Erin Molan: The Ukrainians didn’t outsource their defence, they showed pride. We must do the same.

This week the Australian Defence Force announced that it would be opening its ranks to non-citizens. Don’t mistake this for a smart solution to a recruitment problem. It’s not.

Ask any Ukrainian how a country of its size is still fighting a war many thought would be over in a matter of weeks against the might of Russia.

You’d do well to ask any Russian the same question, though they might be less sure of the answer.

Vladimir Putin would very quickly point to America’s interference - the “proxy war” as he calls it - and make no mistake, US and other allied support has been crucial, but it still doesn’t explain the impossible?

The world’s fifth largest army, up against a much smaller, weaker (in terms of arms capability) country should have been a much simpler task.

Yet here we are, over two years later, watching the tragedy and horror of war still play out. When Putin invaded Ukraine he referred to it as a “special military operation”, an unconvincing linguistic attempt to pull the wool over his own people’s and the world’s eyes. He intended this endeavour to be exactly that - a bully bullying and a victim cowering, then in the blink of an undiscerning eye … game over. “War” won.

Assault infantrymen rejoice at the successful completion of a combat mission in the Sinkiv Forest on March 11, 2024 in Kupiansk, Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

As we all know the Russian President completely underestimated a nation of people willing to fight, not just with guns and tanks, but with their hearts. It might sound overly dramatic but it’s not.

This isn’t a war being fought between two sophisticated armies of professional soldiers, supported by breathtaking technology and sophisticated weaponry.

This is a war between people, ordinary civilians, willing to die for what they believe in, and some equally ordinary civilians not given a choice.

A Ukrainian serviceman prepares for a combat duty in Kyiv region, on March 21, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Picture: AFP

You might think Ukrainians didn’t have a choice either, but you always have a choice. Consider Russia’s need to bring in prisoners and reservists to bolster its dwindling stocks of men, many of whom ran way, defected and killed others on their own side to escape.

A sorry state that doesn’t particularly strike you as a cause its people have “bought into”, does it?

Compare that to Ukraine when, in the early days of battle, President Zelensky said he would arm any civilian who was willing to fight. Almost immediately 25,000 weapons and nearly 10 million bullets were handed out.

No one was forced, but with the kind of moral clarity and belief in one’s right to exist and survive they picked up arms and surged towards the enemy.

An enemy led by a narcissistic, power-hungry dictator who sought, not to better the lives of his people, no, but to fulfil a completely selfish and unhinged legacy, at the expense of his countrymen.

This week the Australian Defence Force announced that it would be opening its ranks to non-citizens. Don’t mistake this for a smart solution to a recruitment problem. It’s not.

This is desperation — pure and simple. Now I’m not entirely opposed to the idea, as long as those we welcome can satisfy us they have a genuine belief in what our country stands for, and a willingness to die for it … (good luck!)

Anyone willing to lay their life down for Australian people, values and sovereignty at the very least deserves the opportunity, BUT unless we change a culture that’s been rotting from within for far too long, all we will end up doing is training those foreign residents, only to see them leave at the first possible opportunity, potentially scarred for life.

It is imperative we fix our Defence Force, improve the training and care we extend to those incredible men and women who are already serving, and do it yesterday!

The ADFÃ’s Private Loxton with Woree State school students at the Emergency Services Open Day on Wednesday. Picture: Emily Barker

This country hasn’t even scratched the surface yet when it comes to how let down our men and women in uniform say they feel.

Many are essentially gagged from speaking because they are still serving, but the anger, rejection and betrayal they have experienced still cuts deep and won’t be hidden forever.

Many have been promised by leadership that their day will come.

That their incredible service will be acknowledged. That their bravery and commitment to fighting fairly and nobly won’t continue to be overshadowed by the offensive accusations aimed at a very few.

Enlisting in our military forces has always been revered in this country.

When I was graduating high school my peers who went to ADFA were almost hero worshipped, as is entirely fitting.

There is no more noble deed in life than the commitment to give one’s own for one’s country. Let’s focus on rebuilding a magnificent, well-trained, well-resourced, and well and courageously led armed forces organisation- brothers and sisters in arms, mates for life, hopefully that our Diggers from World Wars One and Two and other conflicts might recognise, rather than put the quality of our nation’s defence and protection in the too hard basket, and look further afield.

All Australians – those currently serving, those who have served, and our civilian population, including those we have welcomed from all over the world who have chosen to become permanent residents - deserve no less.

Join me for ‘Erin’ on Sky News Australia this afternoon at 5pm when I will go head to head with former Chinese spy, Eric, who uses the chilling phrase ‘winter is coming’ during our chat. It cannot be missed.