"Major restructure of Australian Army" Topic

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They spent all that money to put a battalion at Edinburgh- and now they're moving it north again, in yet another re-org?

Words fail me. I'm glad I've retired.

WOFTAM.

Wow! Moving 800 troops and their equipage is a major move? How big is the Aussie Army?

It's not just them and their equipment, shagnasty, it's also their families, household goods, pets, etc. Some spouses will refuse to move, usually because the spouse has a good job, medical issues and/or they don't want to disrupt the kids' schooling. Sometimes it's because the spouse hates living in the tropics- especially Darwin. So the member will go unaccompanied- which puts a lot of unnecessary strain on a marriage and the member.

The new barracks that have been built in the south will be empty, or occupied by reservists on a part time basis, and there will probably have to be new barracks built at the new location. Or, as happened in the early 80's, everyone squeezes into what's available and single soldiers and junior officers are encouraged to live off base. Defence has moved to subsidising rental accommodation for families, rather than have "married quarter patches" close to barracks, so that may put pressure on the local rental markets.

As korsun0 says- WOFTAM.

Who cares? It's only taxpayers' money. And some lucky red tab/s or staff bozos will probably get a DSC and/or CSC for "supervising the move", coming up with the re-organisation or because it's their turn.

I didn't like their chances of fitting all the new gear in Laverack Barracks

They still had some space the last time I was up there, just after 3RAR shifted. If worse comes to worse they've got Brigade Hill (if the greenies let them) or the area near range control that could be used.

Lavarack or Robbo are both too small. Darwin housing or job market couldn't handle the extra requirements and also with USMC rotation through Darwin we have no space for another Barracks.
Not only that but we are placing significant defence assets where they can be easily isolated by any invader.

Finding space on barracks, or even the close training areas and range complexes, can be done if they need to. Closing down Wacol and moving the units to Enoggera is a good example. Robbo may be a bit of a problem, but there's government ground abutting the base which could be used.

But you've hit the real problem- jobs for spouses and housing. The influx of a battalion-load of families, all looking for rental accommodation, will send rents through the roof- and possibly leave some families without housing. Is MQRA a set amount or a percentage, do you know? If it's set then the families will be the ones to really feel the bite.

Not only that but we are placing significant defence assets where they can be easily isolated by any invader.

I doubt the moves are about about strategy or OPREQ's, but about being seen "doing something". These days it may even be about moving "jobs and economic benefits" into swinging seats.

But then I am a bloody cynic, mate.

@Dalgavan, single service members are also heavily subsidised to live in Canberra where I live. Not uncommon for lower ranks to occupy high-end luxury apartments around here. Often 2 bedroom places for single guys I know from personal experience. They push up the asking price across the whole market for normal/mortal civvies like me. What happened to baracks for single dudes? We have a Gucci military these days imo. Shoulda joined.

Well today in the US Army some of the barracks and on post family housing are in terrible condition. And many of the troops and families are being put up in hotels off post.

However, some of the millions of illegal aliens from all over the world that are crossing the USA's Southern Border. Are being put up in $400 USD a night hotels. Hmmm … Priorities here are all messed up.

If the Kimchi hits the fan over there in the PTO. We may be depending on you "ANZACs" again … As the US Army missed its recruiting goals by 30% …

Legion …. We are not much better in reaching our recruitment targets ether . We have to poach Brits who reach their retirement age in the UK Army or Pacific Islanders

I guess that shouldn't no surprise. I know many NATO nations are having a hard time getting the numbers they need for their militaries. And most of us are way too old to suit up and fill the shortages.

@Legion 4, we have a history of punching above our weight but I doubt we'll be doing much in PTO in the 2020s. We have a Gucci military but its miniscule these days, even if we had time to triple it before deploying for major operations like we did in 1939 we're still woefully under strength. I heard we have so few Navy crew available (probably most actual elisted are on 6 months maternity/paternity/gender reassignment leave) we can't even put all our destroyers to sea let alone our current subs.

So very sorry to hear your military has been degraded. As I said, I always admired the "ANZACs". They were a tough, hardy lot. Hope your Military will change for the better in the future.

Yes, I hope you are right about us "Yanks". I appreciate your comments …

To turn this around will take a lot of work. And some real capable leaders … Leadership is so critical.

I spent a lot of time with the USMC … loved every minute of it . I also had the pleasure of helping out some young officers from the 10th Mountain when I was deployed over in Afghanistan.. great blokes

Yes, the young troops in all our services really are pretty good. I'll admit I am biased as being a former Infantry Officer from long ago.