R day for the Royal Navy

[Widger]

Good luck to all in the Royal Navy today for those who want a letter in the post and those who don't.Just as it was at the beginning of the month it is a sad day for the Services and the start of three tranches.

[Widger]

Full text of the First Sea Lord's message. This round of redundancies was expected to include Pilots, Engineers and Aircraft Handlers (Chockheads) as part of the first tranche in addition to the 'fishheads'.

[quote]Redundancy Announcements: First Sea Lord's Statement (http://www.pprune.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=234%3Aredundancy-announcements-first-sea-lords-statement&catid=100%3Aredundancy-news&Itemid=188) http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/M_images/pdf_button.png (http://www.pprune.org/index.php?view=article&catid=100%3Aredundancy-news&id=234%3Aredundancy-announcements-first-sea-lords-statement&format=pdf&option=com_content&Itemid=188) http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/M_images/printButton.png (http://www.pprune.org/index.php?view=article&catid=100%3Aredundancy-news&id=234%3Aredundancy-announcements-first-sea-lords-statement&tmpl=component&print=1&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=188) http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/M_images/emailButton.png (http://www.pprune.org/index.php?option=com_mailto&tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uZmYub3JnLnVrL2luZGV4LnBocD92aWV3PWFydGl jbGUmaWQ9MjM0JTNBcmVkdW5kYW5jeS1hbm5vdW5jZW1lbnRzLWZpcnN0LXN lYS1sb3Jkcy1zdGF0ZW1lbnQmb3B0aW9uPWNvbV9jb250ZW50Jkl0ZW1pZD0 xODg=)
30 September 2011

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, has today, 30 September, issued a statement to everyone serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines regarding the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme first tranche notifications. The full text of his statement can be found below.

Today, the Royal Navy will notify those of our people who have been selected for redundancy in Tranche 1 of the Armed Forces’ Redundancy Programme. Notifications will be made by Commanding Officers or a delegated Notifying Officer, either face-to-face in their Ship or establishment, or, where this is not possible, by telephone. Approximately 1,020 people will be notified that they are to be made redundant of whom around 670 are Applicants and 350 Non-applicants.

For the majority of those who have been selected, this is the result of a decision on their part to apply to be considered for redundancy, and they may feel that this opens the door to a different career and exciting new opportunities. For many others, who have not fully contemplated the prospect of redundancy, this news is likely to be unexpected and unwelcome. There will also be some who, as Applicants, have not been selected for redundancy and may be disappointed by that outcome. To ensure confidentiality, these individuals will be informed by personal letter, which will be dispatched by post today; the fact that they were Applicants will only be known to the Fleet Redundancy Cell and members of the relevant Selection Board. Provided that they are eligible in a future tranche, they will have the opportunity to apply to be considered again.

Each of those selected, either as an Applicant or Non-applicant, will be given a personally addressed letter explaining the decision that has been made together with a forecast of the financial implications of their selection. This will be accompanied by a written guide, detailing the sources of advice and support available to them during the career transition process. I recognise that for all those who will be made redundant, the news that will be delivered today will mark a significant change in their lives affecting them as individuals and their families. As they prepare to return to civilian life, they will all receive the full support of the Divisional System and their Chain of Command and will receive a comprehensive resettlement package to assist with this transition.

There are a number of people who have today been notified of redundancy who are deployed or serving overseas. Arrangements will be made to return them to the UK in sufficient time to start the resettlement process. Applicants selected for redundancy will serve up to 6-months’ notice and the aim is for them to be employed in the UK by 16 December 2011. Non-applicants will serve up to 12-months notice and the aim is for them to be employed in the UK by 30 June 2012. This will inevitably result in a degree of ‘churn’ as people are moved between units. Those personnel who, through their contribution to operations at sea or on land, qualify for an Operational Exemption from Tranche 1 of the Redundancy Programme, have not been selected unless they are Applicants.

There will be up to three further tranches of redundancy delivered by April 2015, to enable the manpower reductions required. The next step will be a single Tranche 2 announcement for all 3 Services, expected in early 2012. I fully understand what an unsettling time this is for many of you and your families and I have directed that you are to be kept fully informed of any further developments as the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme progresses.

Finally, to those of you who have been selected for redundancy, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you have contributed to the Service and to the nation’s security. Do not underestimate what you have achieved in the Service, or the value that others will place on your experience gained in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. However long you have served, your professionalism and dedication to duty are greatly appreciated by me and my colleagues on the Navy Board, and we are indebted to you for the commitment you have shown.

[high spirits]

Interesting rebuke to Lord West from Liam Fox today. Fox has taken a rather hard nosed stance given that so many personnel from all Services are getting the boot. I wonder how much the 'blame the previous muppets' line will work....

[baffman]

Indeed. Interesting also that some are interpreting the rebuke as applying to former senior officers, and not just the usual culprits of former ministers and the senior civil servants. I suppose Lord West comes into two of the three categories.