ADF chief tells cadets to avoid being ‘prey’

General Angus Campbell advised cadets not to make themselves ‘prey’ to predators, by being out late, alone, drunk and attractive.

Chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) General Angus Campbell. Picture: Getty

The Chief of the Defence Force told first year cadets not to make themselves “prey” to sexual predators, by being out late, alone, drunk and attractive.

General Angus Campbell told the young members of the Australian Defence Force Academy to protect themselves during an address to a new cohort.

He said the group must be aware of the “Four A’s” – alcohol, alone, attractive, and being out after midnight, The Canberra Times reported.

While many groups have condemned General Campbell’s controversial comments, General Campbell has stood by the remarks. A statement released by the ADF said his comments helped the cadets “recognise and mitigate the threat posed by abusive or predatory individuals”.

“In his recent address to the new cohort of ADFA trainee officers, the CDF noted matters in the media regarding allegations of sexual harassment and assault,” the statement read.

“In his view, being aware of the four As – young, attractive people, noting the entire class fell into this risk factor; alcohol; after midnight; and alone – enabled the group to recognise and mitigate the threat posed by abusive or predatory individuals.

One female cadet said she felt “uncomfortable” by General Campbell’s comments, and was worried for the culture at the ADFA.

The culture of the ADF has been under scrutiny, after the number of charges for sexual assault laid against military personnel almost doubled in 2019.

At the time, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds issued a warning that “unacceptable behaviour” would be treated with the “utmost seriousness.”

In July 2020, the ADF’s sexual misconduct prevention and response office recorded an increase in personnel seeking support for how to deal with disclosures around sexual assault.

Last year 235 people directly affected by sexual misconduct sought advice.

Ms Reynolds is currently dealing with accusations of rape within her office, after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged three other ministers in the office knew about her assault and did nothing about it.