Operation HIGHROAD – Conditions of Service Afghanistan

People Policy and Employment Conditions Branch

Correct as at 1 January 2015

References

•

PACMAN Version 2 Chapter 17

•

DMCHP ADF COS signal DTG 300204Z OCT 14

•

DMCHP APS COS signal DTG 300403Z OCT 14

•

Defence Determination 2014/56 date 23 Oct 14

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Nature of Service Declaration

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The Minister for Defence, in consultation with the Prime Minister, declares the Nature of Service (NOS) for operations. The relevant Conditions of Service (COS) package for a deployment is then authorised by the Assistant Minister for Defence.

•

Op HIGHROAD - Afghanistan has been declared warlike service WEF 1 January 2015.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Warlike Service - Definition

•

The application of force is authorised to pursue specific military objectives and there is an expectation of casualties.

•

Types:

– Declared war; – Conventional combat operations against an armed adversary; and – Peace enforcement IAW Chap VII of UN Charter.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Reviews

•

DIO review threat assessments every twelve months or when circumstances change.

•

NOS is reviewed when there is a change:

– – – in circumstance; in the task or role of deployed force; or at a minimum of every 12 months.

•

These reviews may result in new NOS declaration by the Minister for Defence.

•

COS are reviewed when there is a change in threat assessment or NOS.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

ELIGIBILITY

•

To be eligible for the COS package, members must be:

– – assigned for duty with Operation HIGHROAD, and be within the Op HIGHROAD specified area.

•

Eligibility for some COS depend on the expected length of deployment and operational requirements.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Operation HIGHROAD

Specified area comprises Afghanistan

Correct as at 1 January 2015

Specified area as at 1 January 2015

Housing and Removals

•

Housing and removal benefits depend on;

– – – – – the expected length of your deployment the location of your dependants during your deployment your categorisation posting location on RTA time remaining in losing posting location.

•

For deployments of less than six months;

– – There are no removal benefits.

housing benefits; • Remain the same MWD and MWD(U) • Remain the same in the posting location for MWOD with the member not required to make a contribution Correct as at 19 May 2014

Housing and Removals

•

For deployment of more than 6 months a range of assistance is provided to help members manage their absence.

•

Members living in and Members living out;

– may choose to remain in their accommodation or access removal and storage entitlements.

– should engage early with the decision maker to ensure they are fully aware of the benefits and options available to them upon deployment.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Housing and Removals

•

MWD

– normally there must be a remaining deployment tenure of six months at time removal is affected – – dependants may remain in posting location; or dependants may be moved to a personal location for family support where there is a the member depends on; • • the compelling need,

compelling need

. There are several housing and removal options if approved to relocate your dependants for family support. The level of benefit available to members posting location on return; and • length of time in posting location on return. –

Members should engage early with the decision maker to ensure they are fully aware of the benefits available in their circumstances

. Correct as at 19 May 2014

Housing and Removals

•

For full list of criteria refer to

–

PACMAN Ch 17

–

COS signal

–

Toll Transitions

• Check Insurance

! It remains the members responsibility to ensure continued insurance coverage for home and content during any period of absence .

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Pre-deployment Leave and Travel

•

Deployments of less than six months do not normally attract a Pre-deployment Leave entitlement .

– Some provision exist for special cases; apply via relevant service DGPERS •

Deployments of six months or more - Pre-deployment Leave:

– approval depends on operational requirements; – – up to 7 days (inclusive of weekends and public holidays); Free Travel: – If entitled – free travel within Australia may be granted to home location – – If BRL free travel entitlement exists then this is to be used Alt, family members may be conveyed at public expense to members home location. Costs not to exceed that which would have been expended for the member to travel.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Before Deployment

Members should:

•

Check with Centrelink regarding:

– Family Tax Benefits: •

Note -

portability of Family Tax Benefit Part B beyond 6 weeks while overseas on deployment.

– any other benefits that you may be eligible for depending on your family composition and income •

Check with Child Support Agency regarding child support payments

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Allowances

•

Deployment Allowance (DA)

– $150 pd •

DA is:

– Payable from the date of first arrival inside the specified area – Ceases the day after you leave the specified area for the last time (RTA at the end of your deployment) – – payable during temp absences related to operational service ie. Leave, med escort.

subject to change at any time – up or down

(based on changes to military and environmental conditions) – NOT payable for temp absence not related to operation service – ie. Compassionate leave Correct as at 19 May 2014

Allowances

• •

DA is paid:

– Recognition of operational and environmental hazards and stress likely to be experienced of the whole of the deployment period – – Based on threat assessment Can change (up or down) at anytime, even during your deployment.

DA is not paid:

– For leave accrued on RTA Correct as at 19 May 2014

Allowances

•

Other allowances where applicable:

– – – – Separation Special Forces Disability Flying Maritime •

Field Allowance applications are to be submitted to DGSPT at HQJOC for approval IAW the requirements of PACMAN, providing the stipulated threshold criterion of 'living in the field' has been met.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Allowances

•

District Allowance

– MWD members DO NOT have this allowance ceased if the family remain at posting location.

– MWOD members DO have this allowance ceased: • after 30 days if returning to remote location after deployment, or • on date of deployment if posted out of remote location and not returning after deployment.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Leave

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War Service Leave - 18 days pro-rata pa accrued on a daily basis. No qualifying period and only accrued inside specified area.

•

ARL – combination of Field, Maritime or Flying granted IAW PACMAN, if eligible:

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Relief Out of Country Travel Fares Assistance (ROCTFA): •

The purpose of relief out-of-country travel fare assistance is to help the member have time away from the difficulties of a deployment. ROCTFA is;

– subject to operational constraints and provided the member’s leave plan includes being outside of the specified area for at least seven (7) consecutive days – – to be taken as near as possible to midway point of deployment travel on cheapest available airline offering a reasonable standard of safety and security – travel is intended to assist personnel to have time away from the arduous conditions of the deployment Correct as at 19 May 2014

ROCTFA

•

ROCTFA entitlement is based on length of deployment as follows:

– Less than 6 months = NIL entitlement

NB: HQJOC may approve 1 ROCTFA in exceptional circumstances see PACMAN 17.9.38.1.a

– 6 months but less than 9 months = 1 ROCTFA – 9 months but less than 12 months = 2 ROCTFA •

ROCTFA RTA designated destination for OP HIGHROAD:

– to the previous posting loc,

or

– the location to which the family has been moved at public expense for the period of deployment,

or

– to the nominated family members normal residential loc within Australia,

or

– to the Defence recognised dependant normal residential loc within Australia.

•

there is no offset for the RTA provision.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

ROCTFA

•

ROCTFA - continued

– For members who do not wish to RTA the ROCTFA destination is Rome.

• • Members may offset the cost of return travel to from Dubai to Rome against the cost of travel to an alt destination.

The alt destination must be suitable as a ROCTFA destination as determined by the CO.

• Class of travel – economy class (all ranks) using the best fare of the day that offers a reasonable standard of safety and security NB: TA is not payable while on ROCTFA.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Taxation

•

Members who deploy on warlike service are not required to pay tax on salary and allowances associated with their deployment.

– Section 23AD of the ITAA: • • all ADF salary and allowances earned inside the specified area are exempt from taxation Taxation exemption continues on RTA for all leave accrued while deployed.

ITAA = the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Other Information

•

Meals and Accommodation provided at Commonwealth expense in specified area; or

– If meals are not provided – TA (including incidentals) can be paid •

Telephone calls & mail service:

– NOT a COS, however, members MAY BE provided the opportunity to telephone Australia: • The frequency and duration of these calls will be set by HQJOC.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Other Information

•

Compensation:

– covered under the provisions of

the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

for death, injury or illness. – – covered 24 hr a day Hotline No 1300 550 461 – E-mail [email protected]

•

It is essential to keep records and report all incidents. Ensure all paperwork is completed.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Other Information

•

Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme

– – – qualifying period remains unaffected by warlike service possibility of up to an additional 5 years subsidy only periods Within Specified Area count as warlike service for the purpose of this scheme •

Medals

– – OSM - qualifying period - TBA Infantry Combat Badge & Army Combat Badge – IAW normal policy Correct as at 19 May 2014

Defence APS Employees

Allowances

•

Operational Support Allowance (if assigned to undertake operational support duties):

–

$150 per day – service in Afghanistan

–

Refer to DEFGRAM 211/2013 for payment of allowance details

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Defence APS Employees

Leave and Travel

•

APS employees additional annual leave for duty in operational areas.

– Additional 10 days annual leave for duty in an AO, pro rata pa, and – 1 day additional annual leave for every 10 days of service paid OSA; to a maximum of 10 days pa. •

Relief Out of Country Travel Fares Assistance (ROCTFA).

– APS employees are eligible to ROCTFA in accordance with PACMAN Part 9 Div 6 Correct as at 19 May 2014

Defence APS Employees

Taxation

•

Taxation advice regarding an employee's personal circumstances is not provided by Defence. It is the responsibility of the individual employee to seek advice as necessary regarding the application of Section 23AG (or other provisions) to their personal circumstances and/or the ATO regarding a private ruling.

– Note: Section 23AG does not to pers who have Diplomatic Accreditation. Correct as at 19 May 2014

Defence APS Employees

Other Information

•

Clothing and equipment

– Block scale of issue now available. See Q Store.

•

Compensation

– Covered under the provisions of the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act for death, injury or illness; except while on leave outside the AO.

•

Life Insurance

– Reimbursement of life insurance premiums for policies taken out by Defence APS employees for the duration of their operational support duty in an overseas Area of Operations.

- Limited to policies providing coverage within a war zone and reimbursement capped at $2,244.

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Foreign Third Country Deployments

•

Personnel from other forces on exchange with the ADF and deployed on Operation HIGHROAD:

– have no eligibility to ADF deployment package – are provided conditions of service from their parent country Correct as at 19 May 2014

Where can I find the Conditions of Service for Operation HIGHROAD?

• •

CoS messages for all operations are published on the DPG web page Questions are to be directed through your chain of Command in the first instance

Correct as at 19 May 2014

Any Questions?

Correct as at 1 January 2015