Keep calm and carry on

**Mr_Bridger** · 25-10-2009, 19:18

Originally Posted by really?_fascinating

MSR -
Not for LSDI, not even for the odd TELIC1 now and again. For an enduring medium MASD using reservists/ TA/ contractors and who ever else wants to come along. Evil has been one of the few sensible, forward looking and measured posters on here - yet everyone seems to regard his input as weak or disloyal. Could it be that one of the (unintended) benefits of the current crisis is to reinvigorate?

Ah reinvigoration.... !

I remember the invigorating change we experienced during "Options for Change", and then the further invigorating experience of SDR, when a lot of the 'Options' changes in my Corp were reverted... should I now look forward with salivation Review of the Reserves II in 6-8 years time.... just when were coming up to speed with RoR 1 ?

We need to be more brutally honest about this whole thing. It's being driven by cost... not capability. The Graduated Commitment Model, is actually a Graduated COST Model. Tell those soldiers and students (ADC or otherwise) who now have no income despite their sacrifices. The MoD has shown yet again that it has no regard for the commitment of the soldiers it doesn't deserve, and it regards commitment as a one way thing.

Soldiers (TA or Regular) deserve the best training they can get. Anything less is morally inexcuseable.

**Purple_Emperor** · 25-10-2009, 19:26

Originally Posted by Mr_Bridger

I remember the invigorating change we experienced during "Options for Change", and then the further invigorating experience of SDR, when a lot of the 'Options' changes in my Corp were reverted... should I now look forward with salivation Review of the Reserves II in 6-8 years time.... just when were coming up to speed with RoR 1 ?

Uh, of course. I suspect your timing is spot on as well. It will take them two years to work out that their complete lack of planning in restructuring the TA has led it to fail to match what is asked of it. Two years of dithering until a 'new broom' comes in wanting their OBE and then two years to unveil the next shiny new 'plan'

**interestednovice** · 25-10-2009, 19:43

I thought the Taliban had been getting more violent lately. If that's true, does it make sense to be shifting away from fighting and towards VSO style aid work? Won't they just laugh and start blowing up or seizing control of the things we try to build for ordinary Afghans with greater impunity ?

**theblindking** · 25-10-2009, 20:37

Originally Posted by interestednovice

I thought the Taliban had been getting more violent lately. If that's true, does it make sense to be shifting away from fighting and towards VSO style aid work? Won't they just laugh and start blowing up or seizing control of the things we try to build for ordinary Afghans with greater impunity ?

No.

**topkop** · 25-10-2009, 21:51

Originally Posted by theblindking

Originally Posted by interestednovice

I thought the Taliban had been getting more violent lately. If that's true, does it make sense to be shifting away from fighting and towards VSO style aid work? Won't they just laugh and start blowing up or seizing control of the things we try to build for ordinary Afghans with greater impunity ?

No.

No matter how much we build or provide for the Afgan people or who does the fighting we need boots on the ground either British or Afgan that can deliver security.

The big man Richards is promising 5 years more fun and stimulation at least, in Afghanistan. That gives those who are taking part in the â€œlets organise the army and reserves competitionâ€

time to put a plan in place. That plan will no doubt be driven by politicians and accountants with very short term views taking into consideration most of them watch there backs every 4-5 years at election time. People making plans now in liebour will not be there next year so any strategy they come up with will be due for change almost immediately it comes into play.

Like every plan it will fall apart at the first contact leaving the soldier TA or Regular the only option to keep calm and carry on, no amount of back biting between us will make it any easier.

**polar** · 25-10-2009, 22:21

Originally Posted by Idrach

Originally Posted by Dr_Evil

same number of R SIGNALS (I imagine, given that they have been culled so much already)

Nah, this is going to keep going down as kit starts to arrive that is 1990s design rather than 1960s - it just needs fewer bodies to maintain it, reg or reserve.

If only that was true, TA down several regiments (old kit), regular Army up at least two regiments (new kit). Although you could put that down to other reasons........

If you take what happened in TA RSigs, most CS or Combat regiments with a current potential formed unit role (overseas) will be cut - Its IR's or slightly more only. Bearing in mind these RSigs regiments were meant to provide comms to CSS units, the implications are the cuts extend to CSS anyway even if the TA restarts in April.

**msr** · 25-10-2009, 22:27

Originally Posted by topkop

Like every plan it will fall apart at the first contact leaving the soldier TA or Regular the only option to keep calm and carry on, no amount of back biting between us will make it any easier.

I don;t see any back biting, just an honest exchange of views.

The only regret that I have is that there is no-one* listening.

MSR

* grownup

**fozzy** · 26-10-2009, 08:02

I think someone may have had second thoughts:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...cutbacks.html#

The Devil is in the details - we'll see how this unfolds....

...but a chink of light?

**Whiskey_60** · 26-10-2009, 08:05

Originally Posted by fozzy

I think someone may have had second thoughts:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...cutbacks.html#

The Devil is in the details - we'll see how this unfolds....

...but a chink of light?

Ahh beat me to it.

Looks like, possibly, it means getting paid for Tuesdays atleast.

But that wouldn't be the important part of this, the important part would be that if they are forced to back-peddle atleast partly on the decision then that means the TA is a little more sacred than we thought and that gives hope to the doom-sayers fortelling our disbanding in April!

Or am I being Optimistic?

**polar69** · 26-10-2009, 08:59

Wasn't it the telegraph that leaked the original story ?

A cynic may think that we have been used as a pawn in a huge publicity stunt.

Of course this could be balls as well.

**polar** · 26-10-2009, 09:06

Originally Posted by Whiskey_60

Looks like, possibly, it means getting paid for Tuesdays atleast.

Or am I being Optimistic?

I believe the words 'drill nights' was a metaphor for normal training

**Whiskey_60** · 26-10-2009, 09:09

Originally Posted by polar

Originally Posted by Whiskey_60

Looks like, possibly, it means getting paid for Tuesdays atleast.

Or am I being Optimistic?

I believe the words 'drill nights' was a metaphor for normal training

Ahh right, gleaming!

**polar69** · 26-10-2009, 09:12

Seriously wouldn't go getting your hopes up, this really can't result in "normal jogging"

**Dr_Evil** · 26-10-2009, 10:11

Big picture, anyone? War Office backtracks on fodder cuts for the TA cavalry's horses, August 1939. Yippee!

**Mr_Bridger** · 26-10-2009, 10:27

Originally Posted by polar69

Wasn't it the telegraph that leaked the original story ?

A cynic may think that we have been used as a pawn in a huge publicity stunt.

Of course this could be balls as well.

Surely not