SOLDIERS who have been identified as eligible for the non-discounted rate of pay can expect to receive their next round of payments during June and July.

Changes in remuneration arrangements and a number of allowances for ARes members, made under the Reserve Remuneration Review (RRR), will be backdated to September 1, 2006.

Maj Mark Scully, SO2 Employment Management, said the review had been a complex determination.

“The determination covers most of the Army Reserve and the implementation has been a slow, deliberate process to ensure minimum errors in remuneration due to the movement of soldiers to new entitlements,” Maj Scully said.

“Some payments were made in February, but due to inaccurate personal records and the interface differences between PMKeyS and the CenRes pay operating systems, some soldiers received initial overpayments. This was unforeseen at the time of implementation.

“The overpayments result from changes to the Reserve across the entire Remuneration Reform Project spectrum and are not limited to RRR changes.

“The base pay level has not changed and no member will receive less money than they previously received.”

Members at the non-discounted rate who advance within their employment, yet do not gain full ARA competencies for their next level, will move to the appropriate discounted rate at the time of their change of employment.

There is a sunset provision on ex-HRR and ex-ARA members. At the expiry of their entitlement, members’ qualifications for their level will need to be audited to allow them to be identified for either the discounted or non-discounted rate.

Units will receive a directive covering the changes to remuneration arrangements and the information will also be available on the DRN. The document will detail groups, categories and individual ranks entitled to the non-discounted rate.

The future management of RRR determination rests with units and CMAs. The directive will only provide guidance that will facilitate the correct management of skill grades.

If members believe they hold the competencies to entitle them to the non-discounted rate, and haven’t received their new rate, they may apply using the Recognition of Current Competencies process (ATI 1-3) through their unit orderly room.

HOW YOU QUALIFY

Discounted rate of pay is the standard ARes daily rate. This is still 85% of the ARA rate but is now called the discounted rate.
The non-discounted rate is remunerated at 100% of the ARA rate. To qualify for this rate a member must meet one of the six provisions:

1. Be a member of the new HRR effective from July 1, 2007. This entitlement continues for five years after the end date of the most recent HRR contract.

2. Be a previous member of the ARA or an ARes member undertaking a CFTS contract of more than six months. This entitlement continues for five years after the termination date from the ARA or, for CFTS, the end date of the relevant CFTS contract.

3. Hold the competencies to transfer to the permanent force. This means ARA equivalent qualifications.

4. A member of a Reserve-only trade. These are currently identified as: ECN 062 Light Cavalry Trooper, ECN 263 Operator Intelligence, ECN 263 Handler Petroleum, ECN 291 Combat Medical Attendant, ECN 304 RFSU Patrolman including ECN 323 Patrol Commander and ECN 324 Patrol Master

5. A member who performs duty in and is fully competent in an employment category that has specific pay grade for the Reserve element of the employment category, following work assessment by the DFRT.

6. Any other member who holds the competencies for which the CDF decides the member is to be paid salary at the non-discounted rate.