The Guardian et al recently reported the ‘Army is set to shrink to smallest size since Boer war’ under government plans…

All three services have become overloaded with top brass, according to the report by Lord Levene. His proposals have been accepted by the coalition government however, Levene noted that inter-service rivalry had added to the problem.

As a result he recommended the creation of a new joint forces command, headed by a high-ranked commander, as one way of breaking down the barriers between them.

The reasons for restructuring the military are myriad but mostly clouded in political smokescreens. The bottom line is; as a nation, we simply can’t afford the military we’ve got any more. Its much the same as the policing cuts debacle and all a a direct result of massive governmental and organisational wastage in the past.

In slightly different but partly connected news; The “royal” prefix has been restored to Canada’s air and sea forces.

“Restoring these historic identities is an important way of reconnecting today’s men and women in uniform with the proud history and traditions they carry with them as members of the Canadian Forces… A country forgets its past at its own peril… (Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay)

An interesting and important ethos but what chance the PSNI reclaiming pride in their RUC history I wonder?

Related articles

• Army to shrink to smallest size since Boer war while reservists’ role bolstered (guardian.co.uk)
• Army set to cut troops by 19,000 (bbc.co.uk)
• Defence Secretary wants reserve soldiers ‘build-up’ (independent.co.uk)