The whole future of the defence force academy needs to be questioned.
In the army there is a phrase, ''Contact, wait out''. This is the initial radio report sent by combat commanders when something bad happens. It means I'm in trouble and I'll get back to you after I have found out more details. Stand by to help.
Everyone involved in the Australian Defence Force Academy event and its aftermath would have been better served if they had said, ''Contact, wait out'', taken a deep breath and waited to get their facts straight.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith, normally a cautious man, has not helped matters by jumping to conclusions about the performance of the commandant of ADFA, Commodore Bruce Kafer. Nor has he helped by expressing his views on an internal defence disciplinary matter. The minister's actions have also muddied the waters on how far he is prepared to intervene in the internal running of his department. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has very little room within which to manoeuvre after he eventually finds out what actually went on at ADFA.
The male cadet at the heart of the problem is a grub and should be discharged. After a fundamental breach of trust and decency of this nature there is no place for him in the military. Houston has called his actions abhorrent. The cadet should take the hint and resign.
His voyeur mates should be immediately presented with a notice to ''show cause'' why they should not be discharged. If they can't come up with really good reasons to stay, they too should be dismissed. Save us some time - resignation, anyone?
As to the female cadet, right now, she deserves our sympathy and support. However, if she has committed offences relating to fraternisation, being absent without leave and use of alcohol she, too, must be eventually held to account.
Members of the press and other commentators should reconsider their unwarranted insinuation that this is ''defence culture''. The seven individuals involved have been at ADFA for barely two months. You don't learn this sort of culture in that period of time. You bring it with you from your home, your school and the community. Australia as a whole is struggling with actions such as sexting, binge drinking and a general loss of the meaning of privacy, not just ADFA.
The performance of the Defence Force on operations is clear testimony that these sorts of events are the exception rather than the rule. Culture is something that is learnt, expected and rewarded. The type of behaviour seen recently at ADFA is not taught, expected or rewarded.
Of additional concern are the recent allegations of the involvement of serving senior officers in events involving physical and sexual abuse when they were cadets at ADFA. Of utmost concern is the allegation that these offences were covered up. These are serious allegations, demanding immediate investigation. If true, these officers have been living a lie and deserve to be exposed and dismissed from the service. It was their responsibility to protect those serving under them. By not acting they have betrayed their positions of trust.
Neil James, from the Australian Defence Association, has got it right. It is time for a review.
Minister Smith has responded with a raft of reviews: the treatment of women, a cultural stocktake and the management of incidents and complaints in Defence. In this outpouring of reviews, let's not lose focus. There are some immediate questions that need to be dealt with quickly and robustly. Let's focus on the grubby events at ADFA in late March, the actions of the minister and the academy commandant and the past deeds of cadets and graduates, especially those cadets and graduates who may have betrayed their duty of trust. Once the facts are known it will be time to pass judgment.
While we are at it, why not add another review - the future of ADFA. ADFA does not make officers for the Australian Defence Force. Those attending ADFA receive degrees from the University of New South Wales and then proceed to the officer-producing establishments of the army, navy and air force. ADFA is essentially a ''university college'' where cadets wear a uniform and receive a small amount of military training in a generalised ''military'' environment. In an era of commercialisation, cost savings and strategic reform, we should ask if this task can't be better performed in the broader tertiary education sector.
Students could attend local universities with their friends in a known and stable home environment. They could, if they wished, enlist in the Army Reserve to receive financial assistance, training support and mentoring during their university education. When more mature and sure of themselves they can then apply to join the services and proceed straight to Duntroon, Point Cook or Nowra.
Peter Leahy was chief of the army from 2002 to 2008. He is now the director of the National Security Institute at the University of Canberra.
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