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The Army Reserves – pass notes No 3,265 | The Army Reserves – pass notes No 3,265 |
(4 months later) | |
Age: 0. | Age: 0. |
Appearance: Proud, brave, cost-effective, pending. | Appearance: Proud, brave, cost-effective, pending. |
What is it? A reserve force of volunteer soldiers, serving alongside regular army soldiers when and where required. | What is it? A reserve force of volunteer soldiers, serving alongside regular army soldiers when and where required. |
Like the Territorial Army. Like the TA, yes. But different. | Like the Territorial Army. Like the TA, yes. But different. |
How so? It will have a different name. | How so? It will have a different name. |
Is that all? No, but the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, has said he would like to rebrand the force so it "sounds less like territorial defence and more like full integration with the army". We already have the Royal Marine Reserves and the Royal Navy Reserves, but the TA's name is enshrined in law, and would require legislation to change. | Is that all? No, but the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, has said he would like to rebrand the force so it "sounds less like territorial defence and more like full integration with the army". We already have the Royal Marine Reserves and the Royal Navy Reserves, but the TA's name is enshrined in law, and would require legislation to change. |
What else would change? Hammond says he's "not interested in reservists who want to play at being a soldier". | What else would change? Hammond says he's "not interested in reservists who want to play at being a soldier". |
What other attractions could the job possibly offer? More training, real army uniforms and top-notch equipment. | What other attractions could the job possibly offer? More training, real army uniforms and top-notch equipment. |
The better to play at being a soldier. Integration will be more comprehensive than that. Reservists will train alongside regular soldiers, ex-regulars will be encouraged to serve part-time and reserve numbers will be doubled as the army is reduced from 102,000 to 82,000. | The better to play at being a soldier. Integration will be more comprehensive than that. Reservists will train alongside regular soldiers, ex-regulars will be encouraged to serve part-time and reserve numbers will be doubled as the army is reduced from 102,000 to 82,000. |
So Hammond is just trying to plug a huge defence spending gap with some cut-price, part-time dad's army. Isn't that risky? Not if they're properly trained and deployed, says Hammond. "At the moment not all reservists take their duties very seriously. The time for that is over." | So Hammond is just trying to plug a huge defence spending gap with some cut-price, part-time dad's army. Isn't that risky? Not if they're properly trained and deployed, says Hammond. "At the moment not all reservists take their duties very seriously. The time for that is over." |
But don't they all have proper jobs as well? Yes, but these reforms would see a reservist's commitment limited to one six-month period over five years, in a bid to keep employers on side. | But don't they all have proper jobs as well? Yes, but these reforms would see a reservist's commitment limited to one six-month period over five years, in a bid to keep employers on side. |
When did the TA start? It was first formed in 1908 as the Territorial Force, the "territorial" part signifying that members were under no obligation to serve overseas. But they now participate in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. | When did the TA start? It was first formed in 1908 as the Territorial Force, the "territorial" part signifying that members were under no obligation to serve overseas. But they now participate in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
Do say: "I swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to whatever it is we're calling ourselves this week." | Do say: "I swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to whatever it is we're calling ourselves this week." |
Don't say: "This is, like, the most hardcore paintballing weekend ever." | Don't say: "This is, like, the most hardcore paintballing weekend ever." |
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