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MoD announces details of 4,200 job cuts MoD announces details of 4,200 job cuts
(about 2 hours later)
The Ministry of Defence has announced its plans for a second round of redundancies in the armed forces.The Ministry of Defence has announced its plans for a second round of redundancies in the armed forces.
The Army will see up to 2,900 redundancies, while the RAF will lose up to 1,000 personnel and the Royal Navy up to 300. The Army will see up to 2,900 redundancies, while the RAF will lose up to 1,000 members and the Royal Navy up to 300.
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 announced under the defence review - intended to help plug a £38bn hole in the defence budget.
The MoD said difficult decisions had to be taken to deal with the "black hole" in its budget. Ministers said there was "no choice" but to axe the posts.
Under the terms of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, announced in 2010, the navy and the RAF have to cut 5,000 jobs each by 2015. Under the terms of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, announced in 2010, the navy and the RAF have to cut 5,000 jobs each by 2015, the Army 7,000 and the Ministry of Defence 25,000 civilian staff.
'Worse prospects' Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the government had "no choice but to reduce the size of the armed forces - while reconfiguring them to ensure they remain agile, adaptable and effective".
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. Mr Hammond said: "As we continue with the redundancy process we will ensure we retain the capabilities that our armed forces will require to meet the challenges of the future."
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. The pain of these redundancies is being spread across most ranks.
Some will be exempt from redundancy, unless they volunteer, including those serving on the front lines in Afghanistan, those preparing to go and those who have recently returned. In terms of numbers it is the Gurkhas who will be hit the hardest - a move likely to anger campaigners who lobbied for equal pay and conditions for them.
Under the government cuts, the Army needs to reduce its total fighting force from 100,000 to 82,000 by 2020. The current round is expected to affect ranks from private soldiers through to brigadiers. All three services are asking for volunteers but some redundancies are likely to be compulsory, as many who wanted to go left in the last round of cuts and job prospects outside the Armed Forces are rather bleaker now.
Military planners had already singled out the 3,500-strong Gurkha brigade for job cuts, arguing they were overmanned. It is expected they could lose up to 400 personnel. Some service personnel will be exempt - unless they volunteer - including those serving on the frontlines in Afghanistan, those preparing to go and the recently returned.
An estimated 140 Gurkhas lost their jobs in the first wave of MoD cuts last year. No pilots or trainee pilots will be among the redundancies, while both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force expect this to be their last round of job losses, with natural wastage and a recruitment freeze in some areas making up for the rest.
Announcements on who's being made redundant are likely to be made in the summer.
Volunteers for redundancy will then have six months before they leave, while those forced to terminate their service early will be given a year.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said mass redundancies would be of "deep concern" across the country.
Mr Murphy said Labour agreed there was a need for cuts to the defence budget but warned the plans announced were "wrong-headed and rushed".
He said: "Savings must be made and Britain will need to confront global threats with leaner, more advanced armed forces in future.
"The most important baseline, however, is national security and we worry these cuts are wrong-headed and rushed. We need to know the full military impact of losing such important capability."
Trainee pilots
The army needs to reduce its total fighting force from around 100,000 to 82,000 by 2020. The current round of redundancies is expected to affect ranks from private soldiers through to brigadiers.
Military planners had already singled out the 3,500-strong Gurkha brigade for job cuts, arguing they were overmanned.
The loss of about 400 Gurkha personnel announced on Tuesday follows an estimated 140 cuts to the brigade during the first wave of MoD cuts last year.
The Gurkhas, based at Shorncliffe in Kent, have been part of the British Army for more than half a century.The Gurkhas, based at Shorncliffe in Kent, have been part of the British Army for more than half a century.
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.
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.
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.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.