Army Cut Back – Why?
Army has recently removed a squadron of tanks from its order of battle; no reason has been offered.
FILE PHOTO (Sept 2023): Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in Puslatpur, Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.
Those of us whose interests include an awareness of changes in the combat power of our armed forces, find it hard to believe that this has happened in the current strategic circumstances.
Defence Force Recruiting have had their difficulties of late, but a tank squadron represents a significant force multiplier.
The tanks are there, is it really that hard to find crews?
Furthermore, now that the squadron has gone, it takes an enormous investment in terms of training costs and time, to replicate the skills needed to replace it.
What sort of planning mistake led to this?
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)
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How many would be recruits have given up due to the ridiculous 300 days that it takes to enlist? And then there is the DEI factor where young men are turned away in favor of DEI recruiting. Some of our senior officers need to be retired.
Unfortunately, this is the reason potential recruits and others are staying away from the ADF in droves – if these actions are really to occur – let the brave Canberra desk warrior who made the decision stand up and tell everybody that he or she is the one who decided this was a good idea
Nothing has changed, morons without a clue have always dictated defence policy.
I was involved in a 2 year trial in the late 70’s to assess the “Howard Green”, something the Brits had had for decades.
Would it be better in winter than the khaki issue? I wonder? Like a smock in Korea without a liner?
A no ‘brainer’ for any digger. Unfortunately, decision makers are never at the pointy end.
Besides, with hundreds of aircraft and scores of ships, who needs an Army?