UK Armed Forces 'Below Strength'
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UK Armed Forces 'Below Strength'
The BBC website has an article summarising the latest NAO report on the Armed Forces. See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6111048.stm
Highlights (or is that lowlights!):
Army 1.8% below strength
RAF 4.5% below strength
Navy 3.6% below strength
The bottom lines of the article state:
"It comes as no surprise that in the last two years the number of people leaving has gone up. "The MoD is trying to address this, but it doesn't have a convincing long term strategic approach."
And from what I'm seeing at the coalface, that really is the bottom line at the moment. I've never seen morale quite so bad as it is, or heard so many people talking about when (not if) they plan to get out.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6111048.stm
Highlights (or is that lowlights!):
Army 1.8% below strength
RAF 4.5% below strength
Navy 3.6% below strength
The bottom lines of the article state:
"It comes as no surprise that in the last two years the number of people leaving has gone up. "The MoD is trying to address this, but it doesn't have a convincing long term strategic approach."
And from what I'm seeing at the coalface, that really is the bottom line at the moment. I've never seen morale quite so bad as it is, or heard so many people talking about when (not if) they plan to get out.
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Just waiting for the EDP lump sum to equal the outstanding mortgage.
Its only the money nowadays, the management have dispensed with all the 'goodwill' over the past 6 - 8 years.
Its only the money nowadays, the management have dispensed with all the 'goodwill' over the past 6 - 8 years.
Bears, woods, Popes and catholic spring to mind. 
Now just await the flood of PVRs from those who applied for redundancy and didn't get it!!
I think the UK Armed Forces are in a ever decreasing spiral from which there may be no recovery
Now just await the flood of PVRs from those who applied for redundancy and didn't get it!!
I think the UK Armed Forces are in a ever decreasing spiral from which there may be no recovery
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Lads its OK, Tony says this morning that the report is exaggerating, and that the forces are pretty much up to strength.. so no need to worry.
Well, I have to say I told you so.
It started to go pear-shaped in mid-2000 and that's what made me pull the black and yellow.
Good luck to all those staying in - you'll need it.
There was some wretched little Noo Liar pratt on TV today saying that the forces were 'stretched, but not overstretched'.
BOLLEAUX!
It started to go pear-shaped in mid-2000 and that's what made me pull the black and yellow.
Good luck to all those staying in - you'll need it.
There was some wretched little Noo Liar pratt on TV today saying that the forces were 'stretched, but not overstretched'.
BOLLEAUX!
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I'm a civvy through and through so probably not best placed to comment but were there not a load of Government initiated cuts in armed forces numbers a few years ago? Surely the Great Leader considered all this prior to committing people like you to combat (like he considered resources and logistics)?
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but were there not a load of Government initiated cuts in armed forces numbers a few
Bus.
An interesting point and well made. And the "cuts" keep coming with the passing of ever week, as more and more of us see the light and find (or should that be "fight for") the exit. Me personally, I have seen enough rot over the last 6/7 years and have adopted the black and yellow approach. I wish all those remaining the best of British, and in the interest of the ecology, could the last one out turn out the lights!!
Here's food for thought though; look at the figures (personnel) over the last few "cuts" and see how many of our MOD Civil Service couterparts were axed.............answer...........not one!!! Rant over!!
An interesting point and well made. And the "cuts" keep coming with the passing of ever week, as more and more of us see the light and find (or should that be "fight for") the exit. Me personally, I have seen enough rot over the last 6/7 years and have adopted the black and yellow approach. I wish all those remaining the best of British, and in the interest of the ecology, could the last one out turn out the lights!!
Here's food for thought though; look at the figures (personnel) over the last few "cuts" and see how many of our MOD Civil Service couterparts were axed.............answer...........not one!!! Rant over!!
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About time!
It's about time we saw the real figures and are stopped being fed utter drivel from the top politicians and senior officers about how we have enough manpower to carry out operations etc. Oh and moral is really high! What's great about spending 6-9 months getting the sh*t blown out you for what is effectively less than the minimum wage.
I'll bet the TA are having less people joining up to be a weekend warrior now that you are almost certain to be called up.
The simple fact of the matter is that we are spending more time away and at more frequent times with not one officer willing to stand up and speak up for the men and women of our services(ok one did). All we have are senior officers (all of whom receive very well paid salaries and spend most of their career teeing up jobs within the industry) and politicians moving around every couple of years to play with a new train set and totally c**k it up by changing far too much all in the name of trying to leave their mark before they embark on another c**k up tour. Not one of them has the guts to speak up because they are all looking after number ones career. If they want to earn real repect, it will come with what they do and not because of the rank they hold. Start doing the job properly and address the issues.
I'll bet the TA are having less people joining up to be a weekend warrior now that you are almost certain to be called up.
The simple fact of the matter is that we are spending more time away and at more frequent times with not one officer willing to stand up and speak up for the men and women of our services(ok one did). All we have are senior officers (all of whom receive very well paid salaries and spend most of their career teeing up jobs within the industry) and politicians moving around every couple of years to play with a new train set and totally c**k it up by changing far too much all in the name of trying to leave their mark before they embark on another c**k up tour. Not one of them has the guts to speak up because they are all looking after number ones career. If they want to earn real repect, it will come with what they do and not because of the rank they hold. Start doing the job properly and address the issues.
Will all those that have 'pulled the handle' please speak up for those that remain? If you no longer have anything to lose...
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I was interested to see the immigration figures the other day. 1500 people per day coming in to the UK, but 1000 per day leaving these shores. It appears that not only are people leaving the armed forces in increasing numbers but there is a significant increase in people quitting the UK for good.
Food for thought.
Food for thought.
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nigegilb - Food for though indeed...!!!
I saw the writing on the wall ten years ago and opted for leaving early (after 32+ years). Also, after five years on the civilian side, the writing was becoming evident again, but this time it was taxes and immigration that was rearing its head.
Took the plunge and opted for a more manana attitude..., lucky that I was working from home, so could operate from anywhere, provided that there was broadband and an airport near at hand. Now nearing my fifth year in the sunny med and still working for the same US company that I joined after retirement from RAF.
So it can be done..., its just a matter of looking at your options, finding a place that you like, a house that you can afford, a pool big enough for the Grandchildren, and a bit of luck...., and its amazing how many 'old pals' suddenly appear out of the woodwork when they hear you have moved to sunny climes!!
GengisK
Took the plunge and opted for a more manana attitude..., lucky that I was working from home, so could operate from anywhere, provided that there was broadband and an airport near at hand. Now nearing my fifth year in the sunny med and still working for the same US company that I joined after retirement from RAF.
So it can be done..., its just a matter of looking at your options, finding a place that you like, a house that you can afford, a pool big enough for the Grandchildren, and a bit of luck...., and its amazing how many 'old pals' suddenly appear out of the woodwork when they hear you have moved to sunny climes!!
GengisK
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Apparently, they're considering relaxing the rules on how fat you can be to join the Forces. God help us! The "fat" end of the wedge?
Most teenagers 'too fat for Army'
Two-thirds of teenagers were too fat to join the Army before rules on weight were relaxed, it has been revealed. The Body Mass Index of all recruits had to be below 28 under the old rules. Earlier this year, this was increased to 32, within the "obese" range.
Officials said the BMI requirement was being relaxed as it had been decided larger men could still be fit.
But now the National Audit Office has revealed that only a third of all 16-year-olds met the old target.
"Increasing levels of obesity and resultant health problems amongst young people reduces the number of young people able to join the services," the NAO said.
Edit: Also on the BBC today there's a Q&A on the shortfall with Colonel Bob Stewart (here).
Last edited by Polikarpov; 3rd Nov 2006 at 15:59. Reason: Added link
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You do surprise me....
I do sometimes wonder why we can't retain people in the forces. But then I think of the place where I work - where we aren't meant to have the lights on in the day; where we can't afford to heat accommodation (advice is to wrap up warm and get an extra blanket) and where we are so on the bones of our a*ses that we can't afford to heat the swimming pool. And the place I'm talking about is a training establishment. Is it really any wonder that the bright-eyed youngsters joining up at the moment have little faith that their service will even exist in 20 years time?
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