Chief backs new ordnance stream

The July 26 sitting of the Air Force Capability Committee (AFCC) agreed to the formation of an Explosive Ordnance Employment Stream (EOES) within the Avionics and Aircraft trades.

I am taking this opportunity to explain the reasons why we have taken this positive step and to point out the benefits of the new arrangement.

In the 10 years since the Technical Trade Restructure (TTR), levels of Explosive Ordnance (EO) technical and management expertise in the Air Force have declined, thereby impacting our capability to conduct EO operations.

The EOES will form on January 1, 2003, to address the need for the growth of specialised EO skills by providing career progression, still within the Avionics and Aircraft trades, but with posting, promotion and personnel management focussed on the growth of EO specialist skills.

I consider this to be an excellent outcome that better meets Air Force’s needs as well as those of our people.
Introduction of the EOES allows Air Force to maintain an effective EO workforce that meets operational sustainment and safety requirements.

The EOES also allows technical personnel to choose to focus their professional development in the EO specialisation within the Avionics and Aircraft trades.

Providing this focus will enable individuals to be promoted on their qualifications and skills within the specialisation.

This will mean that those individuals will be promoted and posted in line with their EO expertise, opening a number of opportunities for alternate career paths.

An important aspect of this initiative is that in transferring to the EOES, an individual does not relinquish his or her original trade. For example, an Avionics Technician will become an EO Streamed Avionics Technician.

I believe the formation of the EOES will result in a more effective Air Force through safe and sustainable EO operations – the effective delivery of ordnance to the target – while maintaining all the benefits of the existing technical trade structure.

Obviously EOES will not be for everybody. Should there be insufficient initial transfer of numbers to the stream, identified EO positions will be temporarily filled, as they have in the past, using normal technical workforce management methods.

Having said that, I believe the response to the EOES will be positive, as modelling shows promotion prospects will marginally improve with its implementation and the stream will provide exciting career opportunities for those who wish to specialise in a field pivotal to Air Force capability.

An AFHQ team will soon visit all bases to provide detailed briefings on the EOES.

Should you be contemplating transfer to the EOES, you will soon find additional information at the DPA web site that will assist you in making an informed decision.

The DPA web site can be found at http://defweb2.cbr.defence. gov.au/dpedpa/

• Air Marshal Angus Houston
  Chief of Air Force

Combine forces

In a world where we are, rightly so, becoming more and more tri-service it amazes me why some jobs cannot be combined, like the Canadian Armed Forces.

We all now work off the same DFDA, so why can’t our service police be combined into a Defence Police Service? It would give wider job and career opportunities.

Another one could be RAAF ADG taken over by RAInf, as three independent rifle companies, and would offer a rest posting for diggers in the battalions for a couple of years.

Both examples could offer considerable saving from the running of separate schools, ie, all service police can operate out of the Defence Military Police School at Holsworthy and if RAInf take over the ADG, the RAAF equivalent at RAAF Base Amberley could close.

• Sergeant Bishop
  6 RAR
  Enogga Barracks, Queensland

Achievement praised

I would like to announce how proud we are at No. 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron of one of our members, Leading Aircraftman Marcus Fillinger, on his recent achievements as one of our unit photographers.

LAC Fillinger’s determination, combined with 28SQN’s training and support, has realised his dream to go to the North Pole on a diving/photographic exhibition, as reported in his story in the August 1 edition of Air Force News.

Well done, Marcus.

• Squadron Leader Colleen Harvey
  
  

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