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Doing it right: Maj Andrew Williams greets Honiara locals.
Photo by Cpl Rachel Ingram |
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AN independent study into the deployment of Reserve soldiers is breaking new ground, according to CO 25/49RQR Lt-Col Rowan Martin.
Lt-Col Martin, who recently returned from commanding the task force in the Solomon Islands, said the DSTO study would provide credible evidence for any possible amendments to policy.
“The intent of the study is to provide a very objective analysis of the best way to prepare and deploy a Reserve sub-unit.”
He said the analysis would support the CA’s expectations of a greater commitment from the Reserve.
One of the focuses of the deployment was the unit’s relationship with employers and families of reservists.
“We took a lot of effort with the employers to keep them as informed as best we could before going away, because they had a commercial decision to make,” he said.
“The soldiers volunteered for the operation – the government did not call for them – so the employer had no obligation to let them go.”
He said once released for full-time service, however, reservists were protected from losing their civilian jobs or university status.
The commander and soldiers of CTF-635 said employers were initially reluctant to release their employees, but almost all of them eventually agreed to it.
“We’ve had excellent support from the employers,” Lt-Col Martin said.
The CO said employers could receive a weekly entitlement, if they applied for it, while their employees were on full-time service. He also said very few reservists received a wage from their employer while serving on CFTS.
“For the vast majority of soldiers, they only got their salary from the Army while they were over there.”
Among many initiatives, 25/49RQR held a family/employer day in Brisbane during the deployment “to make sure that both families and employers were getting the support they needed”.
Lt-Col Martin said it was important for the reservists to have a six-month CFTS contract for a three-month
deployment.
He said it provided the necessary preparation and training time beforehand as well as post operation administration and leave.
“That two weeks leave with the family is critical.”
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