Shot at core initiative
AT the risk of descending into diatribe, I would like to express my amazed disgust at the latest waste of time and money – the “I’m an Australian Soldier” medallion.
Nine core behaviours sounds more like a mass movement a la the Cultural Revolution than a code that diggers can relate to.
I do not know how much this farce costs, but I will guarantee it’s a lot more than it would cost to get every digger in the Army to a real rifle range at least once a year to fire at least 23 real bullets at real targets.
I have not fired a live round since 2002, hence my agitation.
Am I missing something here, or does Core Behaviour 1 expect non-arms corps soldiers to be “expert in close combat”, equipped only with token twice-yearly visits to the WTSS?
With regard to the other eight core behaviours, if I ever need a reminder in the form of a medallion gathering dust on the mantelpiece, then it’ll be time to hand in my DPCUs and join the public service.
If it’s not too late, please stop this silly joke, and send us all out to the rifle range.
Cpl Jason Gardner
BHQ 5CSSB
Banksmeadow
Lt-Col Richard King, SO1 Modernisation Coordination, FLW-A, responds:
THE first point to note is that the CA stated that the nine core behaviours are aspirational in nature and that we are not expected to be perfect in every behaviour.
The purpose of having nine core behaviours is to allow us to measure our performance against behaviours that will help us to deal with the challenges we are likely to face on operations. Improving our performance in the nine core behaviours will help us to succeed on operations now and into the future.
Second, the RSM-A noted that this initiative is an opportunity for people to provide ideas and contribute to their own development. You have certainly provided an idea, namely buying less medallions and more ammunition. Your idea, however, misses the target (no pun intended).
The Army does not have a current shortage of ammunition, and the “I’m an Australian Soldier” medallions are not being procured at the expense of ammunition. The medallions are only one part of the broader awareness campaign for the nine core behaviours, and they are intended to remind us of the duty we all share to serve the Army and maintain the traditions we hold in trust for the Australian nation.
Core Behaviour 1 does require all soldiers to be “an expert in close combat”. This does not mean that every soldier needs to be “expert” to the same level. The word expert means “a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field” (Macquarie Dictionary).
It is expected that all soldiers will have special skill or knowledge about close combat, but an infantry soldier will develop a higher level of skill than a logistician. What we need to be careful to do is to ensure that the logistician has enough expertise in close combat to be tactically proficient in the situations he or she is likely to face.
All of the core behaviours are important, and we cannot afford to neglect any of them. As stated by the CA and RSM-A, the responsibility for developing the nine core behaviours is one we all share and requires cooperation across Army. We will benefit from everybody thinking about the behaviours and sharing ideas on how to develop them.
