The Australian Defence Force is failing to reach critical targets as defence personnel leaving the force outweigh those joining.

Executive director of the Australian Defence Association, Neil James, says the force needs 85,000 regulars and reserve.

“We’re a long way from it and we have less joining each year,” he told 3AW Breakfast.

Press PLAY to hear what he thinks the Defence Force could do to drive numbers

He also says the issue of failing to retain staffing is a “cyclical” issue with the force facing a “crisis”.

“Any organisation needs to turn over … eight to nine per cent of it’s workforce every year … when your separation rate rises up around 12-13 per cent, you’ve got a crisis,” he said.

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