Word
of advice about dictionary
MY
question is simple enough, though I am aware that has no bearing
on the answer.
The ADF has adopted the Australian Macquarie dictionary and
thesaurus as the standard for Defence writing.
Why is it not set as the default dictionary in the office suite
spelling and grammar checker on the Defence electronic network?
If it is to do with licensing costs, is it dearer than the purchase
cost of thousands of copies of the publications which need to
be stored by the user (ignoring even the environmental cost
of the production of these publications)?
FLTLT S. R. Scott
SOLOGENG
84WG
Official Response:
THANKS for the good idea. We assume that you are referring to
the dictionary in the Microsoft Office suite.
As you state, your question seems simple enough and it appears
that it could be achieved but needs some investigation.
Microsoft Word has a language option for English (Australian)
but this is not the Macquarie Dictionary.
The main issue will be the practicality i.e. whether the benefit
will justify the cost and effort involved in implementing and
maintaining it, and also to see if there are any disadvantages.
Your suggestion is a good one and it has been passed to Information
Systems Division for investigation and potential incorporation
into a future version of the desktop operating environment.
Robin Tayler
Senior Manager
ISD Customer Relations Office
Our
distinguished record
WE
congratulate No. 26 Squadron on their achievement in being awarded
the Air Force Association Trophy (Air Force News, September
25).
Those members in the RAAFAR who know the criteria for winning
this trophy know that it is indeed a significant achievement
to have all the training targets in place within the times set.
There is however a matter of record that needs to be pointed
out to our younger sister Squadron and it is raised with respect.
The article stated that “the trophy had only once before
been presented to the same Reserve Squadron two years in a row”,
this Squadron being 26SQN in 1983 and ’84.
While this is technically correct we at No. 24 Squadron were
a bit miffed and perhaps had our pride slightly dented with
SQNLDR Burnham’s reference to this being an “outstanding
achievement”.
If this method of winning is considered “outstanding”
then “greatness” comes to mind when the record shows
24SQN having won this trophy four times within five years with
three of these years being consecutive. If it wasn’t for
our sister Squadron, No.22, winning in 1980 then we would have
won five times in a row.
For the record 24SQN has won the Air Force Association Trophy
seven times – 1968, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’81,
’88 and 2000.
This may be a mere trivia to some and possibly a bit of chest
beating on our part, but be that as it may, history, pride and
tradition is important and we must not lose these important
traits.
In closing, we would like to say that we at 24SQN are quite
happy to have our many sister squadrons win this trophy because
it means less parade practice for us.
FSGT Dave Ower
Training Management Services
24SQN Training Flight
Importance
of management
PERHAPS
the findings of the Board of Inquiry into the fatal avalanche
incident early in 2001 (Air Force News, June 19) might cause
some members of the ADF to retreat a little from the common,
but dangerously simplistic, view that “what we need is
more leadership and less management”.
In many years of leadership and management training, I have
consistently put the case that we need a new word to describe
the reality of command: that it invariably demands a judicious
blend of the two elements. Ironically, I have often used the
example of an expedition to climb Mt Everest to support my views.
I have acknowledged that such an expedition would demand a great
deal of the interpersonal skills of the person in charge: the
ability to articulate a vision, motivate team members, deal
with pressure, maintain group cohesion, make tough decisions,
etc, in other words, many of the classical “leadership”
skills.
However, it would also demand meticulous planning, to include
financing, training, equipping, and supporting the members of
the team, in other words, many of the traditional “management”
activities.
It has been reported: “Adverse findings [of the Board of
Inquiry] included inadequate medical planning; shortcomings
in the approval and notification processes for the exercise;
concentration on the climbing phase of the expedition, rather
than the acclimatisation phase; deficiencies in the risk assessment
process and next-of-kin notification procedure; lack of consultation
on changes; and failure to advise that family members were to
accompany the expedition and participate in the trek.”
None of these procedures fall within the scope of the heroic,
inspirational leadership model. Rather they are the province
of the people some of our colleagues sneeringly refer to as
“managers”.
SQNLDR J. R. Leonard
21SQN
RAAF Base Williams
Reminder
to keep weapons secure
THE
picture on Page 8 (Air Force News, October 9) shows a potential
RAAF Reserve recruit handling an F88 Austeyr.
Nothing wrong with that. Except, the weapon in question doesn’t
appear to be chained, or wire-roped, to a table or other heavy
object according to IAW Security Manual 4.
This is a good opportunity to remind anyone involved with displaying
ADF weapons in public to consult Section 11 of SECMAN 4 before
proceeding with the display.
FSGT S. J. Brasher
Victoria Barracks, Melbourne
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