On Reason why the Retrospective Reclassification of Service Often Fails
Ian Lindgren
Executive Chairman - PayMe Group | Chairperson Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association
The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association has been facilitating two working groups. One on Retrospective Reclassification of Service and the other on Medallic Recognition. This post focusses on the former and follows on from the article “Clarity to Chaos and Back Again - Navigating the Complexities of Retrospective Recognition of Service” https://bit.ly/3WWRPHj
Key Insights
What is the "Service Differential" you might ask? I certainly did when I heard about in as I visited a number of Ministers last week in Parliament House. It refers to the disparity between those who believe Australia's last Warlike Service ended with Vietnam and those who recognise that more recent conflicts, and peacekeeping and peacemaking operations, that took place after the Vietnam War, were in some cases warlike. Addressing this discrepancy is crucial for establishing a sensible reclassification pathway. In other words there will be no changes until the veteran community speaks with one voice on his matter. There has been warlike service since the Vietnam War.
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Lightbulb moment. I have heard the comment before that there has been no warlike service since the Vietnam War. I have heard it at the highest levels of veteran representation in the country. These people have been shot down in flames but despite this are adamant they are correct. Are they influential? Yes. I see them walking Parliament House. So to me questions arise about potential behind-the-scenes opposition to reclassification efforts, such as during the Rifle Company Butterworth case. This warrants further investigation and discussion in future working group meetings.
In conclusion, the current system fails to adequately address the evolving nature of military operations and their long-term impact on service members. A comprehensive review and reform of the classification and reclassification processes are essential to ensure fair treatment and support for all veterans.
Post Script. The previous CDF advised that he initiated a review of the peacekeepers in Op Paladin. This is important be many are spending months sitting underground in bunkers the Golan Heights. I have asked to pursue this with the current CDF because it would appear there is a war on; yet our peacekeepers are on non-warlike service.
Author, Historian, Educator - Author of 'The Empire has an Answer' - Empathetically relating lived experiences
4moThe simplest solution is to eradicate any difference in entitlement between war service, war like service, and non-war like service. Any injury or illness attributable to service must be treated equally. Having a two tiered health/compensation scheme based on type of service is archaic thinking from a system devised in the shadows of a world conflict and clung to by those thinking it would be disrespectful to war veterans if everyone was treated equally. In truth, it should be disrespectful to an veteran who has served to not have each member who has served treated equally. The thinking along these lines is fostered by those holding the purse strings as it benefits them to maintain a two-tiered system and control terminology of service to minimise their expenditure. If all service personnel were subject to the same criteria under DVA, there would be no requirement for determining war like service.
Retired
4moPity the Government won't recognise either Cold War Service and this service and certain Special Ops Service was warlike even though DVA does and the AWM has classified all Service after WW2 as Cold War. There is a group of us who should be entitled to the RAS Badge who fall between those who get that or the OSB. Something so simple to fix but apparently extremely difficult 😕
Veteran | Strategic Communication Specialist | Consultant
4moIan….. I am truly in awe of your work. You walk the halls of Parliament and offer some very unique perspectives. I sincerely thank you for your work. Now me being me - there’s no place at any table for those who believe our last real war was Vietnam. I’d have to ask firstly what drugs are they on. Secondly I would seek to identify them to ensure their influence lasts less than a snowflake in summer. I’ve served everywhere (even at the Port Arthur tragedy) plus all Australian areas of operation. These type of people in my view need their influence diminished. All the best.