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USING THE RESERVE - ARMY'S PLAN
MEDIA REPORTS
Below are a number of media reports considering an increased role for the Reserve. It is as if there has been a sudden awakening that Reserves provide a valuable operational asset. Given the operational importance of Reserves one might be surprised to find that Reserves are still operating under a 20% training cutback.
The devil of change will lie in the detail and in particular what the Army intends to do with Reserve formations and units. It is DRA’s view that ill conceived changes to formations and units have the potential to create a lot of fallout to staff and to do a lot of injury to reservists who have worked for years to support their corps and units. Capability will not be advanced unless it is properly resourced and equipped. As key objective is to withdraw half of the existing regular manning from reserve units, the DRA is expecting that the organisational changes will be savage.
DRA's representations and expressions of concern do appear to be having some effect. We noted in the Australian that "a spokesman for Senator Faulkner emphasizes that any changes will be carefully considered" whilst in the Herald Sun article the detailed plan is said to be under careful consideration by Defence "given the potential political and community fallout from any poorly delivered reforms."
We will all sincerely hope that this is in fact the case and not just spin.
Item 1. Weekend warriors facing front line in Afghanistan
Item 2. Australian Defence Force mulls options for increased role for reservists
Item 3. Resorting to the reserves
Item 4. Defence coy on reservist frontline deployments
Item 5. Army reservists face front line under secret plan
In a recent (26 June 2010) article to the online publication newsweekly.com.au Ken Aldred disussing the impact of cuts to the Army Reserve budget.
Item 6. Govt spending cuts put Army Reserve at risk
Item 1. Weekend warriors facing front line in Afghanistan
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/weekend-warriors-facing-front-line-in-afghanistan/story-e6frg6nf-1225822706992
EXCLUSIVE: Sean Parnell, FOI editor
From: The Australian
January 23, 2010 12:00AM
DEFENCE chiefs are considering a secret plan to send more reservists to the front line, as battle fatigue takes its toll on Australian troops, particularly those on repeat, extended deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.
In what may be the first large-scale use of part-time soldiers since the Vietnam War, Australia's army, navy and airforce strategists have highlighted areas in which reserves can relieve existing personnel or deliver their own targeted support.
While last year's defence white paper foreshadowed a greater use of reserves, it is understood recruiting shortfalls and the continued challenge of maintaining such a high level of activity overseas has put the issue firmly on the agenda.
The Weekend Australian has discovered that a detailed plan was delivered to Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston and department secretary Ian Watt last month and is under careful consideration, given the potential political and community fallout from any poorly delivered reforms.
The Reserve Reform Stream Implementation Plan follows personnel and capability reviews across all three services and an ongoing conditions of service review set to change the circumstances in which reservists are engaged and the expectations placed upon them.
The services have warned Defence chiefs that some specialist troops on repeated, extended deployments are being put under more stress and their relationships under greater strain as the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan continue.
Of the 3884 Defence personnel to have had a disability claim accepted as a result of their service in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq, one in four had a mental illness.
Studies of US troops in Iraq, detailed in the latest edition of The Lancet medical journal, reveal more American troops are being evacuated with mental illness, a trend the researchers partly attribute to the impact of repeat deployments and the additional burden carried by reserve troops.
Defence briefing notes for Dr Watt, obtained under freedom of information laws, declare: "Part-time personnel are critical to current operations, both domestically and offshore, and this is likely to increase as further core and niche capability is developed in the part-time force."
Reserves have already been put to use overseas, leading efforts in the Solomon Islands and bolstering some aspects of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
However, a lack of across-the-board training and battle-readiness has limited their availability for frontline warfare.
The reserves plan was intended to make use of the "cost-effective capability" of part-time troops.
The army has advised Dr Watt its reserves "will become more focused in achieving deployable (regionally and domestic) capability and, with greater integration with the regular component, achieve efficiencies for reinvestment elsewhere".
"The army reserve continues to provide considerable support to army's work, with army relying increasingly on its part-time forces to sustain the high operational tempo," it said.
"This has resulted in a greater operational focus for the army reserve.
"Under the (US's) Total Force concept, it is proposed that the primary force structure determinant for the army reserve would be the provision of forces to meet specified force generation and force rotation requirements that cannot be met by the regular component of army.
"Accordingly, the army reserve will supplement and complement the full-time force."
The army reserve, as at May last year, had 16,943 active members and 12,438 inactive members.
The army itself had 27,392 but has been aiming for 30,000 and, like all services, has also been looking at making better use of its servicemen and women to increase its operational capacity.
Defence Minister John Faulkner was not available for comment last night, but Labor has promised to reinvigorate the reserves.
A spokesman for Senator Faulkner emphasised that any such changes would be carefully considered.
Item 2. Australian Defence Force mulls options for increased role for reservists
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/australian-defence-force-mulls-options-for-increased-role-for-reservists/story-e6frg8yo-1225823058381
Jamie Walker
From: The Australian
January 25, 2010 12:00AM
THE Australian Defence Force has acknowledged the potential for an increased role for reservists on the front line, saying it was examining options to make "more effective use" of them.
The Weekend Australian revealed a secret plan before Defence chiefs to have part-time soldiers shoulder more responsibility in Afghanistan and other hot spots.
"It is expected that some options will be presented to the government for consideration this year," the ADF said in a statement, adding that options canvassed in the 2009 defence white paper would be considered. Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James said it appeared that the government was maintaining its existing policy on sending reservists to war zones.
Private Greg Sher, 30, became the first Australian reservist to die in Afghanistan when an insurgent rocket exploded at a remote base in Oruzgan province in early January last year.
Ten other Australian soldiers have died in Afghanistan, as the ADF scaled back its commitment of forces in Iraq.
Defence Minister John Faulkner insisted at the weekend the government was not considering any plan to deploy significantly more reservists to Afghanistan.
As documented by The Weekend Australian, Defence planners are increasingly concerned at the toll of battle fatigue on frontline soldiers, especially those on repeat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Item 3. Resorting to the reserves
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/resorting-to-the-reserves/story-e6frg71x-1225823063013
From: The Australian
January 25, 2010 12:00AM
THE flags will be out in force tomorrow and many Australians will be busy vocalising their patriotism. Yet the Australian Defence Force is considering turning to part-time reservists to fill the gaps in its regular ranks. The news that reservists are increasingly in the ADF's sights for operational work underlines the problems of recruitment at a time when national unemployment is a relatively low 5.5 per cent and young Australians have options. This is in no way to undervalue the skills of reservists: it makes sense to use their talents and training as much as possible. But more reliance on part-timers raises significant questions about the structure and balance of our services in coming years.
This is a numbers game, and if the ADF wants more, it will have to do more to compete as an attractive employer. This may not be easy: for years now defence has sought to advertise good career paths in an exciting and rewarding environment. The thrust of its marketing has long been that while this is no boring nine-to-five job, it offers security, stability and support. Yet the ADF failed to meet its own recruitment targets in 2008-09. Time was when the army's biggest problem in selling itself as an excitement machine was that while personnel would be trained for war, they were unlikely to get to fight a war. The past decade has changed that with our forces engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Gulf, East Timor, Sudan and the Solomon Islands. Now these assignments are part of the problem, stretching the ADF's capacity to offer adequate rotations home to personnel sent overseas.
The Australian's FOI editor, Sean Parnell, has reported exclusively in recent days on the toll these frontline assignments are taking in injuries and illnesses. The challenge of managing high numbers (almost 4000 personnel have recorded injuries or illnesses attributable to their time in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq) has been amplified by the ADF's strategy of rehabilitation rather than discharge. Defence needs to hang on to everyone it can to meet its commitments.
The struggle for manpower throws into high relief the government's ambitions for its services. In May last year, the defence white paper called for an enormous expansion of our air and maritime forces, outlining new submarines, fighting ships and fighter planes for an overall cost of $100 billion. Leaving aside the problems of finding that sort of money for hardware when the federal budget is under pressure, there are obvious manpower issues. There are similar demands on the army, with Howard government-initiated plans to expand from six to eight infantry battalions. The white paper focused on Australia being sufficiently well resourced to be able to act alone on a regional level. But any resort to reservists suggests a crucial element of the war machine - the men and women in uniform - could be hard to come by in future.
Meanwhile, the ADF must ensure it offers the highest degree of care to help those personnel injured on the job. Those who sign up to fight are not ipso facto heroic, but they undertake difficult work that is essential to national security. Their illnesses - mental or physical - can often be debilitating and incapacitating. The nation - including the next generation of potential recruits (and their families) must know they will be well looked after if things go wrong.
Item 4. Defence coy on reservist frontline deployments
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/23/2799542.htm
Posted Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:36am AEDT
Updated Sat Jan 23, 2010 4:26pm AEDT
The Federal Government will not say whether a large Defence Department review on the role of reservists will mean more will be sent to the frontline.
The Australian newspaper is reporting defence officials conducting the review are considering a secret plan to send more part time soldiers to Afghanistan and Iraq.
The newspaper says it is part of moves to combat battle fatigue, particularly for troops on repeat deployments.
A spokesman for the Defence Minister John Faulkner says no decision has been made yet because the government has not received the report.
He says the review is examining the structure of the reserves, including training.
The department says it expects to present the Government with some options for the future use of reservists this year.
The Executive Director of the Australia Defence Association, Neil James says there has been a gradual shift to using more reservists.
"This is just a continuation of a change that's been occurring quite dramatically since 2001 when the legislation governing where you could use the Reserve and in what situation changed," he said.
"For the first 50 or 60 years of the Army Reserve you couldn't use them overseas short of World War three, you now can."
The Defence Department says reservists are currently deployed in East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.
Item 5. Army reservists face front line under secret plan
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/army-reservists-facing-front-line/story-e6frf7l6-1225822741345
AAP Jan 23 2010 4:01 AM
Army reservists could go to Afghanistan - includes video
DEFENCE chiefs are considering a secret plan to send more army reservists off to the front line.
The proposal comes as battle fatigue takes its toll on Australian troops. Those particularly hardest hit are on those on repeat, extended deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.
In what may be the first large-scale use of part-time soldiers since the Vietnam War, Australia's army, navy and air force strategists have highlighted areas in which reserves can relieve existing personnel or deliver their own targeted support, The Weekend Australian says.
While last year's defence white paper foreshadowed a greater use of reserves, it's understood recruiting shortfalls and the continued challenge of maintaining such a high level of activity overseas has put the issue firmly on the agenda.
The paper says it's discovered that a detailed plan was delivered to Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston and department secretary Ian Watt last month and is under careful consideration, given the potential political and community fallout from any poorly delivered reforms.
The services have warned defence chiefs that some specialist troops on repeated, extended deployments are being put under more stress and their relationships under greater strain as the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan continue.
Read more about the secret plan in The Weekend Australian.
Item 6. Govt Spending cuts put Army Reserve at Risk
http://www.newsweekly.com.au/articles/2010jun26_cover2.html
Source: Newsweekly.com.au issues dated 26 June
Author: Ken Aldred
In today's Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Defence Reserves are an integral part of force structure. The present and recent widespread deployment of the ADF around the globe, from Iraq and Afghanistan to peace-keeping in some Pacific Island states, would have not been possible without the Defence Reserves.
The largest Reserve component, the Army Reserve which constitutes 66 per cent of Defence Reserves and 39 per cent of the Australian Army, has since 1999 contributed 16,000 personnel to operations, most of them overseas. This is 20 per cent of the ADF total commitment to such operations.
Within Australia the Army Reserve has given direct support to border security operations, to special events security, including the Sydney Olympics and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, and more recently to indigenous assistance programs.
The nucleus of the Army Reserve's contribution to the total land force remains the High Readiness Reserve Combat Teams and the Reserve Response Forces.
All this demonstrates that the Army Reserve has come a long way from the "Stone Age" of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when the Army Reserve was neither used extensively on operations nor was part of the total force concept. Moreover, there existed then a negative "them" and "us" culture between the Regular Army and the Army Reserve.
Recent and possible proposed actions of the federal Labor Government have now seriously jeopardised the significant advances made to date and risk returning our defence to the "Stone Age".
In order to cope with budget restraints imposed on the Army at large and to facilitate an increase in the permanent ADF of 3,500 personnel (2,000 of them Regular Army soldiers), several punitive measures have been and are continuing to be directed at the 17,500-strong Army Reserve.
A 20 per cent cut in overall Army Reserve training is being implemented, with a 10 per cent cut having already been made during July to December 2009, and the full 20 per cent hitting over the period from January to June 2010. As some units are better off with their training allocation, some other units have, as a result, effectively had a 30 per cent cut in training time.
A range of destructive effects has resulted from these cuts. Parade nights have been reduced, weekend training cut and course lengths shortened. ANZAC Day support is now minimal.
In addition, some reservists completing the recruit course at Kapooka have been told, "Don't turn up for training until July as there is no money to pay you!" The number of Army Reservists undertaking continuous full-time service (CFTS) has been slashed from 1,600 to 550.
The combined effect of all these cuts will be to substantially weaken the capacity of the Army Reserve to support overseas operations. Obviously, for overseas operations, more, not less, training is required. Eventually, this will undermine the effectiveness of the Australian Army overall, let alone what it will now do to Army Reserve efficiency and morale.
Equally, if not more disturbing than the present cuts, are the secret plans to gut the Army Reserve in a proposed Army reorganisation.
It is planned to cut the Regular Army cadre in Reserve units, most of whom are experienced senior NCOs and middle-ranking officers, from 1,200 to 600 personnel. Also intended is the disbandment of the Army Reserve Artillery Corps and half of the Reserve Armoured Corps - the latter which today lacks current vehicles and equipment.
Likewise, university regiments - historically the core of officer-training for the Army Reserve - will be reduced in number and become only general training units.
It is proposed to disband the Monash University Regiment and merge it with the Melbourne University Regiment. Given that Monash University with its 56,000 students is one of Australia's largest universities and given its historical association with General Sir John Monash, this is an extraordinary proposal.
These plans are at this stage known to some senior army officers. Reportedly, the Defence Minister, Senator John Faulkner, has declined to sign off on implementation or release of these devastating proposals until after the coming federal election. A courageous decision, minister!
None of this would have come about if the overall army budget had not been put under pressure. Even $100 million directed from the Federal Government's economic stimulus package to the Army Reserve could have rendered the cuts and proposed force reduction unnecessary.
Given the hundreds of millions of dollars wasted on so many of the Rudd Government's madcap schemes, such as the home insulation fiasco and duplicative incursions into health and education areas of state responsibility, it is time the Federal Labor Government adequately funded its principal responsibility - the defence of the nation.
Ken Aldred is a former federal Liberal member of parliament and Army Reserve Officer.
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