Vigilance can report that measures to overhaul Britain’s Reserve Forces, to create a fully integrated Armed Forces, were unveiled yesterday as part of a wide-ranging consultation published by the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.
The consultation, ‘Future Reserves 2020: Delivering the Nation’s Security Together’, proposes more training for Reservists, a ‘kitemark’-type award for supportive employers, and the idea of changing the ‘Territorial Army’s’ name to reflect their enhanced role.
According to an MoD source under the proposals there will be a new relationship between Reservists, Employers and Government, a transparent approach with employers given more certainty about the timing of possible mobilisations and more notice when they occur, adding the measures will create a fully integrated force of Regulars and Reservists, using similar equipment and training together. It will mean that the Reserves not only produce individual augmentees to Regular Units, but also deploy as formed units and sub-units.
Vigilance gathered the number of trained Reserves would grow to around 35,000 across all three Services by 2020, aligning the mix of Regular and Reserve components with many of our closest allies. It was gathered the Army would see the biggest change with 30,000 trained Reserves, creating a total land force of about 120,000 and the plans are said to have been backed by an extra £1.8 billion in funding over the next ten years for new equipment, uniforms and training for the Reserves.
The consultation will also look at:
• increasing the number of days Army Reservists are required to train – from 35 to 40 days a year;
• a change of name from ‘Territorial Army’ to Army Reserve – better reflecting the future role and tasks; and
• encouraging more ex-Regulars to become Reservists – making it easier for them to transfer to the Reserves and developing incentives for them to do so.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “This transformation of the Reserves will see a radical shift in the way in which we use them, with units deployed as formed units or sub-units as well as delivering individual augmentees. Increased training, better equipment and extra investment in our Reserves are all integral to our vision of a formidable, adaptable and flexible Armed Forces, with a Reserve/Regular balance more in line with our main allies.
“This Government has committed £1.8 billion to rebuilding our Reserves. The consultation I have launched today is about working with Reservists, their families and employers to use that money to design the Reserve forces of the future.”
Whilst Vice Chief of Defence Staff General Nick Houghton said: “Since 2003 there have been over 25,000 Reservists mobilised, fighting alongside their Regular counterparts. 29 have paid the ultimate price for their country and just this summer we saw 2,000 Reservists provide a pivotal security role at the London 2012 Games.”
The VCDS added: “In the future we will become even more reliant on our Reserves. But this increased reliance means that there are key issues that we have to tackle – like our relationship with employers and the notice period ahead of mobilisation – to get this right. I want to encourage everyone to get involved in this consultation and have their say.”
***The consultation will run until 18 January 2013. Following this consultation the MoD will publish a White Paper in Spring 2013 setting out this new relationship
The consultation is available on the Ministry of Defence website. To view the consultation and have your say visit -http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/ConsultationsandCommunications/PublicConsultations/FutureReserves2020Consultation.htm