Cuts in the Armed Forces
Discussion
As we all no there are goin to be some big cuts over the next few years. As a serving member of the armed forces I am worried about my job security. I have another 15 years to serve but recently I have been worried that I may get made redundant in the future due to man power cuts. What do people think and especially those currently in the forces. For the record I am in the RAF.
Edited by DaGuv on Tuesday 18th May 23:47
I'd be worried to fella. I was in the Army during options for change, not a great time. Given HMG have said no reduction in the NHS and increased spending on overseas aid (I mean WTF?!) every other department is looking at 25% in cuts!
Also, one of the places this is generally easiest to hit politically is defence. Given the Army is embrolied in the 'Stan I would suspect they are the 'safest' service at present. Also you, and the Navy, tend to have very expensive shiny toys.
Good luck.
Also, one of the places this is generally easiest to hit politically is defence. Given the Army is embrolied in the 'Stan I would suspect they are the 'safest' service at present. Also you, and the Navy, tend to have very expensive shiny toys.
Good luck.
Edited by ellroy on Wednesday 19th May 00:18
I always thought the cuts came from elsewhere, rather than actual manpower and downsizing, it came from cuts in R&D and buying new gear and the such.
But I am not really sure. All I can say is all the best in the future and I hope you keep your job.
Have cuts in the armed force been announced?
But I am not really sure. All I can say is all the best in the future and I hope you keep your job.
Have cuts in the armed force been announced?
DaGuv said:
As we all no there are goin to be some big cuts over the next few years. As a serving member of the armed forces I am worried about my job security. I have another 15 years to serve but recently I have been worried that I may get made redundant in the future due to man power cuts. What do people think and especially those currently in the forces. For the record I am in the RAF.
What trade are you in?Edited by DaGuv on Tuesday 18th May 23:47
DOnt sit arounbd worrying, concentrate on what they are paying you for. Get on witht he job, and if you end up being made redundant, move on and be poistive.
Your job is probably far more safe than most of ours right now.
12 years in the RAF, left of own accord, never regretted leaving.
DaGuv said:
As we all no there are goin to be some big cuts over the next few years. As a serving member of the armed forces I am worried about my job security. I have another 15 years to serve but recently I have been worried that I may get made redundant in the future due to man power cuts. What do people think and especially those currently in the forces. For the record I am in the RAF.
I think you'll be ok for a while yet. There is an awful lot of wastage in the MOD that could be cut back without reducing military headcount.Edited by DaGuv on Tuesday 18th May 23:47
TankRizzo said:
DaGuv said:
As we all no there are goin to be some big cuts over the next few years. As a serving member of the armed forces I am worried about my job security. I have another 15 years to serve but recently I have been worried that I may get made redundant in the future due to man power cuts. What do people think and especially those currently in the forces. For the record I am in the RAF.
I think you'll be ok for a while yet. There is an awful lot of wastage in the MOD that could be cut back without reducing military headcount.Edited by DaGuv on Tuesday 18th May 23:47
How we 'procure' new equipment is something which will substantially change, me thinks.
And the amount/cost of civil servants employed by the MOD
Given all media attention to Labours lack of funding of new equipment etc for use in Iraq and Afghanistan I would be suprised if the Conservatives now went ahead and further cut defense spending.
Surely given all the recent attention it is too much political hot potato.
On a separate note, I would like to see funding diverted TO the defense budget.
Surely given all the recent attention it is too much political hot potato.
On a separate note, I would like to see funding diverted TO the defense budget.
The army has already scaled back on recruiting and has offered early release schemes for those with long service. Which is ironic as they've just introduced a longer service scheme!
No service will be immune from cuts and reorganisation, and nor should they be, but the axe will probably fall hardest on the RAF. The army had nearly all of its non deployable posts civilianised in the '90s and was reorganised for current ops in the last few years. Somehow the RAF seemed to escape this.
The other two services see the RAF as not delivering good value on current deployed ops. I predict that the whole RAF Regiment, the whole steward trade and a great many trades that could be done by civilians or the other two services will be looked at very closely. I suspect that the RAF will need to adopt a wholesale change in ethos if it is to survive at all.
You will doubtless sense some inter-service bias here, but this is my opinion based on my observations, experience and reading. I'm happy to be corrected on any of this.
No service will be immune from cuts and reorganisation, and nor should they be, but the axe will probably fall hardest on the RAF. The army had nearly all of its non deployable posts civilianised in the '90s and was reorganised for current ops in the last few years. Somehow the RAF seemed to escape this.
The other two services see the RAF as not delivering good value on current deployed ops. I predict that the whole RAF Regiment, the whole steward trade and a great many trades that could be done by civilians or the other two services will be looked at very closely. I suspect that the RAF will need to adopt a wholesale change in ethos if it is to survive at all.
You will doubtless sense some inter-service bias here, but this is my opinion based on my observations, experience and reading. I'm happy to be corrected on any of this.
BruceV8 said:
The army has already scaled back on recruiting and has offered early release schemes for those with long service. Which is ironic as they've just introduced a longer service scheme!
No service will be immune from cuts and reorganisation, and nor should they be, but the axe will probably fall hardest on the RAF. The army had nearly all of its non deployable posts civilianised in the '90s and was reorganised for current ops in the last few years. Somehow the RAF seemed to escape this.
The other two services see the RAF as not delivering good value on current deployed ops. I predict that the whole RAF Regiment, the whole steward trade and a great many trades that could be done by civilians or the other two services will be looked at very closely. I suspect that the RAF will need to adopt a wholesale change in ethos if it is to survive at all.
You will doubtless sense some inter-service bias here, but this is my opinion based on my observations, experience and reading. I'm happy to be corrected on any of this.
What a narrow minded response. Ask any soldier and they will tell you how valuble the RAF has been in Afghanistan. Alot more soldiers would have died if it wasnt for the Air assets of the RAF!No service will be immune from cuts and reorganisation, and nor should they be, but the axe will probably fall hardest on the RAF. The army had nearly all of its non deployable posts civilianised in the '90s and was reorganised for current ops in the last few years. Somehow the RAF seemed to escape this.
The other two services see the RAF as not delivering good value on current deployed ops. I predict that the whole RAF Regiment, the whole steward trade and a great many trades that could be done by civilians or the other two services will be looked at very closely. I suspect that the RAF will need to adopt a wholesale change in ethos if it is to survive at all.
You will doubtless sense some inter-service bias here, but this is my opinion based on my observations, experience and reading. I'm happy to be corrected on any of this.
DaGuv said:
BruceV8 said:
The army has already scaled back on recruiting and has offered early release schemes for those with long service. Which is ironic as they've just introduced a longer service scheme!
No service will be immune from cuts and reorganisation, and nor should they be, but the axe will probably fall hardest on the RAF. The army had nearly all of its non deployable posts civilianised in the '90s and was reorganised for current ops in the last few years. Somehow the RAF seemed to escape this.
The other two services see the RAF as not delivering good value on current deployed ops. I predict that the whole RAF Regiment, the whole steward trade and a great many trades that could be done by civilians or the other two services will be looked at very closely. I suspect that the RAF will need to adopt a wholesale change in ethos if it is to survive at all.
You will doubtless sense some inter-service bias here, but this is my opinion based on my observations, experience and reading. I'm happy to be corrected on any of this.
What a narrow minded response. Ask any soldier and they will tell you how valuble the RAF has been in Afghanistan. Alot more soldiers would have died if it wasnt for the Air assets of the RAF!No service will be immune from cuts and reorganisation, and nor should they be, but the axe will probably fall hardest on the RAF. The army had nearly all of its non deployable posts civilianised in the '90s and was reorganised for current ops in the last few years. Somehow the RAF seemed to escape this.
The other two services see the RAF as not delivering good value on current deployed ops. I predict that the whole RAF Regiment, the whole steward trade and a great many trades that could be done by civilians or the other two services will be looked at very closely. I suspect that the RAF will need to adopt a wholesale change in ethos if it is to survive at all.
You will doubtless sense some inter-service bias here, but this is my opinion based on my observations, experience and reading. I'm happy to be corrected on any of this.
Air power is vital, and only a fool would deny that air assets have saved life, but the vision the RAF has for the shape and use of air power is at some odds with the view of the other two services.
The cuts won't be forever though. The cuts are to remove the debt, not to reduce taxation for the long-term future. As has been mentioned, surely it's easier to cut back on R&D and procurement, than on skilled manpower.
Once the debt is gone, the money that was spent financing that can then be spent sensibly and with a long-term view, on where the cuts were made initially.
I'd worry more about projects like Eurofighter enhancements and Trident replacement becoming the hot-topics for savings (they must absorb a great deal of money), much like the TSR2, which was well and truly screwed by Labour, and ultimately having us spend MORE money for inferior kit in the long run!
Dave
Once the debt is gone, the money that was spent financing that can then be spent sensibly and with a long-term view, on where the cuts were made initially.
I'd worry more about projects like Eurofighter enhancements and Trident replacement becoming the hot-topics for savings (they must absorb a great deal of money), much like the TSR2, which was well and truly screwed by Labour, and ultimately having us spend MORE money for inferior kit in the long run!
Dave
I was still serving in the early 90's when they made a load of redundancies after closing many of the German garrisons. I was REME and the lads that had done over 12 years, were on the ball, bright and knew they could get on in civvi street bit their hands off, took a nice tax free package and got out. It then left loads of idiots that knew that they'd get nowhere in the real world, lose the cheap housing and schooling etc...
What happened? Operational, productivity and management standards went through the floor and the Army then offered those that had left a nice fat lump sum to come back in.
Clever stuff!
What Reg/Corp are you?
What happened? Operational, productivity and management standards went through the floor and the Army then offered those that had left a nice fat lump sum to come back in.
Clever stuff!
What Reg/Corp are you?
Edited by Asterix on Wednesday 19th May 13:27
DaGuv said:
What a narrow minded response. Ask any soldier and they will tell you how valuble the RAF has been in Afghanistan. Alot more soldiers would have died if it wasnt for the Air assets of the RAF!
I think Bruce was talking about the RAF as a whole. I know the RAF element of JHF(A) are doing a fantastic job. He does make an intersting point about the steward trade though. A while back I had to visit RAF Waddington for a week. I was waited on hand and foot by RAF personnel while in the mess. Now, some might have enjoyed it. I thought it was a total waste of manpower in this day and age. I really don`t know how the RAF can justify having this trade group at all.
Anyway, I`m pretty sure the forthcoming SDR will concentrate on cuts through the reduction of civil servants and equipment procurement. As long as you`re deployable and in a trade group that gives good value you`ll be fine.
Chimpy Chompies said:
rhinochopig said:
I predict they'll abolish the RAF within the next 10 years and the FAA will buy up the aircraft on ebay. After all, the RAF has no A2A combat experience since WWII - unlike the FAA.
Apart from Korea and the Falklands conflict RAF Spitfires shot down 2 x Egyptian Spitfires in the 1948 Arab-israeli war.
No RAF units deployed to the Korean War, but RAF pilots attached to the USAF are credited with 7 A2A kills,
RAF are credited with 5 kills in the Falklands but RN did the bulk of the work there.
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