Senate Inquiry hearing on Friday
ED: From my inbox – a Facebook Post
After the all-day Senate Inquiry hearing on Friday: Senator Roberts said: “There needs to be root and branch reform of the honours and awards system.”
“It’s very clear that there has been a two-tier system when it comes to medals. Senior Officers get awards like it’s part of their salary package and the enlisted ranks are lucky if their nominations aren’t just shoved in a drawer and forgotten.”
“The integrity of the Distinguished Service Crosses awarded to multiple leaders of forces in the Middle East is under a dark cloud. It has become clear that senior leaders of Defence, including the current Chief, over at least a decade have abused the definition of ‘in action’ to claim awards that were meant to be reserved for soldiers under direct fire of an adversary.”
“How can Angus Campbell claim a Distinguished Service Cross for command of soldiers which he has tried to strip a DSC from for allegations of wrongdoing?”
“The only recognition some soldiers have of their sacrifice and service is a medal. When the system that administers medals is broken, that destroys morale and is a direct contributor to the military recruitment and retention crisis.”
“The inquiry heard heroic stories of soldiers in direct machine gun and grenade fire having their nominations simply forgotten, downgraded without their knowledge or manipulated. This cannot be allowed to happen”
“A fully transparent process must be implemented. It’s clear that the Defence hierarchy cannot be trusted to be impartial and objective when it comes to giving our Defence personnel the recognition they deserve.”
I fail to comprehend how the qualification for the awarding of medals has changed over the years. Once upon a time the medals were awarded for bravery, valour etc. This was done on the battlefield where the recipients were those doing these incredible deeds.
Now, it seems, those sitting in their ivory castles are the ones taking the credit for these heroic deeds their troops are achieving.
I am disgusted.
Tony Thompson. Yes, I agree with you. There are so many anomalies with regard to the awaiting of service and campaign medals on top of other bravery awards. I found this out over the years whilst fighting for full recognition of some 2,500 NS Vietnam veterans.
I have had to put up with young Defence lawyers who have never fired a shot in anger nor indeed picked up a slug-gun. Yes, they are smart people but they have been indoctrinated with ‘black letter’ law whilst justice, fairness and equity is not part of their vocabulary.
Sadly I’ve dealt with a lot of politicians who have been handed the portfolios of Defence, Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs who have absolutely no idea of what men endured in Vietnam.
I will fight on to achieve a positive outcome.
6RAR SVN 1069.
My apologies. Should read 1969. Fat fingers.
I have submitted a proposal to Defence Honours and Awards regarding multiple deployments to Vietnam. Would appreciate any Vietnam veteran and any ex-servicemen’s association to write to me to support this matter.