Driving home this evening I was listening to the radio, as is my wont on long (or for that matter short) car journeys when along came an advertisement for the Royal Military College Duntroon. Being a current (albeit part-time) student of this great establishment I was naturally interested and, it would not be unfair to say, more than a little disturbed by what I heard.

When (or I suppose if) you hear the advertisement you’ll know straight away which one I mean but the basic gist is that if a 4 or 5 year degree sounds like too much work come to RMC and get a job in 2. I believe the wording goes something along the lines of;

‘Haven’t got 4 years to wait around ? becoming an army officer takes just 18 months’

Is this really the type of advertising we want luring future professional officers of the Australian Army ? I bloody hope not.

‘So can’t be arsed putting in the effort to get a bachelors ? don’t have the stamina for an apprenticeship ? come join the army you’re our type of guy’

I am saddened to think that anyone would be allowed to lead Australian soldiers (arguably some of the finest in the world) with an attitude like that, though there is little cause for alarm, anyone joining under such a premise has little to no chance of making it through the RMC coursework IMO.

I was reminded of an article called Khaki ambassadors I read in the Herald Sun which sums up the crisis in military recruiting in this country quite well, give it a read because Mr. Bolt puts it far better than I could.

In case you’re wondering what kind of people the army is looking for in their officer ranks - here’s a thought;

…the 27-year-old lieutenant in Baghdad found the army didn’t issue the right equipment for platoons like his to break into houses during operations to clear urban areas. So he ordered two sets of door-breaking tools over the internet, using money scrounged from his regiment.

Khaki ambassadors Herald Sun 30 dec ‘05