Do We Have Armed Forces Here?

[Dot]

Do we have army , air force navy personnel on bases in Aust? I heard on the news that the fire fighters are exhausted from fighting the fires for weeks on end. Why don't they bring in these service men & women like they used to???

[Craig]

I doubt our fighting men and women receive the appropriate training to fight bush fires Dot.

[supersparky]

That's a good question Dot. Perhaps we could ask someone from the Gubment. But they are probably too busy standing on their head, drinking beer at an Aust. Day party.

[Dot]

I remember a big fire when I was at Beechworth they got the boys from Pucca and their bull dozers to do fire breaks, camp kitchens were set up for the feed and drink stations even a first aid mASH type unit there, and even had them swatting the fire along side the housewives and kids with wet hessian bags, wielding shovels etc Then when there was floods in Wangaratta the naughty boys from the B/worth training prison came to lend a hand.. Many hands make light work so they say

[Craig]

Cutting fire breaks, camp kitchens and medical aid is a far cry from fighting the fires. Your initial post referred to the fire fighters being exhausted from fighting the fires.
Having said that, some of our bases do have a small fire fighting team but no where near the numbers required to take over from the civil fire fighters. But if push come to shove I suppose our defence will go where they a told and do what is required.

[Dot]

Duh Craig has the Cairns heat got to you?

[T1 Terry]

I agree with Craig, it's not what they are trained for and with the continued reduction in numbers I doubt any govt would be hypercritcal enough to order them to do civil work as well as miltary work, that would be the last straw for a lot of them I feel. They aren't just stading around doing SFA, they are stationed all over the world these days, they are highly train specialists. They are doing the work that 3 personel did before, and no one will be doing that work while they are off fighting fires, it will all still be there when they get back exhausted. They are flat out backing each other trying to get each other back to safe ground and not killed.
Now the weekend warriors, that's a different story, they could get out there and lend a hand, but will their bosses still pay them and hold their jobs for them???? Who will be doing their work while they are off fighting fires?
The whole scene is very different now to back then, everyone is expected to do twice as much with half the equipment so some smug shiny arse can make extra $$ Now if you got them out there fighting the fires they would either reduce it's available fuel or send it off shore

[Dot]

Where did I say they SHOULD be fighting fires? I meant that IF there were extra people that had the skills to help along side the fire fighters then that would help those out fighting fires. Not one person has answered the Q I asked and that was all I did ask a question and that was Why don't they bring in those service men & women like they used to?. And I did not say they stand around doing SFA but if ordinary people can HELP then why not get as many people to help that can??? Yes they are trained to drive bulldozers and do those other jobs like medical units they do it for other things If it was their base would they wait for the fire brigade or would they fight the fire. Before people jump to the wrong conclusion why not read the post in the context it was meant. And by the way I never asked anyone to take sides I simply asked a question and along the way stated a fact. The next part is directly from the Army In Profile pages. "Apart from our most demanding operations in Afghanistan, Timor Leste, Solomon Islands and we were called upon to render significant assistance to our fellow citizens on Australian soil. The New Year had barely dawned when we were asked to respond to the floods in Queensland. Our people performed magnificently, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their fellow Australians in the midst of this time of crisis"

[Dot]

Army info.jpg

Joint Task Force 662 Search Task Group soldiers prepare to search fire affected properties in the Kinglake West area, as part of the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the continuing bushfire crisis in Victoria.
Over recent years, the Army has been involved in a number of domestic natural disaster relief efforts. While the initial response to a disaster and the primary responsibility for the protection of life, property and the environment in emergencies, short of war, rests with the States and Territories, Army has demonstrated its adaptable nature and ability to respond to challenging and complex tasks - at short notice - within Australia. This is testament to the quality, skill and dedication of Army's people.

Where civilian resources are inadequate, unavailable or cannot be mobilised in time, emergency Defence Assistance to the Civil Community arrangements enable the Australian Defence Force to contribute in order to save human life, alleviate suffering and prevent loss of animal life or property.

Provision of Defence assistance follows a request from the relevant State or Territory government to Emergency Management

[Craig]

I think the DUH should have been directed to your initial post Dot. With over 30 years in the defence force I never once felt that it was my duty to go and fight a bush fire. Without the proper training in that area just who do you think would give the order to carry out such a task and then also be responsible for any fatalities or injuries? I'm afraid you like so many others have the wrong idea about what the Australian Defence Force is there for. If the fire fighters are starting to get tired then the state gov. should ask for suitably qualified personnel from the other state authorities. I spent some time instructing fire fighting technique onboard ships and I would not for one moment consider I was qualified to fight a bush fire. The only thing in common is the fire, the surroundings make it a whole other ball game.

I see Dot has responded whilst I was typing.

I believe I have answered your questions in my response but to sum it up.

Yes we do have army , air force navy personnel on bases in Aust. (they are not trained to fight bush fires though).

and to the other question. I believe the military bosses would be reluctant to commit the troops to carry out tasks that they do not hold the applicable training for. Disaster relief and search and rescue operations are part of our training but as I have already stated, are limited to the qualifications held.

Fighting a fire on base. Initial response would be from the base fire fighting team but would be handed over to the civil fire brigade when they arrived on scene.