Reserve serve undeserved
Paying out on the paper
Medal a ‘flash souvenir’
Grateful for support in time of crisis

Reserve serve undeserved

I’D like to respond to my ARA counterparts who have had a big gripe over ARes pay “increases”.
I work long hours in my civilian employment. I then back up to parade nights so my Tuesdays are generally 20 hours long. After a 60-hour week I then may do a weekend which commences on Friday night with the Reserve, so my Friday may go for 20-plus hours.

I have to be as competent in my military skills as my ARA colleagues as well as meet obligations in AIRN compliancy; this alone requires that I exercise in my own time. Normal Reserve duties plus courses all add up to a substantial time away from my family.
If I get injured while on military service I have found that treatment is difficult to obtain as a reservist. God forbid I am killed or unable to work as my private insurance does not cover military activities and the Army compensation will in no way compensate my family for the loss of my civilian wage.

My point is that reservists and our families are committed to serving the nation due to a sense of duty.
We commit a great deal of our time, blood, sweat and tears to it. If anyone thinks the amount of money we get is compensation for it they are kidding themselves. My return trip to barracks is 200km so the money barely covers fuel and wear and tear.
If ARA soldiers think being a reservist is so financially rewarding then there is always room for one more. Just remember, you need to get a civilian job, too.
Tpr Anthony Helsby
1/15 RNSWL
Holsworthy Barracks

OVER the past months, the debate between ARA/ARes members discussing who deserves more pay, larger percentile increases and better benefits has escalated.

Frustrations are mounting from both sides with members feeling unvalued or less valued than others.
Unfortunately, comparisons between entitlements of full-time and part-time members is futile and thinking that one understands what life is like “on the other side”, unless you’ve done it, is equally pointless.

The two types of service are, by their very nature, the same (one Army) but different. Clearly, ARA members (particularly with operational experience) attain skill and knowledge that an ARes member cannot.
However, the ADF is a melting pot of skills and experiences that include full-time an
d part-time members with and without various levels of operational experience, career and personal knowledge, civilian industry exposure and training affected by ever-changing curriculums. If the ADF were to remunerate in “actual” capability, every member would be paid differently.
My doctoral studies into retention of ARes members indicate that when it comes to separation, reservists generally don’t compare themselves with ARA in regards to pay; it’s usually other external factors that pull them to leave, predominately their full-time career and family.

There are sacrifices we all make to work in our career of choice. This is the nature of voluntary careerism. However, Reserve service adds another layer of sacrifice, which reservists choose, but this makes their work different from ARA counterparts who sacrifice differently – not more or less, better or worse, just different.
For many committed reservists, Reserve service is not a “hobby”. It is their military career that happens to be performed part-time.

Part-time attendance does not mean part-time commitment or competence, nor does full-time employment automatically result in more commitment or competence. But for those who believe it is better elsewhere, choice affords us the ability to leave.
To avoid reductions in numbers, the ADF is remunerating in order to get better return on investment for our training, knowledge and skills. They have to treat ARA/ARes remuneration differently, because we are different.

This is not an attempt to further expand the divide between ARA and ARes members, indeed to the contrary.
We are different by nature, but aim to achieve the same recognition for the capability and sacrifices we give. Ultimately, we all want to be paid, appreciated, and be recognised more; continuing with this “us and them” mentality only serves to deepen the divide, and ultimately result in none of us getting what we want.
Capt Jodie Strong
5CSSB
Banksmeadow

ISN’T it about time to put the full-time/part-time rivalry to bed?
This is the only organisation that there is such rivalry between the two. At McDonald’s the full-time crew don’t hate the part-timers and vice versa.

I read with interest the letter by Gnr Camps (Army, December 14) that states the Reserve is a waste of resources and money from the Defence budget.

I work up to 150 days a year as well as a 9-5 Monday-to-Friday job and still come in on a Tuesday night to fix the things some ARA members can’t do because they are too busy playing golf or having mornos during the day.
Let’s all drop the negative comments about the Reserve and stop increasing the gap between the two. I’m more than willing to stand at the front line and put in the hard yards.

Be grateful that you will have the honour of wearing medals on your chest when I most likely never will. I wear the uniform with pride and respect and will always look up to my ARA counterparts with respect except for the ones that know nothing about the Reserve other than what they have heard on the grape vine. I’m proud to be a Choco.
Cpl Adam Boyd
1 MP Battalion
Melbourne

I AM replying to a specific comment made by Maj Hendry-Adams in his letter (Army, December 14).
Without being drawn into the ARA/ARes conditions of service debate, I noted a particular comment made by the author in regards to the lack of “basic skills” displayed by the ARes.

Let me guess, another disgruntled ARA member posted to an ARes unit that takes no interest in the professional development of the Reserve soldier. The standard of reservists is only as good as the training that we, the regular counterpart, plan for, provide and evaluate.
More time should be spent on planning and assessing the delivery of training rather than sitting down and concocting another way to kick the reservist in the guts.

When you talk about the soldier, remember he is just that, part-time or not. You have an obligation to teach, coach and mentor him in a way that he upholds all the values and standards that sets us apart from the rest.
If his basic skills are lacking you are not doing your job and you are doing the soldier a disservice.
WO1 Ian D’Arcy
9RQR
Gallipoli Barracks

AFTER reading the letters under the title of “Paying out on the Reserves” in the December 14 edition, I can certainly say I am very disappointed with the attitudes of some of my colleagues that work for the Australian Army in a permanent capacity.
Most soldiers and officers do not choose to serve in the Army Reserve for financial remuneration or Service benefits.
Many of my colleagues who choose to dedicate a portion of their limited and valuable time do so at financial cost to themselves and, if self-employed, their business. Most serve in the Reserve because they embrace the values of this country, are proud to be Australian and embrace the values of the Army – courage, initiative and teamwork.

Unlike Maj Hendry-Adams, I certainly can say during my 10 years with the Army Reserve I can see many similarities between the ARA and Reserve in terms of experience, dedication and willingness to serve.

Although I have been deeply disturbed by the general lack of commitment, attention to detail and professionalism displayed by some ARA members, there have been reservists that, too, have lacked those attributes.
In my civilian career, as with the Army, there are people who work hard and are professional in all their endeavours and people who are not. However, I do not generalise these into groups, as they are individuals in a large organisation.

If you read the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal’s determination 7 of 2006 and determination 6 of 1992 (in force from September 1, 2006) you will find, unlike the Air Force and Naval Reserves who will receive the non-discounted pay rates as long as they are not trainees, the Army Reserve conditions are more complex.

In short, only members of the Army Reserve who hold all ARA competencies for rank and trade will receive the non-discounted rate, as will any member of the Reserve who was in the ARA, has completed a period of CFTS or has been in the HRR in the past five years. For the majority of members serving in the Army Reserve, the new non- discounted rate will not apply.
I am proud to serve my country and would rather serve in the Army in a part-time capacity than not at all.
Capt John Sayers
Uni of Tas Coy
Anglesea Barracks

Paying out on the paper

THE “Paying out on the Reserves” letters printed in Army’s last edition for 2006 highlight the prejudice and misinformation held by some members of the ARA about the role and value of the Army Reserve.

That is a concern; what’s more concerning, however, is that Army’s editorial staff decided to print the letters, given recent initiatives by CA to address the Army Reserve’s declining numbers.

It’s clear money is an emotive issue with some in the ARA and the ARes – but to blame reservists for decisions made by Government makes no sense. Like our ARA counterparts, reservists work with what we’re given. Reservists do not control the timing of pay decisions and, what’s clear from the decisions just handed down, have limited influence over the outcomes.
It could be perceived that Army’s editors enjoy no care and no responsibility when it comes to enhancing the Army’s morale and hide behind the official replies given to authors by senior ranking members – instead of providing enough information to help inform members in the first place.

It is sad that Army’s editors decided these letters would substantially add to the debate – so much for supporting the Army’s equity and diversity policy. What about informing your readership through interesting and concise articles which enhance overall morale rather than highlight and sensationalise misinformed generalisations?
As a reservist for some time, one has continually fought against this sort of prejudice – to see it now endorsed through the pages of Army raises the question of whether the wider interest of the Army was served in this instance?
Lt Joe Trimboli
5/6RVR
Hawthorn Depot

David Edlington, Army Editor, responds:
I STAND by the decision to print the letters, which have mainly focused on what the authors perceive is an imbalance in remuneration between the ARes and ARA.
Publication of a letter in itself does not mean that Army endorses the sentiments expressed (as publication of this letter attests).
Publication of the letters complained about was not, in my view, irresponsible. Indeed it has been refreshing to note the strength of views in the letters subsequently generated – a clear reminder to all readers that most of those who serve in the Army, in whatever capacity, are passionate about their jobs.

Medal a ‘flash souvenir’


IT is my understanding that, before the current deployment to Afghanistan, when Australians have deployed with NATO forces ADF personnel have been awarded and are entitled to wear the NATO Medal.

There are a heap of ADF personnel walking around proudly wearing the NATO Medal for service in previous years in countries such as Bosnia. Also, personnel who deploy with a British force while on Exercise Longlook have had the medal awarded.

Could you please inform me, so that I can tell some inquisitive Diggers here in Afghanistan, why previous ADF service with NATO entitles some ADF personnel to be able to wear the NATO Medal and today’s soldiers serving with NATO in Afghanistan can be presented the award on parade – alongside the Dutch, British, US and a heap of other countries – yet not be entitled to wear it.

Now I am sure the explanation will be that they are already being awarded Australian gongs for being in Afghanistan and that counters or makes up for the award of any other. But if my memory serves me correctly, ADF personnel who served previously with NATO have received Australian gongs for their time in other operational theatres, as well as the NATO Medal.

I am not sure whether this thought process is meant to emphasise the Australian award and cheapen the NATO award, but it was an eye opener listening to the Dutch Commander on parade lauding the merits of the NATO Medal, then watching the formal presentation of the award to the Dutch soldiers who were justifiably proud to receive it and then to see Australian Diggers stuffing a box in their pockets, with a bit of an embarrassed giggle. Thanks for the flash souvenir though.
WO2 Dave Bastian
1RTF
Afghanistan

Irene Wilson, Director Honours and Awards, responds:
THE issue of whether ADF personnel are entitled to the NATO Medal is subject to NATO, as the awarding authority. NATO has not yet approached the Australian Government concerning this matter.

However, current Australian Government policy is that a foreign service medal will not normally be recommended for official acceptance and wearing if it was earned for an operation in which two Australian medals are also awarded.
In line with the above, ADF personnel on current operations in Afghanistan earn the Australian Active Service Medal with clasp ICAT and the Afghanistan Medal.

This policy, however, does not preclude ADF members from accepting and wearing the NATO Medal, when in civil attire and on the right hand side, on an appropriate occasion such as Anzac Day.

Grateful for support in time of crisis

I REGULARLY read the letters sent in to Army; it is no real surprise that the letters I have seen deal with the “I want more money” or “DHA broke my stuff” issues. I am not about to say Army is perfect because I could use more money and, shock horror, DHA has broken some of my stuff too. I do, however, want to raise something positive as a novelty.

My six-month-old daughter recently became seriously ill and was hospitalised (including a stint in intensive care). This was a very difficult time for me, my wife and other two children.

The support I received from my unit (enabled by the policies Army already has in place) was fantastic. Within 24 hours of her admission to hospital, we had family flown in from interstate to help with our other children and support us, I was immediately granted compassionate leave and was advised of different avenues I could take advantage of in these circumstances. I was also allowed flexible hours to attend the numerous appointments that followed during her recovery.

Some of the support I received is obviously unit-based and stands to highlight the relationships we in the ADF can develop with our peers that I’m sure our civilian counterparts would envy. It also showed me that Army is serious about looking after families, especially in a time of need. I doubt I would have received the level of assistance and support from a civilian employer.

Hopefully no one else will need to find out the way I did that Army is able to help families quickly and without the barrage of bureaucracy that I must admit I expected. It certainly made any pay issues and DHA dramas pale into insignificance.
Thanks again to everyone in JMCO Townsville for their support.
Lt Brett Hartley
JMCO Townsville
Lavarack Barracks.