YOUNG Pacific islanders could be recruited into the Australian defence force under a citizenship-for-military-service plan.
"Jones!"
"Yessir!"
"The enemy has exhausted my patience! Bring up the Samoans!" |
A new Pacific Islands Regiment is also being considered under plans to boost military numbers in Australia. Defence Personnel Minister De-Anne Kelly, who has commissioned a review of defence recruitment, has backed the idea in principle. She said it had merit as a way to engage the young people and improve their skills. The review team will include a so-called Generation Y human resources expert, a senior academic and probably Dr Mark Thomson from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Dr Thomson said taking recruits from struggling Pacific island nations was one of several ideas to lift troop numbers. The review panel would also consider sign-on payments, educational incentives, shorter careers and a more varied lifestyle.
Australia's military links with Pacific island nations dates to World War II when the Pacific Islands Regiment was formed.
Australian officers raised and ran the regiment in Papua New Guinea from 1951 to 1975. A re-formed regiment would be staffed by Australian officers and senior NCOs with islanders filling the other ranks. "This would be part of a broader Pacific engagement program and would not just stand alone," Dr Thomson said.
Increased economic prosperity, changing career expectations and family pressures have resulted in recruiting shortfalls in the past few years. Trainee military officers have their HECs fees waived by the Government and skills that are in short supply attract generous retention bonuses. Mrs Kelly said she did not underestimate the challenge for Defence given skills shortages such as the shortfall of 30,000 engineers. "With low unemployment levels, young people are in huge demand," she said. |