Jihadist threats prompt rise in patriotism as Army recruitment skyrockets

JIHADIST propaganda on social media is having the opposite effect – instead of making Australians fearful, it’s prompting them to serve in the Army Reserves.

The threat to national security from jihadist groups such as ISIS has prompted an unprecedented surge in Army Reserve recruitment from Aussies wanting to protect our way of life. Picture: News Corp Australia

EXCLUSIVE

THE threat to national security from jihadist groups such as ISIS has prompted an unprecedented surge in Army Reserve recruitment from Aussies wanting to protect our way of life.

While Islamic State has had some success in recruiting vulnerable Australians to its ranks and peddling its online propaganda, its attempt to instil fear here has had the opposite affect and sparked a boost in patriotism.

They come from all walks of life: from those of Arabic background who want to do something for their new country, to other ordinary members of Middle Australia — teachers, accountants, office workers, students and community volunteers.

Figures obtained by News Corp Australia show a 16 per cent surge in Army Reserve recruitment across the country in the 12 months to October 2016, and we now have a total force of 13,690 reservists.

In a shift from the past, those joining were not just school leavers or uni students but from across the community.

According to internal Australian Defence Force figures, Victoria had one of the biggest rises as a percentage to the 12 months, up 21 per cent, with a similar figure in South Australia.

Army Reservist Private Daniela Vasquez, is one of many young Aussies helping the fight against ISIS. Picture: Jonathan Ng

NSW took on 300 new active Army recruits or a rise of 24 per cent, with Parramatta — one of Australia’s most ethnically diverse cities — recording the single biggest recruitment rise of any region in the country.

Other recruitment hot spots are Wollongong on the NSW coast, West Melbourne, Adelaide’s northern suburbs, Canberra and Logan and Caboolture in Queensland.

NT and the ACT also doubled their Reserve recruitment intake, although the overall figure was small when measured with other states, while Queensland and Western Australia saw a slight dip of about 5 per cent each.

Both air force and Navy Reserves also saw a rise nationally of seven per cent and 14 per cent respectively, although the overall size of their ranks is significantly less than Army.

An image taken from a Leaked ISIS video showing how supposed spies are executed. Picture: Supplied

The Army Reserve is now just 1300 personnel off its 15,000-member strength target.

Defence personnel Minister Dan Tehan said the 16 per cent recruitment rise was “fantastic” and reflected a strong sense of duty in the community, to fight overseas for the values Australians hold dear, as well as domestically as a civil force to react to disasters such as the recent floods along the east coast.

When asked whether Islamic State’s security threats and online propaganda had contributed to the rise, he said there were a variety of reasons why people would “put themselves forward” but without doubt a strong sense of “serving and fighting for our values and freedoms” in uncertain times topped the list.

Australian soldiers Brigadier Kathryn Campbell and Deputy Commander Brigadier Neil Sweeney are based at the Taji Military Complex 20km north of Baghdad while training members of the Iraqi Army to defeat the Daesh terrorist group. Picture: Supplied

“There is no question that some people are inspired by the need to defend our values and freedoms and see that as an extremely worthy cause,” he told News Corp Australia.

“Each individual has various motivations but throughout our history dating back to Gallipoli, Australians have always been willing to serve to defend our freedoms.

“If you join the Army Reserve you are taught the skills of those who are in the employment of the permanent Australian Defence Force and equipped in a similar manner, because obviously there are a variety of roles you can be called upon — to serve and fight for our values and freedoms are one of them.”

He said overall ADF personnel numbers were not quite where he wanted them but like the Reserves, it was a matter of showing what a worthwhile career the military was.

Brigadier Kathryn Campbell, commander of the Reserve 5th Brigade who recently returned from the Middle East where she was second in command of all ADF forces, said recognition of the Reserve’s capability began in 1999 when the part time soldiers were deployed to the East Timor conflict.

Young South Australian Naval Reservist LS Rhys Chadwick. Picture: Supplied

Brig Campbell, one of Australia’s most senior public servants who heads the Department of Human Services, said the rise in ranks was simply because people wanted to go on operations, whether at home or abroad.

“People want to serve, take the skills that they’ve learnt and go and serve for their country and feel it’s an absolute privilege to do it,” she said.

“I think it is (nationalism). We looked at how we could get people to join the Reserves and we said what’s the value proposition? And the value proposition was what we did 100 years ago, want to serve their country, learn new skills and be with their mates and I’m not too unsure that’s what we were saying in World War I.

“We can talk pay and conditions and all those bits and pieces but fundamentally it’s still the same thing — people just really want to serve. We as a nation looked at the tradition of ANZAC 100 years on and seen the interest in younger people coming through, it’s still there.”

A still from a video showing a Kurdish prisoner moments before he is murdered by his Islamic State captors. Picture: YouTube

Originally published as Jihadist threats prompt rise in patriotism as Army recruitment skyrockets