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Uniform
praise from US public:
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Have
your say
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Preference
will be given to letters under 300 words.
Correspondents must include their name and address.
Send letters to: The Editor, Air Force News, R8-LG-043,
Russell Offices, Canberra, ACT, 2600; or raafnews@defencenews.gov.au
(note that this is not part of the internal defence
network) |
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I thought
those who are serving on Operation Falconer might like some feedback
on the effect they are having in this corner of America.
Public recognition of military personnel had already been heightened
by the attacks in 2001 and the conflict in Afghanistan, but since
hostilities commenced in Iraq it has been amazing.
I catch public transport in uniform several times a week, and often
shop in uniform on the way home. Several – sometimes many –
times on each trip I will be approached by Americans keen to express
their appreciation for Australia’s support.
This takes many forms, including handshakes, relating their own
war experiences, people insisting that I go first in queues, special
treatment in shops and post offices, and eagerness to tell me proudly
about the military members of their families.
These people are not mistaking me for a USAF member. Although the
US media gives little recognition to Australia’s involvement,
at the individual level people are well aware that we are standing
alongside America as we have done during every major conflict since
the beginning of last century.
Comments such as “We know we can always count on the Aussies”
are common. Our stocks among the US military people with whom we
work are at an all-time high, which greatly facilitates our job
here.
So to my colleagues in the Middle East: a little bit of what you
are striving for and achieving over there is reflecting on all of
us who have the honour of wearing this uniform.
I hope you finish the job quickly, and return home safely to a loving
family and an appreciative public. Thank you.
WOFF Lewis Winders
DMO
Philadelphia, USA
In our prayers
Once again the men and women of the ADF have been called upon to
fulfil their vocation and respond to the call of duty.
I and my chaplains take this opportunity to assure you of our wholehearted
affirmation and prayerful support.
We know you well and deem it a great privilege to serve you and
your families as best we can and as circumstances allow.
We are proud of you as you join in the active endeavour to combat
and overcome injustice and terrorism.
We pray earnestly for your success and that you will help to achieve
lasting peace for our troubled times.
May the Good Lord protect you one and all and bring you safely and
quickly home to your loved ones.
Most Reverend Geoffrey Mayne
ADF Catholic Bishop
Recognition of efforts applauded
I would like to pass on my congratulations to Corporal Chris Bellotti
for earning the No. 76 Squadron Aircraft Technician of the Year
award.
Even more gratifying to me, however, was the way in which his efforts
were recognised by his unit and published through Air Force News
(March 13).
In 2001 I was fortunate to undertake a CAF Fellowship at the Aerospace
Centre, and I spent the year researching and analysing many issues
relating to the ADF aviation technical workforce.
The resultant book, What Makes Techo’s Tick?, has recently
been published by the Aerospace Centre. One of my assertions in
a chapter on retention was that we need to better recognise the
efforts of our people and their value to our organisation.
I cited a US Navy example of awarding Sailor of the Month at unit,
formation and service levels aggregating to award of US Navy Sailor
of the Year. The winners of these prestigious awards had their photographs
displayed in the main entrance of each unit for the month of their
award, alongside the Sailor of the Year who had his or her photograph
displayed in the entrance to every US Navy unit for the entire year.
I don’t pretend that my study or its recommendations had any
bearing on this award. I do, however, feel gratified that a unit
has decided to put in place the mechanisms by which such an award
can be made and have ensured that the value of its people is recognised
in a significant manner.
Once again I congratulate CPL Bellotti on his well-deserved award,
but further, I congratulate the Commanding Officer and executive
staff of No. 76 Squadron for making it happen.
SQNLDR Jim Xinos
Aerospace Systems Division DMO
Address this issue
I READ recently that all Defence e-mail address listings would soon
take the following format: last name, first name, title. However,
a quick check of the global address listings for e-mail within the
Defence Restricted Network reveals several conventions in use. It
can be very difficult trying to e-mail a WGCDR Smith who might be
listed as Smith WGCDR John, Smith3 John, Smith John WGCDR or some
other permutation.
The worst of these conventions merely lists a last name (with or
without a numeral tacked on the end) and first name.
In addition to the inefficiency of the current system, it should
be remembered that people in the military are referred to by their
rank and last name.
First names are not usually used in formal correspondence nor used
by members that are not known to each other. A person’s rank
is normally a source of pride to them and everyone in the military,
from recruit to CDF, is entitled to be addressed by it.
Understandably, civilian Defence employees often use a less formal
convention in correspondence, although I imagine that some still
like to be referred to as Mr, Mrs, Ms or Dr etc by people that don’t
know them. Therefore, we need a convention that meets the needs
of uniformed and civilian Defence members alike.
I suggest this convention: last name, title (rank or preferred civilian
title), first name, numeral For example: Bloggs, FLTLT, John 3 or
Jones, Ms Amanda. This would meet the requirements of all DRN users
and make finding people in the address list, a great deal easier.
FLGOFF Matt Doyle
DPO-AF
Be a sport
THE intention of interservice sport is to act as a catalyst for
teamwork and tri-service interaction.
It is also an opportunity for all ranks to display leadership qualities,
and provide an indication of how they operate under certain levels
of stress.
Unfortunately, at a recent ADF sporting competition I witnessed
a number of ADF personnel that did not behave in the spirit of the
ADF or the Australian sporting culture.
Maybe it is a timely reminder during this high operational tempo
that we are all in the same Defence Force and aiming for the same
ideals. Poor sportsmanship does not reflect the ethos of the ADF
and fails to promote the teamwork required to be successful in peacetime
or on operations.
ADF personnel who do not behave appropriately on the sporting field
and instead compete with the “win at all costs” attitude,
may walk away with a victory, but will rarely be afforded any respect.
CAPT K. Rippon
No. 3 Health Support Battalion
Victoria
We want answers
THE published answer from the Defence Housing Authority to the letter
from Sergeant P. Hodder about rental contributions (Air Force News,
March 13) continues the trend of non-answers published in Defence
newspapers.
Anyone can answer that the policy says that is what is to happen
so, basically, bad luck!
What people who write in with these type of concerns want to know
is why the policy says what it does, whether “the system”
is aware of some of the unfortunate consequences of the policy and,
in light of those consequences, whether there are any plans to amend
the policy.
SQNLDR Ron Bossley
Logistics Sponsorship
Air Force Headquarters
Deep gratitude
ON behalf of the families involved in the Defence Special Needs
Support Group, I would like to thank those people who participated
in our Dig Deep for a Dollar Day.
A wonderful total of more than $20,000 was received with Defcredit
contributing $12,817.
All monies raised go directly into projects that support families
with special needs at a local or national level, establishing support
groups or assisting those groups with their activities.
Margaret Fisk
National Coordinator
Defence Special Needs
Support Group
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