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Australia’s minimal participation in the crucial US-led maritime exercise, RIMPAC, highlights significant shortcomings in the nation’s military preparedness. Despite the Albanese government’s warnings about rising threats from China, Australia is sending just one ship, one plane, and 320 personnel to this year’s exercise, compared to a much larger contingent at the last RIMPAC in 2022, we sent 1600 personnel, three warships, a Collins-class submarine, two P-8A Poseidon aircraft and an army amphibious combat group, together with mine warfare and clearance diving teams.

This stark reduction reflects broader issues, including inadequate funding, delayed decisions, and recruitment challenges, leaving Australia with insufficient warships, submarines, and personnel. With aging equipment and ambitious plans for new submarines and frigates unlikely to materialize this decade, Australia’s defence capabilities remain critically underprepared.

Former Australian SAS soldier Oliver Jordan Schulz, 43, stands accused of war crimes for allegedly killing an Afghan farmer in 2012. Schulz is charged with shooting Dad Mohammad three times in a wheat field in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province while the 25- or 26-year-old man lay on his back.

During a local court hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre on Tuesday, prosecutors announced plans to file an application for witnesses to be called during the case’s committal stage. These proceedings, held before a local court magistrate, determine if there is sufficient evidence for the case to advance to a higher court trial.

A five-day hearing has been scheduled for April 2025, marking over two years since Schulz’s arrest in March 2023. Schulz’s Perth-based lawyer, Karen Espiner, stated via video link that she has yet to learn the identities of the proposed witnesses, but there could be up to 10.

Barrister Philip Strickland SC, representing commonwealth prosecutors, emphasized the urgency of the committal application, given the lengthy duration of the case in the lower court. “We are very concerned … it’s been in this court for a long time,” he remarked. “Whatever is quickest is what we’ll do.”

Schulz was apprehended in March 2023 following a complaint from the alleged victim’s father to the Australian Defence Force. He was released on bail a week later after a magistrate determined he faced a high risk of Taliban attack if kept in custody. Schulz is the first former or serving Australian Defence Force member to be charged with a war crime-related murder.

Earlier this year, Australian Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh MP, announced new measures to improve Australian Defence Force (ADF) recruitment. “We are growing our Defence Force as we need, making sure that we’re improving the flow through in our recruitment,” Keogh said in a February 13 interview with 2GB.

Keogh highlighted that the previous 300-day enlistment process deterred many potential recruits. The goal is now to reduce this to 100 days or less with the help of new recruitment partner Adecco.

Historically, the ADF recruitment process was faster. In his memoir, SAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient Mark Donaldson described a straightforward enlistment in 2002, where he was sworn in and sent to basic training within days of his initial application.

Currently serving and retired ADF personnel confirmed that recruitment in the early 2000s was quicker. One soldier noted it took less than three months from application to departure for basic training.

In the mid-1990s, ADF recruitment was highly successful, meeting targets and even returning part of the marketing budget. However, by 2002–03, the numbers had declined significantly, with only 4,322 members recruited to the permanent force against a target of 5,164.

The ADF faces a recruitment crisis with long wait times, unmet targets, and unappealing incentives for new generations. Addressing this issue requires streamlining the recruitment process and changing public perception of military service. Without significant reforms, the ADF will continue to struggle with recruitment challenges.

The MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft system, specifically designed for maritime patrol and surveillance missions. This advanced aircraft will significantly enhance Australia’s ability to monitor vast ocean areas and conduct various surveillance operations.

Australia’s Triton fleet will be stationed at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. Operations will be managed by the newly reformed No. 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. Qualified Air Force pilots, operating from a ground station, will control the Triton, supported by a co-pilot. This setup ensures that the aircraft can be effectively managed during long-endurance missions.

One of the key capabilities of the Triton is its ability to monitor up to 40,000 square kilometres per day. It can undertake sustained surveillance missions and support allied freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea from the Northern Territory. This capability is crucial for increasing Australia’s interoperability with key allies, particularly the United States.

The Triton is designed to operate in conjunction with Australia’s planned fleet of 12 manned P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft. This collaboration enhances the effectiveness of Australia’s maritime patrol operations, providing comprehensive coverage and support.

Based on the proven Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), the Triton benefits from autonomous operations supported by land-based command and control mission planners and sensor operators. Its unique and robust mission sensor suite offers 360-degree coverage on all sensors, providing unprecedented maritime domain awareness for the US Navy and its allies.

In summary, the MQ-4C Triton represents a significant advancement in Australia’s maritime surveillance capabilities, ensuring enhanced monitoring, patrol, and interoperability with allied forces.

The comparison of the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, and F-117 Nighthawk:

B-1 Lancer

Manufacturer: Rockwell International (now part of Boeing)

First flight: 1984

Entered service: 1985

Primary role: Low-level penetration bomber

Payload: Up to 44,000 pounds of bombs and missiles

Range: Over 5,000 miles (8,000 km)

Speed: Over Mach 0.82 (around 600 mph)

Radar cross-section: Relatively large and reflective

Crew: 4-6

B-2 Spirit

Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman (now part of Northrop Grumman Corporation)

First flight: 1989

Entered service: 1997

Primary role: Stealth bomber

Payload: Up to 40,000 pounds of bombs and missiles

Range: Over 6,000 miles (9,656 km)

Speed: Over Mach 0.95 (around 700 mph)

Radar cross-section: Extremely low (stealthy design)

Crew: 2

B-52 Stratofortress

Manufacturer: Boeing (previously Douglas)

First flight: 1952

Entered service: 1955

Primary role: Heavy bomber and reconnaissance

Payload: Up to 40,000 pounds of bombs and missiles

Range: Over 8,800 miles (14,160 km)

Speed: Over Mach 0.85 (around 650 mph)

Radar cross-section: Moderate to high

Crew: 7

F-117 Nighthawk

Manufacturer: Lockheed Skunk Works (now part of Lockheed Martin)

First flight: 1982

Entered service: 1983

Primary role: Stealth fighter-bomber

Payload: Up to 13,000 pounds of bombs and missiles

Range: Over 1,000 miles (1,609 km)

Speed: Over Mach 0.95 (around 700 mph)

Radar cross-section: Extremely low (stealthy design)

Crew: 1

Comparison Points

1. Stealth Technology: The B-2 Spirit and F-117 Nighthawk are designed with stealth technology to reduce their radar cross-section, making them harder to detect. The B-1 Lancer has a relatively large and reflective radar cross-section.
2. Payload Capacity: The B-52 Stratofortress has the largest payload capacity among the four, while the B-1 Lancer and F-117 Nighthawk have lower payload capacities.
3. Range: The B-52 Stratofortress has the longest range, while the B-2 Spirit has a slightly longer range than the B-1 Lancer.
4. Speed: The F-117 Nighthawk and B-2 Spirit are both capable of high speeds, while the B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress have lower speeds.
5. Crew: The B-52 Stratofortress has a larger crew compared to the other three aircraft.
6. Design: The B-1 Lancer has a traditional design with a fuselage and wings, while the B-2 Spirit and F-117 Nighthawk have more angular and stealthy designs.

These differences reflect the unique requirements and design philosophies for each aircraft. The B-52 Stratofortress is an older design with a focus on heavy payload capacity and range, while the B-1 Lancer is a modern design with a focus on low-level penetration bombing. The B-2 Spirit and F-117 Nighthawk are both designed with stealth technology for high-priority missions.

 

Sharing this with all of us. Read, enjoy, and take these thoughts and words to heart! The days are passing so quickly for all of us.

One day I had lunch with some old friends.  Jim, a short, balding golfer type, about 82-years old, came along with them; all in all, it was a pleasant bunch.

When the menus were presented, my friends and I ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Jim who said, “A large piece of home-made apple pie, heated please.”

I wasn’t sure my ears heard him right, and the others were aghast, when Jim continued, completely unabashed…”along with two large scoops of vanilla ice cream.”

We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time, but when our orders were brought out, I didn’t enjoy eating mine.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Jim as I watched him savouring each bite of his pie a-la-mode.  The other guys just grinned in disbelief as they silently ate their lunches.

The next time I went out to eat, I called Jim and invited him to join me.  I lunched on a white meat tuna sandwich, while he ordered a chocolate parfait.  Since I was chuckling, he wanted to know if he amused me.

I answered, “Yes, you certainly do, but you also confuse me. How come you always order such rich desserts, while I feel like I must be sensible in my food choices?”

He laughed and said “I’m tasting all that is possible for me to taste.  I try to eat the food I need and do the things I should to stay healthy, but life’s too short, my friend.  I hate missing out on something good.  This year I realized how old I was. (He grinned) I’ve never been this old before, so, while I’m still here, I’ve decided it’s time to try all those things that, for years, I’ve been ignoring.”

He continued, “I haven’t smelled all the flowers yet.  There are too many trout streams I haven’t fished.  There are more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.  “There are too many golf courses I haven’t played.  I’ve not laughed at all the jokes.  I’ve missed a lot of sporting events and potato chips and cokes. “I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face.  I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.  “I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast.  “I haven’t cried at all the movies yet or walked in the morning rain.  I need to feel wind on my face. I want to be in love again.  “So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I’d say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing.  I filled my heart’s desire.  I had that final piece of pie before my life expired.”

With that, I called the waitress over… “I’ve changed my mind, ” I said. “I want what he’s having, only add some more Whipped cream!”

Live well, love much & laugh often – Be happy and enjoy doing whatever your heart desires. 

You only go around once on this crazy planet.

 

“I don’t think that there is a systemic issue within Defence in relation to the way in which defence contracts are managed.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles, June 30, 2024

 

Defence Minister Richard Marles defended the defence procurement function after the Auditor General criticized probity issues in a long-term explosives and munitions contract. An official solicited champagne and later worked for the contractor, Thales, under a $1.2 billion contract. Marles, interviewed on ABC’s Insiders, was questioned about the unethical behaviour.

The $1.3 billion munitions factory contract scandal with Thales deepened as police raided Thales offices in France, the Netherlands, and Spain, investigating bribery linked to submarines and a naval base in Brazil. There is no suggestion of bribery in Australia. Thales has over 3,000 defence contracts worth over $3.3 billion since 2020, including $920 million in 2023-24.

Marles emphasized Thales’ importance to the Australian Defence Force and denied systemic issues in contract handling, despite numerous Australian National Audit Office reports criticizing defence contracts, including:

1. Health Services: Shortcomings in contract management affecting ADF personnel welfare.
2. Hunter-class Frigate Procurement: Lack of value for money focus and ineffective expenditure.
3. Defence Industry Security Program: Ineffective administration and monitoring compliance.
4. LAND 200 Combat Management: Inconsistent documentation and questionable capability fulfillment.
5. ANZAC Class Frigates: Inefficiency and lack of competitive processes.
6. Base Services Management: Higher-than-estimated expenditures and unmet savings goals.
7. Fuels and Lubricants Contracts: Effective tender process but lacking value-maximizing negotiation strategy.
8. Private Contractors Management: Policies in place but effectiveness unproven.
9. Inventories Management: Inefficiency in general stores inventory management.

Even positive audits, like the Cape-class patrol boats contract, noted delayed probity risk assessments. Marles’ reassurance contrasts with these critical reports, raising questions about his awareness and action on defence contract management issues.

From a member in the US

President Joe Biden’s recent debate performance has ignited a firestorm of internal criticism and concern within his campaign team and family.

Family Concerns: Biden’s lacklustre showing on the debate stage has drawn almost universal criticism. However, his family is particularly discontented with his campaign advisers, whom they blame for his poor performance.

• They argue that Biden was ill-prepared for the attacks he faced and spent too much time defending his record rather than going on the offensive.
• Despite these issues, two family members remain staunchly supportive of Biden continuing his campaign: his son, Hunter, and the First Lady, Jill.
• The motivations behind their encouragement are not entirely clear, but online speculation suggests it may be connected to Hunter’s recent legal troubles.

Campaign Tensions: The internal dynamics of Biden’s campaign have also been strained, with staff members pointing fingers at various aspects of the debate preparation and execution.

• Some within the team blame the debate moderators for what they perceive as unfair treatment.
• Others criticize the campaign’s preparation process, arguing it failed to equip Biden with the necessary strategies and responses.
• Frustration also extends to CNN’s handling of the debate, with campaign staff expressing dissatisfaction with the network’s approach.

As the campaign grapples with these internal conflicts, the pressure mounts to recalibrate their strategy and address the concerns raised by both family members and campaign staff.

We’ve heard about making New Year’s resolutions at the start of the calendar year. What if we made financial resolutions at the start of each new financial year – what would they look like? 

DVA’s new financial year resolution for keeping veterans safe from scammers would go something like this: “We want to make it harder for scammers to target veterans and families by raising awareness to help them identify, evade and report financial scams”.

According to Scamwatch, Australians lose more money to investment scams than any other type of scam. These types of scams offer big rewards, with little or no risk. 

Investment scams can be hard to spot. Scammers use convincing tactics including new technologies and pressure tactics to lure potential victims to act fast or risk missing out. Scammers want you to act quickly to better their chances of stealing your money. 

If someone in Australia is trying to sell you a financial or investment product, or is giving you professional financial advice, they must have an Australian financial services license. You should check that the person trying to sell you the product has an AFS license.

Scammers are known to try to ‘sell’ shares at prices well below market value – offers like this are probably a scam. If you are told the reason for the discount is that shares are being released before initial public offering, be even more cautious: this is almost definitely a scam.

You can protect yourself and your money by taking time to stop, think, and check before you act, especially if you notice any of these: 

• Fake news stories or ads online claiming a celebrity recommends a scheme to make big money.
• An online contact (a friend or romantic interest) whom you’ve never met in person starts talking to you about investing.
• Emails, websites or ads with testimonials and over-the-top promises of big returns but little or no risk.
• High pressure tactics designed to rush you to act so you don’t ‘miss out’.
• The ‘adviser’ who is helping you doesn’t have, and claims they don’t need, an Australian financial services license.
• You are asked to promote the scheme to friends and family to earn commissions.

Don’t be rushed into making a bad investment decision. If you are not sure, seek independent legal advice or financial advice from a financial advisor who is registered with ASIC (charges may apply). 

For more information about investment scams visit the Government’s Moneysmart website. 

If you have been scammed, we encourage you to report the scam to the National Anti-Scam Centre.

If you or a family member are the victims of a scam you might feel distressed. Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling offers support services for veterans and families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need support, contact Open Arms by visiting their website or by phoning 1800 011 046.

Explore Australia’s cutting-edge military advancement with the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV)! This video dives into the pivotal role of the Boxer CRV in modernizing Australia’s Armoured Fighting Vehicle capability under LAND 400 Phase 2. Designed to enhance the safety, security, and protection of Australian troops, the Boxer CRV replaces the long-serving Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), providing heightened levels of protection, firepower, and mobility.

Versatile Deployment: From littoral environments to complex urban settings, the Boxer CRV ensures operational versatility, supporting missions ranging from peacekeeping to close combat.

Strategic Contract: Rheinmetall Defence Australia is tasked with delivering and supporting 211 Boxer 8×8 CRVs for the Australian Army, split into Block I and Block II phases.

Current Status: Block I have already delivered 25 CRVs, including reconnaissance and multi-purpose variants, demonstrating exceptional performance and availability in Army operations.

Future Build: Block II, comprising 186 CRVs, is currently undergoing design and testing phases. Production is centred at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, Queensland. The majority of Block II CRVs will be assembled at this state-of-the-art facility, boosting local defence manufacturing capabilities.