Why Specialist Service Officers resign

I was just laughing at the difference between an ADF recruitment advertisement for Specialist Service Officers and what actually happens once we're recruited. There is really no encouragement to serve, which is why I guess most of the specialists resign.

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The aim of the Basic Officer Skills Module is to provide SSOs with the essential command, leadership and management skills required of an officer...  Trainees are instructed in command, leadership and management theory, service discipline law, communications, the Defence organisation, personnel administration, risk management, customs and traditions, and basic operations.

Reality:

When we arrived at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, we were continually reminded that we were "not core business" at the College. Senior trauma surgeons were made to sit through 20 hours of first aid training. I am not joking. This is how dysfunctional the senior leadership of the ADF has become.

Reality (from my "Agreed goals") 2008 given to me by my Officer Commanding:

• Provide medical advice
• Provide clinical training
• Maintain fitness and weapons competency

I may as well have stayed at my practice and seen a few more patients. So much for leadership, management and the challenges for which I actually accepted a commission.

But still, 2008 was better than 2010. In my 2010 "Agreed goals" my new Officer Commanding,  Major Kaylene Baird,  wanted me to:

• Conform with ASODs

ASODs is the Army Standing Orders for Dress. My OC thinks a suitable goal for an officer who has ten years experience in the Australian Army, operational experience and three degrees from three of the best universities in Australia is to dress myself properly.

That's not a joke. Her goal for me was to dress myself properly, something I have been doing for ten years. This is how disrespectfully we are treated by senior officers in the ADF.

History has made a different assessment of Medical Officers than this stupid, rude officer and her like-minded colleagues. The Victoria Cross has been won twice by only three people in history. Despite the fact that Medical Officers don't usually go anywhere near the fighting, two of the three double VC winners are Medical Officers. We are smart and brave, keen to serve, and this is how we are treated.

No wonder the specialists resign.