Our forces can't carry on like this, says General Sir Richard Dannatt

[Paul Davies 701]

It just goes to show how much or rather little this government thinks of the men & women who are willing to stand up and say "I'm willing to put my life on the line to keep this country safe". My son is in Iraq and will be for Christmas and although he gets a 30 minute phone card a week free (which he and us are very grateful for) if he wants to keep in touch via email or msn etc he has to pay £5 for 2 hours on the computer. Wouldn't it boost moral that little bit more knowing that they could get in touch with home anytime they wished for free (something the American troops have had for a long time). I'm just waiting to see how much these politicians will award themselves when the next pay rise comes around.

[sox3044]

well Gen Jackson only commented on it after he had finished his time, so he gets no respect from me what so ever, he was to busy feathering his own nest and pension fund.

you can tell the chief of staffs briefing team what you like, does it ever work does any one ever realy listen na dont think so. I lwas asked my opinion on pay as you dine years ago and told them to go and research what happened to the american army when they brought it in. ( exactly what is happening now) The MOD are always the same lets make some cuts to save some money, but it always back fires due to lack of fore sight.

I was doing a security job the other month in the power station at aberthaw, one of my m8s who i was talking 2 had managed to purchase 3 houses at RAF St Athens, what happens now, The Mod decied that they are going to build a tri service camp but have sold all the houses, the MOD have to buy them back at market value, how many houses how much wasted cash that could have gone on equipment, ammo, weapons, housing, Not my m8s fault good luck to him hes made a tidy little packet.

It just makes me wonder some times who puts their stamp on these decisions and why they are not held accountable when some thing like this goes realy wrong.

[BennytheBall]

As a Caretaker in a TA centre and an ex Royal Welch Fusilier, I can vouch for General Dannatt, That Morale is low amongst our soldiers of today, I know because I can see it 1st hand everyday, the lads are totally "P----d" off, by hearing some of their comments.
We Ex Royal Welchman were only talking about this problem not so long ago, we were saying that when we served, we worked hard and then "played" hard, but the poor soldier today is not getting any quality time to "Play" hard,(I don't mean on the "P--s" all the time,but going off to do some adventure training etc etc. Its either on operations or training for operations, as for pay as you dine and this JPA system ( what a bag of B----cks that is turning out to be). I believe that recruiting into the Army is not a problem, its keeping these young men & women in (Retention is the word that comes to mind). There is no "carrot" dangling anymore. On a final note as a father who has a son serving at this present time (and I hope that other parents who have family currently serving in our Armed Forces) feel that our brave men and women should now be treated with the highest esteem and priority and the MOD should now "Focus" on the real issues that are affecting our Armed Forces.

Yours A Proud Parent
BennytheBall

[ap1]

well Gen Jackson only commented on it after he had finished his time, so he gets no respect from me what so ever, he was to busy feathering his own nest and pension fund.

Agreed, he let himself and the army down badly. Its all very well battling behind closed doors, but if the civil service and ministers are not listening, you have to play by their rules, and this is what General Dannett appears to be doing. Good luck to him

one of my m8s who i was talking 2 had managed to purchase 3 houses at RAF St Athens, what happens now, The Mod decied that they are going to build a tri service camp but have sold all the houses, the MOD have to buy them back at market value, how many houses how much wasted cash that could have gone on equipment, ammo, weapons, housing, Not my m8s fault good luck to him hes made a tidy little packet.
.

Good luck to him, but this just shows what is wrong with the system. Is your mate forces Sox? if not how the hell did he manage to buy even one of those quarters, never mind two. When soldiers are camping outside surplus estates in order to get a bid in.............it stinks.

Finally Pauls 01's point about the internet. I cannot believe in this day and age, his son has to pay £5 to use the internet on Operations. How did all of this go so badly wrong. The really sad thing is that now after over 5 yrs of continual combat operations, the teeth arms are probably the most experienced troops in the world, a position once held by the Isreali's. However welfare seems to have been ditched along the way, and I'm afraid that senior officers since the mid 90's have allowed it to progress unabated, and when challenging the MOD, they have not done it with vigour. Monty will be turning in his grave.

Have we reached the peak of this sorry period yet, or is there more grief for our troops.

Rant Off

[MikeCarey]

We were briefed last month that MPGS soldiers could be used in the near future to boost troops on operations. In what role is not clear at the moment but it is more then likely to be camp security. Troops that are not medicaly fit for operations would likely replace us for the period we are on operations.

As a lot of MPGS are fit for ops, this seems like a good idea and in general has been met with enthusiasim by most that i have talked to. But does it solve the problem? in the short term yes, but a lot more thinking needs to go into the deployment of our troops.

This is very much in the early days, and as far as I know nothing has been set in stone, like when, where, who or will there be an age limit, as a lot of MPGS are over the age of 40. I wait with intrest!

Mike Carey

[rikoshea]

I'm so glad my son decided in a career change paul mate, I can only imagine what you and your wife must be like at this present time in your sons career. wish him all the best and a safe journey home.