Rebuilding the ADF Reserve Forces by Major General Jim Barry AM MBE RFD ED DEFENCE RESERVES ASSOCIATION 2005 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

DEFENCE RESERVES ASSOCIATION Support for ADF Optimal use of Reserves Need for Reserves Critical review of Government policies for the support of Reserves Facilitate understanding of the Reserve component within Defence

NEED TO REBUILD ADF RESERVES East Timor watershed of ADF shortcomings Increased outsourcing Under resourcing of ADF Reserves Failure to meet recruiting targets Expensive advertising campaigns Outsourced centralised recruiting agency Rebuild effective ADF Reserve capability

POLICY DOCUMENT Cloning Reservists does not work Delivering the capability required by the 2000 Defence White Paper Round out, reinforcement and rotation Reserve capabilities to cover gaps in regular component competencies

NAVAL RESERVES 75% ex Permanent Civilian specialists

ARMY RESERVES Half strength in ARA manning Rigid ARA training regime Little attempt to accommodate civilian employment availabilities Syllabus cloning Long courses at centralised locations Irregular course frequency Lack of empanelling opportunities No unit individual training

ARMY RESERVES CONT’D Lack of structured streams for ARes career paths or development Need for incentives to soldiers to achieve 5 years optimum retention Uncompetitive with civilian workplace market Falling strength

AIR FORCE RESERVES 75% ex Permanent Air Force Increasing and widening use of Reserves Training structure better suited for Reserves

MAJOR CONSTRAINTS Poor conditions of service Major constraint on recruiting and retention Reserve Remuneration Review Failure to meet recruiting targets Outsourced centralised agency Lack of voice for Reserves where it counts

ADF CAPABILITY Force capability and structure Sustainability is the weakest link Joint operations Peacekeeping and peacemaking Homeland security and surveillance Aid to the civil power Coalition operations

RESERVISTS As and from their community Need for unit and regional identity Deploy and serve with mates Different training methodology Civilian skills and attributes Need for manning of units Provision of force structures not needed on a day to day basis

RESERVE FORCES Significantly less cost to train and maintain Wide range of skills Additional capabilities Different rate of development Different degree of notice or lead time Capabilities and an expansion base Public face of the ADF

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS Appropriate roles for short and long term contingencies Deployment objectives Appropriate recognition of civilian skills and competencies Career and succession pathways Use in emergencies and natural disasters Implementation of 2001 callout legislation

REBUILD RESERVES Experienced Reservists at senior command levels and policy making Development of Reserve capabilities Reserve equipment studies

What needs to be done now! Development of ADF Capability through Reserves Transformation of Conditions of Service