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Army drivers who operate medium and heavy trucks, ancillary equipment operators and military transport planners are set to receive a fresh pay rise.
The pay increase for specialist drivers will come in early April, with the Australian Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal approving the changes late last year.
“The pay increase makes sense,” said Corporal Jessica Hoult of the Northern Territory’s Regional Driver Training Wing.
The pay increase reflects the changes in the types of new equipment the army has implemented into their fleet across the LAND 121 project: over 3,500 Rheinmetall MAN medium and heavy trucks, 2,200 trailers, 1,000 modules and 2,000 flat racks.
“Going from the Mack and Unimogs [to the Rheinmetall MAN military vehicles], they are heavier and there’s much more involved, such as permitting requirements.”
Driver specialist grade 3 privates will undergo a title change to “driver heavy vehicle” and increase to pay grade 3. Similarly, operator heavy vehicle will be renamed to “driver heavy vehicle advanced”, bumping up to pay grade 4.
Sergeants who plan the live-fire and mounted practice for units with medium-heavy vehicles will be upgraded to a new skill grade, transport operations supervisor grade 2.
“Driver specialists are expert advisers for land vehicle operations, and they perform a specialised role,” said Royal Australian Corps of Transport Head of Corps, Brigadier Colin Bassett.
“The review has been undertaken over an extended time frame.
“This remuneration package acknowledges that specialisation and the capability that they provide to the integrated force.”
