Keeping the defence forces’ house in order

AMONG the many bizarre events that happened this year was the suggestion that the army was going soft — on recruits, that is.

In an evaluation of the defence forces published this month, the government-appointed Independent Monitoring Group (IMG) cited a minority of recruits who were challenging legitimate military orders “on the grounds of inappropriate behaviour or health and safety”.

“Considerable concern was expressed that the current emphasis by recruits on ‘their rights’ was leading to ‘softer’ training where… instructors were fearful of using corrective action,” said the group. It expressed concern that “the pendulum may have swung too far” in the recruits’ favour.