British Army now a 'defence force': Official.

Dub13

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/75215.html

MICHAEL SETTLE and IAN BRUCE November 24 2006

Britain no longer has enough soldiers to constitute an army by international standards, official figures showed yesterday.

By October, the total strength of the UK land force had dropped to just 99,570, below the accepted minimum of at least 100,000 men and women. Technically, the UK now has a "defence force".Quarterly figures from the government's Defence Analytical Services Agency revealed that the Army has lost 1570 personnel since January and is currently below strength by 2230.This means that it is now smaller than Poland's 104,000, Mexico's 144,000, and Egypt's 320,000. The US marine corps alone at 180,000 is larger than the entire British "army".

...A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence put the continual falls in force levels down to the major restructuring announced by the department in October 2004.

The aim is to improve efficiency, she said.

Killaqueen!!!

Good news. Well not about the British soldiers dying...but good that they are now only a 'defence force'. Won't be doing too much invading for the next few years.

lostexpectation

Dub13 wrote:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/75215.html

MICHAEL SETTLE and IAN BRUCE November 24 2006

Britain no longer has enough soldiers to constitute an army by international standards, official figures showed yesterday.

By October, the total strength of the UK land force had dropped to just 99,570, below the accepted minimum of at least 100,000 men and women. Technically, the UK now has a "defence force".Quarterly figures from the government's Defence Analytical Services Agency revealed that the Army has lost 1570 personnel since January and is currently below strength by 2230.This means that it is now smaller than Poland's 104,000, Mexico's 144,000, and Egypt's 320,000. The US marine corps alone at 180,000 is larger than the entire British "army".

...A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence put the continual falls in force levels down to the major restructuring announced by the department in October 2004.

The aim is to improve efficiency, she said.

what a fantastic article that pays no attention to percentage of population, its geographic postions, politics and technology. Presumbly based on the archaic notion of Britain is still some sort of glorious superpower (tyranical coloniser).

And I just noticed this

Only paranoia can justify the world's second biggest military budget
Britain's level of defence spending isn't related to real threats we face, but the needs of our military-industrial complex
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1958581,00.html

vesp

Dub13 wrote:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/75215.html

MICHAEL SETTLE and IAN BRUCE November 24 2006

Britain no longer has enough soldiers to constitute an army by international standards, official figures showed yesterday.

By October, the total strength of the UK land force had dropped to just 99,570, below the accepted minimum of at least 100,000 men and women.

Labour have been in power for so long there, why are you surprised things have gone down.

Sorry ladies but its still an Army. The numbers dont include the 40,00 odd TA.

komsomol

What defines an army from a defence force in my mind is capability, not manpower.

Flying

Dub13 wrote:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/75215.html

MICHAEL SETTLE and IAN BRUCE November 24 2006

Britain no longer has enough soldiers to constitute an army by international standards, official figures showed yesterday.

By October, the total strength of the UK land force had dropped to just 99,570, below the accepted minimum of at least 100,000 men and women. Technically, the UK now has a "defence force".Quarterly figures from the government's Defence Analytical Services Agency revealed that the Army has lost 1570 personnel since January and is currently below strength by 2230.This means that it is now smaller than Poland's 104,000, Mexico's 144,000, and Egypt's 320,000. The US marine corps alone at 180,000 is larger than the entire British "army".

...A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence put the continual falls in force levels down to the major restructuring announced by the department in October 2004.

The aim is to improve efficiency, she said.

The BA is still a foremidable force, although recruitment level's have dropped significantly since I was there, my particular unit had an excess in applicants about 200% more than required but now they are lucky to get a full company of recruits every Basic rotation, most people are more well read and honestly scared of going to Hot zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

As for the Marine Corp being 180,000 strong the majority of them are braindead and badly trained except for Recce and Special units within

Steyr

I see the RAF is now going the way of the RN by looking for ways to recruit Homosexuals and Bi Sexuals.