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Copied from the Duty First Magazine

The diggers hugged the ground as the jungle was razed by an invisible sickle.

Machine-guns scythed a plane centimetres above their heads while rocket-propelled grenades sprayed them with red-hot shards of shrapnel.

The jungle was being “chainsawed”, as one soldier put it, by fire from a network of North Vietnamese bunkers.

Overlooked, outgunned and out of ideas, the dozen or so men of 8 Platoon, C Company, of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, contemplated what appeared to be a bleak and brief future.

Cue platoon commander Lieutenant Mark Moloney, 23, who broke cover to hurl grenades at the closest bunker.

Moloney then gathered his men’s stock of anti-tank rockets and, rising again, loosed them at the bunker.

When he was out of rockets, he continued his one-man offensive with a grenade launcher.

Smoke wafted from the bunker. And Moloney’s men rose to resume their slog up the hill, silencing bunker after bunker – always with their commander in the lead.

When it was over Moloney was covered with blood. Riddled with 27 shrapnel wounds, he would only agree to be evacuated after his wounded men had been spirited away by the choppers.

They said he should have received the Victoria Cross. He was instead recommended for a Military Cross. He got nothing.

Until now. Last month Moloney, now 79 and living in Rivett, ACT, was told he had been awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his valour in the Battle of the Bunkers at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, on February 7, 1968.

“His gallant actions whilst under fire were instrumental in destroying the bunker complex, routing the enemy and preventing further Australian casualties,” the medal citation states.

“His actions were in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.”

The citation is signed by Governor-General David Hurley’s secretary and was published in the Commonwealth Gazette on July 19.

The medal is the culmination of a decades-long campaign for recognition by Moloney’s comrades, especially his classmates from the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

“It was a team effort by Mark’s classmates to ensure justice was done from him and the diggers,” Colonel (Rtd) John Paget of Blackheath, NSW, said this week.

“Mark is a great leader who is highly respected and all of us are overjoyed to see him recognised.

“It shows that the past doesn’t necessarily have to be history.

“Fifty-five years after the event, the gallantry of Mark, and of the diggers of Charlie Company, 7 RAR, what they did over those several days, has at last been recognised.”

What the diggers did was extraordinary, but nothing was as extraordinary as the uncommon valour of their platoon commander.

Corporal Edward Czerwinski was five to ten metres from Moloney when he embarked on his solo assault.

So heavy was the enemy fire, a bullet shattered Czerwinski’s rifle magazine and another smashed through his hand. Some way to celebrate your 21st birthday.

“There were a lot of bullets flowing our way,” Czerwinski said this week. “I didn’t get a chance to count them.” Them being the bullets or the men firing the bullets.

“We were firing blind. You couldn’t see the bunkers. Thick foliage. We were just getting chopped to bits.

“We couldn’t put our heads up. The branches were getting chopped off a few inches above our heads.

“(Moloney) did something that no-one else was prepared to do. I just don’t know why he did it. Mark just took them on. Fantastic.

“He had blood coming out of him in all directions. (He was) covered head to toe in his own blood. He was a tough bugger.

“I’m bloody rapt that he’s been recognised and got something. He should’ve been recognised 55 years ago. He should’ve been wearing a medal all these years.”

Some say that medal should have been the Victoria Cross.

“Young Mark Moloney, in my opinion, should’ve been awarded a Victoria Cross for what he did,” 7 RAR’s second-in-command during the action, the late Brigadier Alf Garland, said in 2000.

“If you read some of the citations that you see for Victoria Crosses, what he did made some of them pale into insignificance in comparison. Great shame.”

The Royal Australian Regiment Corporation’s Chairman and decorated Vietnam veteran Michael von Berg agreed.

“I’ve been well aware of Mark’s incredible actions on that day for many, many years,” von Berg said this week.

“It should’ve been a VC. If you read the recommendation, it reads like a citation for a Victoria Cross.”

Several theories have been suggested to explain why Moloney did not even receive the lesser award of a Military Cross, for which he was recommended by his superior officers.

Firstly, the action at Bien Hoa happened during the North’s Tet offensive, so the paperwork might have been overlooked in the general confusion of the time.

Secondly, the awards system was governed by a quota and 7RAR had received its allowance of medals. (On this point von Berg said: “How can you have a quota on courage?”)

And thirdly, Moloney downplayed his own role in his official report of the action. An action in which 14 Australians were wounded, but remarkably none were killed.

Moloney is a humble man and declined to be interviewed, other than to say: “I am very proud of the efforts of all my soldiers and their loyalty over the years.”

When the Australian War Memorial asked about his heroics in 1997, Moloney would only pay tribute to his platoon.

“Well, I don’t think I did anything more than that which would be expected of anybody in the circumstances,” he said.

“I think the men themselves did what they had to do in a professional manner, and it was just us working together.

“I don’t think there was any esteem as to one person doing more than another.”

The Defence Department was contacted for comment but had not responded by presstime.

Andrew Faulkner.

Image AWM: South Vietnam. 1967-11. 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Jim Fitzsimmons of Lithgow, NSW, and 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR), was mentioned-in-despatches for gallantry under fire on operations against Viet Cong in Phuoc Tuy Province. 2nd Lt Fitzsimmons (centre) with 7 RAR Platoon Commander, Lt Mark Moloney of St Ives, NSW (left), and Company Sergeant Major C Company, Warrant Officer Ted Lewis of Wahroonga, NSW. Note their camp in the background.

 

 

 

This one appeared in my inbox – my wife said it would be a good Friday smile – if you don’t smile, I’ll give you her phone number.

Formation and Early Years

The Eighth Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR) was raised at Enoggera, Brisbane, on 14th July 1966. The foundation members included the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J.O. Langtry, DCM, the Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class One G.J.C. Lee, and 150 ex-members of the First Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment, which had just returned from Vietnam. At 8:00 a.m. on 8th August 1966, the General Officer Commanding Northern Command, Major General T.F. Cape, CBE, DSO, reviewed the official inauguration parade.

The Battalion strength rose rapidly from 123 all ranks in July to 370 in August. With successive Regular Army and National Service intakes, the unit quickly reached full strength, completing its C and D companies.

Under Command 6 Task Force

On 2nd December 1966, a parade at Enoggera was reviewed by the Commander of 6 Task Force, Brigadier R.L. Hughes, DSO, marking the occasion of the Eighth Battalion coming under the command of 6 Task Force. The Battalion remained under this command until September 1967.

Preparation for Service in Malaysia

In early 1967, the Eighth Battalion was warned for service in the Far East Strategic Reserve. By the Battalion’s first birthday on 8th August 1967, the unit had completed its training for this role. The birthday celebrations were modest, consisting of a post-exercise party in the Rockhampton training area, Queensland.

Farewell Parade and Movement to Malaysia

After a brief leave period, a Farewell Parade reviewed by Brigadier R.L. Hughes, DSO, was held at Enoggera on 1st September 1967. The Battalion moved from Brisbane to Malaysia between 24th August and 6th November 1967 by sea and air, relieving the Fourth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment at Terendak.

Under Command 28 Brigade

On 16th October 1967, the Battalion officially came under the command of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade. Brigadier P.L. Tancred, OBE, the Brigade Commander, reviewed a parade by the Eighth Battalion at Canberra Lines, Terendak Garrison, on 24th November 1967.

Service in Malaysia was marked by a series of exercises beginning in February 1968 with “Warm Up” and continuing with “Sheer Hell,” “All Back,” and “Lath,” as well as Adventure Training. The unit received its Queen’s and Regimental Colours on 25th September 1968, in front of 1000 guests and visitors. This marked the first time that Colours had been presented to a Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment outside Australia.

Further exercises, including “Darling Point,” “Fast Move,” and “Crowning Glory,” were conducted, culminating in the Battalion’s return to Australia. The Advance Party left for Australia on 27th March 1969, and late in April, the Battalion handed over its lines to the First Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. On this day, Lieutenant Colonel Langtry handed over command to Lieutenant Colonel K.J. O’Neill.

Preparation for Service in Vietnam

While completing its tour in Malaysia, the Australian Component was preparing for the Vietnam tour of duty. The 13th National Service intake joined the Battalion on 6th January 1969, followed by the 14th on 28th March 1969, and the 15th on 6th April 1969.

Training for Vietnam began earnestly after the Battalion returned from leave, with specialist courses for the Anti-Tank, Pioneer, Mortars, and Signals platoons. The rifle companies focused on minor infantry tactics and marksmanship. A valuable mine warfare course was conducted by the Royal Australian Engineers, commencing on 30th June.

Intensive training continued, with companies cycling through training at Canungra and Wiangaree, culminating in Exercise “Schaden Freude.” Infantry/Armour training began on 11th August at Wide Bay with B Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, followed by helicopter familiarization.

Exercises continued with “Tune Up” at Spring Mountain, “Fix Fast,” and final exercises at Shoalwater Bay, designed to represent Phuoc Tuy Province. The Battalion’s training concluded with Exercise “Tropic Glow,” followed by “Straight Kris.”

The unit began pre-embarkation leave on 15th October, returning for a final Church Parade at the end of the month. A large crowd witnessed HMAS Sydney leaving Hamilton Wharf at 12:00 on 17th November 1969, with the main body of the Battalion on board. The Advance Party flew out the following day, arriving in South Vietnam to greet the Battalion’s arrival at Nui Dat.

Vietnam Diary of the Eighth Battalion

The Eighth Battalion served with distinction in Vietnam, engaging in various operations and contributing to the overall mission of the Australian forces in the region. The Battalion’s experiences in Vietnam are recorded in its unit diary, detailing the challenges and achievements of its members during this critical period.

Linking the Battalions

In the early 1970s, the withdrawal from Vietnam and the reduction of the Australian Army to 38,000 personnel necessitated structural changes. The opinion of the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Daly, and the Regimental Colonel, Colonel A.V. Preece, was that the cuts might be temporary. Instead of disbanding battalions, they decided to link them, with the possibility of future separation.

On 25th May 1973, Colonel Preece mandated the linking of the Second and Fourth Battalions at Townsville, the Fifth and Seventh Battalions at Holsworthy, and the Eighth and Ninth Battalions at Enoggera.

The linking of the units was a sensitive issue, given the pride of the members in their respective Battalions. Lieutenant Colonel Essex-Clark, Commanding Officer of the Ninth Battalion, advised his unit that the Eighth/Ninth Battalion would adopt the ram Private John Macarthur as its mascot. Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Clunies-Ross, Commanding Officer of the Eighth Battalion, assured the senior non-commissioned officers of the Ninth Battalion that the linking would not simply be a case of their joining his unit. Both commanders arranged for officers and soldiers from both Battalions to be evenly distributed throughout the new Battalion’s ranks.

On 31st October 1973, a church service was held to commemorate the Ninth Battalion’s dead. Lieutenant Colonel Essex-Clark read the lesson and then wept as the colours and a reluctant mascot passed through the battalion gate for the last time. They joined the Eighth Battalion on its parade ground, where chaplains conducted a simple inauguration ceremony. Lieutenant Colonel Clunies-Ross then addressed the men as the Eighth/Ninth Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, marking the end of an era as the Eighth Battalion ceased to exist.

 

 

Soldiers from the 10th Force Support Battalion (10FSB) conducted advanced watercraft training with the lighter, amphibious, resupply, cargo, 5-tonne (LARC-V) vehicle and F470 Zodiac vessels at Rainbow Beach, Queensland, in early August.

Exercise Surfing Penguin exposed marine specialists to rough surf conditions, enabling them to respond to high-risk weather events in support of domestic and international operations.

Demonstrating the Army’s littoral manoeuvre capabilities, soldiers reinforced their surf drills, with crews practising rapid rescue and recovery, and paired LARC-V recovery from the sea back to land through the surf zone.

Lieutenant Kaleb Booth said the exercise exposed them to different environmental conditions, which built confidence in individual and crew skills.

“We need to put our soldiers into this type of environment, so they’re used to it, so when they do it for real, they are confident in what they’re doing,” Lieutenant Booth said.

“This type of training is not only important, it’s fun and it’s what we get to do on a daily basis. There’s no better job.

“The extraordinary is the ordinary for us.”

‘We need to put our soldiers into this type of environment, so they’re used to it, so when they do it for real, they are confident in what they’re doing.’

Officer Commanding 35 Water Transport Squadron Major Brenton Chapman said Rainbow Beach provided perfect conditions to train soldiers on the LARC-V and Zodiacs.

“Here at Rainbow Beach, near Wide Bay Training Area, the rough surf conditions give our soldiers more of a challenge – training the crews to find the best spot to launch the LARC-V into the sea,” Major Chapman said.

“The LARC-V provides the ability to move both people and equipment across beaches that are not feasible for aircraft to land on.

“The LARC-V is very resilient, being able to handle not only the rough surf but also difficult terrain on land.”

He said the LARC-V, which Army had operated since the 1960s, was capable of handling most conditions.

“There’s nothing else like the LARC-V that Defence has in its watercraft fleet,” Major Chapman said.

“They have a long history of supporting operations, from various flood assists through to their extensive career supporting the Australian Army.”

Under Land 8710, the Army is in the process of replacing the LARC-V with the Amphibious Vehicle – Logistics. Until then, the LARC-V will remain the primary amphibian watercraft.

Le Monde News

New Caledonia’s potential independence without French support could jeopardize Pacific regional security. A public discussion on its relationship with China is crucial, as Chinese entities have long engaged in foreign interference, targeting political elites and leveraging the ethnic Chinese diaspora for CCP interests.

Local elites in New Caledonia have also sought China’s assistance, aligning with CCP front organizations. France and regional partners like Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. must ensure New Caledonia is included in Pacific security dialogues.

The territory’s reliance on China for exports is a “strategic risk,” necessitating economic diversification. China’s increasing interest in New Caledonia—due to its rich resources, geostrategic position, and role in France’s global military presence—has led to growing concerns about covert interference.

The CCP’s primary methods involve exploiting ethnic Chinese links, targeting elites, and integrating New Caledonia into the Belt and Road Initiative. The territory’s divided society and economic disparities heighten its vulnerability to CCP influence.

A robust public conversation within France and New Caledonia is needed to address China’s role and consider policy changes to counteract foreign interference.

 

CLICK LINK if you wish to print a PDF copy DVA medications

This is a list of products that are available on a doctor’s prescription, for Gold Card Repatriation Patients).

Skin Care: Sorbolene and Glycerine Cream, Calmurid Cream, Pinetarsol Solution, Hamilton Skin Therapy

Wash, QV Bath oil, QV Cream – (DVA Authority Required)

Hair Care: Sebitar Shampoo, Sebi Rinse Conditioner, Selsun Nizoral Shampoo, — (DVA Authority Required)

Sun Care: 15+ Cream, Lotion and Solarstick, Ego Sun Sense 50+, Aquasun.

Oral Hygiene: Savacol Aquae Spray for Dry mouth.

Allergies: Telfast, Claratyne, Zyrtec, Phenergan, Drixine Nasal Spray, Sudafed, Demazin Tablets.

Cough Mixtures: Senagar & Ammonia, Durotuss

Fibre Supplements & Laxatives: Nucolox, Normacol, Metamucil, Coloxyl with Senna, Senokot, Movicol powder sachets, Glycerine Suppositories.

Dressings: Micropore Tape, Cutilfilm Plus Waterproof Dressings, Melolin Dressings, Handy Bandages, Cotton Wool, Betadine Antiseptic, Solugels, Barrier Creams, Disposable Gloves, Prantal Powder,

Bactroban Cream or Ointment.

Haemorroidal Treatments: Proctocedyl Ointment –(DVA Authority Required), Suppositories, Anusol.

Ear Preparations: Ear Clear for Wax, Waxsol, Ceromol Ear Drops.

Eye Drops: Ircal Eye Ointment, Refresh Tears Plus 15 ml.

Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Sup Tablets (Caltrate), Vit B1 (Betamin), Magnesium Tablets (Mag-Min), Accomin Liquid Tonic, OsteVit-D – (Vitamin D) – (DVA AUTHORITY Required), MultiVitamins –(DVA

Authority Required), Fish Oil Capsules 1000mg –(DVA Authority Required).

Joint Pain & Arthritis: Metsal Cream or Liniment, Arthro-Aid (Glucosamine). Osteaomol 665 Paracetamol

(Replaces Panadol Osteo Tablets), Voltaren Emugel –(DVA Authority Required), Fish Oil Capsules –(DVA Authority Required).

Sexual Health: Viagra, Cialis, Caverject.

Pain: Asprins – Cartia, Astrix Capsules, Cardiprin, Paracetamol. Ibuprofen, Panamax Co, Panadeine Forte.

Weight Loss: Optifast, Xenical.

Various: Nicorette Patches (Quit Smoking), Vermox, Immodium, Gastro-stop, Ural Sachets (Urinary Alkalinizer). •

Always check with your GP as this list changes from time to time. (You could have been paying full price for any of these items without realising you could have them on a prescription, there-by reaching the

Safety Net of $383.00 sooner. Remember after your 60 prescriptions per annum, at $^.40 each, your prescriptions are free. • Some pharmacies are charging discounted scripts at $5.40 each, be aware if you

take the discounted price you will need to achieve $388.80 (72 scripts) to reach the Safety Net.

 

 

 

A Chinese shipyard in Wuhan has launched a submarine which is likely to be the country’s most advanced non-nuclear type. The new boat is larger than existing ones and is the first in the country to feature X-form rudders. There are indications that it may have a vertical launch system (VLS).

H I Sutton  21 Aug 2024

China does not advertise its new submarine designs in the way virtually every other country does. Information in Chinese state media is extremely limited; nothing which forewarns of a specific new class of boat or reveals the construction numbers. There are sometimes rumours, but that’s about it. There are no official announcements or fancy graphics.

All this is true of a new type of submarine has been observed at a Chinese shipyard. The submarine was launched without public reporting in April 2024 and was revealed by naval expert Tom Shugart in July. The new submarine features X-form rudders, a first for Chinese submarines.

The Mystery Submarine

So the submarine is something of a mystery. The most straightforward explanation is that it is a derivative of the Type-039A-C Yuan class. This is the main conventionally powered (non-nuclear) submarine in service with the Chinese Navy. China is currently producing an export variant of these at the same shipyard for Pakistan as Hangor class. The current model in series production for the PLAN is the Type-039C which features a distinctive stealthily shaped sail.

The new submarine has similar proportions to its forward section as the Yuan. This suggests that the forward hull, with its sonar and torpedo room, is similar. Behind the sail it appears significantly longer however, and id differentiated by x-form rudders.

The x-form rudders can be seen as a progressive upgrade over the traditional cruciform type found on other Chinese submarines.  Although some Chinese extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUVs) already have them. They are generally regarded as better for agility, particularly in shallow water.

The difference isn’t fight winning however and they come with disadvantages as well, particularly in the case of a control jam. For this reason x-form rudders are only slowly being adopted for nuclear submarines whose high speed reduces the margins of error. But this is less of a concern on slower submarines like this one.

Vertically Launched Missiles?

The increased hull length may indicate the addition of a vertical launch system (VLS) for missiles. This is an increasingly important consideration in submarines but is less common in non-nuclear submarines which are generally smaller. The trend in non-nuclear submarines has been set by the South Korean KSS-III and Israeli Drakon Class. If this new submarine does have a VLS behind the sail it can likely accommodate between four and eight missiles, depending on their diameter.

China has been experimenting with VLS on submarines since the introduction of the Type-032 Qing class test boat. This has four small diameter VLS tubes forward of the sail. These were recently modified with a raised deck over them, suggesting a new missile is being tested.

Outlook: A Highly Potent Threat

If the VLS is fitted then it may carry anti-ship ballistic missiles, or land attack missiles which are too large to launch through the torpedo tubes. The Yuan class already has cruise missiles which can be carried in the torpedo room.

An alternative explanation for the increased length may be a new or improved form of propulsion. It is difficult for this alone to account for the increased size given that the Yuan class already has space for air independent power (AIP). Therefore the VLS explanation appears more likely at this stage.

Analysts will no doubt be watching this submarine closely, hoping to find out more. If it does include a VLS then it will make the Chinese submarine one of the most potent non-nuclear boats in the world. This will be something of an upset for planners who can currently put the PLAN conventional submarine force in a box marked ‘local relevance only’. China’s naval might continues to grow in quality as well as size.

Posted by : H I Sutton

H I Sutton writes about the secretive and under-reported submarines, seeking out unusual and interesting vessels and technologies involved in fighting beneath the waves. Submarines, capabilities, naval special forces underwater vehicles and the changing world of underwater warfare and seabed warfare. To do this he combines the latest Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) with the traditional art and science of defense analysis. He occasionally writes non-fiction books on these topics and draws analysis-based illustrations to bring the subject to life. In addition, H I Sutton is a naval history buff and data geek. His personal website about these topics is Covert Shores (www.hisutton.com)

 

Frontline View

Some members have reported facing unexpected and unwarranted censorship from Facebook/Meta, where they have been blocked from sharing content that supports nuclear energy in Australia. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a troubling sign that there are forces at play trying to suppress vital information about an energy source that could revolutionize Australia’s future.

Nuclear energy has the potential to transform our nation by providing clean, reliable, and affordable power. Yet, attempts to forward information about these benefits have been systematically blocked. This raises critical questions: Why is this happening? Who stands to gain from keeping the public in the dark?

The answer may lie in the vested interests of those with substantial investments in solar and wind energy. These entities are reaping huge profits and have a clear motive to control the political narrative. By silencing discussions about nuclear energy, they aim to protect their financial interests, even if it means stalling progress on a solution that could secure the future of our country and the well-being of our grandchildren.

We cannot allow a select few to manipulate politics and policy for the sake of their profits. The Australian public deserves to be fully informed about all energy options, including nuclear, so they can make decisions that will benefit generations to come. The truth about nuclear energy must be heard, and it’s up to us to ensure that it is.

Copied from Duty First Magazine

Brigadier Michael Annett CSC
National President of the Defence Reserves Association, Vice President Melbourne Legacy and Honorary Colonel of 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment

An overview of the submission provided by the Defence Reserves Association (DRA) to the Defence team conducting the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) into Australian Defence Force (ADF) is described in this paper. The DRA has long advocated for a better resourced and more integrated Reserve component to boost ADF capacity, both in current and contingency operational tasks. The effectiveness of the Reserve in recent regional deployments and in domestic disaster relief operations has often been acknowledged and praised, but no one would contend that resourcing of the Reserve or integrated planning for their optimisation has been a priority at the strategic centre in Canberra.

Introduction
This article provides an overview of the submission provided by the Defence Reserves Association (DRA) to the Defence team conducting the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) into Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserve Service. The undertaking of this Review was a specific recommendation of the 2023 DSR.

The DRA is the only veteran-led and member-based advocacy and support body whose sole focus is on the ADF Reserves, or part-time, component of the ADF. This focus is two-fold: first, on ensuring there are appropriate supports and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) for those who have served in the ADF Reserves; and second, optimising the utility of the Reserves and the capabilities that can be generated from it.

The ADF Reserves (herein referred to as the Reserve) have undertaken significant roles to enable ADF operations, tasks, and activities, both onshore and offshore over the last two decades – often at short notice and within settings that are not conducive to optimising their capability potential. To be clear, Reservists are all those serving in the ADF who are not permanent members. They may be women and men who have previously served in the permanent force or those who have only ever served in a part-time mode. Reserve members have a range of capabilities that could be further optimised and have the potential to harness new and emerging skills and technologies identified in the DSR as central to Australia’s future security and prosperity.

Realising the potential of the Reserve component will require improvements and change in the areas of legislation and policy covering Reserve usage, their conditions of service, resourcing, and most crucially a paradigm shift in the attitudes of the Canberra defence bureaucracy towards the Reserve of the future. The DSR confirms that the Reserve is a fully integrated component of the ADF and this requires a flexible approach to how elements of the Reserve are recruited, resourced, and used.

The single greatest contribution to national security this Review can make is to enable an outcome where Government and Defence approach future planning with a common understanding that the nation requires a fully integrated and aligned ADF, with permanent and Reserve components that complement and sustain each other.

What the ADF Reserve is for
The Reserve consists of a range of inter-related and critical capabilities in the context of a capable ADF with depth and resilience. The Reserve provides:

• An opportunity for service in the ADF other than in the permanent force and connects the ADF to communities across Australia.
• Elements to round out, reinforce, and supplement the permanent ADF as required.
• A capability to mount and sustain regional operations.
• The mechanism to retain personnel and their skills and experience post-transition from the permanent force within the ADF structure.
• Specialist skills and capabilities, both emerging and existing, required by the ADF such as cyber, space, medical, and logistics.
• Domestic security support and homeland defence capability, principally from the Army’s Reserve 2nd Australian Division.
• A natural disaster response through current and future Defence Aid to the Civil Community arrangements.
• An important contribution to ADF scaling and national mobilisation contingency planning in the event of a national security emergency.

Factors impeding Reserve optimisation have been identified in successive Defence Reviews and Reports into Reserve matters (a total of 46 since 1972) and at many annual DRA National Conferences. The most significant and recurring factors have been:

• The need for a stable resourcing model that delivers discrete and predictable budget allocations to the Reserve as a percentage of overall ADF funding year on year to generate and sustain capability.
• Sub-optimal location of some Reserve facilities in terms of aligning with demographic trends and ADF recruiting objectives.
• The limited capacity of the ADF to identify, track, and utilise Reserve civilian skills, as appropriate, to optimise their utility and contribution to Defence capability.
• The need to fully realise shared and sponsored workforce opportunities with Industry and Academia, particularly in relation to developing new capabilities as recommended and urged in the DSR.
• The lack of equivalency in issued equipment for Reserve elements – especially when designated units are integral to providing a reinforcing/round out effect to specific permanent ADF units.
• The lack of flexibility and speed in ab-initio recruiting, and the need for more effective engagement with permanent ADF personnel as they transition to encourage part-time service and maintain an incentivised connection with those who have initially chosen not to actively serve in the Reserve.
• The need for reform of inequitable and inflexible Reserve personnel conditions of service, including access to and portability of superannuation, remuneration settings, health and wellbeing support for Reservists and their families, and appropriate DVA entitlements. Consideration should be given to moving to a unified and flexible set of ADF conditions of service, provided through a continuum of permanent and Reserve service access based on annual levels of tempo and commitment.

Some of the specific recommendations the DRA has made in their submission to the ADF Reserve Service Review team include the need to:

• Establish a policy and decision-making body, co-chaired by the Vice Chief of Defence Force (CDF) and Chief of Personnel, which will meet regularly to review and determine what capabilities are needed from the Reserve component of the ADF and what is required to develop, sustain, and deliver them.
• Assist the achievement of permanent ADF recruiting objectives by holding provisional service members in an ADF experience setting that is enabled through the Reserve.
• Empower the Reserve to recruit and enlist ab-initio members to meet their requirements and be accountable for these outcomes.
• Establish regional Reserve administrative and training hubs in each State/Territory to support Recommendation 3 outcomes, and provide scalable facilities to deliver initial training and processing in the event of national mobilisation.
• Resource and explore greater shared training and collaboration with Industry and Academia through an appropriate forum that includes all relevant stakeholders and a consequent targeted engagement and capability model.
• Expand and enhance the ADF Gap Year program, and improve its accessibility and utility.
• Reinvigorate university-linked regiments and squadrons, or create new joint university-based units, to grow the pool of tertiary-educated Reserve personnel, including consideration of Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) support incentives.
• Provide greater support and focus to the development of Reserve elements within Navy and Air Force where these are required, enabled by Service facilities that will develop scalable skills without the need for prior permanent Navy or Air Force service.
• Strengthen the nexus between cadet experience and future ADF service.
• Provide appropriate support to the families of Reservists and address other long-standing issues of inequity and inflexibility that have been identified in the current Reserve conditions of service.
• Ensure that contemporary Reserve nomenclature and practice within a modern, integrated workplace are reflected in the Defence Act revisions and complementary updates to the Reserve Service Protection Act, related Veteran Affairs legislation, and enabling policy in both Defence and DVA.
• Fast track the recognition and recording of civilian skills and qualifications, including those relevant to new domains of cyber, space, and a nascent nuclear capability through engineering, physics, and related disciplines, as well as developing guided weapons and drone capabilities. Consider establishing enclaves within the Reserve to hold these experts/operators.

Conclusion
The DRA has long advocated for a better resourced and more integrated Reserve component to boost ADF capacity, both in current and contingency operational tasks. The effectiveness of the Reserve in recent regional deployments and in domestic disaster relief operations has often been acknowledged and praised, but no one would contend that resourcing of the Reserve or integrated planning for their optimisation has been a priority at the strategic centre in Canberra.

A larger and more flexible part-time component has the potential to mitigate some of the current Permanent force recruiting challenges in Navy, Army, and Air Force as well as open up the only viable pathway for Defence to grow and sustain capabilities in cyber and space.

By incentivising more young Australians to serve part-time, especially utilising their civil skills and qualifications, and getting more ex-permanent ADF people to stay engaged, we will go a long way towards creating the essential base on which to build a national mobilisation plan should our security situation require an all-in effort for national defence.

The Author
Michael Annett is a Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon graduate. He commanded a troop, squadron, and unit in the Australian Army from 1980 to 2006. On leaving the Army, Michael worked in veteran support and services roles, including over a dozen years as CEO Returned Services League (RSL) Victoria. Michael continued to serve in the Reserve, commanding 4 Brigade and returning to full-time service in 2015/16 to deploy to Afghanistan as the Task Group commander. He is currently the National President of the Defence Reserves Association, the Vice President Melbourne Legacy, and Honorary Colonel of the 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment.

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20240716 – Chief of Army Letter to the Army – Seizing the Opportunity of the RCDVS – OFFICIAL