Defence force members!

G'day all. Spent 24 years in navy up until two years ago when I left and signed up for active reserves and now doing a nursing degree.

Joined 1988 as a radar plotter, now combat systems operators, thought I would just do 6 years, ended up staying and enjoying the puss! Paid off a chief petty officer combat systems manager, miss the outfit but enjoy the civvie way of life.

First pic just me, second pic was cover of rolling stone(inside front cover so technically on the cover...lol) last pic was the crew of HMAS Stuart in the Middle East..I am the short fat dude kneeling just to the right of the CO, in front.

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Originally Posted by CPOCSM

G'day all. Spent 24 years in navy up until two years ago when I left and signed up for active reserves and now doing a nursing degree.

Joined 1988 as a radar plotter, now combat systems operators, thought I would just do 6 years, ended up staying and enjoying the puss! Paid off a chief petty officer combat systems manager, miss the outfit but enjoy the civvie way of life.

First pic just me, second pic was cover of rolling stone(inside front cover so technically on the cover...lol) last pic was the crew of HMAS Stuart in the Middle East..I am the short fat dude kneeling just to the right of the CO, in front.

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G'day mate,

Congrats on your service to this great country of ours!

Regards,

RLI

The future of aviation!

Regards,

RLI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC8U5_4lo2c

G'day folks,

I thought i would share this tragic story with you. I am an RSL Advocate/Pensions officer and i am frustrated by the way the system is letting down our young Veterans who are suffering from PTSD. Early last year the call had been put out amoungst the Mid North Coast RSL Sub-Branches that a young Veteran had gone missing, typical soldiers both ex and current serving we started looking for young Sapper David Wood an Afghanistan veteran who lived between Casino and Lismore.

Tragically we got the call that the police had found young Sapper David Wood and he had taken his own live. This shattered me personally as i wanted answers how this young Veteran had slipped under the radar of DVA.

The following is a story that out lines what are soldiers are really suffering from.

PS, unfortunately, this is not a happy story.

Regards,

RLI


From: DVA-OVERWATCH

Reporter: Neil Doorley, TodayTonight – 18 November, 2013 - DVA, The Federal Government’s Killing Machine!

"It's not on that, in reality, the Defence Force and DVA is committing murder because they're not looking after that soldier", said Keith Payne. Keith is one Australia's greatest heroes, earning the Victoria Cross -- the military's highest decoration for valour -- when he singlehandedly rescued 40 of his men, under heavy fire, in the Vietnam War.
He killed his enemies and was shot at more times than he can remember but somehow the Army thought that would have no effect on him. "Nobody can understand war unless you've bloody been to war", Keith said.

When he came home, his war didn't end -- he had to keep fighting for recognition that he wasn't well because he was suffering what was then called 'battle fatigue'. "It just went on and on and the cost to the Department, sending me to specialists here, specialists there, transport aircraft -- what were they trying to prove?" Keith said.
It's now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "I was really, really angry and I kept saying to my wife, if this is what they are doing to me, what are they doing to my soldiers", Keith said.

It's a battle he's continued to wage since leaving the Army in 1975 after 23 years' service. "What I didn't realise and a lot of young veterans today won't realise -- they'll say okay, I'm getting out of the military saying we'll medically discharge you -- that's the easy way out, the very, very easy way out for the military to do that. They've done it in the past, and they'll do it until it's stopped", Keith said.

Keith Payne's counseled other sufferers of post traumatic stress and believes through neglect, the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are effectively condemning some to death. "This is where he gets depressed; he tries to get a job, because of his PTSD he ends up doing his narna with somebody. He gets disenchanted with his employment and now trying to look after a family, so everything is building up on him, and building up. Some of them go down the suicide lane -- it's wrong, it is dead wrong", Keith said.

33-year-old Leif Edwards served in East Timor and Afghanistan -- he was a high tech, modern warrior forced to fight his own emotions while on the battlefield. "I was having panic attacks -- fear of dying and fear of helplessness", Leif said. He came home in 2010 and two years later was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "I went straight to hospital and asked for help to see psychologists and psychiatrist because I knew something wasn't right", Leif said.

Leif took out his anger and frustration on wife Amy. "I'm anxious, I'm on edge all the time. I physically hurt my wife, verbally as well", Leif said. "I never thought I'd be married to someone that would treat me the way Leif does when he's having an incident, you know, have a mood or has been triggered by something", Amy said. Amy says she feared for him while he was away -- now, she just fears him. "I'm gutted -- it's not me, I don't know who it is", Leif said.

Leif has been discharged medically unfit, but Veterans Affairs rejected his compensation claim ruling his condition wasn't caused by his tours of duty. "He passed all his medical and mental health checks to deploy and when he got back he's not fit to serve in the Army, so only thing that happened to him between those two points was Army service", Amy said.

James Staples was in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. "You come back and start noticing all the small things -- you become anxious, depressed", James said. A corporal in the Infantry, he was deemed unfit for duty in October, 2011 but was forced to wait another 17 months before being discharged with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "It was torture -- it's like house arrest", James said. He's now struggling to survive on about a third of his old pay. He believes he's entitled to better compensation. "If we get the help we need and the help we deserve and shorten this whole way go about this, it wouldn't be so horrendous", James said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs argues James can still work. "Working in a service station, art framing, and for some reason they put security guard which I've never done which wouldn't be appropriate for me, a person with PTSD to carry a firearm around civilians --it just baffles me how they can come up with that conclusion", James said.

Veterans Affairs figures reveal more than 1500 veterans are suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since troops were deployed in East Timor, which tops the list with 777; followed by Afghanistan with 438 and Iraq - 347. That's on top of the 17,764 Vietnam War veterans.

It's the hidden toll of war which continues to grow, and includes combat engineer David Wood. "My most enduring memory was when we followed the coffin back out of tent, the huge number of World War 2, Viet vets, with their medals on their suits and that made me think of Anzac Day", said his grandfather, Roger.

The peace and quiet of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is a world away from the battlefields of Afghanistan, but the horrors of war were never far from the thoughts of David Wood. The 22 year old returned home from his second tour of duty last December and his family says he was a changed man, who was battling his own private demons -- including severe depression. "He told me a little girl died in his arms and I believe when that girl died in his arms, that was the end of David, that was the beginning of the end, the Taliban had got him then and there", said Roger.

David knew he needed help and started seeing a psychiatrist and while he was making progress, his family immediately feared the worst when he simply vanished on the 22nd of May. "He took off his dog tags and his dog tags also had a St Christopher medal -- he took them and laid them on the bed and that was probably the last thing he did before leaving his house", said Roger

David's disappearance sparked a large search involving members of his family, and soldiers from his old Army unit. About a week later, his body was found -- there were no suspicious circumstances. Sapper David Wood had taken his own life.

"It's heartbreaking to even think about it. He wrote a note saying he just wanted to go away for a while and be on his own", Roger said. Roger believes his grandson should be classified a casualty of war. "So that in a 100 years' time, my descendants can say that was my uncle, that was David Wood and he's on that honour roll", he said.

"He came home with more than scars, open wounds that we couldn't see. Underneath his shirt, he was bleeding", Roger said. He argues more must be done to help veterans' families read the warning signs.

The death toll is mounting as well in the United States where it's estimated 22 military veterans are committing suicide every day -- that's almost one an hour. "If you look at American statistics, statistics from the US, that suicide rates tend to outstrip rates of those killed in action", said psychiatrist Andrew Khoo.

Dr Khoo runs one of the few specialist Post Traumatic Stress Disorder clinics in Australia at Brisbane's Toowong Private Hospital. "Suicide unfortunately is the most tragic outcome of untreated mental illness", Dr Khoo said. Dr Khoo says the process of making claims has become a bureaucratic maze. "Many of the patients have their symptoms exacerbated by the process of getting their compensation through", he said.

With almost 70,000 Australian troops deployed since East Timor in 1999, the sad reality is nearly one in five may develop a mental health problem when they come home. That's about 14,000. "The Government will never baulk at spending money on submarines or the huge logistical exercises sending people overseas, so they shouldn't similarly be baulking at fairly compensating these guys -- we knew a significant proportion were going to be injured", Dr Khoo said.

"Any suicide is tragic and the Department actively monitors suicide in veteran community", said The Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Advisor Doctor Stephanie Hodson. "We actually do need to work on getting our staff more trained, but also about getting through these claims more quickly", Dr Hodson said. A former Army psychologist, Dr Hodson denies the Department's failure to plan ahead is resulting in long delays leaving claims -- and lives -- in limbo. "The Department is processing claims as quickly as possible but we acknowledge that some claims can take longer than we want", she said.

Incredibly, Doctor Hodson says part of the problem lies with the veterans themselves. "The problem is that it's not till someone is in crisis that they will actually start to look for the services. The treatment is there for veterans, we just need them to come and put up their hand and come and get it", Dr Hodson said.

DVA-OVERWATCH

When veterans’ eventually arrive at DVA’s door; often in quite a desperate state, DVA Delegates begin the slow and grinding process of exacerbating injuries’ as a means to exhaust and further damage people.

DVA methods’ have clearly been adopted from an insurance industry methodology well known by its four (4) distinct phases: Deny, Delay, Defend, and Damage – The 4D’s.
Overseeing the introduction of the DVA-4D’s, is the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (MRCC) comprised of: Military, Government and, Insurance industry executives who specialise in Exhaustion Strategies and Systems.

It is by no strange slight-of-hand that the DVA has adopted insurance industry practice, methods, and culture – in combining military and insurance ‘exhaustion stratagem’ with the artistry of ‘administrative complexity’ and ‘the consumption of time’ both time honoured tradition’s in the public service, it’s no wonder the symptoms of an evolving insurance fiefdom i.e. growth in ex-service organisations, and public protest from the most honourable, will grow in both number, and volume!

mental heath sux and dva dont give a f#ck about it as i am a exmember suffering from mental heath problems and get f#ck all help from them sorry dva boil my blood so bad

Corporal Cameron Baird, killed in Afghanistan, to be awarded the Victoria Cross


THE Victoria Cross will be awarded posthumously to Australian commando Corporal Cameron Baird, killed in Afghanistan in June 2013, Tony Abbott has announced.

The Prime Minister told parliament that Corporal Baird, of the Special Operations Task Group, was the 100th Australian recipient of the highest military honour for bravery in wartime.

Killed by small arms fire during a battle with Afghan insurgents, he was the 40th - and last - Australian to die in Afghanistan and the fourth Australian VC from the conflict.

“He repeatedly drew enemy fire away from his team members and charged enemy positions under heavy fire. His actions enabled the enemy to be neutralised and his team to be kept safe,” the Prime Minister said.

“Corporal Baird’s actions were in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force. He is an Australian hero.”

Mr Abbott said the Tasmanian-born Corporal Baird, 32, was already an iconic figure in the army.

He had already received the Medal of Gallantry for rescuing a wounded comrade during a firefight with the Taliban seven years ago.

Corporal Baird was now being awarded the Victoria Cross for “most conspicuous acts of valour” and “extreme devotion to duty”, the Prime Minister said.

“I salute Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG. We all salute him,” Mr Abbott told parliament, noting the commando’s “extraordinary courage”.

“We can hardly imagine what the likes of Corporal Baird and his comrades do, but we stand in awe.”

Addressing Corporal Baird’s family members in the public gallery, Mr Abbott said: “You have lost a son, a brother, an uncle and our country has lost a citizen, a soldier, a hero.’’

Addressing the media outside parliament, the soldier’s father, Doug Baird, broke into tears as he described his “extremely humble” son who rarely accepted praise while heaping it on his comrades.

The commando’s brother, Brendan Baird, said it was “a bittersweet moment as Cameron is no longer with us”.

“But we are honoured to have him recognised in this way and through him, all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their beloved country,” he said.

“Cameron never liked the limelight. He was a very humble man who would not see this as an individual award, but recognition of the entire 2nd Commando Regiment.”

Corporal Baird, from the 2nd Commando Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, was killed during an engagement with insurgents in the Khod Valley in southern Afghanistan on June 22, 2013.

“Words can hardly do justice to the chaos, confusion and courage that were evident that day,’’ Mr Abbott told parliament.

He read to parliament a testimony provided by a comrade of Corporal Baird during his last tour of duty.

“Corporal Baird’s initiative, fearless tenacity and dedication to duty in the face of the enemy were exemplary and absolute inspiration to the entire team.

“I was witness to the ultimate sacrifice’’.

Corporal Baird was on his fifth special forces tour to Afghanistan when killed, after joining the army at 18 and having also served in East Timor and Iraq.

He earned the Medal for Gallantry for braving fierce machinegun fire to recover the “mortally wounded” Private Luke Worsley during a prolonged firefight in Afghanistan on November 22 and 23, 2007.

Labor leader Bill Shorten praised Corporal Baird’s “professionalism, courage and skill” over eight foreign tours, including in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor.

“Corporal Baird was a real hero. A man who risked his life for his mates,” he said.

“Cameron Baird’ s friends described him as one of the most iconic members of the regiment – high praise for an elite unit recognised the world over for its professionalism, courage and skill.

“He obtains the place of highest honour in Australian and Commonwealth history.”

Born in Burnie, Tasmania, Corporal Baird he is survived by his parents, brother and his partner.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce will award the posthumous honour at a ceremony at Government House in Canberra next Tuesday.

Earlier awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in Afghanistan were Mark Donaldson, Ben Roberts-Smith and Daniel Keighran.


KEY FACTS ABOUT THE VICTORIA CROSS:

_ The Victoria Cross, the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime, was created by Queen Victoria in 1856 and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the Crimean War

_ The Victoria Cross for Australia was approved on January 15, 1991, as the pre-eminent gallantry award in the Australian system

_ It is cast from the metal of guns captured during the Crimean War 1854-56

_ The bar is decorated with laurel leaves and bears a ‘V’ from which the cross hangs

_ It is awarded for conspicuous courage, daring, valour, self-sacrifice or displays of extreme devotion to duty

_ 100 Australians have been invested as VC recipients

Corporal Cameron Baird is the 100th recipient, the fourth Australian soldier to be awarded the VC for service in Afghanistan and the fourth soldier to be awarded the VC for Australia and the first to be awarded posthumously

_ The other Afghan veteran VC recipients are Corporal Mark Donaldson (2009), Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith (2011), and Corporal Daniel Keighran (2012)

_ Australians have been awarded the British Victoria Cross in:

- Boer War, 1899-1902: 6

- World War I, 1914-18: 64 (including 9 at Gallipoli)

- North Russia, 1919: 2

- World War II, 1939-45: 20

- Vietnam War, 1962-72: 4

I salute you Corporal Cameron Baird from another Commando brother!

Regards,

Paul

Men like this need to be our role models not afl or other sports identities. Soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice deserve a place in everyone's hearts and minds.

Rest in peace Aussie hero

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Originally Posted by 93patrol

Men like this need to be our role models not afl or other sports identities. Soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice deserve a place in everyone's hearts and minds.

Rest in peace Aussie hero

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Aint that the truth......

A well deserved recognition of one of our fallen..... RIP all our brothers

Great to see the responses made so far to one of our fallen warriors!

Regards,

RLI

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-1...loween/5258966

hey Paul
you can have this removed if you want, but i was wondering about your thoughts on how much is being spent on the ANZAC legends and what is spent on the new returned soldiers welfare.

I find this very interesting as we are about to get more returned soldiers back into the australian workforce and communities with mental health problems and physical health problems related to their time away. i personally would like to see these men and women get the support they deserve

cheers Shane