Fewer Aussies leaving defence forces

Fewer service personnel are leaving the nation's defence forces.
Defence Personnel Minister Greg Combet said the Australian Defence Force was having
its lowest so-called separation rate for the past 10 years.
He said the 12-month average rate had fallen to 9.4 per cent in July across the force.
All three services have recorded significant falls in departure rates, with the navy
at 10.8 per cent (down from 12.4 per cent since July 2007), army 10.3 per cent (down
from 11.9) and air force 6.4 per cent (down from 9 per cent).
Mr Combet said the ADF was expecting further decreases through the next quarter,
with leaving rates stabilising in 2010.
He said the decrease in separation rates, in tandem with increased retention of
trained and skilled personnel with operational experience, would place put the
Defence Department in a good position to achieve growth and capability requirements
outlined in the 2009 Defence White Paper.
ADF personnel strength stands at 56,522, a rise of 1919 permanent members over the
past year. This includes 1454 reservists on full-time service.
Mr Combet said this growth included 259 more women than last year, who were serving
in a wide variety of roles. The ADF has also benefited greatly from the
re-enlistment of personnel with prior military service.
"Defence recognises the importance of harnessing the skills and experience of its
qualified and professional men and women and is very much focused on enhancing its
overall employment package to support retention," he said.
"Another pleasing aspect of this result is that more young people are getting
first-class training from the ADF at a time when Australia needs to build its
workforce skills base."
Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston said the submarine fleet was in danger
of collapse if the navy could not reverse the number of personnel leaving, figures
for which have more than doubled over the past four years.
"To have our operational readiness so clearly diminished by barely being able to
scrape together enough crew for two out of the six submarines, when they finally get
out of dry dock, is completely unacceptable," Mr Johnston said in a statement.