Army redundancies and recruitment

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by clueless1, Sep 21, 2013.

  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2008
    Messages:
    17,778
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Here
    Ratings:
    +19,601
    Most are probably aware that the Army is making redundancies at the moment. I'm not sure I agree with that but I don't understand government and military things enough to pass judgement.

    However, the Army is also recruiting. That's fair enough. The Army will always need to recruit. I'd expect that while downsizing, recruitment would have a low profile. Probably limited to just keeping the Army Careers offices open and just letting people make their own way in on their own initiative, but no, a high profile TV ad has just been on, and this morning I heard an ad on the radio.

    However I don't get how you can have redundancies AND high profile recruitment campaigns at the same time.

    As a slight aside, I have observed over the years that high profile Army recruitment campaigns almost always precede a war. Syria? North Korea?
     
    clueless1, Sep 21, 2013
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2011
    Messages:
    12,628
    Occupation:
    Pyro
    Location:
    Retired Next To The Bonfire in UK
    Ratings:
    +38,720

    :scratch::scratch::dunno::scratch::dunno::scratch::dunno::scratch::dunno::scratch::scratch:
     
    Jiffy, Sep 22, 2013
    #2 Quote in Conversation
  3. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2012
    Messages:
    29,805
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Public Transport
    Location:
    At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
    Ratings:
    +57,239
    I assume that it is the same story that we see regularly in business - change the title of a job, and slightly alter the description/duties of that job, then recruit for it whilst making all of those who are in the original role either redundant or to apply for the new job; oh, and make the new job pay less. Fairly easy way of getting shot of the weakest.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
      Fat Controller, Sep 22, 2013
      #3 Quote in Conversation
    • clueless1

      clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

      Joined:
      Jan 8, 2008
      Messages:
      17,778
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Here
      Ratings:
      +19,601
      Or, possibly my dad's theory. Britain is trying to secretly bolster our military capability (at least on paper so to speak). When a soldier leaves the army honourably while still combat worthy, I believe they remain on reserve for a number of years after, proportional to their original term. So if you sign up for 3 years, then leave after that time, you remain on reserve for another 9 years. This means you cost the MOD nothing at that point, but if need be, you can be recalled at very short notice in extreme circumstances.

      By laying soldiers off (effectively putting them on reserve) and then recruiting a replacement, you effectively get two soldiers for the price of one as far as numbers on a piece of paper are concerned. I've seen it used in feeble propaganda articles in the past even on the BBC, where a war is brewing so they do lovely colourful charts and diagrams of the capabilities of all the factions, and sometimes they show how many soldiers each nation has and how many more they can readily get.
       
      • Like Like x 1
        clueless1, Sep 22, 2013
        #4 Quote in Conversation
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

        Joined:
        May 5, 2012
        Messages:
        29,805
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Public Transport
        Location:
        At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
        Ratings:
        +57,239
        Your dad's theory sounds spot on - I wasn't aware that ex-soldiers remained on reserve.
         
        Fat Controller, Sep 22, 2013
        #5 Quote in Conversation
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

        Joined:
        Jan 9, 2005
        Messages:
        56,482
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Mid Kent
        Ratings:
        +110,300
        I think you answered your own question there.
        The government dont want a full time army, it costs too much.
         
        pete, Sep 22, 2013
        #6 Quote in Conversation
      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jan 12, 2019
        Messages:
        48,096
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +100,851


        It's not a new thing thing, Clueless, and doesn't just apply to the Army as the same thing has been happening since the early 1970's. What the MOD is, and has been, trying to avoid is a natural growth of career serving, medium or long serving servicemen. When I joined the RAF you were immediately offered a contract up to the age of 55 years if you got above a certain mark in the entry exams.......and not all that high a mark either. But over the years the MOD has tried to get rid of the expensive medium term and long term career contracts [no expensive pensions etc commitments] only offering short term contracts with no career prospects.
        They only want a short term "cannon fodder" group in the Army with a very small core of professional career soldiers to run it. The RAF went the same way by contracting out 2nd Line technical services, and in some cases 1st Line services to civilian contractors......which is fine until there's a war and the civvies don't want to be on the front line unless they get paid exorbitant "bonuses" and danger money.:sofa::hate-shocked::runforhills:
         
        • Informative Informative x 1
          ARMANDII, Sep 22, 2013
          #7 Quote in Conversation
        • mrtibbs

          mrtibbs LOST !!!

          Joined:
          Jul 2, 2013
          Messages:
          67
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Churchdown. Gloucester
          Ratings:
          +158
          I left the R.A.F. in 1995 after 11 years after being made redundant, I was then on reserve for 6 years. 6 months later they were looking to recruit people again. Madness
           
          • Agree Agree x 1
            mrtibbs, Sep 22, 2013
            #8 Quote in Conversation
          Loading...
          Similar Threads - Army redundancies recruitment
          1. Fof

            How to save money by US army

            Fof, Feb 7, 2024, in forum: Off-Topic Discussion
            Replies:
            0
            Views:
            564
            Fof
            Feb 7, 2024
          2. KeiithC

            Farmyard Manure and top soil mixture proportions for greenhouse rasied beds?

            KeiithC, Jan 25, 2024, in forum: Greenhouse Growing
            Replies:
            15
            Views:
            3,899
            gks
            Jan 29, 2024
          3. ricky101

            FarmYard Manures - worth it ?

            ricky101, Nov 13, 2022, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
            Replies:
            36
            Views:
            5,298
            infradig
            Nov 19, 2022
          4. Engelbert

            How to use Gro-Sure Farmyard Manure as mulch for berries etc?

            Engelbert, May 30, 2016, in forum: Edible Gardening
            Replies:
            1
            Views:
            1,281
            burnie
            Jun 14, 2016
          5. shiney

            Army Answerphone Message

            shiney, Jan 28, 2013, in forum: Off-Topic Discussion
            Replies:
            5
            Views:
            489
            clueless1
            Jan 28, 2013

          Share This Page

          1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
            By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
            Accept Learn More...
            Dismiss Notice