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Army Reservists Deploy to the Solomans |
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Monday, 27 October 2008 |
Another 140 Australian reserve soldiers will be deployed to the Solomon Islands to help maintain peace and stability, the federal government announced.
The soldiers will join in Operation ANODE, the Australian Defence Force contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands.
The reservists, from South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, will help “maintain regional peace and stability” and help the local government improve law and order, the defence department said.
“During the four-month deployment, the soldiers will carry out street patrols alongside the Australian Federal Police and in support of the RAMSI participating police forces within Solomon Islands,” Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said in a statement.
“Additionally, army personnel will also be involved in numerous community outreach activities on behalf of RAMSI.”
Mr Fitzgibbon thanked the reservists' civilian bosses for releasing the soldiers.
“Their contribution in Solomon Islands is made all the more exceptional by the fact that their civilian employers have released them to provide military service to a neighbour in need,” he said.
Since 2006, the ADF has deployed five Army Reserve Company groups accounting for more than 700 part-time soldiers.
Reservists make up the bulk of the regiment currently in the Solomon Islands, with 140 ADF troops also on the ground.
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Defence Boffins Study Concept of Female Warriors |
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Sunday, 28 September 2008 |
 The lifting of gender-based restrictions on defence personnel could see Australian women fighting in combat roles.
The federal government is reviewing the restrictions that prevent women from occupying combat roles, and is considering replacing them with ones based on physical attributes.
The work is being done by the Defence Department's scientific arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).
Women now make up more than 13 per cent of Australia's Defence Force and can serve in 90 per cent of its roles. However direct warfighting roles, such as infantry, artillery gunners, armoured corps or combat engineers, remain out of bounds.
While some women may not possess the physical attributes required for the most physically demanding combat roles, the changed restrictions would see them excluded on merit, not gender.
'It is important that we keep working towards removing the barriers to women being eligible to serve in all employment categories,' Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told the media.
'Studies such as the DSTO physical standards project will assist in identifying practical measures to removing such barriers.' |
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