement.
If he has never been in that predicament, he should keep his critisism
to himself or maybe send a letter to Capt Watkins telling him how the
events were just part of his day's work.
Either way, I would suggest that if more people just said "well done"
when another gets recognition instead of airing petty jealousies, we
would all be better off.
WO2
Murray Brissett
CSM Romani Coy
TOP
Hat
stand
I AM writing
regarding the reply from ASODs to my letter about the wearing of the
slouch hat (Edition 1112, December 16).
The reply is quite correct, however the intent of my letter was not
what orders of dress the hat is worn with, but the way it is being worn
when the brim is up.
The brim remains horizontal when worn brim down, but regrettably most
wear it this way with the brim up and it is about time it was worn the
way it used to be and, indeed, the way it is shown in ASODs - angled
with brim up according to the measurements.
WO2
Dave O'Reilly
HQ JLC
VBM
TOP
PNG
thanks
ON BEHALF
of the officers and men of 2 Bn, Royal Pacific Islands Rgt, I would
like to thank the Australian Defence Staff PNG, members of 17 Const
Sqn and their attached personnel for their outstanding efforts in the
refurbishment of Moem Barracks Wewak during Exercise Pukpuk 2004.
These young men and women, along with members of our own PNGDF, gave
of their sweat and toil to make Moem Barracks a more efficient and productive
workplace for the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion.
The people of Papua New Guinea and, in particular, the people of Wewak
thank the people of Australia for their ongoing friendship and generosity.
Lt-Col
W.
Janguan Commanding Officer
2RPIR
TOP
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