An exchange that’s really for the better

CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston talks with Leading Aircraftman Stephen Christensen at a welcome home event at RAAF Base Williamtown to thank personnel involved in Op Falconer. While deployments overseas are uncommon, airmen and airwomen have the chance each year to nominate for overseas exchange programs such as Anzac Exchange and Exercise Long Look. Photo by LAC Steve Duncan

THERE are limited opportunities for airmen/airwomen to secure an overseas posting; however, there are greater opportunities for them to participate in overseas exchange programs.

The two largest of these opportunities are:

• Anzac Exchange (DI(AF) PERS 20-6) is an annual short-term individual exchange of junior officers, corporals and sergeants between the New Zealand and Australian Defence Forces. Anzac is usually conducted between February and May of each year with a maximum of 10 Air Force personnel (eight corporals/sergeants and two junior officers).
• Exercise Long Look is also an annual short-term individual exchange of junior officers and SNCOs between the United Kingdom, NZ and Australian Defence Forces. Long Look is usually conducted between May and September of each year with a maximum of 20 Air Force personnel (18 SNCOs and two junior officers).

The aim of the exchanges is to broaden the experience and professional knowledge of selected personnel while promoting continued cooperation between participating Defence Forces through exposure to another culture as well as to various procedures, equipment and personnel.

Selected participants are attached from their parent unit for the duration of the exercise, while a reciprocal participant will fill the vacancy.

The exchanges are unaccompanied and utilise service accommodation at the host units. Service aircraft are used for both the deployment and redeployment.

DPA will call for expressions of interest in August/September. Interested personnel are to apply on a Standard Application form (PE57) to DPA (AT1), indicating they have met the selection criteria as annotated in the EOI.

Mid-year review
IT’S that time of year again for all supervisors and managers to conduct mid-term counselling of their direct subordinate(s).

The Preliminary Review of Performance (PRP) form can be accessed via the Web Forms System and should be completed IAW DI (AF) PERS 4-21 for officers and PERS 4-22 for airmen.

The PRP is an essential component of the performance appraisal cycle as it provides the opportunity to review and formally record performance progress.

If PRPs have not already been completed, they should be finalised without delay.

Reserve site
THE DPR-AF web site contains a range of information that relates directly to the RAAF Reserves.

It is the ideal place to start for a person wanting information about the Reserves as the site is updated regularly.

It covers pay; performance appraisal; the Reserve units; publications and orders on Reserve service and entitlements; Specialist and Standby Reserve information; 4J(3); and the procedures to use for a variety of situations, including transfers between elements of the Reserve.

Of special note is the Job Search page. This page provides a list of members who are looking for work as well as those organisations looking for someone to undertake a special project.

To submit an item for the Job Search page, simply send an e-mail to dpr-af@defence.gov.au with the appropriate details.

The Air Force Reserve site is at intranet.defence.gov.au/RaafWeb/ Sites/DPRAF/Menu.asp.

Alternatively, enter the site through the Defweb home page.

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