18 Reserves.
RESERVES. In <strong>to</strong>day’s Army you c<strong>an</strong> choose e<strong>it</strong>her <strong>to</strong> work full-time or part-time, depend<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>what</strong> you w<strong>an</strong>t. If you w<strong>an</strong>t full-time work there’s the Regular Army, <strong>an</strong>d if you’re after part-time work, there’s the Army Reserve. As w<strong>it</strong>h the Regular Army, there are two types of officers <strong>in</strong> the Army Reserve—GSO <strong>an</strong>d SSO. General Service Officers are tra<strong>in</strong>ed by the Australi<strong>an</strong> <strong>Defence</strong> Force <strong>to</strong> operate <strong>an</strong>d lead <strong>in</strong> one of the m<strong>an</strong>y Army corps <strong>an</strong>d service areas, such as ordn<strong>an</strong>ce, armour, <strong>in</strong>telligence or signals <strong>to</strong> name just a few. Specialist Service Officers are men <strong>an</strong>d women who are civili<strong>an</strong> specialists <strong>in</strong> fields such as legal, health, communications or f<strong>in</strong><strong>an</strong>ce. They then utilise these skills as officers w<strong>it</strong>h<strong>in</strong> the Army Reserve. Flexibil<strong>it</strong>y The Army Reserve is a part-time job. You c<strong>an</strong> work as few as 14 days, or as m<strong>an</strong>y as 150 days per year. Most people attend one night a week (usually Tuesday) <strong>an</strong>d one weekend a month. They also attend a two-week tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g exercise once a year. We realise there will be times when your reserve’s activ<strong>it</strong>ies will clash w<strong>it</strong>h other comm<strong>it</strong>ments. The Army Reserve will try <strong>to</strong> work w<strong>it</strong>h you so you c<strong>an</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>to</strong> enjoy the life you lead now, as well as enjoy the opportun<strong>it</strong>ies <strong>an</strong>d benef<strong>it</strong>s the Army Reserve has <strong>to</strong> offer. TRAINING To <strong>become</strong> a part-time officer <strong>in</strong> the Army Reserve, you’ll need <strong>to</strong> complete a First Appo<strong>in</strong>tment Course (FAC). The content <strong>an</strong>d duration of this course is dependent on whether you are a GSO or SSO. For the major<strong>it</strong>y of officers, their course is <strong>in</strong><strong>it</strong>ially conducted <strong>in</strong> various locations throughout Australia before completion at the Royal Mil<strong>it</strong>ary College Duntroon, located <strong>in</strong> C<strong>an</strong>berra. The FAC is broken down <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> modules <strong>an</strong>d usually runs part-time over a two-year period. If you jo<strong>in</strong> as a Specialist Service Officer you’ll undertake a two-week course dur<strong>in</strong>g your first post<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> which you’ll learn the mil<strong>it</strong>ary skills required of a specialist officer <strong>in</strong> the Army Reserve. This course is conducted e<strong>it</strong>her locally or at the Royal Mil<strong>it</strong>ary College Duntroon. The Army Reserve is local While <strong>it</strong>’s true you may get the ch<strong>an</strong>ce <strong>to</strong> travel w<strong>it</strong>h the Reserves, the major<strong>it</strong>y of Army reservists jo<strong>in</strong> for precisely the oppos<strong>it</strong>e reason—the Army Reserve is a great way <strong>to</strong> experience Army life w<strong>it</strong>hout work<strong>in</strong>g far from home. In most cases, you’ll f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>an</strong> Army Reserve un<strong>it</strong> close by <strong>in</strong> your local commun<strong>it</strong>y. Deployments Deployments of Australi<strong>an</strong> <strong>Defence</strong> Force personnel w<strong>it</strong>h<strong>in</strong> Australia <strong>an</strong>d overseas occur on a regular basis <strong>in</strong> response <strong>to</strong> events such as peacekeep<strong>in</strong>g missions, pl<strong>an</strong>ned exercises <strong>an</strong>d natural disasters. In m<strong>an</strong>y cases, members are required <strong>to</strong> move at short notice <strong>to</strong> areas provid<strong>in</strong>g only basic amen<strong>it</strong>ies. Such deployments will result <strong>in</strong> separation of members from their families for the period concerned. Reservists are only deployed on a voluntary basis unless called-out by the Government. TRAVEL In the Army Reserve there’s often the ch<strong>an</strong>ce <strong>to</strong> travel w<strong>it</strong>h<strong>in</strong> Australia, or overseas for tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g or operational service. The amount you travel really depends on the opportun<strong>it</strong>ies that arise, <strong>an</strong>d your availabil<strong>it</strong>y. Some of our reservists have even travelled <strong>to</strong> places like Asia <strong>an</strong>d Hawaii. Tax-free Pay Army Reserve salaries (<strong>an</strong>d allow<strong>an</strong>ces) are tax-free. Social Life Another major benef<strong>it</strong> w<strong>it</strong>h the Army Reserve is that you still have your current social life, plus you get <strong>to</strong> meet Other Benef<strong>it</strong>s You’ll get free accommodation <strong>an</strong>d food whenever you’re out tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g or on exercise. Your uniform <strong>an</strong>d equipment are free, <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>y travel you need <strong>to</strong> do for <strong>in</strong><strong>it</strong>ial or employment tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g is paid for. Employer Support Payment Scheme As a reservist, your availabil<strong>it</strong>y for tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> peacetime is crucial. Most employed reservists, at one time or <strong>an</strong>other, face the challenge of bal<strong>an</strong>c<strong>in</strong>g their civili<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>d mil<strong>it</strong>ary comm<strong>it</strong>ments. However, civili<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>d mil<strong>it</strong>ary employment need not conflict, because employers <strong>an</strong>d the mil<strong>it</strong>ary c<strong>an</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>e <strong>to</strong> accommodate each other’s needs. Legislation that has recently been <strong>in</strong>troduced me<strong>an</strong>s employers are not obligated <strong>to</strong> pay salaries, super<strong>an</strong>nuation, workers compensation or ent<strong>it</strong>lements dur<strong>in</strong>g periods of mil<strong>it</strong>ary tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g or full-time service. However, employers are obligated <strong>to</strong> reemploy a member after mil<strong>it</strong>ary tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g or full-time service. Employers are also prohib<strong>it</strong>ed from mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>an</strong> employee use <strong>an</strong>nual leave or long service leave; refus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> employ, disadv<strong>an</strong>tage or dismiss <strong>an</strong> employee because they’re a reservist; or restrict employees from serv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the reserve. new people <strong>an</strong>d make new friends. 19