An interesting comment in the news today headed, " No pollies children in military". The comments from Australia's former top militery officer ," asked whether the nation's politicians are more comfortable sending other people's children to war than their own".The former military chief of the ADF " asked why more federal politicians' offsprings were not in uhiform, saying he knew of none at a time when a stretched military was deployed in more theatres than at any time since WW2".
" Name me one politician who has a son or daughter in the Australian Defence Force said Admiral Barrie, who has a son in the Royal Australian navy, 'I can't think of one'." " Do politicians think a career in the ADF is suitable for their son and daughter?Are Mr Howard's kids involved in the ADF?.When he commits the ADF to operations does he think about his own kids being safe,maybe.I don't know."
An opposition defence spokesman when he attacked JohnHoward's Iraq " stay the course" position. He continued, "Indeed for the politicians who use this rhetoric, I don't see them anywhere near the front lines in Iraq risking their lives and I don't see their son's lives at risk in the front lines either."
The report then referred to the ADFs struggle with a major recruitment challenge. Then this, of interest to would be recruits. " Senior ADF recruiters want to offer big cash bonuses- perhaps $A 100000 upfront and the same after completion of a qualification period- to lure technical specialists in a competitive market. A new big budget advertising campaign is also proposed".
So far no response from the PM, surprise surprise. Looks good though for any techos. Wish I was of that age and there's no Dads Army here.
