tiddles
15-02-10, 09:12 PM
Here is a story from todays Age, those with a bit of experience in the Army might like to comment.From personal experience I know it is not necessary to be in the Army to be [or have been] an enthusiastic drinker. I am waiting to see if there is a reaction from the Airforce & Navy Chiefs in the Newspapers.
Tiddles
Australian general blasts army of drunks DAN OAKES
February 16, 2010
THE second-in-command of Australia's armed forces has admitted that the army has an alcohol problem and demanded that officers tackle a culture of heavy drinking.
Lieutenant-General Ken Gillespie said in an email to commanders that he was tired of hearing about soldiers killing and injuring themselves and others through drunken behaviour, according to the army's internal newspaper.
''To be quite frank, I am sick of seeing the near-daily reports which tell me of officers and soldiers killed, injured or arrested for behaviour that could have been avoided,'' he wrote.
''I am saddened when I realise the impact these avoidable incidents have on the members, their families, their units and the army.
''I am tired of seeing the reputation of the army undermined by the irresponsible actions of some who cannot responsibly consume alcohol.''
The Soldiers Army newspaper said General Gillespie's anger was heightened when police dealt with 12 incidents involving drunk army personnel over one weekend - seven drink-driving offences and five drunk and disorderly cases.
He was apparently particularly disgusted by an incident in which an allegedly drunk soldier was carrying six friends in his car.
General Gillespie demanded that commanders crack down on alcohol abuse, saying that although he realised they could not control their troops at all times, it was their responsibility to tackle the drinking culture.
''While I am directing you to take specific action now, you should be quite clear in your minds that I expect all commanders to proactively, and if necessary punitively, apply measures to reduce the incidence of alcohol misuse,'' he said.
''I will take an interest in hearing what commanders have done during my visits in the future.''
In possibly the most notorious case of its kind, three SAS soldiers drowned, trapped in their car, in 2007 after drinking at a pub near Victoria's secret Swan Island base.
All three had blood alcohol levels higher than the legal driving limit, ranging from .08 to .22.
In an interview with The Age two years ago, General Gillespie said he was influenced as a young officer by a major who took a stand against alcohol abuse in the post-Vietnam War army. He said the major showed courage in standing up to alcohol abuse in the army, particularly in the upper ranks of the hierarchy.
''It's a 24/7 business and when the phone goes and it's people in the Middle East who need my help then I owe it to them to be fully alert,'' he said.
''I can't do that if I'm drunk. So do I like alcohol? Yes I do. How much do I have? I never have more alcohol than allows me to walk outside at a moment's notice and get into the car and drive to work.''
Tiddles
Australian general blasts army of drunks DAN OAKES
February 16, 2010
THE second-in-command of Australia's armed forces has admitted that the army has an alcohol problem and demanded that officers tackle a culture of heavy drinking.
Lieutenant-General Ken Gillespie said in an email to commanders that he was tired of hearing about soldiers killing and injuring themselves and others through drunken behaviour, according to the army's internal newspaper.
''To be quite frank, I am sick of seeing the near-daily reports which tell me of officers and soldiers killed, injured or arrested for behaviour that could have been avoided,'' he wrote.
''I am saddened when I realise the impact these avoidable incidents have on the members, their families, their units and the army.
''I am tired of seeing the reputation of the army undermined by the irresponsible actions of some who cannot responsibly consume alcohol.''
The Soldiers Army newspaper said General Gillespie's anger was heightened when police dealt with 12 incidents involving drunk army personnel over one weekend - seven drink-driving offences and five drunk and disorderly cases.
He was apparently particularly disgusted by an incident in which an allegedly drunk soldier was carrying six friends in his car.
General Gillespie demanded that commanders crack down on alcohol abuse, saying that although he realised they could not control their troops at all times, it was their responsibility to tackle the drinking culture.
''While I am directing you to take specific action now, you should be quite clear in your minds that I expect all commanders to proactively, and if necessary punitively, apply measures to reduce the incidence of alcohol misuse,'' he said.
''I will take an interest in hearing what commanders have done during my visits in the future.''
In possibly the most notorious case of its kind, three SAS soldiers drowned, trapped in their car, in 2007 after drinking at a pub near Victoria's secret Swan Island base.
All three had blood alcohol levels higher than the legal driving limit, ranging from .08 to .22.
In an interview with The Age two years ago, General Gillespie said he was influenced as a young officer by a major who took a stand against alcohol abuse in the post-Vietnam War army. He said the major showed courage in standing up to alcohol abuse in the army, particularly in the upper ranks of the hierarchy.
''It's a 24/7 business and when the phone goes and it's people in the Middle East who need my help then I owe it to them to be fully alert,'' he said.
''I can't do that if I'm drunk. So do I like alcohol? Yes I do. How much do I have? I never have more alcohol than allows me to walk outside at a moment's notice and get into the car and drive to work.''