Biggus I could not agree more with your comments. Also in my experience readiness is the least understood and most badly managed concept in the UK forces. Everyone likes the idea of lowering readiness, ie saving money but nobody likes the consequences of having insuffient forces around when you need them. This is exacerbated by a unwillingness by politicians to activate readiness sufficiently early to allow forces at readiness to properly train and prepare but a marked enthusiasm for getting involved in operations at short notice. Consequently, when push comes to shove the military is left trying to make a 'best effort' response cobbling together anybody and anything that is available to meet the required timescales.