Review into the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force ...

Chapter 7: ADFA’s Structure and Staffing – Recommendations 11-15Underperforming undergraduatesWith regard to undergraduates the Review heard that in several cases, staff appeared to resent whatthey feel is a situation in which it is difficult to remove underperforming undergraduates unless they arefailing academically. 58 The Audit is aware that the COMDT has taken steps in order to have this authoritydelegated to him by the Services. According to the Career Management Agencies:We did examine potentially passing PERS Regulations to the COMDT ADFA to terminate cadetservice…We don’t think it’s been a happy experience for us because the legal nuances oftermination and redress, formal warnings, censures impact upon it and specialised knowledge isrequired. 59Now cadets, this is one place I am happy to have more of a conversation with more discretionfrom the Commandant, [but] it’s often better to let the parent Service manage the end stage of acomplex case. 60The issue of removing underperforming undergraduates remains alive within ADFA. In interviews andfocus groups the Audit was told that:Cadets and midshipmen progress through here [but] if they were at other training institutions[they] would not. 61There needs to be more punishment and more discharge. If someone is found by a legitimateprocess to be actually a problem, a problem drinker, you know, frequent sexual harassmentclaims – whatever – then you need to be able to kick them out or at least punish them, give themserious punishment. 62I think the issue is it’s too hard to get kicked out of this place. So you can get away with a lot.The discharge system works the same for someone who’s been in for 20 years, it is just as hardto discharge. 63Despite discussion, the process for removing undergraduates appears to be unchanged. The COMDTmust make a recommendation to the respective Service headquarters, a member of the personnel staffconsiders the recommendation and the Service makes the decision.The Audit acknowledges that there will always be an element of negotiation given each Service’sprerogative to consider their numbers, strengths and requirements, but it also notes the frustrationand effect on morale that an inability to deal decisively and expeditiously with underperformingundergraduates can have. As for staff, the Audit strongly advocates that each Service delegate thedecision making authority for the removal of underperforming undergraduates to the COMDT.In summary, there is some progress on the implementation of Recommendation 12, however it is patchy.Substantive and systemic changes need to be built into career management processes in order toachieve the intent of this Recommendation.Given the late start to the implementation of this Recommendation the opportunity to impact the staffselection process was largely lost for 2013. The Audit looks forward to the changes to be effected forthe 2014 intake.56