Letters to the Editor

Look harder at driver training
Heat’s on over allowances
Let’s have letters on real issues
Feedback welcomed
Doing our job is all part of the service
Thanks for vets’ salute

WRITE TO US

Look harder at driver training

RE the letters about specialist armoured engineering vehicles: I find it quite amazing that we all jump on the bandwagon of such subjects.

The question I would ask Maj Carey (Letters, July 28) is: when will other corps take seriously the manning and training of the soldiers required to man such vehicles?

Having worked in HQ 1 Bde as the S37, one of the hardest tasks I had was to get the so-called mech units to commit to drivers and commanders courses. Everyone demanded more positions on these courses than the unit had vehicles.
They are engineers or signallers first, so therefore we continue to chase our tails getting people trained.

This was even more apparent when I was the OPSO at the School of Armour – the constant change in the panel at the last minute and the withdrawal from the mech courses. I cancelled courses or had to reduce panels at the last minute only to hear units complaining that we were not running enough courses to support the demand (and, yes, I am fully aware of unit commitments). The schools are undermanned themselves, so adding another vehicle creates a problem.

This is not saying that I don’t agree that we need such vehicles in support of our battle groups; I think we need to take a hard look at the way we man these mech units and maybe commit these trained soldiers a little longer than a couple of months in each position.

WO2 Craig Cook
1st LAR Bn (USMC)
School of Armour

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Heat’s on over allowances

THIS year I was fortunate enough to be posted to Hobart, Tasmania.

Although a beautiful and enjoyable location to work, readers who have been posted to this location, and indeed still are, will be aware of its slightly cooler environment.

I have to ask: why are members posted here not entitled to a heating allowance during the cooler periods of the year?

Air conditioning for the north – why not heating for the south?

Also, in relation to locality benefits, what is the story? There is no option other than by sea and air to visit family interstate.

One cannot just plan a trip by vehicle to visit family/friends without crossing a large body of water. A trip of this nature can obviously be costly in money, and time.

I am aware of the current writing on allowances, however, a response would be welcome.

WO2 D. Jenssen
12/40 RT
Derwent Barracks

Gp-Capt John Price, Director of Service Conditions, responds:

Under existing Defence policy, members posted to remote localities are provided with additional allowances and other benefits to help reduce the effects of living there. This includes air-conditioning allowance to recognise the difficulties associated with living in a locality with a particularly oppressive tropical climate, such as Darwin or Katherine. Not all remote localities attract air-conditioning allowance (for example, neither Cairns nor Townsville are included) and those that do, get it for different periods and lengths of the year.

For almost any locality in Australia there will be some times of the year when the use of heating or air-conditioning is higher. For example, people in Canberra or Hobart use heaters more during winter. On the other hand, there will be times of the year when heating and air-conditioning will not be needed as much.

Air-conditioning allowance recognises particular circumstances in a small number of remote localities with particularly harsh climates through much of the year.

ADF members are regularly posted to locations that are long distances from extended family and friends. The ADF recognises separation from family or next-of-kin by providing travel at public expense. Members without dependants get recreation leave travel, and members with dependants (separated) get reunion travel. Members with dependants whose dependants accompany them on posting are not separated from their immediate family and do not receive reunion travel or recreation leave travel.

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Let’s have letters on real issues

I AM somewhat concerned at the lack of any real discussion, inclusion of important issues and topics and the apparent lack of editorial control over letters to the otherwise stalwart bastion of journalistic integrity, Army newspaper.

In years gone by we could look forward to lively and animated discussions on the pros and cons of touch football as a unit sport, or the heartfelt pleas for help or guidance from hard-done-by personnel that had somehow bypassed that whole cumbersome and pesky chain of command thing. I would like to see more people out there share their thoughts, worries and concerns about where Army is really going.

Instead of regaling everyone at the mess, at morning tea or happy hour with long-winded diatribes on why we should propose the awarding of a SWBTA-S (Shoal Water Bay Training Area Star) for participating in hazardous and possibly quite scary training doing Army stuff, or disgruntlement about the increasing amount of personnel who flagrantly disregard ASODs by travelling on planes wearing uniform, write in and share your thoughts with the wider Army community.

Let’s encourage debate and discussion over the really important issues and make a change for the better.

Maj B.C. Cocksedge
6RAR
Gallipoli Barracks

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Feedback welcomed

IIN a letter to Army (Sept 8), Sgt D. Kelly mentioned that while he had received HPAS for a house he had built and occupied, there were other aspects relating to the degree of notice to arrange a removal and a change to MQ rent, that came as a surprise to him.

He suggested that members be advised of these requirements when they make their HPAS application.

The Directorate of Entitlements (DE) is currently redesigning the HPAS/HPSEA application form (AC 970) and the suggestion from Sgt Kelly will be included in the redesign. I thank Sgt Kelly for his suggestion and would welcome feedback of this nature from any other members. Suggestions can be sent via email to john.marane@defence.gov.au.

Members might care to note that the assistance available to them through HPAS has risen to $14,546 for a house contract signed from September 22.

Ray Bromwich
Director Entitlements
Russell Offices

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Doing our job is all part of the service

AFTER reading Lt-Col Williamson’s argument as to why Op Gold members should have received an ASM (Letters, August 25), I started to think about what ADF personnel would begin to resemble if they were awarded medals for every formidable act they carried out (more commonly known as service).

I understand the yearning for recognition in our job, as you can have your proverbial kicked on the spot, but it can take years to receive official praise. I also understand the fixation with medals and I, too, am chasing the opportunity to earn them.

My concern lies in the fact that medals are being awarded based on the fact that personnel have been inconvenienced out of their daily routine, a right that was signed away on enlistment.

There are more medals being issued to non-combatants, logistical personnel and the like than ever before, while those who enlisted to join the fight are not even close to the action.

To all you Op Gold members, good job, but do you want to stand next to veterans on Anzac Day knowing they earned their service medals through the suffering of war, while yours were earned at an athletics carnival.

I give praise to Lt-Col Williamson for trying to achieve real recognition for troops, but other avenues need to be explored. What makes our medals so prestigious is that they are only awarded in exceptional circumstances, otherwise we may begin to resemble our US counterparts and our medals could lose their lustre.

Spr Michael Rhodes
IRR
Holsworthy Barracks

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Thanks for vets’ salute

I WOULD like to express my sincere appreciation for the magnificent contribution of the ADF to the Salute to Veterans event in Canberra.

The air pageants were spectacular and greatly appreciated by the veterans and the general public alike. The number and variety of aircraft participating was highly impressive as was the skill of those flying. The static displays were also very popular and enjoyed by all; the personnel informative and keen.

The commitment and enthusiasm of the ADF personnel who formed part of the organising committee and all those in the air and on the ground over the weekend was second to none. Those from our two departments involved in the event preparations forged a strong working relationship; one based on mutual respect and dedication to a common goal – to pay a fitting tribute to our World War II veterans.

Mark Sullivan
Secretary
Department of Veterans’ Affairs

ON AUGUST 15, Australia commemorated the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific and paid tribute to the extraordinary contribution made by Australian servicemen and women during World War II.

Events were held all over the nation, with the national public event, Salute to Veterans, hosted in Canberra. It consisted of activities, events and commemorations over three days, culminating with a national ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

I was fortunate to be able to attend some of the activities. It was a great privilege for me to be able to spend time with veterans, to hear their heroic stories, and to thank them for their remarkable service. I never cease to be amazed at their humble and self-effacing attitude.

I was deeply impressed with the contribution of the ADF to this commemoration. The ground displays of historic and modern military equipment, the various simulations and “rescues” on Lake Burley Griffin, and the spectacular aerial showcase, truly were a magnificent tribute to this remarkable generation of servicemen and women. I would like to thank all ADF personnel who participated in this commemorative weekend. I am sure that your commitment and enthusiasm added to the experience for everyone who witnessed these activities.

I was honoured to be asked to speak on behalf of all the men and women of the ADF at the official veterans’ reception at Parliament House, where I took the opportunity not only thank our veterans, but to share with them my immense pride in you – the current generation of ADF men and women. I am very impressed with your performance at home, the contribution you are making on operations and on exercises, and the way in which you conduct yourselves.

You are serving in the fine tradition established at Anzac Cove and reaffirmed 60 years ago by the Australian servicemen and women of the Second World War. You consistently demonstrate the finest Aussie qualities of courage, compassion, endurance and mateship, just as they did.

ACM Angus Houston
CDF

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WRITE TO US

Preference is given to letters of fewer than 300 words. Letters will be rejected if they are too long, abusive or can be answered by the author's unit.

They will be published only when they include the author's name, unit, location and contact number.

Send letters to: The Editor, Army newspaper, R8-LG-037, Russell Offices, Canberra, ACT 2600; or email: armynews@defencenews.gov.au