Anthony_B_78
Active Member
The 2020 Force Structure Plan does include a second tranche of SP artillery. Listed as Additional Protected Mobile Fires (Self-Propelled Howitzers) with an earmarked cost of $1.5-2.3 billion. I believe it is stated that this means another 30 AS9 SPHs and 15 AS10 AARV, doubling the existing order, and providing for two regiments. Did you mean this or additional over and above?
Yes and eventually above. Something that has not been mentioned in the expansion of the ADF (or what is happening in Ukraine) is the role of reserves. Is there a place for reserve units using high end equipment, doing much of their training on simulators?
This could be supported by a cadre of ex reg and higher trained reserves who are able to make a greater commitment. The SERCAT system potentially could adapt to support this.
There is something of a push to consider having our reserves man and operate the long range precision fires capabilities we are looking to acquire some years down the track, given the training load compared to say, an SP gun battery is vastly lower…
I imagine such a Regiment would need to maintain ARA cadre staff and that idea hasn’t always worked out so well in practice in the past, but time will tell.
It worked quite well with a few of the LH units which were able to swing from rec to APC quite easily. My old unit had a reg Cpl or Sgt in each troop plus a training WO, Adj, Chief Clerk and RAOC Sgt.
One exercise, supporting a ready reserve BTN some visitors assumed we were 3/4 Cav when watching the company assault we were supporting. It had taken a lot of prep work, including multiple practice runs before joined the Inf but goes to show what can be done.
The biggest issue was we spent more time maintaining the vehicles than operating them. This is where simulators would be great. No wear and tear on the vehicles, do most of the practice on Sims, plus new vehicles should need less blood sweat and tears to keep them going.
Anthony_B_78
Active Member
The reserves seem to give rise to vexed questions that arise every now and then, and I get that people want to see that they deliver capability. I know it's complex. One thought that keeps coming back to me - and I'd really be interested in the thoughts of those who have been there, done that, or still are - is how do reservists find the time?
I'm thinking if you have a full-time job and a family, and other interests, it's got to be tough to commit the time that allows you to gain / maintain a particular standard. Many of us work far more than the supposed standard 38-hour week and have responsibilities that continue into the weekends. Those of older generations may or may not appreciate that society's expectations are different these days. Fathers, and we are largely talking about men, are expected to be more involved in their kids' lives. Add to the equation playing sport and/or being involved in a community group, such as a volunteer emergency services, and it really is understandable that many would just not be able to commit. I can imagine university students would be a good recruiting ground for reservists, but I expect many of them would disappear once they enter the workforce. One weekend a month, two weeks a year, that's what they used to say, isn't it? It is actually a lot for the average person with a full-time job and kids.
I'm thinking if you have a full-time job and a family, and other interests, it's got to be tough to commit the time that allows you to gain / maintain a particular standard. Many of us work far more than the supposed standard 38-hour week and have responsibilities that continue into the weekends. Those of older generations may or may not appreciate that society's expectations are different these days. Fathers, and we are largely talking about men, are expected to be more involved in their kids' lives. Add to the equation playing sport and/or being involved in a community group, such as a volunteer emergency services, and it really is understandable that many would just not be able to commit. I can imagine university students would be a good recruiting ground for reservists, but I expect many of them would disappear once they enter the workforce. One weekend a month, two weeks a year, that's what they used to say, isn't it? It is actually a lot for the average person with a full-time job and kids.
I went inactive in the late 90s when policy changes saw the required commitment for reserve service increase at the same time as restrictions on overtime that could be demanded by employers reduced.
A training weekend would start at 1900 (expected to be there by 1830) on the Friday and finish at 2200 or later on the Sunday.
My working week would start at 1700 on the Sunday (half shift to 2330 to get everything set and ready for the sunday night shift, and then 1030 to 2330 with a single 20 minute break Monday, through Saturday. Who would have thought changing the wording from "reasonable overtime" to "overtime as required" would make such a difference.
In the space of two years, 97 to 98, I lost everything outside of work, reserves, sport, my studies ground to a halt, lost touch with friends. I always intended to go back to reserves but a scma stuff up saw me first of all asked to go full time, then they discharged me as the Saracen had been retired from service. I pointed out I was M-113 qualified and had never driven a Saracen in my life but apparently it was too hard to change.
There needs to be some balance, pretty much everyone seems to be either over worked, or under employed these days.
Until the integrated reserve / ARA units were more or less done away with, talking about my own in 2/14LHR here...
I think the idea could work - it works well enough in the US National Guard afterall, but there would have to be a much stronger push with it from Army than there has been to date and I’m not sure many within ARA are going to champion the concept…
Still, options exist and it is being discussed…
Looking Around: The Future of the Army Reserves | The Cove
Dustin Gold has been working with the District of Columbia National Guard in the US, and he thinks we can learn a few things about how we employ Army Reservists from them.
cove.army.gov.au
Full time job with kids is just hard work and a challenge to do justice for that "second career in the reserves"
Probably not the demographic to aim for.
That said I increasingly see people doing multiple part-time jobs.
For some it is out of necessity, but for others it is for work life balance issues and variety.
Family person or not, this employment market presents an opportunity for the reserves.
Regards S
Gryphinator
Active Member
The training commitment for joining Ares is too much for most working people. 35 days in sections (if selected by the recruit) at Kapooka must cost defence a fortune. It's great to get commonality with the ARA and getting a better product, but I'm sure they'd get more in if it went back to being local.
I looked at re-enlisting last week but it's just too long at Kapooka (I hate the place) Now Canungra for 2 weeks on the other hand
(Possibly too old now thankfully)
I looked at re-enlisting last week but it's just too long at Kapooka (I hate the place) Now Canungra for 2 weeks on the other hand
(Possibly too old now thankfully)
Redlands18
Well-Known Member
Great posting Canungra as Staff
Gryphinator
Active Member
I did a months secondment there in 99ish at the Med centre and then went and did Hydra with 6RAR a year or so later-fun with the clarity of hindsight, not so much at the time....
IMO each university/TAFE should have a combination reserve units attached (Airforce, Army, Navy). Each university should have collaborations, research and industry experience with the ADF. Young people are often interested in experiences and universities are always looking for industry experience internship partnerships.
The idea that everything that needs to happen with universities happens at ADFA is wrong. There should be multiple pathways. Universities should be more able to link with defence. Mindsets of universities need to change. STEM, humanities, medicine etc. IMO There should be someone in uniform on each campus of each and every university. Recruitment, projects, grants, advisory groups and panels, industry groups, steering committees, reserve/ADF student issues etc.
IMO China shouldn't have greater engagement with our universities than our own ADF. Between Uni and TAFE that is probably 85+% of young people. Also a significant portion of mid career people upgrading or changing qualifications.
If reservists have a significant drop off once they are in the work force, that isn't always a terrible thing, that still means a significant proportion of people are getting training, contributing usefully and moving on. At some point later, they might re-activate. If you want to retain them, them perhaps we can look at further support for employers and reservists in the workplace.
From this story you would believe we have a significant reduction in the IFV numbers coming up. Multi-billion-dollar army vehicle project faces cutbacks as problems emerge on related program — ABC News also refers to an earlier story claiming the lance turrent integration isn’t going that well? I would of that that would of been integrated prior to selection? Or an ABC beat up?
Probably need something in concrete before making too much of LAND 400 Phase 3
I am perplexed however why LAND 400 Phase 2 and 3 did not specify a common turret and gun.
Any way just my thoughts
Regards S
I was with 2/14th from 1994 to 2002, though some of those years were quieter than others. Initially the reserve sqn was of a good quality, with a bunch of former regs and commanders who 'got' reserves. Many of the reserve troopers themselves had been in for years and were very switched on. However, as these began to leave, the quality of the overall experience declined and more of these men left. At the end we were no where near as useful/capable as we had been. Then the regt was switched to full time (I was finishing up anyway to be a teacher). As a university student it had worked well for me. I was assigned to the regular army squadron for two years and they gave me extra work. I paid my tuition fees upfront with my Ares earnings. Not all exercises fitted in with Uni commitments but I was usually able to negotiate something with my lecturers. I imagine uni students continue to be a key resource for the reserve.
Prior to uni, I worked at a bank. They were happy to let me do the two week exercises, though I'm not sure they'd have been very keen on the much longer induction course that is required now. I think my involvement enabled the bank to say they were supporting a civic duty? Some of the more full on weekends left me pretty smashed for office work on a Monday! As a single man, it was quite doable. Different men cope with the phases of life differently. Some won't want to miss family activities, others would relish getting away!
These experiences are 20 years and more old. My view was that at its best, with sufficient experienced soldiers, reserve units could be useful. Certainly in protection duties and many of the recon tasks I was trained in. They offer a starting point for the army to expand, until further training and experience make them fully capable. As for today? Many boys have technology skills that might be very useful in the missile type units that Greg Sheridan is currently promoting. This could be exploited? Otherwise, seeing the destruction of armoured vehicles by drones and anti-tank squads in Ukraine, I wonder how units like my old one could survive? I saw that many of the Ares battalions are slated for discontinuing in their current form (Aust Defender mag). I am not sure what the final plan is for them.
Prior to uni, I worked at a bank. They were happy to let me do the two week exercises, though I'm not sure they'd have been very keen on the much longer induction course that is required now. I think my involvement enabled the bank to say they were supporting a civic duty? Some of the more full on weekends left me pretty smashed for office work on a Monday! As a single man, it was quite doable. Different men cope with the phases of life differently. Some won't want to miss family activities, others would relish getting away!
These experiences are 20 years and more old. My view was that at its best, with sufficient experienced soldiers, reserve units could be useful. Certainly in protection duties and many of the recon tasks I was trained in. They offer a starting point for the army to expand, until further training and experience make them fully capable. As for today? Many boys have technology skills that might be very useful in the missile type units that Greg Sheridan is currently promoting. This could be exploited? Otherwise, seeing the destruction of armoured vehicles by drones and anti-tank squads in Ukraine, I wonder how units like my old one could survive? I saw that many of the Ares battalions are slated for discontinuing in their current form (Aust Defender mag). I am not sure what the final plan is for them.
Report today in the Asia Pacific Defence Reporter that troops will have to dismount from the Boxer CRV to engage enemy armour:
'April 6. During Senate Estimates today, Chief of the Army Rick Burr indicated a major failure on the LAND 400 Phase 2 acquisition of Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles. He indicated during testimony that the vehicles will no longer be able to fire turret mounted anti-tank guided missiles. These were meant to be Spike missiles from Rafael – and Army has been funding the redesign of the turret for their inclusion.
Lieutenant General Burr said:'
“It will not have an organic anti-armour weapon – they will be carried by the troops inside to engage those sorts of threats.”
asiapacificdefencereporter.com
How the hell can this happen after such an extensive evaluation prior to the contract being signed? Not for the first time in the last week I am
left speechless!
Tas
'April 6. During Senate Estimates today, Chief of the Army Rick Burr indicated a major failure on the LAND 400 Phase 2 acquisition of Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles. He indicated during testimony that the vehicles will no longer be able to fire turret mounted anti-tank guided missiles. These were meant to be Spike missiles from Rafael – and Army has been funding the redesign of the turret for their inclusion.
Lieutenant General Burr said:'
“It will not have an organic anti-armour weapon – they will be carried by the troops inside to engage those sorts of threats.”
UPDATED: Army says Block 1 Boxer 8x8s will not be able to fire guided missiles, but later versions will - APDR
April 6. During Senate Estimates today, Chief of the Army Rick Burr indicated a major failure on the LAND 400 Phase 2 acquisition of Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles. He indicated during testimony that the vehicles will no longer be able to fire turret mounted anti-tank guided missiles...
asiapacificdefencereporter.com
How the hell can this happen after such an extensive evaluation prior to the contract being signed? Not for the first time in the last week I am
left speechless!
Tas
the road runner
Active Member
I wonder if that is because we have not yet produced or ordered one Spike ER missile in Australia to date?
Australian Spike missiles could have helped Ukraine, but they’re not even being built yet | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)
I assume we will eventually get a turret mounted Spike ER Missile when these missiles go into full production in Australia ...Well maybe i should say i pray to "Saint Spike" ... that we do !
It seems we are in the twilight of using Javelin and a new era is about to begin with Spike !
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In my experience what is reported by the media, or even stated in parliament, is often not the full story, or even the true story.
No politician is ever going to admit they screwed the pooch or cut funding, it will always be someone else's fault.
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