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Discussion thread for COS remarks to the Committee Nov 2018

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  • #16
    By the by I recommend all should have a listen to the whole three hours. Put it on in the car or something. It does offer a unique perspective into top management's view of the deep problems we face.

    Also by the by - what badge is DCOS Ops wearing on the left and right shoulders
    Last edited by trellheim; 19 November 2018, 09:43.
    "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

    "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

    Comment


    • #17
      Originally posted by trellheim View Post
      By the by I recommend all should have a listen to the whole three hours. Put it on in the car or something. It does offer a unique perspective into top management's view of the deep problems we face.

      Also by the by - what badge is DCOS Ops wearing on the left and right shoulders
      DFHQ on left
      Nothing on right

      Comment


      • #18
        DFHQ on left
        ACOS is wearing DFHQ. DCOS Ops is not - looks like a tricolour
        "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

        "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

        Comment


        • #19
          Originally posted by trellheim View Post
          ACOS is wearing DFHQ. DCOS Ops is not - looks like a tricolour
          Maj Gen Cotter is DCOS Support
          Last edited by trellheim; 19 November 2018, 18:34.

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          • #20
            sorry correct amend my last
            "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

            "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

            Comment


            • #21
              Some of the politicians raised issues that have been identified as far back as 2000/1 but needed political effort and direction to change.

              Some quotes from DF strategy statement 2001-2004 (Brendan Smith TD was MoD)

              Internal Weaknesses
              A series of Defence reviews has chronicled the weaknesses of the Defence Forces at length. Some ofthese weaknesses remain to be addressed. These and other weaknesses are broadly summarised below:
              • The absence of clear lines of accountability, authority and responsibility. The Chief of Staff currently has 18% of the Defence Vote devolved to him, while expenditure on the Defence Forces is in excess of 90% of the vote
              (Almost 20 years ago, it was identified that the CoS had a need to be accounting officer)

              • Human Resources - Recruitment and retention difficulties; and the inability to transfer or retire personnel to meet organisational requirements

              • Deployment and Organisation - operational units too widely dispersed
              (Still too dispersed as political parties priorities is for votes rather than the needs of the state)



              • Equipment & Infrastructure - the need to continue the considerable improvement in recent yearsto enable a credible defence capability and to meet the standards required of a force operating in a modern peace support environment
              (While equipment acquisition programs have improved the general state of Defence Forces building infrastructure across the country is extremely poor and is having a direct negative impact on both health and safety, operational effectiveness and retention).

              • Training - Insufficient dedicated collective conventional military training
              (Still no centralised recruit training facilities)

              External Threats
              • The impact of an economic slowdown on the implementation of Defence Forces’ reform

              • The requirement to devise a new Defence Forces’ Pension scheme and the uncertainty of its effect on future recruitment and retention
              One of if not the biggest challenge to retention is the complete erosion of the DF pension scheme to the point where it now not financially viable for new entrants (post 2013) to live when they are still mandatorily forced to retire at a certain sage or time served.

              Comment


              • #22
                Overall I think MM did a good job, he stayed professional, ,kept circulating back to the pay issue as a core issue and didn't give the Mick and Claire show any fodder. He came across as professional and someone who cares about his organization and the service members. He did a good job of hitting his talking points and staying in the circle of trust. One of my take aways was "look, if you give me the resources, we won't have a retention & operational problem" even though he never actually said the.

                His face, towards the end of Daly's questions seemed like he was getting a bit annoyed with her, but then who wouldn't. Nice to see the uniformed leadership getting the message out. This needs to be a regular feature and not have them censored by DoD. Ultimately the CoS needs to the accounting officer.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Unfortunately the politicians are more concerned with themselves

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by DeV View Post
                    Unfortunately the politicians are more concerned with themselves
                    Delete "more", substitute "ONLY".

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Looking back many of the questions are better dealt with as standard DF PQ's . If you have the opportunity to question the COS would you not focus on COS taskings /train/equip/man
                      "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                      "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Originally posted by trellheim View Post
                        Looking back many of the questions are better dealt with as standard DF PQ's . If you have the opportunity to question the COS would you not focus on COS taskings /train/equip/man
                        Do witnesses have a chance to send written replies to all the questions?
                        Given that probably:
                        10% of the available time was spend on welcoming COS, praising the DF, etc
                        70% was individual/party political statements

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