Times Report - Cut to the Bone?

OK Guys, direct from the journo's mouth. Things they are a changing.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6917297.ece

Looks like a whole new air force.

 

[Stewie]

Oggies are cheaper?

Depends what trades the chopped people are...we are still short in delective areas...

I have a vested interest in this cos Im doing my basic training in Feb and doing trade training later in the year and hoping to join 4624 sqn in 2011, however it does feel a bit wierd to be coming back in when guys are possibly losing their jobs.

 

[vim_fuego]

I have a vested interest in this cos Im doing my basic training in Feb and doing trade training later in the year and hoping to join 4624 sqn in 2011, however it does feel a bit wierd to be coming back in when guys are possibly losing their jobs.

I joined in Feb 1986 and from that day to today all I have seen is cutbacks, lean, closures and drawdowns...I think and I'm sure some stat monkey will correct me that the number of guys serving when I attested was around 106,000...today on paper we have 41,000.

So get used to looking around your sqn/sect/flight at what you have today only to hear that in short order it will be reduced...

 

[Stewie]

I joined in Feb 1986 and from that day to today all I have seen is cutbacks, lean, closures and drawdowns...I think and I'm sure some stat monkey will correct me that the number of guys serving when I attested was around 106,000...today on paper we have 41,000.

So get used to looking around your sqn/sect/flight at what you have today only to hear that in short order it will be reduced...

Kin ell, I let the mob in 86 and it seemed in good order, how times have changed eh ? sad innit ?

 

[8:15fromOdium]

I joined in Feb 1986

I joined 6 months after you Vim, I'm pretty sure your figures are correct. Ironic isn't it, we're doing far more now than we were then. Having spent most of the past month sweeping up (in one case literally) after civvies and contractors I feel the changes over the past 23 years or so have not been for the better!

 

[John Lloyd]

Kin ell, I let the mob in 86 and it seemed in good order, how times have changed eh ? sad innit ?

I left in 91 after 12 years, Wall gone, Saddam beat, Serbs getting uppity.

Had a thought that with Ivan gone, no return to BFG, and cash cutbacks having to be imminent, Life would be one long round of Desert, Falklands, and Balkans.

All in all, my pesimistic if realistic assessment would appear to have been a little on the rosy side.

My commiserations to all.

 

[duffman]

Duffman, where did you see them?

It was from the mod website.

 

[muttywhitedog]

This is the only reference I could find to a reduction in numbers:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/D...eprioritisedToSupportAfghanistanOperation.htm

Duffman, could you please provide a link to your broken down figures.

 

[duffman]

This is the only reference I could find to a reduction in numbers:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/D...eprioritisedToSupportAfghanistanOperation.htm

Duffman, could you please provide a link to your broken down figures.

It was in that one, however it has been removed.