The most logical path to tread is to reduce the Regs and increase the TA, because TA cost less. Regs become a smaller pool with responsiblity for training TA. TA would become more professional, as a result. It's an extension of the Regt'l "twinning" which is already in place.

It won't happen though - if you were an employer, would you want someone who goes off on tour every few years, with the cost and lack of continuity it brings?

To save costs, we should ditch the bounty system, or at least reduce it. It should be replaced by the award of tax free lump sums on completion of tours.

I think he is talking out of a bodily orifice not normally associated with convesation.