|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| |
|||||
| ADGs go global Volume 49, No. 02, February 22, 2007 |
|||||
Last December, airfield defence guards (ADGs) went on-line with a new internet website. 1AFDS Marketing and PR Officer FLTLT Dean McAuliffe said the website, which is intended to attract recruits and raise awareness of the ADG mustering, was designed by members of both Nos 1 and 2AFDS, in consultation with Air Force Communication and Reputation Management in Canberra. “The site serves two purposes,” he said. “Firstly, it provides an additional on-line resource for potential full and part-time candidates who are seeking specific information about becoming an airfield defence guard or ground defence officer. “Secondly, it provides the general public and other members of the Air Force team with an insight into the history, equipment and capabilities of the mustering and also raises the profile of the role of ground defence within Air Force.” He said the decision to produce an ADG website first surfaced in August 2005. It followed a review commissioned by CAF, which included a recommendation that the ADG information on the Defence Force Recruiting Careers Explorer website be significantly enhanced. “While this information was being updated, it was acknowledged that there were limitations on the amount of information that could be made available via this site,” he said. “Another recommendation put forward was for other public information methods to be explored. It was from this exploration that a decision was made to develop an ADG-specific web page on the Air Force internet website.” The project team comprised former OC Airfield Defence Wing WGCDR John Leo, CO 1AFDS SQNLDR Andrew McHugh, FLTLT McAuliffe and 1AFDS ADG LAC Scott Simpson, with Air Force web manager Brian Farrelly providing project support. FLTLT McAuliffe said the team provided another great example of PAF and Reserves coming together to complete a project, as LAC Scott Simpson and he are both Reservists serving in the High Readiness Reserve. Work began on the project in January 2006 and incorporated extensive research into similar information posted on sites such as those managed by the US Marine Corps and RAF Regiment, determining the range and type of information to be incorporated, drafting text and gathering suitable images. Feedback was sought from officers and SNCOs within the AFDW and the site was also demonstrated to a number of Defence recruiting centres, who indicated their support. FLTLT McAuliffe said that since the site has come on-line, they have received an “extremely positive” response from a range of sources, including serving and ex-serving members, cadets and recruiting. “Successful applicants have been very positive,” he said. “The site has provided them with greater insight into the roles, tasks, equipment and history of the mustering not found on Careers Explorer, which they were then able to use at the time of their recruitment interviews. “Our initial draft had a gallery page featuring various ADG images which could be downloaded. While the current version does not include this, we hope to rectify this shortly.” Since coming on-line, the site has attracted over 500 hits and numerous e-mail enquiries. Check out the new website at www.defence.gov.au/raaf/adg |
