Correct as at 16 Sep 14 Operation OKRA Conditions of Service People Policy and Employment Conditions Branch

Correct as at 16 Sep 14

Operation OKRA Operation OKRA Conditions of ServiceConditions of Service

People Policy and Employment Conditions Branch


• PACMAN Version 2 Chapter 17

• DMCHP ADF COS signal DTG 300203Z OCT 14

• DMCHP APS COS signal DTG 300352Z OCT 14

• Defence Determination 2014/53 Dated 23 Oct 14

References


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 OKRA - has been declared non-warlike service for the period 1 Jul – 8 Aug 14 across the whole of the specified area and warlike service in Zone A and non-warlike in Zone B from 9 Aug 14 onwards.


Specified Areas

From 1 Jul to 8 Aug 14 – non-warlike:

– Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE and the Persian Gulf.

From 9 Aug 14 onwards:

– Zone A – warlike – Iraq– Zone B – non-warlike:

• Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, the Persian Gulf, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland and Romania.


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.


Non-warlike Service - Definition

• Military activities short of warlike operations where there is a risk associated with the assigned task(s) and where the application of force is limited to self defence.

• Casualties could occur but are not expected.

• Types (not limited to):

– Hazardous - mine avoidance/clearance, weapons inspections, service protected evacuations - minimum force; and

– Peacekeeping - military personnel without powers of enforcement to help restore peace in an area of former

conflict with the consent of all parties.


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.


Eligibility

• To be eligible for the COS package, members must be:– assigned for duty with Operation OKRA, and– be within the Op OKRA specified area.

• Eligibility for some COS depend on the expected length of deployment and operational requirements.


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



• 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.



• 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.



• 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.


Pre-deployment Leave and Travel

• Deployments of less than six months do not normally attract a Pre-deployment Leave benefit: – 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.


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


Allowances

From 1 Jul to 8 Aug 14 – non-warlike:

– Iraq – Deployment Allowance (DA) - $114.53 pd – Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan the UAE and the

Arabian Gulf – DA - $80.51 pd

From 9 Aug 14 onwards:

– Zone A – warlike – ICA - $150 pd– Zone B – non-warlike – DA $80.51

Note: From 1 Jan 15, Zone A will attract $150 pd DA.


Allowances

DA and ICA are:– payable inside the specified area– Up until 1 Jan 15, payable for leave accrued in the specified

area, after which time DA is no longer paid for unused leave credits on RTA.

– 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, escorting AME, RTA injured, conference/BOI etc


Allowances

• DA and ICA are paid:– Recognition of operational and environmental

hazards– Based on threat assessment– for all leave (Rec, WSL & ARL) accrued inside the

specified area


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.


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.


Leave

• War Service Leave - 18 days pro-rata pa accrued on a daily basis. No qualifying period and only accrued inside specified area.

• Non-warlike service ARL – 10 days pro-rata pa accrued on a daily basis. No qualifying period and only accrued inside the specified area.

• ARL – combination of Field, Maritime or Flying granted IAW PACMAN, if eligible:

• ERL is not granted for deployments


Relief Out of Country Travel Fares Assistance

• 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


ROCTFA

• ROCTFA entitlement is based on duration of deployment:– Less than 6 months = NILNB: HQJOC may approve 1 ROCTFA in exceptional circumstances see

PACMAN 17.9.38.1.a– 6 months but less than 9 months = 1 – 9 months but less than 12 months = 2

• ROCTFA RTA designated destination for OP OKRA:– 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

(MWOD), or– to the Defence recognised dependant normal residential loc within

Australia (MWD(U)).

• there is no offset for the RTA provision.


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.


Taxation

• Members who deploy on warlike operations are not required to pay income tax on salary and allowances associated with their deployment.– Section 23AD ITAA:

• all ADF salary and allowances earned inside Zone A are exempt from taxation

• Taxation exemption continues on RTA for all unused leave accrued while deployed.

ITAA = the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936


Taxation

Service in the UAE, Jordan, Cyprus, Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia and Montenegro:

– Section 23AG ITAA (qualifying period of 91 continuous days):• ADF pers may be eligible for exemption from Australian income tax under

Section 23AG of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.• Note: Taxation advice regarding a member’s personal circumstances is not

provided by Defence. It is the responsibility of the individual 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: s23AG does not apply in every country.

OR

Service where section 23AG does not apply in Zone B:– S79B ITAA - Overseas Defence Forces Rebate:

• applies where s23AG is not applicable (periods of less than 91 days)• $338 per year on a pro rata basis• plus 50% of any other concessional rebate


Other Information

• Meals and Accommodation provided at Commonwealth expense in specified area; or

– If meals are not provided – O/S TA (including incidentals) can be paid

• Telephone calls & mail service:

– NOT a COS, however, members maybe provided the opportunity to telephone Australia:

• The frequency and duration of these calls will be set by HQJOC.


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 - [email protected]

• It is essential to keep records and report all incidents. Ensure all paperwork is completed.


Other Information

• Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme – Warlike service

– 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

– TBA


Defence APS Employees

Allowances

• Operational Support Allowance (if assigned to undertake operational support duties):

– $150 per day – service in Iraq

– 80.51 all other countries/locations

– Refer to DEFGRAM 211/2013 for payment of allowance details



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



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 in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania or the maritime area nor to pers who have Diplomatic Accreditation.



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.


• Personnel from other nations/forces on exchange with the ADF and deployed on Operation OKRA:– have no eligibility to ADF deployment package– are provided conditions of service from their

parent country (other than TA)

Foreign Third Country Deployments


Where can I find more information?

• CoS messages for all operations are published on the DPG web page

• Questions are to be directed through your chain of Command in the first instance


Any Questions?

Documents

Correct as at 16 Sep 14 Operation OKRA Conditions of Service People Policy and Employment Conditions Branch