STRATEGIC DIRECTION PAPER – 7 RAR ASSOCIATION

STRATEGIC DIRECTION PAPER – 7 RAR ASSOCIATION -UPDATE 24 Oct 18

1. The 7th Battalion has a reputation for hard soldiering without unnecessary fanfare or hubris. It is a no-nonsense Battalion with men and women with a solid reputation for getting-on with the job. That reputation was forged by the men who served on the two tours of South Vietnam and more recently those on the multiple operational tours of Iraq and Afghanistan and from training activities on home soil.

2. At the AGM in Canberra in 2017 it was agreed that generational change was required in Association and it was agreed that the most appropriate time would be following the 2018 reunion cmise. In order to facilitate the transition, a strategic plan was suggested as a way to communicate intent and key concepts for the transition of the Association.

Purpose of this paper

3. This document is intended to offer a snapshot of the membership body, highlighting the differences between the two generations of membership and identify opportunities to modernise the association. It reaffirms the role and approach to be taken by the Association, with a purpose, values and goals.

The membership body – the two generations

The first generation

4. The Association has membership of just over 1000 men, women and selected family members, the vast majority being Vietnam veterans, referred to in this document as the first generation, with the remainder being the second generation who have served with the Battalion since 2006. Despite our shared experiences of soldiering, there are some distinct differences between the two generations which we do need to be mindful of in order to maintain cohesion as a group and remain progressive.

5. The first generation served as national servicemen and regular soldiers during an intense period of operational service in the 1960s and early 1970s. For the national servicemen, their two year period of enlistment generally concluded towards the end of their 12 month tour of Vietnam, at which point they were transitioned into civilian life on or around the same date as the other men in their intake. The regular soldiers of that period served for various lengths of time, with a number reaching the senior enlisted ranks and senior officer ranks.

6. The first generation can generally be divided into two distinct groupings as either ‘first tour’ or ‘second tour’ men. Within the ‘first’ or second tour’ groups, the first generation membership will normally also categorise themselves by company or specialist platoon (for example, a first generation 7 RAR man he will often proudly refer to himself as ‘I’m a B Company 2 tour man’).

The second generation

7. The second generation of ex serving and current serving 7 RAR members are in the 20 to 35 year age bracket, with the senior officers and warrant officers being slightly older. The second generation of soldiers serve for a minimum of four years and in most cases they have served operational tours of between four and eight months duration, in many cases deploying several times in a four year period of enlistment.

8. Due to their length of service, our second generation troops often serve in at least two different company groups, and deploying on operations in groups that were not necessarily a formed group prior to their pre-deployment training. Current force assignment practices often result in composite groupings of various arms and services and very often under unorthodox command structures (ie. they may have been in B Company in barracks, but deployed in a combined arms group in some cases under a different sub-unit title).

9. In addition to Battalion led deployments, a significant number 7 RAR troops have deployed under the command of another unit (e.g. with 2 Cav Regt in 2013/14) and more recently directly under a formation headquarters, such as the recent Force Protection Company deployments to Afghanistan. In many cases soldiers from other units who deployed with 7 RAR soldiers also consider themselves as ‘honorary Pigs’, there are a growing number who place higher value on their time spent with us than the time serving in their own parent unit. As a result of these unorthodox groupings and multiple operations of shorter duration our second generation are more a broad church; an important consideration particularly when planning reunions.

10. Finally, there are also a number of fine members of the Battalion who, for a combination of circumstances and reasons beyond their influence, have not deployed on operational service. Often, the ofGcers and men who stayed home were chosen very deliberately to remain at home under the old axiom ‘that if it doesn ‘t hurt you to leave them behind at the Battalion, then you have chosen the -wrong team’. Those men and women have served just as effectively and just as faithfully as those who have dq?loyed, in many cases assuming high levels of responsibility without receiving formal recognition.

Membership of associations in contemporary society

11. Recent studies into the membership of associations in contemporary society have concluded that formal and enduring membership of associations is in permanent decline. Contemporary Australian society is more transactional, with people being inclined to associate themselves with a particular cause for a defined period of time. Generations X, Y, and Millennials are more likely to seek affiliation for particular causes for discrete periods of time, as opposed to our traditional ‘financial member’ approach.

12. Most first generation members joined the association well after their service concluded, in many cases at least a decade; therefore some ‘dwell time’ should be anticipated. The small numbers of second generation members are from Generations X, Y and the Millennials. When they joined, they did so out of a sense of loyalty without any particular expectations of the Association. We must make every effort to ensure our second generation of members remains engaged, and that we avoid the trap that many other associations fall prey to by inadvertently excluding our people; the first generation are our foundation, the second generation are our future.

Our opportunities

13. The Battalion is now established firmly in Adelaide. The South Australian Branch of the Association has had a strong membership in recent year, has good links with the Battalion, and an understanding of the Battalion routine and contemporary soldiering. 7 RAR soldiers often transition to civilian life in Adelaide. Therefore the SA Branch is most likely to be the state branch with increasing membership.

14. Adelaide is a very pleasant small city with regular sporting and cultural events and a mild climate and regular direct flights to and from all other capitals. These characteristics offer an opportunity for future reunions.

15. The Battalion has adopted a routine which sees sporting fixtures and ceremonial events conducted in the Battalion birthday week or as close to it as possible. The Battalion has also conducted major ceremonial events approximately every two to three years. For example, in 2017 the Battalion exercised their Freedom of the City of Adelaide, with a good turnout of both generations in attendance. These events can provide the focal point for informal reunions which we can harness to allow former members to stay connected. They do not require particularly detailed planning effort or onerous degrees of administration from the Association. MOTQ frequent and less structured reunions can be organised via social media without significant financial outlay.

Independence

16. The 7 RAR Association has a duty to remain abreast of contemporary veterans’ issues, but it has historically taken no role in advocacy or in campaigning on ex-service matters. The RAR National Corporation and the respective State Branches are best placed for such roles. Membership of our Association will be focussed on encouraging our members to stay connected and maintaining their sense of self-worth. Through a sense of self-worth we can empower our members to become self-reliant members of their community.

Objectives of the Association

17. The objectives of the 7 RAR Association are described in the Association Rules, and are to preserve and continue the memory of those who died during service with the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment; to assist the sick, wounded and needy among those who served or are still serving with the 7th Battalion, to assist widows and children of deceased, former and serving members of the Battalion. The Association will foster and develop for historical purposes a link with the 7th Battalion (AIF), the 2,7th Battalion (AIF), the 7th Battalion (1939-45) and the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.

Purpose

8. The Association’s purpose, or the deeper question as to ‘why the Association exists’ is to foster camaraderie among the serving and ex-serving members of the Battalion. By building on the bonds formed in service and our shared identity we encourage our membership to become self-reliant and independent members of the community.

Values

19. We respect each member’s contribution. We respect each member’s experiences and our shared oath of service, regardless of the number of years served, our corps, or our rank. We recognise that service in an infantry battalion is physically and mentally demanding in wartime and in peace. We respect the sacrifice and commitment of every member.

20. We are inclusive. We are a broad church and are inclusive of those members who served with us from other units who choose to identify themselves as ‘one of the Pigs’. Our Battalion has female soldiers who serve as effectively and as loy ally as any of their male peers. Upon separation from the Army, not all of our soldiers will seek involvement with the Association immediately, but we welcome them back at any time.

21. We are selfless. We become members of the Association not for what we can get, but for what we may give back, and for what we can contribute to the culture and heritage of the 7th Battalion. We encourage each member to be a productive and independent and self-reliant member of their community and a responsible member of the Association. The no-nonsense culture of 7 RAR stays with us for life. We bury old rivalries, we move on from old disagreements.

Goals

22. Respectful transition of Association key appointments: honouring the moral contract between the Association and the first generation. Despite the differences between the first and second generations of 7 RAR soldiers we can continue to honour the moral contract the Association has with the senior members. State branches will continue to arrange gatherings and commemorative efforts such as Anzac Day marches in the capitals, etc.

23. The association will harness the opportunities provided by social media. Our website is well designed and well maintained. The current Facebook group has an expanding membership. Many of the members of the group have only minor affiliation with the Battalion, and for the most part its content is posted in good humour, but lacks any relevance to the Association. A project is underway to create a Facebook page as an Association noticeboard. The benefit of a page is that will allow the Association executive to publish information pertinent to the Association in a controlled manner whilst maintaining the humour of the current group. This is expected to be established by end 2018. Our conduct on social media will be responsible, respectful, relevant to the Association, and based on fact. In the coming years the 7 RAR news will transition entirely to a digital format. Further work will be undertaken to determine the ability publishing a hard copy magazine biennially with articles from the Battalion and contributions from the Association and respective state branches.

24. Facilitate regular informal reunions. Given the age of the first generation, the all-inclusive reunions conducted in recent years are likely to decrease in frequency. The Battalion’s routine of regular ceremonial events and sports can provide a focal point for informal reunions. On the years when no significant sporting or ceremonial events are planning by the Battalion, Adelaide is likely to remain a suitable location for informal reunions given the size and nature of Adelaide’s ANZAC Day parade and the strength of the broader ex-RAR community in SA.

25. Encourage Self Reliance. The first generation membership has many men who transitioned to civilian life very successfully after intense periods of service. The second generation are also highly capable young men and women who seek to live fulfilling and active lives following service. Many have discharged in recent years and are currently forging successful post military careers. These success stories, coupled with a strong on-line presence and the conduct of regular in-formal reunions can help to build a network of men and women to ‘show the way’ and encourage members to succeed in their post service life and career.

26. Generate additional income. Options are being investigated for the Association to generate passive income via the sales of 7 RAR branded merchandise. The executive is in discussions with a number of military equipment suppliers who can pay regulate dispersements based on a percentage of online sales. In addition, modem crowd funding sources such as ‘go-fund-me’ initiatives may provide a suitable means of raising additional funds when required.

Conclusion

27. At the AGM in 2018 a new president was elected from the ‘second generation’ and there is increasing involvement from several younger members with the intention of assuming key appointments on the national Executive in the coming years. This generational change will need to be embraced by both generations in order to ensure that our Association continues to thrive into the coming decades.