Thanks for the warm welcome

ON behalf of the members of the 84WG Detachment, I would like to thank all personnel who were involved in the development, organisation and execution of the welcome home ceremony that was conducted on Sunday, September 29.

Not only did the event receive exceptional praise from Commander Air Lift Group and impressive accolades from the Prime Minister and Chief of Defence Force, the event also received an astounding level of media interest and news coverage.

Most importantly, the members of 84WG Detachment appreciated the effort that was made to ensure that their return to Australia was especially memorable. I believe that the families that attended the event were also pleased with the respect that was shown to their returning loved ones.

In particular I would like to thank the members of the Honour Guard. All who were present agreed that the Honour Guard was extremely professional in the execution of their duties, which proved to be in the finest traditions of the Royal Australian Air Force.

• Group Captain S. N. Bucholtz
  OC 84WG

A policeman’s lot

I read (with a smile) the letter regarding the SECPOL mustering’s new brassard (Air Force News, September 26). The answer to Adrian Heinrich’s questions is yes, the Air Force is a master of reinventing the wheel.

In my 22 years with the mustering I was a Provost, SG (Doggie), SP (SPIT or Screw), RAAFPOL (that ****), RAAFPOL2 (Townie), RAAFPOLIN (that big **** Townie) and finally a SECPOL2.

I discharged before the troops found a new name for the last one.

One name stayed the same throughout my career, and it referred to my parentage – but only from those people that did the wrong thing and got caught.

Uniforms were also interesting over the years. They consisted of overalls, jungle greens, long and short drabs, old blues, new blues, DCPUs and civvies.

I’m glad I discharged before the old blues came back; at my age I would have been totally confused. So it’s not only that “what’s it called” mustering that changes names, the Air Force itself changes its spots on a regular basis to confuse the troops and the nation.

However, I’m sure that the name of the SP in future will be SPIT or Screw or that ****.

• Jeff Crase
  Sergeant (ret’d)
  Adelaide

Honour them all

Recent letters in Air Force News and ex-Service publications have raised a number of anomalies regarding the eligibility for the award of the Anniversary of National Service Medal (ANSM).

In 2001 the Government announced that the ANSM was to be awarded to those who were conscripted and fulfilled their obligation for National Service.

However, what subsequently appeared in the regulations does not fit some conscripts of the Vietnam War era despite a “one size fits all” approach.

During the 1960s and ’70s, 20-year-old Australian males were drafted in to the military.

Options for National Service at that time were either to serve full-time in the Army for two years, or to serve a combination of full-time Army and part-time Citizens Military Forces. Alternatively, people could join the permanent forces for a longer engagement to fulfil their National Service obligation.

When conscripted, failure to avail oneself of this “opportunity” to serve the nation invoked punitive powers under the National Service Act. Alternative “service” as an inmate of Her Majesty’s correctional establishments was a potential outcome for draft dodgers.

It would be equitable for all servicemen who served at that time to be recognised also.

Surely the ANSM wasn’t intended to imply that permanent service with (or without) a National Service obligation of two years was in some way inferior to short-term Army National Service.

There were some who received their call-up papers after joining the regular forces, while others joined the regulars after their call up. These servicemen had an obligation to serve, which they fulfilled in the regular forces. They were indeed conscripted National Servicemen by whatever name. They deserve equal recognition accordingly.

As the regulations stand, only National Service conscripts who served in the Army receive the ANSM. The conscripts who served in the regular forces receive no more tangible recognition than afforded to those who didn’t serve at all; indeed no formal distinction from the draft evaders later excused by the Whitlam Government’s amnesty.

For military service during the Vietnam War era, the fundamental consideration should have been recognition of service to the nation during those difficult times, of which National Service was but one part.

Those conscripts who fulfilled their National Service obligation in any component of the forces should receive due recognition.

Additionally, those who had no formal National Service obligation and yet served voluntarily in the permanent forces can’t be relegated to the “don’t matter” category. A review of the regulations is overdue.

• Warrant Officer Paul Watson
  Health Services Wing
  RAAF Glenbrook
  (ex-National Service conscript – still serving)

In the picture

Air Commodore Norman Ashworth (ret’d) rightly points out in his letter that Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams did not retire as an Air Vice-Marshal (Air Force News, August 29).

He was referring to an article about the unveiling of an official portrait of Sir Richard (Air Force News, August 15).

AIRCDRE Ashworth would not be aware that the artist was commissioned to depict Sir Richard when he was Chief of Air Staff, with the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, early in 1939. The portrait is now prominently displayed in Williams Theatre at the Australian Command and Staff College at Weston Creek, ACT.

At the unveiling Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston stated that the portrait will rightly become the recognised face of Sir Richard Williams throughout the Air Force. To facilitate this outcome, a digital image of the portrait has been posted on the image gallery of the Air Force home page at www.raaf.gov.au. Click on Image Gallery then search for Williams: Founding Father of the Air Force.

Incidentally, Wing Commander Williams was the Founding Father of the (Australian) Air Force, gazetted on March 31, 1921. He became the first Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, when the fledgling Service received Royal Assent on August 13, 1921.

• Peter McDermott
  Air Commodore
  ACSC Commandant

Is this a mirage?

On a recent trip to Butterworth I was appalled to discover that the former 79SQN Mirage located outside the Airman’s Mess (A3-59) now has the 324CSS crest on the tail.

I cannot think of any justifiable reason for such an action – can someone please explain?

• Flight Lieutenant Tim Flood
  10SQN
  RAAF Edinburgh
  

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