New bonuses offered to ADF personnel amid retention crisis

Falling behind its military workforce target, the ADF has been given the green light to offer its members a $40,000 bonus in exchange for staying in uniform an extra three years.

Soldiers, sailors and aviators are being offered $40,000 in exchange for a further three years of service. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

As the world plunges into an escalating arms race, Australia continues to battle in-house headaches, with the Albanese Government announcing it will splash more than $600 million in a bid to keep military members in uniform.

This month, the government released its 2024 Defence Workforce Plan, which sheds light on how senior leaders intend to tackle the ADF’s ongoing retention crisis.

From July, 2025 until June, 2028, ADF members who have completed their minimum service period will be offered a continuation bonus of $40,000 in exchange for a further three years in uniform.

The same trade will be offered to members who have served three years past their initial service obligation and a minimum of seven years of service.

The enticing bonuses follow last year’s $50,000 offer to members approaching the end of their service period.

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the government is looking to “grow” the military. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Defence Minister Richard Marles said it was “crucial” the ADF invested in its people.

“(This) plan will help ensure Defence can recruit and retain the highly specialised and skilled workforce required to meet its capability needs,” he said.

“The Albanese Government is committed to making the necessary investments to support our current Defence workforce and grow it for the future.”

The retention bonuses, primarily aimed at junior and middle ranks, is aimed at growing Defence’s permanent personnel to more than 101,000 by 2040, with the ADF’s full-time force to increase to almost 80,000.

The Department of Defence’s APS community is now larger than both the navy and air force.

For consecutive years, the ADF has fallen short of its target growth.

With junior and middle rank service members discharging at an alarming rate, star-officer representation has also reached unprecedented levels.

According to the latest Portfolio Budget Statements, within the Australian Army there is a one-star commander to about 285 troops – including senior officers.

By comparison, in the US Army there is about a one-star commander or higher for every 1500 troops.

Further, the Department of Defence, with a workforce of about 18,000, has accumulated a greater manpower than both the navy and air force.