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Australia will shut its navy down for two months for the holidays as a strategy to help with recruitment and retention -- and perhaps to save money. (With Stratfor maps)

The Australian government on Nov. 18 decided to shut down its navy for two months for the holidays, starting Dec. 3. Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the extended break is intended to make the navy more family-friendly and thus help with recruitment and retention rates. Australia is hoping that the strategy will help the navy meet its recruitment target of 15,000 and retain sailors already committed to the service.

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Of Australia’s three services, the navy has the worst retention and recruitment rates. While retention and recruitment for the navy are very serious long-term problems, the extended holiday, and thus the mooring of most ships at port, could also be a measure to keep operational costs down as the financial crisis affects Australia.


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