Letters
Cadets offer their thanks
Keen for an overseas job
Inspiring support
Best of care
Multiple medals
Uniform query
Deployments: let system decide
Proud to serve with you

Cadets offer their thanks

TO achieve its mission, the Australian Army Cadets (AAC) rely heavily on the goodwill, cooperation and assistance of many elements of the Army, both full-time and part-time.

The level of support that we received last year – ranging from the individual private soldier who supports an activity in his or her capacity as a driver or medic through to the policy makers at AHQ level – has been outstanding.
While I realise the current level of operational tempo has an impact on the amount of support available I truly believe that commanders at all levels see the benefit of supporting the AAC and have gone out of their way to provide whatever assistance they can to ensure that the activities we conduct are safe, challenging and provide the cadets with a valuable insight into service life.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 12 months and I look forward to expanding on the relationships that we have forged as I truly believe that Army support for AAC activities results in that very rare outcome of a “win-win” situation.
Lt-Col David Major
CO NSW AAC Bde
Steele Barracks
Keen for an overseas job

CAN someone please tell me what a man has got to do to get an overseas deployment in this Army as a reservist major?
I have made phone calls, sent emails and spoken to lots of people who just keep telling me that if I were a sergeant MP I would have been overseas four or five times by now.

As my 30-year anniversary in this job (20 ARA, the rest Reserve) comes up in May, I am wondering how it is that I have never managed to meet someone who can finally employ me to do the job I was trained to do.

I have written to this paper in the past about the under-utilisation of Reserve civilian-trained MPs in investigative roles within the ADF (and I think we have seen that my point was not all together without merit).

I have spoken to Career Management staff who tell me that as long as there are ARA officers left standing, I cannot expect an opportunity to work overseas.

It is frustrating to think that after nearly 30 years that I don’t have some skills or training that could be useful to a contingent commander in welfare, civil police liaison, training or investigative work.
Maj Doc Newman
XO Parachute Training School
Nowra, NSW

Lt-Col Kevin Rowlatt, CoS Career Management Agency, responds:
CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for your almost 30 years of service. I am disappointed that you have had to speak with a large number of people to find an accurate answer to your question but I can confirm the advice you have been given is correct.

CA Lt-Gen Leahy has recently issued a directive to the functional commanders and the Career Management Agencies that ARA personnel are to be considered first for operational deployments.

Where functional commands and the Career Management Agencies are unable to fill assigned force elements or individual reinforcement requirements with suitable ARA personnel, CA has directed that consideration of Army Reserve options is appropriate if collective training imperatives can be met.

This directive has not been issued because of a lack of faith in Army Reserve personnel, many of whom are contributing at the highest possible standard on operations, rather it recognises that the purpose of Army’s regular work force is to meet short-notice operational requirements.

In order to maintain this high-readiness force, considerable resources are expended on individual and collective training, medical treatment, housing and superannuation – meaning that we have a responsibility to ensure this investment is utilised when it is required by Government.

You are correct when you identify that there are skills held in the Army Reserve that are not resident in the ARA. One of the most significant of these is the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) function. In recent years 1 Div has built a very capable CIMIC capability, largely based on Reserve personnel. It is possible that in the near future this capability may expand into 2 Div.

As you can imagine there is considerable interest in this role so competition for training places and deployments will be intense, but I encourage you to make contact with HQ 2 Div to find out more detail about this emerging capability.

Finally, you will be aware that already Army Reserve personnel are active on operations in Solomon Islands, an increasingly complex environment. This involvement may grow in coming months, presenting numerous opportunities for Army Reserve personnel.
Good luck in your efforts to be considered for these opportunities.
Inspiring support


MY recent unfortunate experience with being diagnosed with cancer made me realise how supportive the Army can be and, in particular, made me feel a part of a big Army family.

The fact I was “just” a Reserve member made no difference. The support, well-wishes and flowers from my unit, 25/49RQR, in this time of crisis actually made me decide to resign from my full-time job as a social worker after five years to work in the Army as a full-time Reserve digger.

Being misdiagnosed and having recovered fully from surgery, I now have a new lease of life and enjoy working with such happy, healthy and funny personnel.
After being in the Reserves for 13 years, the experience of the comradeship and support, not only from my immediate supervisors, but from the padre also checking on my family, was absolutely fantastic.

The public sector should take a leaf out of the Army’s book on how to look after their employees. I had only been at this unit for less than six months and feel I have friends for life already here.

Congratulations 25/49RQR – people here rock, from the CO, Chiefy and Tanya to the cleaners.
Pte Kylie Houghton
25/49RQR
Gallipoli Barracks
Best of care

THERE have been many comments regarding the services provided by ABC day care centres since they won the contract with Defence more than 12 months ago, and the majority of them have been negative.

In the months I have been deployed on Operation Astute, the support my husband and two daughters have received has been second to none.

ABC Old Reynella in South Australia has gone beyond the call of duty to make life easier for my husband and daughters while I have been away. It is certainly a relief knowing that my girls are being well cared for and that the staff have recognised the difficulties families face when one member has deployed overseas.

I would recommend ABC centres to anyone who is looking for good, reliable day care.
Maj Cherisa Bellis
HQ JTF 631
Timor-Leste
Multiple medals

WO2 Bastian has written about the NATO medal (Army, February 8): in my opinion he has raised an important point about the award of medals.

The reply stated that Australian troops awarded the medal for service in Afghanistan shouldn’t wear it in uniform but can wear it on the right in civvies. And the reason given for this was that there was already an Australian medal for Afghanistan.

All I will say to that is Korea. A Commonwealth medal was awarded for Korea as well as a UN medal so the precedent has been set for the award of two medals for the same campaign.

But can I point out that as Australia isn’t a member of NATO then surely Australians shouldn’t be awarded them anyway? Although I know that Australians serving in British units in Bosnia have been awarded the medal for Bosnia and, I believe, an Australian medal. Whereas us Brits just got the NATO medal.
Richard Elwell
Lancashire, UK
Uniform query

I AM looking for information concerning the history of the old Australian Army “blues” ceremonial uniform worn in the ARA from post-World War II to the 1970s.

Any person who can supply information on the subject can contact me on (02) 8782 1913 or antony.buckingham@defence.gov.au
Cpl Antony Buckingham
52 MP Pl
Lamia Bks
Deployments: let system decide

I WOULD like a bit of light shed upon the subject regarding members being not fit for deployment when they have received a posting order through SCMA. Is this a policy across the board or is it just an individual unit practice?

Some units have a policy of not deploying a member because that member has received a posting order and the experience gained from that trip will not be a benefit to the losing unit. What about the experience and benefit to the individual, their respective corps or the Army as a whole?

I have been posted to AAvnTC as an instructor in 2007 and any trip I might have received could only be a benefit to the corps and the quality of information passed on through teaching IETs on their respective courses.

The “mates’ club” is apparently alive and kicking. I have seen newly posted members receive a direct phone call from their losing unit advising them of a possible deployment and asking if they wanted it. In another instance a member was removed from a short overseas trip on the pretence that he might be posted.

Why not let the system decide who should go on a performance-based selection rather than what seems to be a “handshake under the table” decision. The Army has a serious retention problem while issues like this continue to go unchallenged.

On the issue of retention, why not bring into play a goal of doing a minimum of 10 or 15 years’ continuous full-time service and then that member becomes eligible for the old DFRTB scheme? I am sure that if that little carrot was waved in front of members contemplating discharge they would seriously think about staying in.

It saddens me to see so many soldiers doing their initial four years and pulling the pin.

A lot of good quality people are getting out when all that may be needed to keep them in is the opportunity to do their job in the environment that they are training for and some more incentive at the end of the ride.
Cpl Rick Turner
AAvnTC
Oakey

Capt Duncan Price, SO3 Post, SCMA, responds:
TO respond to your initial question, there is indeed an Army-wide policy on members deploying when in receipt of a posting order.
What appears to be inconsistency from your perspective may actually be the result of this policy being correctly applied.
The policy is that where a deployment falls over the posting period, losing and gaining units are to liaise for the member’s release and agreement on late march-in.

If units are unable to concur the issue is raised through the respective chains of command for resolution. If functional commands can not agree on release then the matter is forwarded to the Director General Personnel Policy ­ Army.

The policy has nothing to do with the losing unit not gaining benefit from the member’s deployment experience, as you have suggested. Recent CA guidance has further clarified the policy and as such there should be no confusion at unit level.
In your particular case, the fact that you were selected for a posting to a TC-A unit would generally prevent you from deploying due to the importance of the position you will be filling in 2007.

Current operational tempo is so great that TC-A units have been given a high manning priority so that Army can continue to train sufficient personnel to meet its operational commitments.

Although it will be of little consolation, you are certainly not alone in being prevented from taking up deployment opportunities for this reason.

As to your reference to the “mates’ club”, from a SCMA perspective all members are selected for deployments based purely on deployability, suitability and availability.
Where individual reinforcements are sourced by brigade, division or LHQ from within their own formations, scrutiny is also applied to ensure the most appropriate members are chosen to deploy.

While at times people may attempt to “look after” their mates at the lowest levels, one hopes there are ample checks and balances at each level of command to ensure no member is overlooked in favour of a less suitable candidate.

Your anecdote of newly marched-in members being called by their old units and being offered deployments would not have resulted in the member being deployed unless the chains of command of both units were in agreement. This agreement would certainly not be reached if there were suitable members to deploy from within the losing unit’s formation, or if the gaining unit refused to release the new march-in.

You are to be commended for your eagerness to deploy and should take heart in the fact that Army’s current operational tempo shows no signs of slowing in the near future. If you maintain your readiness and perform well it can only be a matter of time until further deployment opportunities come your way.
Proud to serve with you

HAVING read the recent GRes vs ARA letters, I note the snide remarks and grievances being aired.
I would like to point out, is this being raised through your chain of command? If not, why?

It is time to pull your head in and stop complaining.

If you are good at your job, so be it. Be grateful that your efforts are appreciated no matter who or where you are, if you’re on operations or conducting a training weekend.

The fact that you are serving shows to me that you are dedicated and, no matter of people’s opinion, I am proud to serve with you.
Maj Terrence Cook
OC Secdet 10
Iraq