The Future of the Army Reserve - Discuss

[Saab]

A single force concept with 2 legally separate forces (see Defence Act).

So does that actually mean it is not possibe, other than for accountancy purposes,for us to actually be a part of the PDF Bn.

The whole VFM thing is just a big faff!!!

We are reorged into the PDF bn to make it appear that there are admin savings but in fact nothing really changes.
We are supposidly to do more volunteer hours but neither the local councils nor the PDF want us any where near their areas, so once again othing to change.
And finally
Since the two forces are legally separated the kingdoms continue!!

[Spartan]

Great point Saab; if the reserve is to become companies within battalions, I can't imagine the PDF/DoD let that company be commanded by a reserve officer, so a few lieutenants should do the trick.

And I imagine the PDF will just be called the "army", although the companies will probably be called "X Reserve Company", just in case anyone forgets their place

Does that mean no nice new BLACK berets for the troops or peaked caps for the reserve officers - oh shame

[Cryos]

So does that actually mean it is not possibe, other than for accountancy purposes,for us to actually be a part of the PDF Bn.

The whole VFM thing is just a big faff!!!

We are reorged into the PDF bn to make it appear that there are admin savings but in fact nothing really changes.
We are supposidly to do more volunteer hours but neither the local councils nor the PDF want us any where near their areas, so once again othing to change.
And finally
Since the two forces are legally separated the kingdoms continue!!

Large Companies do this all the time but for the PDF / RDF legal split, its a great spin if you read the DF act; But in any legal proceeding its the circumstances around any incident or wrong doing which ultimately points liabilities. Look at D.O.E Centers, a school bus that crashes and has a defective seatbelt has duel liability; The person that signed off on the safety of said vehicle and the responsible party.

Defence Force Legal desperation doesn't work because of the systemics in place. The RDF by current structure and definition are not masters of their own destiny; If you want to go mad through the countryside of the glen you still need PDF approval, you still need a "Black Beret" in most cases to sign out weapons. So if Pte. Johnny has a ND and injures an innocent bystander through coincidence the DF as a whole is liable not just the RDF.

If a RDF Coy / Bn was entirely responsible for themselves then you have true legal separation; Its entirely one way at the moment. There is no COS RDF.

[DeV]

The reorg does remove the RDF chain of command, it used to be:

Rdf coy comdr - Rdf (PDF) bn comdr - OC Bde Rdf - GOC (and D Res) - COS

It is going to be:

Rdf coy comdr - PDF bn comdr - GOC - COS

So it removes part of the CoC

[trellheim]

you still need a "Black Beret"

"Responsible Adult" is the in-vogue term.

[Rhodes]

Does that mean no nice new BLACK berets for the troops or peaked caps for the reserve officers - oh shame

Is this the real the issues of RDF members? Nothing about annual ITs or real army training? Its like the Sam Brown belt joke all over again.
If you want a black beret join the Army.

[Saab]

Is this the real the issues of RDF members? Nothing about annual ITs or real army training? Its like the Sam Brown belt joke all over again.
If you want a black beret join the Army.

Ah Rhodes!!!!!

Yes it is a joke. And the Black - Green berret jokes will go forever and a day. As long as there are two colours.

But as for ITs and fitness. That is in. Some say it was coming through the back door as you needed to do ITs to do any course. And it is obvious to any one that you need to be doing courses to be in the RDF.

But looking at the structure as shown.
So far we have been a coy of an RDF Bn. We come in and train as a coy. We get together with the Bn from time to time but most training is done as a coy. The Coy has, as treell puts it, responsible adults to supervise. In reality they have generally hidden themselves and only been invilved in the admin. Then at Bn level and above there are more and more of these responsible adults, who take little or no interest in the training or operationability of the coys.

After the re-org -
We will be renamed.
Our responsible adults at coy level are to be removed.
The responsible adults at Bn level are to be changed for a group of responsible adults that are busy doing adult stuff.
So whats changed?
Why does anyone think there will be any more "real army training" then before?

Thats the real joke.
The VFM has managed to brew up a storm.
A tempest of speculation.
But really all thats happening is a shuffel of papers and the DF doing exactly what it wants.

[Spartan]

Soreeee. It seems that my little bit of sarcasim didn' come across in the written word, but then again correct me, will we not now have a single force concept for the Defence Forces or is it back to the red shoulder tab with RDF this time?

[trellheim]

The points about berets and two CS4s are very well made ; neither are particularly inspiring from a "Single Force" point of view

Let's take a use case well within sensibilities ; - presentation of credentials at the Aras, for example, with a GOH from 27 Bn - peakers aren't on issue to RDF so it'll have to be mixed green and black berets - perhaps something to look at ?

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By way of information, there is a large amount of work ongoing in the background ( at a ferocious pace, far faster than what most people think this can happen ) to shape the new RDF. You should be being briefed by your CoC. Just saying.

[trellheim]

Jaysus where is everyone. Am I the only member hanging around this lazy Stephen's night ?

[Goldie fish]

Aren't lazy stephenses days just great!

[Turkey]

Aren't lazy stephenses days just great!

Feck the pair of you, 'am off to work in a few mins....

[northie]

The points about berets and two CS4s are very well made ; neither are particularly inspiring from a "Single Force" point of view

Let's take a use case well within sensibilities ; - presentation of credentials at the Aras, for example, with a GOH from 27 Bn - peakers aren't on issue to RDF so it'll have to be mixed green and black berets - perhaps something to look at ?

------------------------

By way of information, there is a large amount of work ongoing in the background ( at a ferocious pace, far faster than what most people think this can happen ) to shape the new RDF. You should be being briefed by your CoC. Just saying.

Seeing as all troops would belong to OC 27 BN I imagine it would be in his interest to ensure that everyone had peakers.... even if only for the day. Not everyone in the PDF has them so a bit of loaning has to be done every now and then for GOH's etc.

Ref the CS4, the reoorg of the DF in such a short space of time is unprecedented, i don't think its happened in as rapid a manner since the emergency demobilisations.... the fact that the two orgs were being looked at in a separate manner is down to the hurry in which this was all done. Much of this on both sides is being made up as we go a long and on a "lets see if this works" basis. This will largely come down to whether individual units want to make this work. All I know that is that mine does and that comes from the very top of the unit. Its up to everyone, RDF and PDF to play ball on this or everyone will suffer.

[trellheim]

There are a number of system shocks to come ( on both sides ) , as part of the 2nd round Integration crew I know about the ( RDF Meets PDF ) side , there are huge shocks to come the other way but they will be quickly figured out I hope.

[apod]

From a purely Logistical and cost saving move issuing the RDF with black berets albeit with a green patch is the way to go.