Publication:Sea Talk Autumn 2007/Naval Reserves Column
By CAPT Joseph Lukaitis - Director Naval Reserve Capability
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The Naval Reserve Capability Enhancement Program (NRCEP), was launched in Jul 06. Under the program 112 new Reserve positions have been established and with funding injection of $5.3 million over three years with the aim of sharpening NR contribution to Navy capability.
The new positions are spread across all Force Element Groups (FEGs) and Specialist Reserve branches.
Progress in the first six months of implementation of the program has been encouraging. The program funds, in the first year, 10,079 extra Reserve days and in the initial start up period 2,800 days have been used by posted Reservists giving an achievement of 28 per cent usage. This is on track at this stage.
There is an increasing demand for Reservists across Navy and filling CEP positions fully is an ongoing challenge for PN and NR managers.
Reserve Regional Pool staff are working to locate personnel from both the Active and Standby Reserve who may be interested in working within the NRCEP. Readers who are interested in becoming involved in the program, or who know other Reservists who might be, should contact their local RRP to register interest. Don't forget, this program not only provides funding for required days, it also provides for necessary travel and training.
Most importantly, these new positions have been structured to ensure individual Reservists are provided with a long term career path and ongoing training.
A full list of the CEP Reserve positions was published in the Reserve Handy Billy which was enclosed with SeaTalk last year.
New face in reserves capability
CMDR Glenn Tinsley (pictured above) has been appointed as Staff Officer Naval Reserve Capability (SONRC) based in Russell Offices, Canberra.
His primary role will be monitoring the implementation of the Capability Enhancement Program.
Glenn served with the Royal Navy as a supply officer for 30 years before making the groundbreaking switch to the Australian Naval Reserve courtesy of his wife's Australian citizenship.
He will be in office for two days each week (mainly Tuesdays and Thursdays) and his contact number is 02 6265 3823.
Throughout the rest of the week Glenn is a Recording Engineer and is just completing the construction of a recording studio at his home in Wamboin.
Continuous Full Time Service
At present there are more than 300 Reservists on CFTS and Navy is looking for more volunteers.
Have you considered volunteering for a period of CFTS?
There's an increased range of employment opportunities for Reservists to undertake full time service.
Reservists on CFTS enjoy PN conditions of service including full medical, dental cover and superannuation entitlements.
Promotion is also now available to Reservists whilst employed on CFTS and periods of CFTS are no longer restricted to 12 months engagements.
If you would like more information about CFTS opportunities contact your local Reserve Regional Pool Manager.
New Directors NR Support
There have been recent postings of new Directors Naval Reserve Support in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales, and the ACT. The current directors are:
- DNRS-NAT
- CAPT Richard Phillips
- DNRS-NSW
- CMDR Peter Collins
- DNRS-QLD
- CMDR Andrew Clowes
- DNRS-NT
- CMDR Glenn Smith
- DNRS-WA
- CMDR Neil Phillips
- DNRS-SA
- CMDR Steve Dunning
- DNRS-TAS
- CMDR Dario Tomat
- DNRS-VIC
- CMDR Alan Lo
- DNRS-ACT
- CMDR Pam Price
You can contact your state or territory DNRS through your local RRP Manager or by contacting the office of Director Reserves-Navy on (02) 6265 6678.
A REWARDING EFFORT: This year's winner of the overseas study grant, the Matthew Davey Award, LCDR Les Toms, an intelligence officer whose experience dates back to the Vietnam war, was congratulated by the Director-General Reserves (left) and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay, at a dinner in Canberra the evening before the recent one-day Naval Reserve Corporate Leadership Forum held at the Australian Defence Force Academy. LCDR Toms will have up to $14,000 to defray costs of studying force protection in the USN and US Coast Guard. Pic by WOPH Steve Dent
