I quite agree, I'd rather see the manning issue solved by increasing the available pool. "Solving" the problem by reducing available units is no real solution IMV. Having said that though, if the option came available to increase the number of AWD at the cost of an Anzac (or Adelaide) I think that would be worthwhile, regardless of which design for the AWD is selected. Now if the RAN is able to properly man 8 Anzacs AND 4 AWD, even better.
There is no doubt in my mind that recruitment and retention is now the biggest issue facing the RAN. It must be solved or the RAN will end up with new ships tied up and unable to go to sea. I think that the purchase of powerful new ships provides a real opportunity for the RAN to push its recruitment message, but this message also needs to be supported by good pay and conditions, together with incentives for re-enlistment that are at least equal to and preferably more attractive than what is being offered in civilian employment. Let's hope that tonight's federal budget provides this.
Seen from Italy the RAN's manning issues seem very strange. We have problems budgeting ships but don't have any trouble finding new recruits (latest recruitment drives provided 2.5 more applications than needed), especially from the poorer regions of Southern Italy where unemployment is above 10% vs 6.5% nationally.
It's completely the opposite in Australia. Unemployment is running at about 4% nationally IIRC, and a massive mining boom is driving the entire economy. This has created a huge budget surplus for the government so it has more than enough money for new ships - but it can't compete in such a tight job market. Your proposal is of course part of the solution, and improving defence force pay and conditions has been a target for a few years now. There are a whole range of measures aimed at retaining key personnel.
Maybe we should start recruiting Italians. The British army already has a few thousand Fijians, Trinidadians, etc (& Gurkhas, of course). Why not Sicilians in the RN? NATO allies, EU citizens . . . as long as they can speak enough English.
We'd have to get some sawnoff double barrelled shotguns organised, some grappa perhaps, the Godfather theme playing in the background, yes this could work...
For one thing the australian economy is at allmost full employment. Were looking at 4.8% nationaly so there isn't that many young poorer people needing work. Not to mention the very highly paid trades in Australia (sucsessfull electritians can easliy make as much as a lawyer) which means that similar work in the private sector will be much more lucrative. Matching saleries in the private sector would be allmost imposible in some areas and expensive in others. But this is to be expected, whenever a nation has a very strong economic standing and a fully employed labor market with high wages recruitments will suffer. However retention is a biger problem that is easier to fix. Retention rates have less to do with economic conditions than recruitment and more to do with the HR management of the ADF.
Haven't had the chance to check yet. Spent today doing briefings for FOCAF and baby sitting some South Koreans.
Info on another site is suggesting that topweight is an issue in the Australian Anzacs. I've just posted something about this in Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates .
Sorry to bring this back up, but it appears the redesigned exhaust isn't that effective.
