Download - Royal Australian Navy

Naval Reserves
By CAPT Joseph Lukaitis
Director Naval Reserve
Capability
Active Reserves
awaiting
employment
Regular readers of this
column will recognise a
recurring theme which is
the ongoing invitation to
Reservists to volunteer for
work in the RAN.
For hundreds of Reservists
in the Active Reserve awaiting
employment (ARAE) list, there
is a challenge to mix and match
the right job with personal availability.
Geography is an issue for many especially
those living distant from Canberra or the
Fleet bases. However, there is growing
flexibility in employment opportunities
and conditions especially for periods of
continuous full time service.
The new capability enhancement program
also allows for a high degree of future
employment planning for those in CEP
positions. The travel budget in the CEP is
a key and ongoing feature to help remove
geographical impediments.
The program has a specific focus on
progression and currency training again
to allow long term planning for the
employment of Reservists and to ensure a
realistic career path.
New compulsory retirement age
In April, Minister for Defence Dr Brendan
Nelson announced that the compulsory
retirement age (CRA) for Reservists would
be extended to
65 from 60 with effect from this
July 1. The PN CRA will also
be increased by five years
to 60 from 55. Reservists
turning 55 between April
and July will be offered
age extensions.
The Minister also
announced that the upper
limit for age extensions
for Reservists and PN
members will be removed.
The changes apply to all
three services and will also
include an increase of five years
in the maximum recruiting age.
Are you efficient?
The Defence Honours and Awards newsletter
recently published the criteria for Naval
Reserve ‘efficient service’ which is the
measure for long service medals. These
criteria are also used for Defence housing
loans eligibility.
To be recognised as efficient the number of
Reserve days a Naval Reservist is required
to have completed in each enlistment year is:
• In the period up to and including October
28 , 1991 - 12 days per enlistment year;
• From October 29 , 1991 up to and
including April 19, 2000 - one day per
enlistment year.
• From April 20, 2000 - completed 20 days
per enlistment year.
Divers and musicians wanted
The Naval Reserve is recruiting divers and
musicians and there are presently vacancies
for direct entry ‘ab initio’ civilians to join as
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SeaTalk Winter 2007