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| MoD to announce second round of armed forces cuts | MoD to announce second round of armed forces cuts |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence is to announce its plans for a second round of redundancies in the armed forces later. | The Ministry of Defence is to announce its plans for a second round of redundancies in the armed forces later. |
| The job losses will account for some of the cuts already announced under the government's defence review. | The job losses will account for some of the cuts already announced under the government's defence review. |
| The Army is expected to announce up to 3,000 redundancies, the RAF up to 1,000 and the Royal Navy 500. The Gurkhas are expected to lose up to 400 personnel. | The Army is expected to announce up to 3,000 redundancies, the RAF up to 1,000 and the Royal Navy 500. The Gurkhas are expected to lose up to 400 personnel. |
| The MoD said difficult decisions had to be taken to deal with the "black hole" in its budget. | The MoD said difficult decisions had to be taken to deal with the "black hole" in its budget. |
| Under the terms of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the navy and the RAF have to cut 5,000 jobs each by 2015. | Under the terms of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the navy and the RAF have to cut 5,000 jobs each by 2015. |
| 'Worse prospects' | 'Worse prospects' |
| BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says the Army, RAF and navy will ask for volunteers, but more redundancies are likely to be compulsory this time. | BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says the Army, RAF and navy will ask for volunteers, but more redundancies are likely to be compulsory this time. |
| Our correspondent says this is because many who wanted to leave did so in the last round, and job prospects outside the armed forces may be seen as worse now. | Our correspondent says this is because many who wanted to leave did so in the last round, and job prospects outside the armed forces may be seen as worse now. |
| Some will be exempt, unless they volunteer, including those serving on the front lines in Afghanistan, or preparing to go or recently returned. | Some will be exempt, unless they volunteer, including those serving on the front lines in Afghanistan, or preparing to go or recently returned. |
| Under the government cuts, the army needs to reduce its total fighting force by 100,000 to 82,000 by 2020. The current round is expected to affect ranks from private soldiers through to brigadiers. | Under the government cuts, the army needs to reduce its total fighting force by 100,000 to 82,000 by 2020. The current round is expected to affect ranks from private soldiers through to brigadiers. |
| The 3,500-strong Gurkha brigade is expected to bear the brunt of the latest cuts as the army had already singled them out, arguing they were overmanned. | The 3,500-strong Gurkha brigade is expected to bear the brunt of the latest cuts as the army had already singled them out, arguing they were overmanned. |
| An estimated 140 Gurkhas lost their jobs in the first wave of MoD cuts last year. | An estimated 140 Gurkhas lost their jobs in the first wave of MoD cuts last year. |
| The Gurkhas, based at Shorncliffe in Kent, have fought for Britain all over the world for more than half a century. | The Gurkhas, based at Shorncliffe in Kent, have fought for Britain all over the world for more than half a century. |
| Pay and conditions | Pay and conditions |
| Following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India and Britain meant four Gurkha regiments from the Indian army were transferred to the British army, eventually becoming the Gurkha Brigade. | Following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India and Britain meant four Gurkha regiments from the Indian army were transferred to the British army, eventually becoming the Gurkha Brigade. |
| The latest job losses are likely to anger campaigners who lobbied for equal pay and conditions for the Gurkhas. | The latest job losses are likely to anger campaigners who lobbied for equal pay and conditions for the Gurkhas. |
| Whitehall sources say no pilots or trainee pilots are among the redundancies sought by the RAF. | Whitehall sources say no pilots or trainee pilots are among the redundancies sought by the RAF. |
| Both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force expect this to be their last round of redundancies, with natural wastage and a recruitment freeze in some areas making up for the rest. | Both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force expect this to be their last round of redundancies, with natural wastage and a recruitment freeze in some areas making up for the rest. |
| An MoD spokesman said that reducing numbers through redundancies was essential in order to have "smaller armed forces that deliver the best possible operational capability". | An MoD spokesman said that reducing numbers through redundancies was essential in order to have "smaller armed forces that deliver the best possible operational capability". |
| Are you in the armed forces? Are you worried you might be affected by this second round of redundancies? Send us your stories using the form below. |