Today the Territorials, trained and untrained, should be about 39,000-strong, but the trained strength is only 19,300, according to the latest MoD figures.

This is actually not as bad as it seems considering that the TA has (or did have) a turnover of 25-30% for a variety of reasons and that this meant that if a recruit was still in after 3 years he was not going to 'turnover' and was likely in for life. It also means that at any one time something like 1/4 of the 'book' strength is (or were) not fully trained. How do you train somebody with no MTDs?

About 1,200 members of the TA continue to be deployed annually on tours of duty

This figure is a credit to the TA considering that it does not include those who have returned from ops and those about to go. If the TA is to continue to provide soldiers for ops then it must continue to be trained. Let's hope that The Times has got this wrong

This is all a bit shocking. TA 1908-2009 RIP

CHEERS WRITE IT ON THE TITLE LIKE IT MEANT SOMETHING THAT DESERVED TO BE SAID OUTLOUD !!

Even before we get into the world of SDRs, and culling surplus Majors (and there are a surprising amount of 'surplus' Brigadiers and above, as well), you have to realise two things.

Firstly, getting rid of people - however you do it - is not cheap, and not fast. To 'lay off' an Officer or Soldier takes time, and costs - redundancy, resettlement, etc. So, no point even thinking about that if you MUST save money NOW.

Secondly, almost all MOD costs are already committed - equipment contracts, wages, rates, power, utility, fuel, food, costs, etc. There is very little indeed in the Army's budget (and in the case of the TA these decisions are made by the Army, and NOT the MOD. Different beasts) that can be used to change in-year spending. The only areas you can hit are those that spend in 'cash' terms - traditionally, therefore, areas to hit are external training (already pretty much banned), T&S (already heavily controlled), Stationery and IT purchases (already cut to the bone and beyond) or - TA pay. Stopping that stops 'real' money going out. Expect to be hammered.

Don't blame the Army - they are doing what they have to, to keep Ops going, with insufficient funds. Closing the King's Troop and sacking Majors sounds good, but it would COST money over the next two to three years, not SAVE money now. And it's now we are living for - hand to mouth style.

Depressing, I know.

U_R unfortunately I do not think the Times has this wrong, and OITO you are correct regarding the reserve (CPF); however it has now been capped at £735 (I think) so standby for more pain since all the UOR comes off it, which is significant given how utterly incompetent both the MOD AND the services are at procurement (in a PLC they would be sued by shareholders).
You are a right regarding majors and 50 Lt Cols are overborne as well.

**** it I am going to use the time to learn to play the piano.

Anyone got £430 spare so I can do an OU course in French?????? Do they have a forces territorial?

Oh * that was frightening! Would you believe my job is an immunisation co-ordinator and swine flu vaccination currently my number one task.

So you'll be aware that many (including disappeared top scientists) believe the vaccine is a bio weapon which will wipe out millions of people then.
But then many believe Elvis works at Asda and Michael Jackson is in Spain.

Originally Posted by polar

Anyone got £430 spare so I can do an OU course in French?????? Do they have a forces territorial?

Mais non, but the Gendarmes have a Reserve

Trotsky

Originally Posted by Picasso

But then many believe Elvis works at Asda and Michael Jackson is in Spain.

You mean to say that they aren't??

This, however, does have the hallmarks of Whitehall expediency stamped all over it.

Straight after the Tory Conference, so their coverage and opinion will be minimised, and on the worst news-day of the week. Trying to bury bad tidings anyone?

Originally Posted by Muff_Coupling

Originally Posted by twiggylad

Originally Posted by slick

Is this the MODs way of saying if you`re willing to volunteer for ops you`ll get trained, if you`re not up for ops then bugger off ?

All TA training mate.

Give us your MOD "source" or shut up.

Ketchup.