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troung · 08-15-2006, 01:02 AM

Howard to boost army personnel to 30,000

Patrick Walters, National security editor
August 15, 2006

Quote:
THE army will be expanded by 20 per cent over the next decade to about 30,000 personnel, with federal cabinet's National Security Committee today considering a $10 billion investment.

The call for more manpower comes as the 25,000-strong Defence Force faces unprecedented operational demands stretching from the Middle East to the South Pacific.

A larger army is seen as essential for Australia to deal with its core national defence and regional security responsibilities - such as East Timor - as well as taking part in coalition operations further afield.

Senior ministers will today also consider a separate submission from Defence Minister Brendan Nelson proposing an overhaul of Defence Force recruiting and retention practices at a cost of more than $100 million.

The aim is to get a significantly higher number of recruits from the 25,000 applications the Defence Force gets each year.

Defence wants an extra two 800-strong army battalions or battle groups which, together with supporting troops, would add close to 3000 soldiers to the army's existing six battalions.

The boost to the army is on top of the extra 1500 troops approved by the Howard Government last year as part of the long-term "hardening and networking" plan to re-equip the force for 21st-century warfare.

The army has already begun a multi-billion-dollar equipment upgrade, involving new helicopters, tanks, trucks, combat gear and communications systems.

The defence policy guidance submission will dictate even higher military spending from the Howard Government on top of the recent budget pledge to increase the defence budget by 3per cent in real terms over the next decade.

A revamping of Defence Force recruiting will be essential if the army is to increase its size in a far more competitive labour market.

The Government also plans to offer more generous retention bonuses for highly skilled personnel and will offer additional incentives for highly trained reservists who can easily slot into the permanent force for operational deployments.

The decision to opt for a larger land force is the key conclusion of a major policy review to be brought to cabinet by Dr Nelson.

The highly classified defence policy guidance document, the first of its kind since 1997, lays down broad guidelines for the development of the structure of the Defence Force.

It says that while coalition operations in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq remain significant, the priority should be the defence of Australia and its immediate neighbourhood.

Defence chiefs have been concerned for some time that the existing army cannot sustain indefinitely major deployments to places such as East Timor and the Solomons as well as long-running commitments to coalition operations such as Iraq.

The 2000 defence white paper - still the Government's key public defence blueprint - called for the army to be able to sustain a 3000-strong brigade on operations as well as having a 800-strong battalion available for deployment elsewhere. This goal is yet to be realised.

After the Vietnam War, Australia's regular army remained more than 30,000 strong until 1991, when budget cuts led to the number of troops dropping to 25,000 by 1996.

In May, shortly before East Timor blew up, John Howard said Australians would have to get used to higher levels of defence spending in the face of new security challenges.

"We live in an unstable region, we'll have regional responsibilities of the Solomon Islands type for years into the future, and we need to have a military profile which is appropriate as well as having the capacity to join coalition operations in other parts of the world," the Prime Minister said. "Now that is going to be the lot, defence-wise, for Australia years into the future."

Dr Nelson's plan to revamp recruiting is likely to see a completely novel approach, with Defence attempting to build a sound customer relationship with potential recruits.

A total of 95,000 inquiries last year generated 25,000 applicants and resulted in fewer than 8000 men and women joining the Defence Force.

08-15-2006, 01:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
troung A Self Important *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 08-03-03 Posts: 4,262 Country:	Howard to boost army personnel to 30,000 Howard to boost army personnel to 30,000 Patrick Walters, National security editor August 15, 2006 Quote: THE army will be expanded by 20 per cent over the next decade to about 30,000 personnel, with federal cabinet's National Security Committee today considering a $10 billion investment. The call for more manpower comes as the 25,000-strong Defence Force faces unprecedented operational demands stretching from the Middle East to the South Pacific. A larger army is seen as essential for Australia to deal with its core national defence and regional security responsibilities - such as East Timor - as well as taking part in coalition operations further afield. Senior ministers will today also consider a separate submission from Defence Minister Brendan Nelson proposing an overhaul of Defence Force recruiting and retention practices at a cost of more than $100 million. The aim is to get a significantly higher number of recruits from the 25,000 applications the Defence Force gets each year. Defence wants an extra two 800-strong army battalions or battle groups which, together with supporting troops, would add close to 3000 soldiers to the army's existing six battalions. The boost to the army is on top of the extra 1500 troops approved by the Howard Government last year as part of the long-term "hardening and networking" plan to re-equip the force for 21st-century warfare. The army has already begun a multi-billion-dollar equipment upgrade, involving new helicopters, tanks, trucks, combat gear and communications systems. The defence policy guidance submission will dictate even higher military spending from the Howard Government on top of the recent budget pledge to increase the defence budget by 3per cent in real terms over the next decade. A revamping of Defence Force recruiting will be essential if the army is to increase its size in a far more competitive labour market. The Government also plans to offer more generous retention bonuses for highly skilled personnel and will offer additional incentives for highly trained reservists who can easily slot into the permanent force for operational deployments. The decision to opt for a larger land force is the key conclusion of a major policy review to be brought to cabinet by Dr Nelson. The highly classified defence policy guidance document, the first of its kind since 1997, lays down broad guidelines for the development of the structure of the Defence Force. It says that while coalition operations in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq remain significant, the priority should be the defence of Australia and its immediate neighbourhood. Defence chiefs have been concerned for some time that the existing army cannot sustain indefinitely major deployments to places such as East Timor and the Solomons as well as long-running commitments to coalition operations such as Iraq. The 2000 defence white paper - still the Government's key public defence blueprint - called for the army to be able to sustain a 3000-strong brigade on operations as well as having a 800-strong battalion available for deployment elsewhere. This goal is yet to be realised. After the Vietnam War, Australia's regular army remained more than 30,000 strong until 1991, when budget cuts led to the number of troops dropping to 25,000 by 1996. In May, shortly before East Timor blew up, John Howard said Australians would have to get used to higher levels of defence spending in the face of new security challenges. "We live in an unstable region, we'll have regional responsibilities of the Solomon Islands type for years into the future, and we need to have a military profile which is appropriate as well as having the capacity to join coalition operations in other parts of the world," the Prime Minister said. "Now that is going to be the lot, defence-wise, for Australia years into the future." Dr Nelson's plan to revamp recruiting is likely to see a completely novel approach, with Defence attempting to build a sound customer relationship with potential recruits. A total of 95,000 inquiries last year generated 25,000 applicants and resulted in fewer than 8000 men and women joining the Defence Force. __________________ To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway