ARMY RESERVES - AN OVERSTRETCHED TARGET?

An old post reclaimed...

Earlier this year Defence Secretary Philip Hammond MP and the MoD (Ministry of Defence), set out a ostentatious target for massively overhauling the UK reservist Armed Forces. With figures to increase by 30,000 personnel across all three components, Army, Navy and Air Force, 10,000 of those being for the newly named Army reserves, (formerly Territorial Army) it has come to light that these targets are not being reached. A fear now growing within the House of Commons that this may significantly damage the effectiveness of our Armed Forces as this stagnation in recruitment is not matching the rate at which ‘regulars’ are being devolved.

Earlier this November, John Baron MP tabled an amendment to the coalitions bill that would try to serve up more transparency when it comes to the actual statistics at the rate of recruitment. Whilst the need for this can be understood there are a couple of factors to consider; definitive incentives still haven’t been outlined which are necessary to encourage recruitment. There are few who exist because they wish to ‘do their bit’ for their country.

What has also seemed to come from this recent outcry for the failings in Mr Hammonds plans is a criticism towards reserve forces, with terms once again bouncing around such as ‘weekend warriors’ and the SASB (Saturday and Sunday Brigade) If knocking the credibility of the services to which individuals willingly volunteer to join up to is the way forward, then the government and the media are certainly going the right way about it. What hasn’t changed regardless of the uncertain future of recruitment, is the professionalism, dedication and commitment of our reservists who strive to achieve like for like capability of regular service personnel. If the targets are seeming to be unrealistic, then alter them. Don’t discredit an arm of the services which does its best.