"That was just great Mav..."
The drawdown in the trained strength of the RAF is being achieved through a balanced strategy of normal outflow, reduced recruitment and a targeted redundancy programme. The redundancy programme will entail around 2,750 redundancies, in three Tranches, spread over two years. Tranche 1 is well underway with 507 applicants selected for redundancy who are due to exit in September 2005; only one non-applicant was selected for redundancy in Tranche 1 and is due to leave in March 2006. As expected, most of the redundancies (463—around 90%) in Tranche 1 are in the aircraft engineering trades. This is due mainly to the efficiencies arising from the Defence Logistics Transformation Programme and, in particular, the implementation of plans to realign RAF logistic support structures from the traditional four lines of maintenance to two levels (Forward and Depth).
Applications have already been received for Tranche 2 of the redundancy programme. It is anticipated that Tranche 2 will comprise around 1,200 personnel, and that those selected will be applicants who will leave the Service in April 2006; any non-applicants selected will leave in September 2006. Quotas for Tranche 2 have yet to be finalised but it is anticipated that around 60% (690) of those selected will be from aircraft engineering trades.
The balance of around 1,050 redundancy places will form Tranche 3 of the programme, with most applicants expected to leave in April 2007 and non-applicants in September 2007. Tranche 3 is only in the initial planning stages, although we would expect the aircraft engineering trades to feature again but probably at a lower percentage than in the first two tranches.
This is how it was sold;
The aim of the Defence Logistics Transformation Programme is to provide better logistic support to the Armed Forces, by increasing the effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility of logistics activity and optimising all such activity in support of the tasks likely to be required of the Armed Forces. For the delivery of front-line capability to the RAF, this has led to a reconfiguration of processes for aircraft support in order to meet the needs of an expeditionary air force and the achievement of better value from the resources available.
A key reason for this outcome is that RAF Aircraft support policy is underpinned by a requirement for the RAF to have a sufficient number of tradesmen, capable of deploying to operational theatres to support aircraft—this total is referred to as the RAF Crisis Manpower Requirement (CMR). This ensures that front-line capability and combat effectiveness is maintained on operations and enables the sustainment of air power operations where they are required. Within a smaller RAF, skilled technicians—and, indeed, all RAF personnel—must also maintain a war-fighting edge, as well as performing their day-to-day duties.
Think they got the CMR bit the wrong way round, should read, manpower crisis...