The number of regular soldiers is set to fall from 102,000 to 82,000, while reservists will double to 30,000. The Army will be about half the size it was during the Cold War era - it had more than 163,000 troops in 1978.
In the infantry, Mr Hammond said, no current regiments or cap badges would be lost.
BBC News - Cutting of 17 Army units faces criticism
One wonders what this army is for. I believe it should be a guarantor of civil control within the United Kingdom, with national strategic defence as a consequence of the nuclear deterrent.
The one regiment which has no place on the streets of the UK is the Paras, and I cite the Saville Enquiry report as evidence. Their continued existence, if the army is never to deploy abroad again, is counter-productive. They should go.
British Army scaledown
British Army scaledown
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
British Army scaledown
spot;1398390 wrote: The number of regular soldiers is set to fall from 102,000 to 82,000, while reservists will double to 30,000. The Army will be about half the size it was during the Cold War era - it had more than 163,000 troops in 1978.
In the infantry, Mr Hammond said, no current regiments or cap badges would be lost.
BBC News - Cutting of 17 Army units faces criticism
One wonders what this army is for. I believe it should be a guarantor of civil control within the United Kingdom, with national strategic defence as a consequence of the nuclear deterrent.
The one regiment which has no place on the streets of the UK is the Paras, and I cite the Saville Enquiry report as evidence. Their continued existence, if the army is never to deploy abroad again, is counter-productive. They should go.
Why do you believe it should be the guarantor of civil control? What circumstances are you suggesting would arise when the army would be used to keep a government in power.
In the infantry, Mr Hammond said, no current regiments or cap badges would be lost.
BBC News - Cutting of 17 Army units faces criticism
One wonders what this army is for. I believe it should be a guarantor of civil control within the United Kingdom, with national strategic defence as a consequence of the nuclear deterrent.
The one regiment which has no place on the streets of the UK is the Paras, and I cite the Saville Enquiry report as evidence. Their continued existence, if the army is never to deploy abroad again, is counter-productive. They should go.
Why do you believe it should be the guarantor of civil control? What circumstances are you suggesting would arise when the army would be used to keep a government in power.
British Army scaledown
gmc;1398391 wrote: Why do you believe it should be the guarantor of civil control? What circumstances are you suggesting would arise when the army would be used to keep a government in power.
It's a role the army has filled ever since we had a standing army, it's been there backing the civil authority for the last 250 years at the very least. It's why we have a non-militarised police force. The police, through the magistrates, can call on the army to turn out and handle everything from riotous affray to armed revolution. We've had no instance of full-scale armed revolution but we've had plenty of riots defused by calling out the army.
Churchill was criticized, you'll remember, for himself firing a rifle during the Sydney Street Siege. That was the job of the police, backed by the army when asked for.
It's a role the army has filled ever since we had a standing army, it's been there backing the civil authority for the last 250 years at the very least. It's why we have a non-militarised police force. The police, through the magistrates, can call on the army to turn out and handle everything from riotous affray to armed revolution. We've had no instance of full-scale armed revolution but we've had plenty of riots defused by calling out the army.
Churchill was criticized, you'll remember, for himself firing a rifle during the Sydney Street Siege. That was the job of the police, backed by the army when asked for.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
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Oscar Namechange
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- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
British Army scaledown
What about peace keeping missions?
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
British Army scaledown
oscar;1398396 wrote: What about peace keeping missions?
Arm the United Nations. I believe the British Army should be a guarantor of civil control within the United Kingdom, with national strategic defence as a consequence of the nuclear deterrent. I see no place for their deployment beyond our national boundaries under any circumstances whatever. Give the Government an inch on that matter and they'll take a mile, it has to be utterly removed from them as an option.
Arm the United Nations. I believe the British Army should be a guarantor of civil control within the United Kingdom, with national strategic defence as a consequence of the nuclear deterrent. I see no place for their deployment beyond our national boundaries under any circumstances whatever. Give the Government an inch on that matter and they'll take a mile, it has to be utterly removed from them as an option.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
British Army scaledown
spot;1398394 wrote: It's a role the army has filled ever since we had a standing army, it's been there backing the civil authority for the last 250 years at the very least. It's why we have a non-militarised police force. The police, through the magistrates, can call on the army to turn out and handle everything from riotous affray to armed revolution. We've had no instance of full-scale armed revolution but we've had plenty of riots defused by calling out the army.
Churchill was criticized, you'll remember, for himself firing a rifle during the Sydney Street Siege. That was the job of the police, backed by the army when asked for.
Actually I don't remember since I am not actually that old but I am familiar with the incident. It's been a long time since the army was used that way in the UK - leaving aside northern ireland. Not so sure we would tolerate it - during the miners strike for instance I don't think maggie would have got away with sending in armed troops. The last time (I think) troops used 1919-20 when the powers that be were terrified of a communist revolution. Times have changed but I think any UK government using troops would very soon find itself voted out of office. I cannot foresee any government maintaining power by armed force in the UK nor circumstances when they could get the troops to do it.
Churchill was criticized, you'll remember, for himself firing a rifle during the Sydney Street Siege. That was the job of the police, backed by the army when asked for.
Actually I don't remember since I am not actually that old but I am familiar with the incident. It's been a long time since the army was used that way in the UK - leaving aside northern ireland. Not so sure we would tolerate it - during the miners strike for instance I don't think maggie would have got away with sending in armed troops. The last time (I think) troops used 1919-20 when the powers that be were terrified of a communist revolution. Times have changed but I think any UK government using troops would very soon find itself voted out of office. I cannot foresee any government maintaining power by armed force in the UK nor circumstances when they could get the troops to do it.
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Oscar Namechange
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- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
British Army scaledown
gmc;1398481 wrote: Actually I don't remember since I am not actually that old but I am familiar with the incident. It's been a long time since the army was used that way in the UK - leaving aside northern ireland. Not so sure we would tolerate it - during the miners strike for instance I don't think maggie would have got away with sending in armed troops. The last time (I think) troops used 1919-20 when the powers that be were terrified of a communist revolution. Times have changed but I think any UK government using troops would very soon find itself voted out of office. I cannot foresee any government maintaining power by armed force in the UK nor circumstances when they could get the troops to do it. Are the Reservists not being doubled though?
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
British Army scaledown
I don't see you're justified in leaving Northern Ireland out since that's the only place in the last hundred years that's spent a protracted period in a state of disaffection. The assistance to the civil authority includes running entire branches of the public services like (potentially) delivering fuel or (actually) burying dead bodies and emptying bins. If the NHS strikes they'll be operating on crash victims, mark my words. Retrain the sods to do anything but shoot, that's my advice.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
British Army scaledown
spot;1398490 wrote: Retrain the sods to do anything but shoot, that's my advice.
And rename them ?
Tis not an army with no guns is it ?
And rename them ?
Tis not an army with no guns is it ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
British Army scaledown
Bruv;1398505 wrote: And rename them ?
Tis not an army with no guns is it ?
You're quite right. If they're to protect the Homeland from insurgents and armed criminal gangs then yes, they need weaponry. I was flippantly suggesting that their primary role would involve skills other than efficiently killing people in large numbers, like driving tankers and giving first aid.
Tis not an army with no guns is it ?
You're quite right. If they're to protect the Homeland from insurgents and armed criminal gangs then yes, they need weaponry. I was flippantly suggesting that their primary role would involve skills other than efficiently killing people in large numbers, like driving tankers and giving first aid.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.