ELLEN RANSLEY: Veteran anger in Senate testimonies palpable as sick defence system exposed

The Senate has been handed a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to fix a broken system.

And after hearing such compelling evidence, that over decades senior officers have abused a “two-tier system” to the detriment of force morale, it’s hard to imagine how the status quo could be allowed to continue.

The retention and recruitment crisis in the military is well known. The Senate have today been told the “gongs for mates” rort at the top has trickled down, and it has dire consequences for Australia.

This is more than just questioning whether Angus Campbell deserved a Distinguished Service Cross for being “in action”, despite never being close to gunfire in Afghanistan.

This is about multiple claims that for years, senior military personnel have patted each other on the back for just doing their jobs; for being more concerned about their own self-interest than recognising the sacrifice of the brave men and women who left their families behind to put themselves in harms’ way.

In the most complex and challenging regional strategic environment since the Second World War, we need a strong defence force now more than ever. But why would anyone feel inspired to don the uniform if they feel they are constantly overlooked and passed over.

The testimonies senators heard today were emotional, the anger was palpable. These courageous people have been left to wonder if their sacrifice was even worth it.

Sergeant Andrew White read his story into the record. In 2010, his five-man patrol was ambushed and came under intense fire from multiple Taliban insurgents at close range.

Trooper Jason Brown was fatally wounded. The enemy was neutralised and Mr White fought his way to his mate while the rest of the patrol held fire.

“I do not claim to have acted gallantly, distinguished or conspicuously that day. Like everyone in my team, I was fighting for my life and Jason’s,” he reflected.

Nevertheless, his commander nominated him for the Medal for Gallantry.

As he said, there were other examples of MG’s being awarded for “providing medical assistance in hazardous circumstances”.

But as it went up through the chain of command, his nomination was subsequently altered, downgraded, and even moved into a different stream without consultation.

Having been nominated for a Medal of Gallantry, he was ultimately awarded a commendation of distinguished service — it had been downgraded in more than a dozen places below the original nomination.

It beggars belief that this could happen, and it attracted concern among Senators.

Meanwhile, he told the Senate, General Campbell — then commander of Joint Task Force 633 based in Dubai — had received a Distinguished Cross for his distinguished leadership “in action”.

After years of being let down by senior officers, diggers, veterans, and their families are hopeful things will finally change.

He was nominated with months still left of his posting, and despite never having come under gunfire.

The juxtaposition was not about lamenting his nomination, or that he deserved a gallantry model more than thousands of others who have gone unrecognised, Mr White said.

Instead, he hoped to highlight to the senators that despite previous reviews, the system remains broken and prone to abuse.

The department of defence say they’re “working hard to constantly improve the system”.

But for as long as there are loopholes, veterans say, officers removed from the fight will continue to nominate, recommend, approve and wear medals — despite many of them failing to meet the qualifying criteria.

As Mr White said, “this practice undermines the integrity of the system”.

And how striking it is for Dan Fortune, who has two Distinguished Service Crosses, to tell the Senate the decades of systemic abuse had “diminished” the status of his own medals.

“Their value has been diminished. The system has been corrupted by self-serving individuals,” he said.

As Andrew MacNaughton from the Australian Special Forces Alliance put: “the gaming of the system by a select few” all comes back to the overarching issues of retention, recruitment, and capability.

That corruption has a significant flow-on effect. The men and women who fight for Australia don’t necessarily do it for the awards, but honour and respect are the least they deserve. And how demoralising is it they must jump through hoops to fight a system rigged against them to be recognised for their bravery.

After years of being let down by senior officers, diggers, veterans, and their families are hopeful things will finally change.

Australia’s security may just depend on it.