Originally Posted by
Sideshow Bob
Have a read of the 'Using Rank on Retirement' thread, it's very enlightening lol
Pay level in Civvy Street doesn't always equate to the size of an organisation, it tends to be a blend of experience, knowledge, performance (especially if bonuses are involved) and available budget.
If you were to start building the Armed Forces now from ground up, I very much doubt that it would look anything like it does. There are vast areas which are just not economical. For example, why 3 separate Command Structures? No civilian organisation would have separate Corporate structures; however, no organisation would want to have divisions which are completing against each other for output (although it happens a lot with big Corporations which have gone through many mergers).
One corporate (Strategic/Command) structure, separate divisional structures for differing outputs. Minimise the number of staff who do not have a direct effect on output. It's all pretty simple management principles.
One corporate structure (MOD), separate div structures (Navy, Army, Air, Strategic Comd, etc) for differing outputs. Is Defence not organised that way (accepting some differences, such as: it being the ‘no-fail’ instrument of last resort; and the need to train its own people to a scale and degree rarely if ever replicated in civilian enterprise)?