Army Reserve numbers (letter)

by Tom King

News Weekly, September 18, 2010
Sir,

The recent federal election campaign has confirmed that none of the three prominent contenders, who were seeking to administer Australia's security and future, were interested in or informed about matters of defence, beyond exploiting the media opportunities that are present when a serviceman's death is a consequence of duty.

Ken Aldred's article, "Govt spending puts Army Reserve at risk" (News Weekly, June 26, 2010), reported a number of alarming developments which have impacted adversely not only on our reserve army but also on our permanent army.

Australia needs representatives of the calibre of Ken Aldred and the late Jim Killen, who saw 7,000 army reservists recruited during his 1981 administration, bringing the Army Reserve strength to 29,822.

Tom King,
Bray Park, Qld