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Personnel
How
ready are you?
AIRN
policy revised in response to feedback
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Ready
and able: Pte Arron Peterson and other 1RAR soldiers on
the streets of Honiara during their short-notice deployment.
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Photo
by Cpl Neil Ruskin, 1JPAU
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THE
RECENT deployments of the Ready Company Group to the Solomon Islands
and about 600 Army personnel to support relief efforts in tsunami-hit
Indonesia highlight the importance of maintaining individual readiness.
When the new Army Individual Readiness Notice (AIRN) policy was
released in January last year, it was acknowledged that personnel
are increasingly called on to deploy on operations at short notice.
For this reason, the new policy emphasised the requirement for
every member to be ready for deployment at all times, and noted
that individual readiness, as it suggests, is an individual responsibility.
After the release of the new AIRN policy, AHQ received considerable
feedback from individuals and units seeking clarification on aspects
of the policy or offering suggestions on how the policy could
be improved.
Consequently, the AIRN policy was reviewed and, based on advice
from across Army, a number of changes have been made.
The most significant change is the introduction of a mandatory
standard for the grouping practice within the weapon proficiency
component.
Under the revised policy, all members are to achieve a group size
of 200mm or less.
The other major change removes the requirement to conduct the
annual health assessment and annual dental assessment in a member’s
birth month.
Amendments or additions have been made to make it easier for members
to understand their responsibilities with regard to individual
readiness. These include outlining reporting responsibilities,
explaining PMKeyS default settings, additional guidance on who
is to be AIRN-compliant, and when personnel are eligible for exemptions
and waivers.
To be AIRN-compliant, individuals must meet the requirements of
each of the six AIRN components:
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Individual
availability: All personnel are to be ready to deploy at 28
days notice (for reserve personnel, it is 28 days after callout),
and are to advise their chain of command when they cannot meet
this obligation.
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Employment proficiency: All personnel are to be proficient for
their employment in rank and trade.
Individuals are considered proficient when they have completed
their induction training and specific Corps or trade training
courses conducted within Training Command establishments. Proficiency
is assessed annually through the ADF performance appraisal system.
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Medical fitness: To meet AIRN requirements, members are to undergo
a medical assessment within 12 months from the date of their
previous assessment, and achieve a Medical Employment Classification
(MEC) of 1 or 2.
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Dental fitness: To meet AIRN requirements, full-time members
are to undergo a dental assessment within 12 months from the
date of their previous assessment, and achieve a Dental Classification
of 1 or 2. Parttime personnel are to undergo a dental examination
every five years.
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Physical fitness: All members are to pass two BFAs a year. The
BFA is to be completed within six months from the date of the
previous BFA.
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Weapons proficiency: The Weapon Proficiency component comprises
a weapon training test (WTT) and grouping practice (LF1), fired
using the Steyr (SOCOMD personnel qualified on the M4 may use
this weapon).
All members (except chaplains) are to pass the WTT and achieve
a group of 200mm or less for LF1. The Weapon Proficiency component
is to be completed twice a year, within six months from the
date of the previous test.
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