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DeliciousReview could cut officer numbers
Thursday, July 22, 2010
During Fox's first appearance before the Commons Defence Select committee, committee chairman James Arbuthnot said the current number of senior officers in the armed forces was "completely out of kilter" with the numbers in previous decades.
Fox said that the strategic defence and security review included a review of the forces' rank structure, something that Liberal Democrat Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey had proposed before the general election.
"Budgetary restraint has to be exercised at all levels of the Armed Forces," said Fox.
"We do have to look at the rank structure as part of the overall cost as well as the effectiveness of the armed forces."
Earlier this week it was revealed that the SDSR included an option of cutting 30,000 troops from the armed forces and moving the Royal Marines under the operational command of the army.
HAVE YOUR SAY
I am incensed that any re-organisation of senior officers and slicing of the remaining manpower/assets pie should even contemplate moving the Royal Marines Commandos to the Army. This would be the end of "The Admirals Regiment" when the Netherlands are actually moving towards enlarging the Royal Netherlands Marine corps. They obviously see the need for these highly trained and dedicated troops in the future.
If the Army really want to re-organise and, perhaps, keep a Brigadier they should consider re-merging 1 para with 2 and 3 paras, attach a re-formed No 1 Army Commando, give them all training in Winter, Jungle warfare etc. (as in the Royal Marines Commandos) and have a Special Operations Brigade that would be worth its weight in gold (as is 3 Cdo Bde Royal Marines).
And, believe me, I do not wish to infer undervaluation of any of our present Army formations of any Regiment or Corps. They are all heroes!!
Anyone, with any nounce, knows that the Royal Marines, when operating ashore in Bde or unit size formations will fall under the operational command of the Land Forces commander ... who may well be an Army General Officer with a joint staff!
Lets hope that, this time, its not a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water .... as it has been in the past.
Norman - UK
Of course there are now far too many middle and senior ranking officers in all three services together with the bloated structures that support them. If you think this is not the case just Google "Parkinson's First Law"! Before axing "teeth" capabilities, cull these pen-pushers.
Bob M - Surrey UK
Rumours are very much rife within the forces at the moment and everyone is nervous about the possbiblity of losing their job. The main area that needs looking at is the Officer Corps which needs trimming, too many Brigadiers, too many Full Colonels and too many Majors. I agree that the re-structure should take place, but it should be focused at a senior level, or you will be leaving us even more over stretched than we are now.
Rowan Mills - Rhinedahlen