READY: Junior sailors onboard Arunta and Warramunga will trial the new flexi crewing arrangement, set to beg`in on July 1.

Photo: POPH Damian Pawlenko

HMAS Arunta will join HMAS Warramunga in a two-year flexicrewing trial under the auspices of the Sea Change program.

While Arunta is still undergoing a refit in Western Australia, the trial will begin on July 1.

At this stage, the trial will only apply to junior sailors and the golden rule is aimed at not requiring any junior sailor to be required for more than 225 days per annum. Conversely, each junior sailor is guaranteed 140 days leave during the year (standfast anytime that the sailor is classed as ineffective).

Time off includes normal checked leave, weekends, public holidays, with the remainder being short (or unchecked) leave. In respect to annual leave, DPE has determined that sailors in the trial will not be entitled the extra five days recreation leave normally received when posted to a ship.

In practical execution this has no impact.

Each junior sailor will accrue 30 days leave a year and be expected to expend that leave during the course of the year.

Exceptions to the golden rule can only be authorised by a delegate of the Maritime Commander - the ANZCEM.

To achieve the golden rule without placing undue strain on those remaining onboard, additional personnel are posted to the ship to create a rotation pool.

In determining the extra personnel requirements two additional factors were taken into account: ability to conduct individual training and the operational tempo of the ship.

The aim of the training is to ensure sailors are able to complete all promotion pre-requisite training, professional development courses (such as JSLMC and AdvancedvCombat Survivablity), continuation training and whole ship training requirements while posted to the ship. It is important to note that this does not include position prerequisite training.

An average training requirement was calculated for each rank and rate (or specialisation within a rate when required) to provide a training figure.

The operational tempo is dictated by the Fleet Activity Schedule (FAS). A determination on manning requirements was made based on the minimum number of personnel required onboard on any given day to achieve the tasking or mission.

For example, during Arunta’s work-up later this year, 100 per cent of Scheme of Complement is required, however during leave periods this is reduced to 25 per cent in most ranks/rates. Literally every activity in the FAS was examined and a manning determination made.

These two factors combined were used to calculate a crewing index, with the end result being a requirement of an additional 31 junior sailors needed for Arunta to support form the flexi-crewing trial.

So how does it actually work?

Each junior sailor has been interviewed to map out their personalised plan from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. Sailors preference for seatime (based on existing planned deployments, ship’s requirements (in particular passing URE) and on the job training affecting career progression (eg. competency logs) and training courses, coupled with not required for duty preferences have been factored in to develop a personalised plan to the discrete day.

The flexibility of this approach has allowed sailors to do things such as take that long overseas holiday they wanted (on full seapay) or be there for the birth of a child.

Each plan is then examined at the divisional and ship level to ensure whole ship commitments are met. This process has been completed marking the end of the planning phase.

Will it work?

Yes, if the ship is appropriately manned.

There will be difficulties, especially to resolve PPP deficiencies which deliberately have not been factored into the additional personnel numbers.

To assist in resolving these issues Arunta will have far more access to training resources then normal.

Arunta will be able to select extra personnel to attend courses to ensure that sufficient qualified personnel are onboard when required.

A benefit of this is that most sailors will now have access to more courses than those associated with their billet.

For example, Arunta is billeted for one Survival Equipment (SE) Maintainer. In order to allow this sailor to rotate off the ship a second SE maintainer is required.

Arunta will select any suitable Boatswain’s Mate for this course.

What would make it really tough for the trial to work? Flexi-crewing would become difficult to implement if the operational tempo of the FAS increases significantly or a prolonged period in a heightened force protection state is required when at FBW, however these problems are not insurmountable.

Who makes it work?

The SWO, working with the Div REGs and leveraging of the normal divisional system processes are used to plan and execute flexi-crewing onboard.

To assist the ship in implementing the rotations and monitor the movement of the larger crew a Crewing Administration Cell has been stood up at HMAS Stirling.

This cell will take care of a lot of the daily running of flexi-crewing, including the liaison between Arunta and the various training authorities.

At the end of the day am I better off?

You are guaranteed 140 days leave/ respite, greater access to the training system and more control over you leave while remaining on sea pay.

As a comparison given Arunta’s program, without flexi-crewing, a junior sailor would have been expected to work at least 265 days (assuming being able to clear 35 days leave) vice 225 days under the trial – Thats 40 days off extra! You figure.

How do we know if the trial is working?

The trial will be evaluated by independent authorities. The Flexi-crewing evaluation process will ensure a thorough and rigorous evaluation of processes, effects and outcomes is conducted.

The trial evaluation findings are an essential input to any decisions about continuing to implement the flexi-crewing concept or extending it to other MFUs.

How can I monitor the progress of the trial?

Visit the SCIMARS website or contact Arunta direct at swo@f151.navy.gov.au.

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