tS ae x i » ato CMT YNDTrICkt ee ION’S SOVEREIGNTY: es Cee eee Pane Fs ONCE Sap A ID 3.8 HOR 4 YAO) N. 4 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER DEFENCE WHITE PAPER The pool of civilian policy skills and specialist planning expertise is being fostered through the Scholars Program. The research being undertaken by SHHBIDSS will provide a valuable source of information and analysis to support Defence education. Its Executive Development Program (EDP) supports the professional development of middle level officers. The numerically small size of the RBAF makes the effective utilisation of the Reserve Force an important consideration. The value of being able to round out ground force elements in particular within available warning was reinforced in the recent major exercise. More substantial and on-going reliance upon a Reserve contribution does introduce significant legal and resource considerations. The 2004 White Paper identified the potential advantages of focusing the potential Reserve contribution on specific roles, including the organisation of large scale events and the protection of national infrastructure. These were numerically demanding roles but required a more focused set of operational skills than larger scale infantry manoeuvres. More comprehensive planning for the use of the Reserves will be an important task for the new Joint Planning Committee. 2011