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Hundreds of Army's best soldiers apply for redundancy

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  • Hundreds of Army's best soldiers apply for redundancy

    A combination of “rock bottom” morale and concerns that the Army is in a “permanent state of decline” led to twice as many people applying for redundancy as expected. They include several future battalion leaders and two officers singled out as potential generals.

    Figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph show that more than 900 officers and men have applied for redundancy despite the Army asking for only 500 volunteers.

    Gen Sir Peter Wall, the head of the Army, is said to have been so concerned that he has held informal interviews with some of the officers to persuade them to stay.

    Military chiefs asked 25 colonels to volunteer for redundancy, but received 52 applications.

    Six brigadiers have volunteered for redundancy and 48 majors, with an average of 16 years experience each, have asked to go.

    The Army is expected to lose a substantial number of senior NCOs, who provide the “backbone” of discipline in the field, and it has also been inundated with applications from corporals, sergeants and staff sergeants. Under the defence cuts, the Army is to lose 7,000 troops over the next four years, leaving a force of 94,000.

    One decorated officer, who has commanded a battalion with distinction but has now opted to leave, said: “When you know what’s going on at the moment and the amount of money that’s needed to be saved and the impact of that on the Army, what’s the point of staying? People see the writing on the wall and are saying it’s time to go.”

    The Army is most concerned by the calibre of the officers who have asked to leave. At least five commanding officers or future battalion commanders have handed in their papers.

    They include three highly-talented officers with extensive front-line experience. One was about to take command of a Gurkha infantry battalion, another was due to head a battalion from The Rifles and the third was from The Parachute Regiment. At least two were considered future general material.

    The number of SAS officers opting to leave has also increased, with at least five quitting in the past eight months.

    One of the officers, who was previously the military assistant to General Sir David Richards, the head of the Armed Forces, was due to command an infantry battalion in Afghanistan.

    Morale is so low that senior officers visiting battalions have been “openly talking about leaving the Army”. One infantry commander said: “I have never known morale quite so shocking. People see the way it’s going. There’s a real fear of further cuts in 2015.

    ''For many it’s a question of managing a career in decline in defence. I am quite surprised at quality of people going and the number of people who have applied for redundancy because they have had enough.”

    There are growing fears that by the time the Afghanistan campaign closes in 2015 the Army will have been reduced to 82,000.

    An officer based at Army Land Command said: “The erosion of the Forces’ package is having an effect.

    ''There are people in the redundancy pool who are pretty impressive players as operations have produced some exceptional leaders, but we are now about to lose them.”

    Brigadier Richard Nugee, Head of Army Manning said: “The Army will select a mixture of personnel for redundancy that preserves, across all cap badges, ranks and trades, the right balance of experience, skill and potential to ensure the Army is able to maintain its operational commitments and to continue its outstanding service in the future.”

    The Army is facing an exodus of the next generation of military leaders after nearly 1,000 of its brightest officers and soldiers applied for voluntary redundancy.

  • #2
    good news - means only those who want it will get it and there should be nobody who wants to stay being forced to leave.

    it means those of us left behind will be better equipped and better trained as purse strings are ever tightened across the board.

    anyhow, it's a pretty good package they have put together with many perks such as the provision to keep your kids in Boarding School at public expense even after you have long left the Services, and resettlement courses to help you start a new career in civvie street etc.
    RGJ

    ...Once a Rifleman - Always a Rifleman... Celer et Audax

    The Rifles

    Comment


    • #3
      Better redundancy package than the NHS is offering then - one week salary per years service if under 40, two weeks salary per year service if over 40 (statutory minimum) in my wife's hospital.
      Last edited by Flamingo; 18 June 2011, 17:17.
      'He died who loved to live,' they'll say,
      'Unselfishly so we might have today!'
      Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
      He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
      http://www.salamanderoasis.org/poems...nnis/luck.html

      Comment


      • #4
        Better redundancy package than the NHS is offering then - one week salary per years service if under 40, two weeks salary per year service if over 40 (statutory minimum) in my wife's hospital.
        is it capped at a certain level of service?
        At what figure is it taxable?

        Is there a statutory redundancy contribution?

        Tbh it doesn't look that good.

        Last package here offered by the HSE was 5 weeks per year of service or two years pay. With no taxation below 60k if it is first redundancy or a previous one was greater than 10 years ago. Statutory contribution capped at €500 per week.
        Person average wage ( support staff )with 10 years service walked away with just under 30k tax fee and that was a poor pack relative to some of the private sector deals.
        Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe

        Comment


        • #5
          statutory redundancy levels are lower in Britain then here. so it may be good in Britain

          Comment


          • #6
            Not sure on the fine print, but it's a bit of a kick in the teeth, TBH.

            The last hospital I was in that was making staff redundant went one better and offered people totally unsuitable redeployment packages, (for example a Theater Nurse with 20 years experience was offered redeployment to a Care of the Elderly unit miles away), and when staff refused as they were not areas they had experience or wished to work in, it said "We offered redeployment, therefore the redundancy offer does not apply."

            Anyway, going off thread.
            Last edited by Flamingo; 19 June 2011, 12:46.
            'He died who loved to live,' they'll say,
            'Unselfishly so we might have today!'
            Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
            He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
            http://www.salamanderoasis.org/poems...nnis/luck.html

            Comment

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