|dev|null wrote on Nov 8^th, 2013 at 11:48am:



becasue the taxpayers $$ are paying them to do a specific job - defend the country and its interests.  So long as they do that, I don't care what their internal culture is like.  I expect there's probably some toxic office culture in say, the ministry of transport, but despite it being taxpayer funded, I don't think I need or deserve to have a say in how it's run.


|dev|null wrote on Nov 8^th, 2013 at 11:48am:



yeah, there's been a few complaints.  Maybe the armed forces  are not for everyone. 

|dev|null wrote on Nov 8^th, 2013 at 11:48am:


I think those who live it everyday would be a bit more aware of what attitudes are prevalent than an outsider with no window in, don't you?

|dev|null wrote on Nov 8^th, 2013 at 11:48am:


Well if you're not into that sort of thing, maybe a profession that requires you to be at sea with hundreds of blokes and a handful of shielas (not whores) isn't for you. 

When the Skype scandal was reported to ADF authorities it was not a fellow female but male Staff Cadet that report the incident - this point seems to avoid scrutiny that a bloke put his hand up and said enough - not someone from the sisterhood.

The ADF has a number of ways to report concerns and incidents none of these where used by the victim or her fellow Staff Cadets male or female with the one exception.

These number of ADF incidents are far from expectable - when I first wore an Army uniform I was told you represent your country, flag, community, the Army, Corps and Regiment - stuff up and you will bring shame on all of us.

I thought is was a big responsibility in my teens and I still do today. The ADF does not exclusivley police itself Commonwealth Ombudsman, Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service etc have overriding powers in many cases.

An incident a number of years ago became public when it was revealed prior to women regularly serving on RAN ships that women were on board and had been harassed.

It was later revealed that they were Chinese language and cultural specialists and were involved in an ELINT operation against the PRC.

Whilst this behaviour and sub culture of poor behaviour needed to be dealt with fairly - important national security issues were disclosed that are not in our national interest!

Our regional neighbours are not are friends, they play for keeps, politically correct, shallow gama type personalities cannot save themselves let alone our nation - we do not need them in the ADF!

Finding a healthy balance between a warrior and an individual with compassion and respect is a hard call.

Unfortunately you cannot put a warrior in deep freeze and break the glass to release them in an emergency and expect them to be Alpha type personalities and warriors.


Perhaps this is the real challenge for the ADF to keep a fighting warrior edge and remain tolerant, compassionate and respectful - though I often think that this is a challenge our entire nation needs to take to heart  both civilian and military.

|dev|null wrote on Nov 5^th, 2013 at 2:25pm:




Never let the truth get in the way of a really good cretinous rant.

Pick another subject maybe one where you are not totally clueless.




FORMER officer cadet Daniel McDonald has been kicked out of the army over his role in the so-called "Skype" affair.

In a statement early on Saturday Defence said the army had terminated his service following his conviction in the ACT Supreme Court.

It said his conduct was "inconsistent with the values of the Australian Army".

McDonald and fellow cadet Dylan Deblaquiere, both aged 21, were handed 12-month good behaviour bonds in the ACT court in October over their involvement in the Skype incident.


http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/army-sacks-officer-cadet-over-skype-affair/story-e6frfku9-1226756252414

BigOl64 wrote on Nov 9^th, 2013 at 8:00am:



And some males feel the need to waste their lives being brainwashed, expendable pawns.

Such is life.

BigHole, on the left.

Brian Ross wrote on Nov 9^th, 2013 at 9:21pm:




No.

I never felt the need to waste my life being a brainwashed, expendable pawn.

That's BigHole on the left though.

greggerypeccary wrote on Nov 9^th, 2013 at 9:24pm:


And you, second from the right.  Right poseur, you were, back then and so you are, now.   

BigOl64 wrote on Nov 10^th, 2013 at 7:54am:



Yes, someone needs to make love to all those lovely women (and make sure no harm comes to the kids) while others are off wasting their lives being brainwashed, expendable pawns.

Enjoy playing games with your men friends.

I know what I'll be doing.