Before embarking on the biggest shake-up to Australia's Defence establishment in decades, the giant department's bosses had more pressing business; getting their tens of thousands office workers wearing the same lanyards.
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A high level committee of lords of the lanyard, including Defence Secretary Dennis Richardson and the nation's top military man Acting Chief of the Defence, got together last week and came up with a plan.
Australia's security cannot be defended with everybody wearing different coloured lanyards, the top brass concluded.
Yes, there are other things to be sorted out in relation to the historic First Principles Review: little details like a new approvals process for billions of dollars of Defence spending, a strategic workforce plan and a whole new organisational re-design.
But first the lanyards, a vital item of public service uniform, needed sorting.
So the orders went out: it's black and it says "Defence" on it, in white letters.
"We have also agreed that we will move to having one lanyard for the organisation rather than different ones for each Group and Service," the chiefs stated in their joint communique.
"The lanyard is black with "Defence" written on it in white.
"All Senior Leadership Group members will be provided with the new lanyard at our meeting on 22 July 2015.
"They will be available to Groups and Services after this date."
One workplace union, Professionals Australia, said it was "devastating" to hear the news of one lanyard to rule them all.
"It's devastating that Defence leadership thinks having one type of lanyard is an achievement," union official Dave Smith said.
"One lanyard doesn't address skill gaps or ensure staff get treated fairly.
"Is their vision really that low?
"In truth it's probably another example of Defence waste - how many redundant lanyards will there be?"
