P3 Have Your Say: Air Force Values Competition – P7
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AIR FORCE Vol. 50, No. 1, February 7, 2008 The official newspaper of the Royal AustrAustralianalian Air ForceForce NEW DIRECTION: Trainees of the first Air Combat Officer course to graduate from the School of Air Warfare receive instruction on navigation techniques. Clockwise, from top left, is PLTOFF Matt Nanda (RNZAF), OFFCDT Trisha Kelly, instructors FLTLT Joyce Small and Nathan Broome, and OFFCDT Matt Sandri. Photo by AC Craig Barrett By Peter Johnson THE sophisticated next generation of Air Force specialists will result from the new School of Air Warfare (SAW), says CAF AIRMSHL Ge- off Shepherd. AIRMSHL Shepherd was the reviewing officer at the January 24 ceremonial parade at RAAF Base East Sale, which marked the evolution from the School of Air Navigation (SAN) to SAW, a key component of which will be the first Air Combat COMBAT Officer (ACO) course to graduate ACOs. SAW is regarded as integral to reshaping the Air Force and preparing for the challenges of the future, and CAF said the transition represented a significant change for Air Force. The ACOs trained under the new curriculum would be air combat mission specialists exercising command and control of operations involving the direct application of air power. READY Continued Page 5 Flood crisis: Have your say: Hercs help in Air Force Values Queensland – P3 competition – P7 2 News AIR FORCE February 7, 2008 Scheme in review The proposed superannuation New super scheme would be comprised of an accumulation retirement plan, complemented by death and disability benefits. Employer contributions would be made fortnightly for serving ADF members or reservists on proposed continuous full-time service. Contributions would be a per- centage of base salary plus Review calls for MSBS replacement Service Allowance, and would increase with longer periods of COMMENT has been invited on a an accumulation plan and death and service. report that has recommended replac- disability benefits. The percentages would be 16 ing the Military Superannuation and Membership, without adminis- per cent on initial enlistment, Benefits Scheme (MSBS). tration fees, for non-ADF employer 23 per cent after six years Defence Science and Personnel contributions, would be available to completed service and 28 per Minister Warren Snowdon released a serving Defence member’s spouse cent after 15 years completed the report of the Review into Military and dependant children, and also to all service. Superannuation Arrangements on reservists. The plan would provide a December 24. The review recommended a “sub- defined benefit if a member Director-General of Defence stantial effort to educate members” dies or is medically discharged, Superannuation Brian Paule said about the proposed scheme, as indi- and serving members who have Defence personnel had until March viduals would take more responsibility directed their employer contri- 31 to comment on the report’s find- for the management of their superan- butions into another scheme ings and recommendations, and made nuation savings. would be eligible for the death The recommendations are aligned it clear that the new government had and disability element. yet to form an opinion on the recom- with the review’s guiding principles mendations. that military superannuation should Under certain conditions, mem- The review found that while “the be flexible, simple, adequate, tailored, bers discharged on medical MSBS compares reasonably well with visibly attractive and financially sus- FILLING IN THE GAPS: A review into military superannuation has grounds would receive super- most overseas military schemes and tainable. recommended replacing MSBS with a new scheme that would include an annuation income support pay- with other Australian schemes for ‘uni- The new scheme would need an accumulation retirement plan with death and disability benefits. ments until aged 60, at which formed bodies’, it still falls well short immediate $7-$8 billion injection, if a Photo by LAC Scott Woodward time they would access their of best practice contemporary superan- 2009 introduction was achievable. superannuation benefit. nuation”. The review speculated that the nuation liability. “The Future Fund is have any real impact if taken from the If approved, the proposed Authors Andrew Podger, former money could be drawn from the the most obvious source of the initial Future Fund.” scheme would be introduced public service commissioner, Dr David Future Fund, an account created by the cash required,” the report said. Submissions and comment on the in 2009 at a cost of more than Knox, and AIRCDRE Lee Roberts Howard Government to provide for the “In basic economic and financial report can be made at http://www. $7 billion. proposed a new scheme comprised of Commonwealth’s unfunded superan- terms, these cash requirements will not defence.gov.au/militarysuperreview/ Warrant Officer of the Air Force AIR FORCE RANKS The following explains WOFF-AF Ray Woolnough, AM the rank abbreviations, as Air Mail featured in AIR FORCE News ACM Air Chief Marshal AIRMSHL Air Marshal Let’s meet the challenges in 2008 AVM Air Vice-Marshal AIRCDRE Air Commodore Greetings, Airmen and Airwomen GPCAPT Group Captain of the Air Force. Commendation winners SGT (now FLGOFF) Paul Preston Compliments of the season to you WGCDR Wing Commander CAF Commendation – Gold – for his outstanding performance in – one and all. I had a great break and the field of technical support for SQNLDR Squadron Leader spent some valuable time in Canberra GPCAPT Anne Borzycki – for her pro- F/A-18 operations at HQ 81WG. FLTLT Flight Lieutenant with my family, and enjoyed the odd fessionalism, dedication and superior SGT Susan Sandercock – for her game of golf with friends. The rest was leadership displayed as the Director FLGOFF Flying Officer Coordination – Air Force. outstanding performance as the SNCO just the tonic I needed after a very pro- in Charge of the orderly room at HQ PLTOFF Pilot Officer WGCDR Neil Lacey – for his exem- ductive year. My thoughts were with 81WG. OFFCDT Officer Cadet those members who were not able to plary and dedicated performance as have a break or be with their families, Deputy Director Experimentation. DCAF Commendation – Silver WOFF-AF Warrant Officer of for one reason or another. There is no WGCDR Joanna Elkington – for WOFF Kevin O’Sullivan – for his the Air Force outstanding contribution in establish- sign of a let up for this year either, and her professionalism, dedication FLTLT Charles Freebairn – for WOFFWOFF WarrantWarrant OfficerOfficer ing the Executive Warrant Officer I know that we, as an Air Force, will and outstanding service as the his outstanding performance as mustering. FSGTFSGT FlightFlight SergeantSergeant meet any challenges that are put to us. Deputy Director Communication and Deputy Combat Air Training Flight DCAF Commendation – Bronze SGTSGT SergeantSergeant I notice that my calendar for this Reputation Management. Commander at 285SQN. year has already begun to fill up with FSGT Llanelle Forrester – for her CPLCPL CorporalCorporal SQNLDR Jason Gamlin – for his WOFF John Matthews – for his out- appointments, base visits, meetings, performance on the Military Gap outstanding performance as the standing performance and devotion LACLAC LeadingLeading AAircraftmanircraftman parades etc. I am again looking for- Year Scheme – Air Force Program Staff Officer Operational Planning at to duty, firstly as the C-130J Hercules LACWLACW LeadingLeading AAircraftwomanircraftwoman ward to meeting and having a chat with Implementation Team. Aircraft Maintenance Coordinator, as many of you as I possibly can. Headquarters (HQ) 81WG and his ACAUST Commendation – Silver ACAC AircraftmanAircraftman exemplary contribution in planning and more recently as the C-130J I intend to hold the 2008 Warrant SQNLDR Callum Carmichael – for his ACWACW AircraftwomanAircraftwoman and procedural development for Hercules Warrant Officer Engineering Officer Conference, again at RAAF outstanding performance as Second- Exercise Pitch Black 2006. (Avionics) at 37SQN. Base Townsville, at the end of October. In-Command of Operations while at 3 ACAUST Commendation – Bronze The dates and details are still to be SQNLDR Brent Smith – for his exem- Control and Reporting Unit. SGT Ricki Kiely – for his outstanding confirmed. As soon as I know the actu- plary performance in the development SQNDLR Peter Crookes – for his Kajewski, WOFF Michael Smith, performance as a SNCO aircraft tech- al dates I will let the WOFF frater- and implementation of the Graded outstanding performance as the Air FSGT Mathew Green and SGT nity know. I ask that WOFFs make a Officer Pay Structure for Air Force. Operations Centre Development, nician at 37SQN. Damien Brown – for their outstanding note of this and seriously think about SQNLDR Matthew Bowers – for his Training and Evaluation subject matter ACAUST Commendation – Bronze performance during the conduct of a attending (and arrange for funding bids exemplary performance in the devel- expert at Headquarters Air Command (Group) Search and Survivor Assist operation for T&S). Last year’s conference was opment and implementation of the and for his exemplary contribution in WGCDR John Foley, FLTLT Andrew off the coast of Esperance on March deemed a success by those who attend- Graded Officer Pay Structure for Air planning for Exercise Talisman Saber Johnson, FLTLT Timothy Smith, 4, 2007, which directly resulted in the ed, and it was those members who also Force. 2007. FLGOFF