ADF proposal for service personnel to wear BODYCAM…what a load of CRAP!

Who was the ADF boffin of bullshit that came up with this ‘out of focus (fu#k us)’ idea?

No doubt they themselves have never been subjected to ‘a two way shooting gallery of death!’

ADF person nee boffin…please explain how is this device to be worn?

Is it to be attached, as per AFP/ State Police Force, on front of body armour?

That may seem reasonable for said police personnel who are most likely to stand and fight/ fire their weapon!

However, 18 August 1966 at the bloody Battle of Long Tan Australians (102) and 3 NZ soldiers) spent almost three and a half hours ‘on their stomachs’ in a monsoonal downpour fending off North Vietnamese Army/ Viet Cong enemy attack after attack – enemy odds of 20:1 until reinforcements arrived!

What the bloody hell would be the use of BODYCAM stuck on the front of your webbing equipment only to be focused on the mud, and blood?

Placed on your bush hat – a camera lens reflects shine – what a great aiming mark for any enemy – nice to see the bullet that is about to end your life!

The boffins will no doubt require each soldier to carry ‘lens cleaning kit’ – bit bloody useless when your up to your neck in blood and guts with a determined enemy trying his best to kill you and your mates!

The very obscene thought of frontline soldiers to wear BODYCAM is a total crap idea and an excuse for the ‘upper echelon’ to be absolved or made accountable for what atrocities may occur on the battlefield! In Vietnam 1966/67, as a frontline infantry soldier/ 20 year old Section Commander Corporal, I had to make ‘split micro-second’ decisions in order to retain the advantage over a hostile determined enemy and at the same time maintaining relative safety of my nine (9) men!

No such BODYCAM could assist me, or my men, in a vicious bloodletting firefight – kill or be killed and the same time, commanding and leading my men in battle.

…scared ‘naaaa’ – bloody terrified!   

BODYCAM seems to me as a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction by military personnel who were far removed from a 24/7 war in order to cover their shiny arse seats of power!

No doubt there will be a requirement for another Lithium Mine to be dug for the battery cart in order to provide the BODYCAM power source?

May I suggest that the military boffins create ‘windscreen’ wipers for the combat field issued sunglasses…S.A.T.S (Sorry About That Shit)!

BODYCAM – where to wear and another piece of equipment attached to a frontline soldier – and for what?

I am not proud of what I had to do in war in order to stay alive – but my government sent me to some shit-hole in the name of democracy. In Vietnam 1962-1973, the Australian soldier did not loose this war – the politicians lost the war!  

Yours in soldiering on,

Ross E. Smith, OAM (Mil Div 1984)

ex RSM/ WO1