Fox3,

Thanks for that - so you mean that yet another "drawdown" in numbers overshot the target leading to an understrength force!!

I was once in a briefing about planned redundancy (the 3 rounds version in the 2000s) when a visiting Wg Cdr from Manning was specifically asked what plans they had to avoid overshooting their target as had always occurred historically. He said they were aware of this and taken measures to avoid it - and what happened.... you guessed it!!





Still, an SDSR usually comes along to get Manning out of their hole!

Being a total cynic, one might almost suspect that the intention was to reduce the numbers early. But what possible benefit could a VSO gain by making extra savings for his Boss and the Defence Minister? I mean, GCB only gets you a flag and a pew in the "orbis miraculum" that is the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey, and your long-suffering Mrs elevated to Lady :E

..and further, one might also be tempted into thinking that SDSR reductions were solely to make the required manning figures match the few people who were left, rather than carefully considered figures to efficiently defend the Realm.

..and I do have a relly who used to have a scrambled egg hat in Manning, so I have some small ability to sort the bullsh!t from the reality.

Wakey Wakey manning
 

The indications that the RAF was declining in manpower at a rate of knots is not new. Check out they 'wakey wakey manning' thread on pprune.

I was firmly put in my box that all was well and manning had a plan.... Hmm, I presume that plan was to get to 31 500 ASAP and keep reducing past it!:D

Recruitment is up but it does not yet match outflow so Halton and Cranwell need to up their game by some margin still. I'm hoping that is what will happen given the amount being spent on recruitment advertisement at the moment.

The BBC graphic is b@llo@ks regarding RAF and RN current 2020 figures. RAF is planned to be 31 500 in 2020. Give that the published stats are almost two months old at 31 630 it's safe to say the light blue have reached the 2020 target of binning 9 000 posts to get to 31 500 five years early. Now that's a lot of cash for CAS to spend in the new disaggregated MOD model, that's if he's allowed to keep it..

Army are even more screwed...

Seletar,

With respect, 9000 people have been "binned", not the posts! Many/most of those posts are still gapped as few have been disestablished formally; the resultant being that those still within HM's Light Blue are feeling the strain.

Appreciate the other Services are suffering equally but I cannot speak for those from first-hand experience.

Still, a "no more than 1% pay increase per annum" (i.e. a real terms pay cut if inflation is greater - which it WILL be) will do wonders for attracting those keen for a rewarding and financially secure career, defending the very constitution that dictates such terms. Meanwhile.....MPs get their 10%+ pay increase. IPSA and the AFPRB are clearly different in SO many ways.

We should ALL benefit from a growing economy, fairly and squarely.

So when exactly is SDSR 2015 (or should that be 2016?) due to be announced?

The best I could find with a quick google search was a quote made in April of "towards the end of the year".

MMIMB - My Mate in Main Building - he says "last week of November".

........2015.

CK,

Thanks for that....

i think the release date is either the 24 or 27 of Nov. If it is the latter, then it will probably get lost in a Friday press release, hidden underneath some other government tosh to hide whatever bad news is heading our way!

Reaper to be replaced by: "Certifiable Predator B"

They're gonna have to come up with a catchier name, even if it's simply 'Predator D'.

Call Me Dave already has. It's to be called "Protector".

Following that naming convention, will the next model be "Extra Safe" ?
(I'm foreseeing much japery on the net - "Protector callsign Mission31, cleared to enter the box"....)

"ribbing", surely?

Apparently the Irish are procuring Protector, and will send two on every mission. To be sure, to be sure.

And the next one "extra sensitive" no doubt

As always, you bring an element of class and erudite charm to the debate, gladius raggus.