Army chief Angus Campbell has a blunt warning for his troops - if you're a monster at home you can't be trusted on the battlefield.
The lieutenant-general has been inspired to respond to domestic violence by Rosie Batty whose 11-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father.
"When one of my people engages in the illegal use of violence at home... my confidence in them to execute their duties lawfully and discriminately in circumstances of immense stress on the battlefield is deeply undermined," General Campbell said during an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I see cowardice, not courage."
General Campbell insisted those who snubbed rehabilitation would be ejected from the Army.
"They cannot serve in the Army if they cannot find a path way to the disciplined use of violence only in lawful circumstances," he said.
Today's Australian soldier was the most lethal the nation had ever fielded, the army chief said.
"You won't be a soldier in whose hands I place such lethality if you do not live by Army's values - courage, initiative, respect, and teamwork, always."
Success in battle required great self-discipline and a willingness to sacrifice for others. The journey of self-discipline started at home, not in the heat of battle.
Army personnel who have domestic violence intervention orders issued against them are now required to notify their commanding officer in writing within 24 hours.
As an initial step, the commanding officer is then expected to immediately restrict their access to weapons.
Earlier this year, the Army released a video called 'Silence is the Accomplice' sharing the stories of domestic violence survivors.
It was compulsory viewing across the organisation and Army headquarters received an anonymous phone call after the video's release from a perpetrator asking for help.
"It had changed how he felt and he now wanted to seek help to stop," General Campbell said.
The caller admitted he regularly assaulted his wife and children and had done so for many years.
The officer who took the call was able to point to a list of agencies and resources that could help him address his behaviour.
Across the Army there has been an increase in reported cases of family violence. In 2014 there were 41 cases; 56 in 2015 and; last year 125.
So far in 2017 there had been 62 cases.
General Campbell declined to specify how many people had been kicked out of the Army as a result of domestic violence.
This article was written by xxx and was copied from here.
The lieutenant-general has been inspired to respond to domestic violence by Rosie Batty whose 11-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father.
"When one of my people engages in the illegal use of violence at home... my confidence in them to execute their duties lawfully and discriminately in circumstances of immense stress on the battlefield is deeply undermined," General Campbell said during an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I see cowardice, not courage."
General Campbell insisted those who snubbed rehabilitation would be ejected from the Army.
"They cannot serve in the Army if they cannot find a path way to the disciplined use of violence only in lawful circumstances," he said.
Today's Australian soldier was the most lethal the nation had ever fielded, the army chief said.
"You won't be a soldier in whose hands I place such lethality if you do not live by Army's values - courage, initiative, respect, and teamwork, always."
Success in battle required great self-discipline and a willingness to sacrifice for others. The journey of self-discipline started at home, not in the heat of battle.
Army personnel who have domestic violence intervention orders issued against them are now required to notify their commanding officer in writing within 24 hours.
As an initial step, the commanding officer is then expected to immediately restrict their access to weapons.
Earlier this year, the Army released a video called 'Silence is the Accomplice' sharing the stories of domestic violence survivors.
It was compulsory viewing across the organisation and Army headquarters received an anonymous phone call after the video's release from a perpetrator asking for help.
"It had changed how he felt and he now wanted to seek help to stop," General Campbell said.
The caller admitted he regularly assaulted his wife and children and had done so for many years.
The officer who took the call was able to point to a list of agencies and resources that could help him address his behaviour.
Across the Army there has been an increase in reported cases of family violence. In 2014 there were 41 cases; 56 in 2015 and; last year 125.
So far in 2017 there had been 62 cases.
General Campbell declined to specify how many people had been kicked out of the Army as a result of domestic violence.
This article was written by xxx and was copied from here.
