Originally Posted by Captain P U G Wash
...most RAF deployed units are away from their day job and routine training...
Not that I disagree with you but just what
is their day job meant to be, then?
...The real question might be how many RN personnel are deployed today away from their role or training reqt, compared to RAF?...
Applying your definition, I discovered an interesting statistic last month:
Originally Posted by Service Personnel & Veterans Agency
Operation VERITAS/HERRICK OSMs (Operational Service Medals) and/or clasps have been issued to 16,714 Naval Service personnel (8,591 Royal Navy and 8,123 Royal Marines) for service in Afghanistan since 11 Sep 2001.
Not bad going for a service which also has naval bases and air stations to run plus a fleet of ships, submarines and aircraft to man, maintain and operate worldwide but only numbers 35,430 (incl Royal Navy & Royal Marines) vice 101,300 for the Army and 40,090 for the RAF. (
link)
Mind you, this is before the forthcoming reduction of 5,000 Naval Service personnel which constitutes a significantly higher proportion than the 5,000 redundancies for the RAF or 7,000 redundancies for the Army.