Volume 48, No. 17, Sepetember 21, 2006
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Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF) Ray Woolnough
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GREETINGS, Airmen and Airwomen of the Air Force.
Since my last AIR FORCE News article, I have had a quiet period (commonly known as admin time).
However, I forgot to mention that in July, I flew to the USA for a US Senior Enlisted Leaders course at the Joint Warfighting Centre, Virginia.
This was my first visit to the States so you will understand that I walked around with my eyes as big as saucers. What an interesting place. Although the course was US-centric I took a lot away with me, including an understanding of how they operate. I was not the only foreigner; two warrant officers – one from the Canadian Army and one from the Royal Navy – were there too.
On August 18, I visited and spoke to Corporal Course 103 at RAAF Base Richmond. Course participants were talkative and asked many good questions. I answered most immediately, but there were some curly ones, which required me to go away, do some research and relay the information back to the course a day or two later.
Talking with course participants has reinforced my belief that the Air Force must use its corporals more efficiently. Corporals are leaders and must be given the opportunity to demonstrate leadership skills. The people I have spoken to during my career strengthen this belief.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the hard work that the facilitators put in, but I am sure that receptive students make life a lot easier.
During the past month, I also attended meetings with the RAAF Welfare Trust Fund, the Combat Clothing and Equipment Steering Committee and the Chief of Air Force Advisory Committee.
A number of issues were brought to notice during the combat clothing meeting. The first was about some personnel mixing the old DPCU uniform with the new, e.g. old shirt with new trousers, or vice-versa. This practice is to cease immediately. Clothing Stores have been advised that they are to exchange sets of DPCUs and not individual items of the new DPCU
clothing.
In a nutshell – the uniforms have a different cut and material and one does not want to look like a bag of licorice all-sorts.
The second issue raised was the apparent short supply of DPCUs to clothing stores. This problem, as with many others, is known to AFHQ and phase three of the release of the new DPCUs will be carried out shortly. All members should wear their current DPCUs until they need to be replaced after ‘fair wear and tear’.
Exchanging good DPCUs for the new version is a waste of resources, and will not be tolerated. Members are also warned not to purposely damage their current DPCUs.
CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd presented me with my Australian Defence Medal a fortnight ago. Although I have already received my long service medal, I must say that I was rather ‘stoked’. In my opinion, the medal is just as important as any other, and I believe its introduction was well overdue.
Recognition of service, regardless of time served, is an integral part of being in the service of one’s country. Please bear with me while I relate a story told to me by a most delightful lady — one of a group of former WRAAFs.
“Years ago women were discharged from the Services when they got married, and in many cases they did not have the chance to serve at least 15 years and receive the recognition of that service in the form of a medal. I served for only two-and-a-half years, and loved what I was doing and loved the Air Force.
“The inevitable happened and I got married to a serving member, raising our three daughters while he had a full career in the RAAF.
“I applied for my medal and received it about two weeks ago. I will wear it with pride on those important days.”
This delightful lady I am referring to is my own mother-in-law. I feel this epitomises the importance of recognising one’s achievements.
Till next time, please keep on
smiling.
