Ratio of Air Marshals, Air Commodores and Group Captains in the RAF

[Blacksheep]

I feel sorry for those 7,685 Marine Privates. They have 190,742 superiors bossing them about. No wonder they're called "Grunts".

[Roland Pulfrew]

RLE

Thank you.

4ROCK

The debate over three single forces or a "purple" force has been debated on here many times. IIRC the ultimate answer was: it's been tried (in Canada), it failed, and they have gone back to 3 single services.

The one flaw in the "one single force" proposition is apart from a couple of posts at the very top and the odd "command" warrant officer - what do you actually save (assuming that there are no losses in capability when you amalgamate)? Those doing the work in lt. blue, dark blue and green will still be needed to do their jobs whether they wear a "purple" uniform or not. The command structures will still be required, unless you are suggesting that all those 1, 2 & 3 stars in each service currently do so little work that some of them can take on the portfolio of another 1, 2 or 3* as well as their own!!

As to:

complete clear out of all the VSO's who are in non-jobs in all of our services?

Perhaps you could identify which VSOs are in "non-jobs" right now? Lots of people say we have too many senior officers without actually being able to say which ones are so under employed that their post can go and what little work they (apparently) do can be shared around the others.

Parson

Taking up your post re nos. of squadrons: 1 x squadron = A squadron (1 x squadron commander); 6 x squadrons = a station or group (6 x squadron commanders & 1 x staish or other).

My error, I was of course talking about all of the group, command and DE&S etc staff that are still required whether it is one squadron or 6. You still require that level of oversight, from SQEP, to meet the ever expanding regulation we face, regardless of the number of squadrons - and that burden is only getting worse.

[dervish]

Perhaps you could identify which VSOs are in "non-jobs" right now?

Quite right Roland. But for the very reason you mentioned we are going to become more top heavy as posts that are not related to numbers beneath them are retained, but the overall numbers reduce drastically. The sensationalists will continue trotting out the "more Admirals than ships" line. I want the VSOs we have to be competent, strong leaders. I'm afraid that hasn't always been the case as too many have half an eye on the Directorship they've spent their last 3 tours angling for. Also, at a lower SO1/2 level it will be interesting as cushy billets in DE&S disappear under GOCO!