If one looks at the British officer corps, it is interesting to see that a
significant proportion of senior officers appointments are in multi-national
HQs, NATO etc. If we were simply 'feeding' our own services, things would be
very simple and the numbers would be significantly different. However, if our
very senior officers are to compete and be selected for some of the high powered
jobs elsewhere, we have to sustain a 'domestic' rank structure to feed that.
There is an element of bolleaux in the above statement.
1. Most of the one upmanship regarding appointments is between the 3 branches of the UK military, far outweighing the competition from overseas.
2. If someone wants to put a Portuguese General in charge of complex integrated operations, instead of a brit, let them get on with it.
3. These multinational HQ's expend a great deal of time, effort and influence preparing plans - then do what the Americans tell them.
I'd rather we had less influence in a multinational HQ, and a slimmer senior rank structure with less progress handbrakes at the upper echelons.