More women are encouraged to join the Australian Defence force; this is a fact, and shown when the national recruitment campaign was launched from Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia, on Tuesday 24 March.
The launch comes as reinforcement, after a period of high profile scandals which exposed the maltreatment of women in Defence ranks.
In reaction, senior ranking officials maintain that the organisations culture is shifting.
The Defence Force comprises of the Army, Navy and Airforce, all of which are engaged in the recruitment campaign, to increase the female numbers.
Current statistics reflect only 12% of Army personnel are made up of women.
The new 2015 recruitment campaign embarks on strengthening the female numbers to 15% for the Army by 2018; and 25% in the Navy and Airforce by 2023.
In the past, as a response to high profile scandals in the Defence Force, the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, released a 3 minute YouTube video to Australia, and the world, regarding allegations of unacceptable behaviour by Army members in Australia.
This 2013 YouTube video message shows the Chief of the Army, clear on this issue: “I have stated categorically many times, that the Army has to be an inclusive organisation in which every soldier, man and woman, is able to reach their full potential and is encouraged to do so..”.
When speaking of Operations where the Australian Army is engaged in, the Chief of Army added that “…on all operations, female soldiers and officers have proven themselves worthy of the best traditions of the Australian Army, they are vital to us in maintaining our capability now and into the future. If that does not suit you, then get out..”
The 2015 recruitment campaign for more females, is set to cost up to AUD $2 million. The television media campaign, encouraging females to join the Defence Force, has already commenced around Australia, and can be viewed on the Australian Defence Jobs YouTube Page.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tqcRoqvp9xw%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
