Publication:Sea Talk Autumn 2006/CN hands down Reserves challenge

The Chief of Navy has handed the Naval Reserve its biggest challenge since the closure of the state-based Port Divisions more than a decade ago. In his address to the Navy Reserves Symposium on February 3, VADM Russ Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN, outlined what he expects from the Naval Reserve Capability Enhancement Program. He and the Director-General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans (DGNCPP), CDRE Trevor Jones, between them described a $5.2 million upgrade of the Reserves over the next three years with continuing funding beyond that of $2.4 million per annum. In summary, the Reserves will be trained and expected to provide a greater contribution to capability in operations as part of a totally integrated Naval Reserve. More funding will be provided for training, travel to address manning needs, administration, leadership and the opportunity to maintain professional currency and more fully use existing skills. VADM Shalders reiterated the priorities he outlined at last year's Navy Symposium:

• Conduct of maritime operations (our raison d'etre)
• Leading out people and managing our resources;
• Developing the Navy of the future; and
• Providing effective corporate governance.

And he said the effectiveness of the Naval Reserve 'is very much aligned to all of these priority areas.'

"Naval Reserve members are employed in every area of Navy operations," he said. "In 2005, you contributed the equivalent of greater than six per cent of total Navy manning.

"This figure was the result of some 250 continuous full time service (or CFTS) positions and 700 funded reserve commitment or FRC) positions, filled by approximately 1400 Naval Reserve members.

"Without this level of support, the Navy would not be able to perform as well as we have and I take this opportunity to thank you for your collective efforts."

The Enhancement Program, VADM Shalders said, followed the December 2000 Defence White Paper which foreshadowed a more important role for Reserves to contribute to Australian Defence Force capability.

"In the five years since the release of the White Paper, this intent has been realised in the significant involvement of elements of the Naval Reserve in many combat and support operations," he said. "Considerable opportunity has been provided for the Reservists to gain operational experience in several areas of the Navy during this time." VADM Shalders said medical experts had consistently supported coalition operations in the Middle East in the past five years, and intelligence analysts had been employed both in operational theatres and at home in Australia.

"Onboard our ships, we have been privileged to have many Reservists filling positions on continuous full time service," he said.

He added that Australian Reservists were an integral and critical part of a tent medical facility north of Baghdad late in 2004, treating combat casualties with 'great professionalism, compassion and skill'. "They punched well above their weight and were highly respected by other members of the coalition," he said.

CN also praised the support of the Naval Reserve in Aceh and Nias in the wake of the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami.

	Capability Statements	Positions Available	Extra Funding per Annum
Medical	Provide 6 surgeons x 4 week rotations, 3 anaesthetists x 4 week rotations and 4 nurses x 4 week rotations to support primary care reception facility (PCRF) deployment. Provide a surge capability in major feet units.	31	$120,680
Psych	Provide deployed debriefng capability of 4 debriefs per year x 4 week rotation. Provide psychologist shore-based support of one each at Fleet Bases East and West, and Cairns and Darwin Naval Bases (FBE, FBW, CNS and DWN).	9	$57,408
Band	Comprises 5 part-time detachments as a component of the segmented Navy band maintaining a strong metropolitan focus.	30	$59,012
Public Relations	Provide public affairs support to command and units regarding operations, exercises and deployments and for major issues and events impacting on Navy reputation.	11	$33,580
Maritime Trade	Maintain capability for Naval coordination and control of merchant shipping and to deploy on 2 major exercises and one operation per year.	17	$33,580
Intelligence	Provide a shore-based surge capability to fill 10 per cent of Directorate of Naval Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Electronic Warfare (DNC4ISREW).	22	$33,580
Legal	Capacity to surge to fill 20 per cent of legal PN positions. Provide judicial and advocacy services to support military justice.	20	$98,580
Surface Combatant	Provide 8 personnel trained for service in guided missile and Anzac frigates. Provide suffcient Reserve personnel for management of force protection and logistic preparedness in Force Element Group (FEG) HQ PN positions ashore (8 positions).	12	$218,000
Patrol Boat	Provide 21 Armidale Class patrol boat trained personnel. Capacity to surge to fill 20 per cent of FEG HQ PN positions ashore (10 positions).	21	$235,000
Aviation	Provide one Sea King crew and one Seahawk crew. Capacity to surge to fill 10 per cent FEG PN positions (16 positions).	16	$315,000
Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving	Conduct all ships' diving duties in states in which Reserve dive teams are based. Establish a team in northern Australia. Provide Reserve personnel suffcient to conduct route survey for Cairns and Darwin. Capacity to surge to fill 10 per cent of FEG HQ PN positions (11 positions).	14	$275,000
Submarine	Provide 10 qualified personnel for service at sea. Capacity to surge to fill 5 per cent of FEG HQ positions ashore (7 positions).	10	$196,000
Hydrography	Provide one Deployable Geospatial Support Team (DGST), one Mobile Metoc Team (MMT) and one Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS) manned by Reserve staff. Capacity for surge to fil 5 per cent of FEG HQ positions (2 positions).	13	$288,000
Amphibious and Afloat Support	Provide 16 qualified NR personnel for standby postings for replenishment ship, oiler, amphibious and heavy landing ships and landing craft. Capacity to surge to fill 20 per cent of FEG HQ PN positions ashore (6 positions).	16	$241,000

He said demands on the Naval Reserve are likely to increase and that the NR Capability Review which led to the Enhancement Program was geared towards this. "I see no indication that our busy operational tempo will reduce in the near future," he said. "Our contributions to the 'War on Terror' will not end soon; overseas deployments will continue to be the norm; the humanitarian and border security duties that the Navy performs within Australia and in international waters will continue. "The skills, professionalism and capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, will continue to be called upon in time of need." There were two categories of NR capability:

• Supplementary Capability, mainly provided by the Active and Standby Reserve, which is available for sustainment and surge as needed and when required; and
• Complementary Capability, where Reserve staff provide capability in areas of expertise that the PN doesn't have or has in small numbers.

The full text of CN's speech is at: www.navy.gov.au/speeches/2006/naval_reserve.htm