Operation SLIPPER – Afghanistan Conditions of Service

1. Operation SLIPPER – Afghanistan Conditions of Service People Policy and Employment Conditions Branch

2. References • PACMAN Version 2 Chapter 17 • DMCHP ADF COS message dated 190043Z MAY 14 • DMCHP APS COS message dated 190625Z MAY 14

3. Nature of Service Declaration • The Minister for Defence, in consultation with the Prime Minister, declares the Nature of Service (NOS) for operations. The relevant Conditions of Service (COS) package for a deployment is then authorised by the Assistant Minister for Defence. • Op SLIPPER - Afghanistan has been declared warlike service WEF 1 July 2014. • On 16 December 2013 Government agreed to limit warlike service on Operation SLIPPER to Afghanistan only.

4. Warlike Service - Definition • The application of force is authorised to pursue specific military objectives and there is an expectation of casualties. • Types: • Declared war; • Conventional combat operations against an armed adversary; and • Peace enforcement IAW Chap VII of UN Charter.

5. Reviews • DIO review threat assessments every twelve months or when circumstances change. • NOS is reviewed when there is a change: • in circumstance; • in the task or role of deployed force; • or at a minimum of every 12 months. • These reviews may result in new NOS declaration by the Minister for Defence. • COS are reviewed when there is a change in threat assessment or NOS.

6. ELIGIBILITY • To be eligible for the COS package, members must be: • assigned for duty with Operation SLIPPER, and • be within the Op SLIPPER specified area. • Eligibility for some COS depend on the expected length of deployment and operational requirements.

7. Operation Slipper Specified area comprises Afghanistan Specified area as at 1 July 2014

8. Housing and Removals • Housing and removal benefits depend on; • the expected length of your deployment • the location of your dependants during your deployment • your categorisation • posting location on RTA • time remaining in losing posting location. • For deployments of less than six months; • There are no removal benefits. • housing benefits; • Remain the same MWD and MWD(U) • Remain the same in the posting location for MWOD with the member not required to make a contribution

9. Housing and Removals • For deployment of more than 6 months a range of assistance is provided to help members manage their absence. • Members living in and Members living out; • may choose to remain in their accommodation or access removal and storage entitlements. • should engage early with the decision maker to ensure they are fully aware of the benefits and options available to them upon deployment.

10. Housing and Removals • MWD • normally there must be a remaining deployment tenure of six months at time removal is affected • dependants may remain in posting location; or • dependants may be moved to a personal location for family support where there is a compelling need. There are several housing and removal options if approved to relocate your dependants for family support. The level of benefit available to the member depends on; • the compelling need, • members posting location on return; and • length of time in posting location on return. • Members should engage early with the decision maker to ensure they are fully aware of the benefits available in their circumstances.

11. Housing and Removals • For full list of criteria refer to • PACMAN Ch 17 • COS signal • Toll Transitions • Check Insurance! It remains the members responsibility to ensure continued insurance coverage for home and content during any period of absence.

12. Pre-deployment Leave and Travel • Deployments of less than six months do not normally attract a Pre-deployment Leave entitlement. • Some provision exist for special cases; apply via relevant service DGPERS • Deployments of six months or more - Pre-deployment Leave: • approval depends on operational requirements; • up to 7 days (inclusive of weekends and public holidays); • Free Travel: • If entitled – free travel within Australia may be granted to home location • If BRL free travel entitlement exists then this is to be used • Alt, family members may be conveyed at public expense to members home location. Costs not to exceed that which would have been expended for the member to travel.

13. Before Deployment Members should: • Check with Centrelink regarding: • Family Tax Benefits: • Note - portability of Family Tax Benefit Part B beyond 6 weeks while overseas on deployment. • any other benefits that you may be eligible for depending on your family composition and income • Check with Child Support Agency regarding child support payments

14. Allowances • International Campaign Allowance (ICA) • $200 pd • ICA is: • payable inside the specified area • payable for leave accrued in the specified area • subject to change at any time – up or down (based on changes to military and environmental conditions) • NOT payable at any other time; i.e.. UN leave/CTO outside AO, duty outside the specified area (i.e.. Florida), escorting AME, RTA injured, conference/BOI etc

15. Allowances • ICA is paid: • Recognition of operational and environmental hazards • Based on threat assessment • for all leave (Rec, WSL & ARL) accrued inside the specified area

16. Allowances • Other allowances where applicable: • Separation • Special Forces Disability • Flying • Maritime • Field Allowance applications are to be submitted to DGSPT at HQJOC for approval IAW the requirements of PACMAN, providing the stipulated threshold criterion of 'living in the field' has been met.

17. Allowances • District Allowance • MWD members DO NOT have this allowance ceased if the family remain at posting location. • MWOD members DO have this allowance ceased: • after 30 days if returning to remote location after deployment, or • on date of deployment if posted out of remote location and not returning after deployment.

18. Leave • War Service Leave - 18 days pro-rata pa accrued on a daily basis. No qualifying period and only accrued inside specified area. • ARL – combination of Field, Maritime or Flying granted IAW PACMAN, if eligible: • ERL is not granted for warlike deployments

19. Relief Out of Country Travel Fares Assistance (ROCTFA): • The purpose of relief out-of-country travel fare assistance is to help the member have time away from the difficulties of a deployment. ROCTFA is; • subject to operational constraints and provided the member’s leave plan includes being outside of the specified area for at least seven (7) consecutive days • to be taken as near as possible to midway point of deployment • travel on cheapest available airline offering a reasonable standard of safety and security • travel is intended to assist personnel to have time away from the arduous conditions of the deployment

20. ROCTFA • ROCTFA entitlement is based on length of deployment as follows: • Less than 6 months = NIL entitlement NB: HQJOC may approve 1 ROCTFA in exceptional circumstances see PACMAN 17.9.38.1.a • 6 months but less than 9 months = 1 ROCTFA • 9 months but less than 12 months = 2 ROCTFA • ROCTFA RTA designated destination for OP SLIPPER: • to the previous posting loc, or • the location to which the family has been moved at public expense for the period of deployment, or • to the nominated family members normal residential loc within Australia, or • to the Defence recognised dependant normal residential loc within Australia. • there is no offset for the RTA provision.

21. ROCTFA • ROCTFA - continued • For members who do not wish to RTA the ROCTFA destination is Rome. • Members may offset the cost of return travel to from Dubai to Rome against the cost of travel to an alt destination. • The alt destination must be suitable as a ROCTFA destination as determined by the CO. • Class of travel – economy class (all ranks) using the best fare of the day that offers a reasonable standard of safety and security NB: TA is not payable while on ROCTFA.

22. Taxation • Members who deploy on warlike service are not required to pay tax on salary and allowances associated with their deployment. • Section 23AD ITAA: • all ADF salary and allowances earned inside the specified area are exempt fromtaxation • Taxation exemption continues on RTA for all leave accrued while deployed. ITAA = the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

23. Other Information • Meals and Accommodation provided at Commonwealth expense in specified area; or • If meals are not provided – TA (including incidentals) can be paid • Telephone calls & mail service: • NOT a COS, however, members MAY BE provided the opportunity to telephone Australia: • The frequency and duration of these calls will be set by HQJOC.

24. Other Information • Compensation: • covered under the provisions of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 for death, injury or illness. • covered 24 hr a day • Hotline No 1300 550 461 • E-mail - mrcs@dva.gov.au • It is essential to keep records and report all incidents. Ensure all paperwork is completed.

25. Other Information • Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme • qualifying period remains unaffected by warlike service • possibility of up to an additional 5 years subsidy • only periods Within Specified Area count as warlike service for the purpose of this scheme • Medals • AASM -1 day or 1 sortie qualifying period • Campaign Medal – 30 days qualifying period • Infantry Combat Badge & Army Combat Badge – IAW normal policy

26. Defence APS Employees Allowances • Operational Support Allowance (if assigned to undertake operational support duties): • $200 per day – service in Afghanistan • Refer to DEFGRAM 211/2013 for payment of allowance details

27. Defence APS Employees Leave and Travel • APS employees additional annual leave for duty in operational areas. • Additional 10 days annual leave for duty in an AO, pro rata pa, and • 1 day additional annual leave for every 10 days of service paid OSA; to a maximum of 10 days pa. • Relief Out of Country Travel Fares Assistance (ROCTFA). • APS employees are eligible to ROCTFA in accordance with PACMAN Part 9 Div 6

28. Defence APS Employees Taxation • Taxation advice regarding an employee's personal circumstances is not provided by Defence. It is the responsibility of the individual employee to seek advice as necessary regarding the application of Section 23AG (or other provisions) to their personal circumstances and/or the ATO regarding a private ruling. • Note: Section 23AG does not apply to all countries [ie. Qatar, Bahrain, etc] nor to pers who have Diplomatic Accreditation.

29. Defence APS Employees Other Information • Clothing and equipment • Block scale of issue now available. See Q Store. • Compensation • Covered under the provisions of the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act for death, injury or illness; except while on leave outside the AO. • Life Insurance • Reimbursement of life insurance premiums for policies taken out by Defence APS employees for the duration of their operational support duty in an overseas Area of Operations. - Limited to policies providing coverage within a war zone and reimbursement capped at $2,244.

30. Foreign Third Country Deployments • Personnel from other forces on exchange with the ADF and deployed on Operation SLIPPER: • have no eligibility to ADF deployment package • are provided conditions of service from their parent country

31. Where can I find the Conditions of Service for Operation SLIPPER? • CoS messages for all operations are published on the PeopleConnect web page • Questions are to be directed through your chain of Command in the first instance

32. Any Questions?