Sleep
recovery Subsafe issue
I
write in protest to the retraction of submarine subsistence and
acommodation allowances for port visits.
After a roundtable discussion with fellow submariners, we have
devised a list of some points that we feel the decision makers
should address are:
These
are just some of the concerns we have and would like answers to.
Name
and address witheld
NOTE:
Maritime Command has been forwarded the content of letters received
on subsistence.
RTF
fee sign of times
As
the years go by I have observed the slow but constant degradation
of conditions of service entitlements and perks.
It happens at a rate so slow that it often goes unnoticed as not
to draw too much attention. I do not intend to list all the issues
but suffice to say there are many.
To dedicate yourself to a service and put yourself in harms way
now attracts very few benefits, other than a salary
I’m positive that every sailor reading this article understands
exactly what I’m saying. Notice I have used the word sailor,
not defence civilian not politician and definitely not Senior
Naval Officer.
Now the Navy’s answer to understanding these problems is
to form the PIT (Personnel Initiative Team), create a flash website
and tour the countryside discussing various issues with the sailors.
Since I had no opportunity to sit with this team and discuss my
thoughts the erosion continues.
The RAN Relief Trust Fund now attracts a $25 ‘administration
fee’ - considering that this loan is supposed to be used
by those who need it most, $25 for a $1500 ‘interest free’
loan seems outrageous. Where exactly is this money going?
When does it end - when the last sailor discharges?
Name and address withheld
Base
stay angers submarine crew
One
of the major selling points of the submarine squadron has been
subsistence and hotels in ports.
The enforcement of MARORDS was a major sore point for the majority
of the crew of my boat last year.
When they were told they were going to stay at Larrakeyah (Barracks)
there was almost a riot. The basic feeling
was ‘what’s the point of being subs?’.
Let’s get serious, we’ll never get the ports the ships
get (soa and berthing issues), but at least we got a couple of
extra bucks and a decent room for the stay. The average AB in
skimmers has seen more countries than any SM.
People are getting sick and tired of losing what they see to be
entitlements. All the bosses need to do is look at the exit figures.
There is just no fun in SM anymore, it’s all just hard work,
and people are sick of it.
Name and address witheld
Next
stop SCRAN
I’m
writing in regards to the decision to scrap the accommodation
and financial assistance that we as submariners have previously
received when pulling into ports other then Stirling.
After spending as long as 30 and even up to 50 days submerged,
the heartening thought is that after we finish the job we will
eventually pull into port.
A hotel stay gives us the chance to have break from military influences
and a chance to unwind without the constant presence of the service
members and protocols existing.
Now when we pull in it’s ‘all on the bus and off to
the next base, and if you don’t hurry up then you’ll
miss SCRAN and you won’t get paid for it’ rather than
‘I’ve got a few more things to tidy up and I’ll
get the next bus, I’ll meet you guys afterwards’.
It’s left a lot of fellow submariners feeling a little ‘at
sea’ about the perceived value of us as submariners.
Name and address witheld
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