maybe don't stab your own citizens in the back if you want military recruits

Agree with Heston 100% The Rot set in at the Top.

"The state that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting by fools." -Thucydides.

Why would anyone want to join the services !! Our politicians and services leaders may not have you back when things get difficult !!

Why would you join a defence force for a country that has 3 flags, promotes personal for their gender, race and sexual orientation and not merit,

The ADF has lost its prime focus on what a Defence force is supposed to do. Now the important things are the LBGTQI+ alphabet inclusion, Officers in woman's dress uniform including nail polish, At Russell there is a whole department focused on Diversity and inclusion. The introduction of I feel offended card at Kapooka, soft training makes soft soldiers. National Service will not bring the numbers back to the ADF,. The ADF should not be used for walk alongs with the Police during Covid lockdowns, The ADF should not be used for a emergency services roles, unfortunately the emergency services are under funded and need the ADF resources. The Defence procurement is a joke, it takes years to procure hardware that is useless and out of date. Fix the culture at the top, make the Defence minister a Ex Defence member as they know what is required.

Yes , get rid of this Angus Campbell, he is a disgrace

After the last 3 years no way I'm dying for this country you can stick it

So from a person in the UK, govt and authorities etc reject Australia Day, when Australians celebrate the country, yet you want young people to join the forces to fight for a country that can’t celebrate or even walk down the street carrying an Australian flag. Australia has joined the rest of the Western world in decline of standards, morals, common sense

I work in defence transitions and assist on providing supports for leaving members. The bottom line is, members no longer feel valued. Furthermore, the defence bureaucracy in Canberra is flawed

Well said Heston, thank you for your service.

Why would anyone join.They throw you under the bus whenever it suits them.The way they treated certain SASR was completely disgusting.

Australia does not have a big enough military to fill up a decent size footy stadium.

As a former ADF memeber can I just say Dr Muraviev that I would never vote for, pr encourage my nephews to consider, your prescription for National service for a country that has made it clear that we should always be ashamed of our sex, the fact we live here and that we're straight and have limited melanin in our skin. On top of that, I've personally witnessed how badly defence administration treats it's personnel, where leadership just wants to look good at senate estimates for Woke politicians! If you want your vision to succeed then your prescriptions has to go big and fast starting with getting rid of that weakling Angus Campbell but also completely overhauling the 'shame based education and media system. If you can marshall that, I'll support you, but at the moment you're p*ssing in the wind!

I proudly served for 13 years, as did my 5 brothers, nephews, neices and now my children. I'm now encouraging my kids to get out, the world is at a flash point. When i see hundreds of thousands of people marching in support of Hamas, and out politicians focused soley on a yes campaign and a yearly immigration of 700,000....we have already lost our way of life and our country. I served with aboriginal people, they are mates and served the same flag and were as patriotic as me.

LOL Why would anybody join the military to go fight for the international banksters?

As someone who did cadets from age 15 to 18 and wanted to join the ADF afterwards, I can tell you that the best decision I made was to move overseas and join the defence force of another country that actually respects people who can defend themselves and others. Meanwhile in Australia, people are getting locked up for having toy guns 🤣🤣

And that folks, is a man with a good brain and a clear mind. Thanks Heston.

None wants to go to war for idiotic politicians

I am an ex inf soldier and veteran, Dad was a Nasho, Pop WW2, Great Pop Boer war - was always proud of family tradition however I will be encouraging my 3 young boys and 2 girls not to serve. The way I have seen friends that stayed in once I left treated is disgraceful to say the least - the lack of support and potential/likely mental heath issues are not worth it.

Heston is spot on.

I served in the ADF and my son has followed in my footstep’s against my wishes, I sat him down prior to enlistment and explained the bureaucracy and the duplicitous nature of some of these high ranking officers who care nothing about the Diggers who would sacrifice everything for their country .

Remember a few years ago when the entire media and government was bashing the ADF and the SAS

Get rid of the top generals who are more concerned about gender identity then about keeping the ADF combat ready. Then put those who are more focused on the ADF being ready for operations not about pandering to a few delusional individuals who can’t handle being a man

They can't even house the ones that are in, let alone recruit more.. it is a joke

Thank you Heston! You're one of our heroes 🇦🇺❤much respect

I wouldn't trust our modern leaders to win a game off snap

When you have made anti Australian people citizens, the quality of your soldiers be it volunteers (with operatives infiltrating) or conscription (un devoted pretentious citizens in only for benefits) is tainted to say the least.

Absolutely, Camble and Moriarty need to go. And some great ideas for positive changes Thank you for your service Heston.

I'm a veteran that's been out 12 years now. Even back then, the leadership was the main cause of retention problems.

Relax! The femanists will all enlist and save the day.

When Albo, Andrews and Wenny Pong go on the frontline, I’ll consider putting my life at risk.

They didn’t even mention or forgot to talk about that the ADF is the most difficult to actually join and have extremely high standards unlike other countries. Why don’t they even talk about the fact that most younger Australians don’t see themselves as being Australian but instead their ethnic backgrounds. In this day age if you even are proud to be Australian you are automatically called some racist. How about addressing these issues first.

Yes, im sure all these 'new Aussies' will gladly offer themselves to serve due to 'national pride'.

Left. Woke. Women. Can't say.

Heston’s subtle hint that currently, our defence force is an extension of foreign powers… he’s right when he says we need to “realign our defence force in our own national interests” - well said.

Serving Army Infantrymen told me a few weeks ago that they are all quitting as soon as they can. Reason - why should they put their body on the line when their wage gives them no hope of buying a house.

A male Deference force, with a Female auxiliary, The Military is not designed for social experiments, Same equipment, same training, same culture.

well well well.... I'm constantly told this is not my land because of my race. If this is the binga bounga land always is always will be, then they can fight for it, I wont. If and only if, native title is abolished, all race based programs are abolished and put in the constitution, then I would fight for MY land.

Officers should not be direct entry. They should be selected from Arms Corps on merit.

As a conscription aged male, this gets me more than angry. A bunch of politicians with no skin in the game discussing my own or my sons future. If you wanted me to die for this country, you shouldn't have sold my childrens future to the third world. If you walk down my driveway after my children to fight your battles, you'll have to take my life first.

It would take a deficincy for the leadership to admit a problem.. spot on Heston well said. Make our military great again.

And here we are, giving our equipment away to a lost cause

When is everyone going to make the connection?!!! Ever since we have allowed, and given air time to self righteous Karen’s and Kevin’s to tell everyone that everything we have done in the past is wrong, and that they know better, THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN WORSE!!!! Just look at gen z, the product of this new way of doing things! Enough said!

That was very good. Heston speaks so well. I did 20 years in the Army because in my day there was a DFRDB pension at the end of it. It was a career. They got rid of it in 1991 and there was no incentive to do your 20 years anymore. Military careers advisors came to my high school and told us all about the ADF and all the jobs we could do. Not sure they do that anymore. The CDF and the three Chiefs of the services need to go. Get rid of the woke culture from the ADF. There is no room for it. This needs to start NOW!!!

Well done Heston, you'll find many agree with your sentiments in regard to the shockingly poor standard of ADF leadership. This has been a long term problem +20 years. Strategic dunces and political mannequins, not all, but far too many. No dialogue with the broader Australian community and highly reactive "strategic" planning. This is not all the ADFs fault, the Libs and ALP have been clueless in regard to broader evolving strategy.

Mate they’ve worked out they are dying for a Pty Ltd company.

Very clear and concise Heston. I worked under Campbell too. He's a cockwomble in my humble opinion.

I was going to leave a comment but what’s the point our politicians and our so called ADF “leaders” refuse to listen to anyone outside their own little echo chamber. What I will say is why would any young man want to put their lives on the line for a society that despises them.

If you want more recruits make the job and the aftercare attractive, you know like executive level health care, good pay, bonuses, opportunity of advancement.

The strange thing is, in the UK, up until the early 90's, the best soldiers came from broken homes. The sense of belonging, brotherhood and pride in achievement was immense, for those who completed training. Then again, we had the likes of Major General Jeremy Moore, KCB, OBE, MC & Bar, Admiral Sir John Forster "Sandy" Woodward, GBE, KCB, "Peter The Para", General Sir Peter Edgar de la Cour de la Billière, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC & Bar, DL. All real leaders of men. Then the shit officers started to dribble in and it all got fucked up. Give a man, or woman, a good reason to serve in the military, the reason to follow a good leader and belief in what they are doing, you'll have people serving the Country you can depend on. It all starts with good leadership, from top to bottom.

I would encourage others to join and go back myself but only if I was certain it was for the defence of THIS country, not for some globalist agenda or banker’s war. Our political leaders aren’t interested in national pride and our bases seemed like cash cows for international defence corporations.

DFR has a lot to answer for too, as the gatekeeper, especially the focus on putting females through in preference to some perfectly good - and better - male candidates.

Who the fuq wants to fight to protect the government 😂

It might be great to increase our military numbers. But, what equipment do we have?. I know quite a few things were sent to Ukraine, eg. all 3 bushmasters were blown up on arrival. I think the head of the military needs to step down. Time for a return to a strong patriot force with no woke agenda

Why would anyone in their right mind sign up to defend this country?!

22 years I packed it in ! So left it’s unbelievable….

why should I enlist if my own country does not support me...

Seriously, we're letting a bloke who sound like he was just taught english 5mins ago tell us how we Australian should live, how sad that our leaders are so free to do what ever they want and we can't do shit.

Take your wars and shove them!

Watching from Canada same problem. New ships being delivered in a few years and won't have enough people to crew them. Even after offering accelerated pay and bonus sign up. Very understaffed all over.

I agree with national service for all, teaches discipline and self respect

Governments 2nd biggest mistake was putting Angus Campbell in the top job, their biggest mistake was extending his term. Bring back Mark Binskin, the dude knew how to connect to troops, comes into the hangar in the middle east and plonks himself on a chair "How the F*** r u boys?!" Spirits lifted 100000000%. I'll never forget it!

Heston is an amazing spokesman for great ideas.

We trialled a great idea back in 1991 called the Ready Reserve. It involves 12 months of training and full-time service, followed by reserve service for six years at 50 reserve training days per year.

Heston Russel just spoke the most facts I have ever heard in my entire life, it shows some soldiers make better leadership than politicians because they actually know what they are talking about. This guy is a legend, respect to him.

Heston, you are a legend who totally understand, keep fighting.

A few thoughts, By the way Heston, love your work! 1. We need a government that loves Australia and doesn't try to divide us by race. We are all Australians. 2. I assume we are advertising recruitment in a "Gender" inclusive" environment. If you are a retailer you wouldn't advertise to the minority rather than the majority. 3. Agree with Heston about sacking the "rotten heads" in charge of the ADF and in Government service. It would greatly increase our current retention levels! 4. Encourage high schools to help re-start the Army cadet scheme and make kids who join feel proud about it instead of this "woke" stuff we need to wade through. 5. Stop Government spending on woke, treaty, gender and so many other things and we would have a shipload of money to reboot our defence force. 6. If we don't do all of the above we will not have an Australia to defend. I am a grumpy ex-grunt that is now in his sixties and occasionally I shout at clouds. Much love.

Campbell is weak,zero charachter.

I read it as ‘ADF should consider contraception’ …

This is the change that needs to be seen across all boards in politics here in Australia

I come from a military family, all males in my family for generations have been in the armed forces including the SAS. I think I can speak somewhat of what is happening to a degree with recruitment and national pride. I think one the main reasons is that the country unfortunately is not worth fighting for any more compared to what it once was, and I say that because within the current political climate, it is increasingly run by activists, far-left politicians and their woke ideologies which form a large portion of politics today, and they point to a country to be ashamed of, a country they want to divide. Why would someone want to fight and potentially die keeping these activist, and agenda driven politicians who don't even know what a man or woman is anymore in power. Who wants to risk their life for people like that, certainly not me, and certainly not for a lot of people. My father was a national serviceman during the vietnam war, my brother was in the SAS, and they unanimously said if the political ideology of today was the same back when they were joining the army, there is not a chance they would have joined. Back during WW2, it was a time where society by and large was more wholesome, God fearing, and it was a society worth fighting to protect, we do not live in a society like that anymore, and this recruitment problem will never change in the west.

Australia is facing recruiting problems that are exactly like those faced by the US military and for the same reason. In both countries, very big shifts in socio-cultural attitudes have resulted in military flag rank officers openly espousing the need to change long-standing policies that did not allow homosexuals, transvestites, and other people with gender dysphoria or other mental disorders from serving. Exacerbating the problem is the open warfare in PR terms on heterosexual males (particularly white males) who have been the backbone of both militaries for literal centuries. The combination of these two trends means that millions of young men of military age who might have considered serving will not choose to do so unless and until there is a national crisis, and maybe not even then. And for those who haven’t figured it out, this was always the Left’s, i.e., the cultural Marxists’, plan.

Heston Russell, well said , I thank you (ex serviceman 27 years)

270 ORs per star rank, compared to US and UK 1500. The ADF is to many top heavy idiots making idiot decisions ruining the force, slash the numbers of high ranks!

Heston is the Man!

Army Airforce Navy Police Ambulance Flying doctors Fire department RSPCA Rangers Charity work (on street not shops) -2 Years of nonlife threatening training and activities for any 18 yo, teens can refuse but may be refused unemployment benefits or other government services until completed. -With a weekly team activity test to help tech team skills with people, passing will allow a weekend pass, failure equals a part working weekend. -On site food and bord with a small tax free weekly pay, and a pay out $20k for full 2 years service, to help start studies, trade, home deposit, or what ever the person wants. -This service without the end pay out could also be a requirement for new citizens to gain access to unemployment benefits or other government services, if they are under retirerment age.

I served as a sapper and was a 3rd gen soldier dating back to WW1. I left the service in disgust at the deliberate dismantling of Australian Army traditions with streamlined multi service logistics and the gradual introduction of civilians within the service, effectively destroying the fragile morale as it was headed anyway. The upper command rot began in earnest in the 80s imo but blossomed by the mid to late 90s and then became politically motivated rather than defence motivated. What were we defending from Vietnam, Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq being on someone else's sovereign soil with live rounds in the mag? Fighting wars you can't win as no decision was ever made to win them. Fuck the 'white papers' and the idiots who write them.

Erin you are Brainy Barbie. Respect.

Who exactly is Dr Alexey Muraviev? Apart from the continual over repeated crap you get on an internet search engine that distinctly hides his country of origin even though he has an obvious very distinct strong accent. (Dr Alexey D. Muraviev is Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia. He is the founder and Director of the Strategic Flashlight forum on national security and strategy at Curtin. He was also a non-residential fellow at Sea Power Centre Australia, Royal Australian Navy, and inaugural scholar-in residence, Australian Strategic Policy Institute). This is the continual repeated internet diarrhea I’m referring to, that actually tells you very little about this person Who Actually is He Exactly? And how did he manage to acquire his position?

We need people like Heston to lead our military.

Bring back nasho for long term unemployed.

yeah well Woke culture is to blame

Not fighting for a country which doesn't fight for you.

Heston speaks on the matter with more integrity ( he’s been there in the dirt and fire ) than any Australian military leader or expert I’ve ever listened to. Probably why he wasn’t promoted.

Join the army to defend Australia... End up overseas in an offensive. And they want people to sign up?

Heston is on point! Love his ideas but also agree that this needs to be mandatory as it will also fix our current poor behaviour of youth and lack of drive and direction once they finish school. I’m a teacher myself and I see to many kids falling through the cracks when they could be doing a positive manditory service for 12 months minimum ❤ We need respect and pride back into Australia 🇦🇺

I put in my application in August last year and I’ve been contacted 3 times since I called up many times but get the whole “ we have a massive back log of candidates from the previous recruit company, been waiting on psych test part. I’m just going to withdraw at this point. In the mean time I changed career and I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s embarrassing it’s taken this long and I’m still no where near enlistment

Nobody wants to work with people that don't want to be there, especially when your banking on them having your back.

"War is a racket." - Major General Smedley Butler

Heston Russell is a credible and passionate advocate for leadership change in the military. The current leadership appears to have no desire to front the PM and Cabinet and demand approval for strategic changes which recognise and address the geopolitical threats our country currently faces. Perhaps the leadership is not up to it - in which case, it requires someone else who has the balls to do the job (which, incidentally and incredibly, pays a salary approximating $900,000). Equally, the Defence Department appears to be a law unto itself and, much like other government departments, seems to drive its own agenda - rather than being directed by the politicians it is supposed to serve. It desperately needs a clean-out. Their annual budget of $40 billion is certainly not producing what is needed to even adequately defend our country. I’m probably going to get into trouble for expressing my views, but this needs to be recognised and said.

The recruitment videos of the 80's and early 90's were awesome and awe inspiring for nationalistic pride and patriotism - I remember them well because they inspired me to join. They are still there to watch on KZfaq actually

National service is just conscription by another name.

It's really not hard . All of the ground work has been done in our resent history, & in the beginning of federation. School / cadets Citizens military force. National service Professional fulltime defense force. A volunteer civilian service could easily boost numbers & be integrated with SES & rural fire . Taking away the need for defense to come to the aid of fires & storms ect. After all the natural disasters are a yearly occurrence. The experience gained in my eyes is priceless. The weather events are coming no matter what! Learn how to duck & weave & roll with the punches from Mother Nature . Weather is the biggest weapon in our arsenal when it comes to defending Australia..

Very well said Heston . . . . Change is needed, starting with our current government.

This recruitment is a worldwide problem, nothing unique what's happening here in Australia 🇦🇺

Does a rainbow flag help with ADF?

A conservative warmonger .Nothing about the high suicide rates among war veterans .

When the CDF is hellbent on taking medals off thousands of people who were actually in a warzone, when he can't even explain what he got his DSC for, Heston is right - Campbell has to go!

The politicians and defence leaders don’t look after the military during or after serving and throw them under the bus on a whim.