nigegilb: Cutting back on training, at a time of war, when SF sorties are being flown by inexperienced crews is madness. How CAS can sign his name to such a plan is beyond me.
It's blatently bl))dy obvious why! Why are the RAF looking at closing even more airfields and shoehorning more and more units onto already overcrowded bases? Why are the RAF looking at mothballing another 1, 2, 3 (should I go on) sqns? Why is T & S being cut? Why are the RN mooring up more ships? Why is UK training being cut to the bone?
It's all down to a complete lack of sufficient finance!!
It is time that Defence was given some priority over the black holes that are the NHS, Education and Social Security.
Procurement project overruns, whether they are the fault of DPA, MOD or industry, have to be paid for. That means there is less and less money to run current kit, buy spares, buy fuel, etc etc. If this was the NHS we would overspend and then look to the government to bail us out. Or we would close wards. Or do less operations. But what have we got left to cut? The blood has all been squeezed from the stone. A LONG time ago. The only thing left is to cut back on "peacetime" flying and exercises. It is time that VCDS and 2nd PUS were told to p
s off next time they ask for "savings". There are none left to be had!!