Fatter Gator
The only problem with more FTRS is that we have singularly failed in a number of areas to recruit our quota of FTRS personnel. There is a naive belief in certain political circles that reserves are the cheap answer, but we often fail to recruit the required numbers. As a simple example the 3 elementary flying training squadrons were supposed to be manned with 50-60% FTRS. The assumption (unsubstantiated) was that recruiting personnel leaving at 38/16 in the normal QFI rich areas around Links/Yorks would be easy, missing the obvious point that those leaving at 38/16 are generally off to airline jobs. Unfortunately we never made the required FTRS recruits meaning that the regular air force had to backfill. The same is/was true of recruiting SRs around the Brize area for Voyager.
For those that haven't caught up (and I include Dr Redford in this), the latest version of Defence Strategic Direction has changed the harmony rates for the RAF and Army to much closer to the RN figures.
As I mentioned on one of the other topics relating to retired RN officers writing to the "broadsheets", expect more of this divide and conquer tactic in the run up to SDSR.
