Radical reserve plan funded
Volume 11, No. 43, May 18, 2006

RESERVISTS will receive a range of new benefits and incentives worth up to $7500 a year under a radical new plan announced in the 2006 Budget.

The new measures are intended to attract Active Army and Air Force Reserves into a new High Readiness Reserve (HRR), which over time will comprise 2800 Army and 1400 Air Force personnel. The Army HRR component will stand up from July 1.

Wg-Cmdr Tom Buckham, Defence Reserve Policy, said that at the end of their commitment, HRR personnel would receive $5000 for each year's service and would receive an annual health support allowance (HSA) of $2500.

"Army HRR members will have an initial two-year contract," Wg-Cmdr Buckham said.

"Those who sign up will only need to prove they have private top-level hospital and ancillary benefits to qualify."

The HSA cover is based on an average annual cost for private health insurance of $1200 per year, with the remainder intended to cover the costs of keeping fit and incidentals such as optical and dental needs.

In addition to the allowances for the HRR, a Reserves Service Allowance of $10 a day will be paid to all personnel up to the rank of major, while lieutenant colonels and above will have their salary adjusted to ensure commonality with permanent force pay rates.

The new measures are also intended to attract more personnel into the Active Reserves.

Active reservists who meet individual readiness status and complete 20 reserve days annually will receive an additional annual $600 HSA.

The HRR will comprise personnel who volunteer to transfer from their existing reserve band, commit to fulfil their HRR obligation and are fully trained.

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