Melchett - it depends what part of the diaspora you are in. Cyprus has been briefed and there has been some consultation there. Same with Falklands last week. Belgium/NATO being done in September. As for briefings, there has been a DVD recorded of a brief at Marham I gather, which in understand will be on the streets in the next week or so.
Downsizer - 2 MCMs being proposed. First is Standing flexible something. Basically 12 months notice based upon similar terms (for selection) for redundancy. Meant to cover a capability reduction or sudden requirement to save a pot of money. Adds to the various manpower levers we have. You also get compensated on redundancy terms. The second is a career review, so the example used was they offer you 10 years, but review at say 5 and decide whether to keep you on. Briefer seemed to say that standing flexible was the preferred and very similar to what we have now under redundancy schemes, but could be used under set rules and criteria.
Alfred - I have heard the brief a couple of times now. Scripted to ensure consistency across all of the briefings, but many themes consistent with what I have written on here. Main aspect I got was the urgency to get the new engagement structures right as they have to implemented by 1 Apr 15 to meet new pension scheme. New pay model for jnr ranks (no high/low pay band or flip/flop etc), getting rid of AIPs and bringing in trade supplements to reward specialist training and responsibilities etc Accn deal to help us get a property, so an enhanced LSAP to about 50% of salary. Better geographic stability, in the main for ORs, but should impact on officer cadre (to an extent). Best bit was the Q&A, in particular the level of response from the 2 scribbly Gp Capts (one AIR and responsible for this and the other in NEM team) and the Sqn Ldr, who works for one of the Gp Capts, tended to be very good