DTN News - UK DEFENSE NEWS: Recruiting Former Gurkhas Into The Army Reserves Is A No-Brainer
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Nick Harvey
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 8, 2013: Gurkhas are a widely admired, loved and revered part of the British Army. But strangely, five years after allowing them to settle here after completing their service, we still don't routinely recruit them to the reserves when they leave, despite their desire to continue to serve. At the same time, there are serious concerns about whether we can meet the ambitious new targets as part of the Army 2020 vision and restructure in which the reserves will play a vital role. It seems a no-brainer that we should retain some of the toughest and bravest fighters we have, and instead help them lead the way for the future reserves.
*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Nick Harvey
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Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Nick Harvey(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 8, 2013: Gurkhas are a widely admired, loved and revered part of the British Army. But strangely, five years after allowing them to settle here after completing their service, we still don't routinely recruit them to the reserves when they leave, despite their desire to continue to serve. At the same time, there are serious concerns about whether we can meet the ambitious new targets as part of the Army 2020 vision and restructure in which the reserves will play a vital role. It seems a no-brainer that we should retain some of the toughest and bravest fighters we have, and instead help them lead the way for the future reserves.
The 2010 defence review, which I was involved in as a minister, triggered a mass restructure of our Armed Forces. What we have now is an ambitious plan for a future Army that relies in part on a highly-trained and deployable reserve force. In practice, it means that we need to double the number of trained and ready reserves from what we currently have in the Territorial Army.
The 2010 defence review, which I was involved in as a minister, triggered a mass restructure of our Armed Forces. What we have now is an ambitious plan for a future Army that relies in part on a highly-trained and deployable reserve force. In practice, it means that we need to double the number of trained and ready reserves from what we currently have in the Territorial Army.
A huge recruitment drive and massive rejuvenation of the reserve forces will be far from easy. We’re already lagging behind: we will need a serious culture change within the Ministry of Defence and the Army of how we view the reserves if we’re achieve our targets. Currently, public concerns persist that reserves are simply "making up numbers" after troop redundancies, that they are just an add-on to the "real" Army. Countering such perceptions is essential and the Gurkhas can lead the way. That is why I am asking that we begin signing up our former Gurkha soldiers as part of the culture shift towards a battle-ready, fully integrated reserve force rather than losing them completely as we currently do.
Gurkhas have been an integral part of the British Army for almost 200 years, characteristically loyal, courageous and dedicated – earning 13 Victoria Crosses between them, and they lost 45,000 lives during the two world wars. More recently, their contribution in Afghanistan highlighted not only their bravery, but also a unique affinity with our Afghan partners culturally and linguistically. Above all, these fierce fighters are one of the most highly regarded, robust and respected elements of our Army.
At the moment, unlike most ex-service personnel who have a reserve liability on leaving the forces, former Gurkhas are not routinely recruited into the reserves. As Nepalese citizens, they can only join the voluntary reserves – the Territorial Army (TA). By and large they don’t join the TA: there isn’t a culture of them joining as they could not stay in Britain until the Liberal Democrats led the campaign to change that.
Sadly, just like the rest of the regular Army, the Gurkhas have faced the bitter pill of forced redundancies as we bring down our record budget deficit. Their much-sought-after talents are currently helping private security companies, but their willingness to continue serving this country does not disappear. Instead of allowing this loss of talent and dedication to happen, the MoD must do more to retain the Gurkhas’ unique skills. We should start by giving them the reserve liability, recognising the contribution they still have to offer.
As regular reserves they can lead the way in building the Territorial Army and the regular reserve into the new future reserves. This will send a strong signal that the new, rejuvenated reserve force is more robust and battle-ready than ever.
Recruiting Gurkhas into the reserves is not only good for defence, but good for the Gurkhas too. Gurkha communities continue to feel a huge sense of prestige about the legacy of Gurkha regiments. That was why the successful campaign to give them residency rights was such a proud moment for the Liberal Democrats. It remains as important as ever that we look out for them in return for the sacrifice they have made for Britain.
A reserves White Paper is due to be published this summer. How better to build on the Gurkhas’ heritage in that White Paper than to extend reserve liability to the Gurkhas, re-form some of them as reserve regiments and offer a pathway into a second Army career as a reservist?
Nick Harvey is the Member of Parliament for North Devon and a former Minister of State for the Armed Forces
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The announcement, by Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Minister Peter Luff, to procure another 140 of the 2A version of the weapons-mounted patrol vehicle at a cost of £45m was another vote of confidence in a vehicle which has enabled British patrols to keep in touch with the enemy, often in the toughest of Afghan terrain. Around 40 of the Jackal 2As are due to be delivered this month.
Jackal is the best known of the high mobility transporter vehicles delivered by Babcock over the last few years. The original contract to produce the vehicles was signed as an Urgent Operational Requirement in 2007. The contract has since delivered with huge success.
Jackal vehicles are produced by Babcock under an alliance with Supacat, the prime contractor and design authority. Supacat is responsible for design, development, prototyping, integration and programme management, while Babcock takes responsibility for detailed production planning, purchasing and manufacture at its Devonport factory.
Perfect partnership has been the key for the project co-ordinators at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). Alan Stephen, DE&S' high mobility transport vehicle project manager, said:
"The success of the Jackal programme has been grounded on a combined effort between the project team and industry, who have shown great will to achieve and the ability to take risk to continue delivery.
"My team is thoroughly committed to achieving the best solution for the soldier on the ground, as early as possible, as economically as possible.
"We can't rest on our laurels though, and are continually examining ways of making an excellent vehicle even better. Regular good communications direct with theatre and excellent backbriefs from returning brigades assist in identifying where we should be looking at improvements.
"Of course it does help motivation that it's a very well-liked vehicle which has delivered an important capability to Operation HERRICK."
The vehicles are built by a team of up to 130 Babcock employees working on the Devonport pulse production line, along with a smaller project management team of 25.
The pulse production line involves dividing the total manufacturing activity into a series of 12 equally balanced packages or 'cells', and the vehicle is physically moved, or 'pulsed', from one area assembly to the next on a daily basis.
Application of a 'lean' philosophy has identified and eliminated any non-value-adding activities, and serves to ensure that the demanding delivery schedules and critical quality and reliability requirements are met.
This is coupled with highly effective supply chain management to reduce lead times, ensure quality and reliability, manage obsolescence, and ultimately drive down the cost of construction and ownership. Production runs at a rate of one vehicle a day.
Babcock Land Systems Director, Chris Dunn, said:
"The Jackal vehicle has been a resounding success, having proved its versatility; combining speed and manoeuvrability with unparalleled cross-country performance over Afghanistan's harsh terrain." 
We are delighted to be working in alliance with Supacat to deliver these vehicles reliably and consistently within the shortest possible timescales.
"Further, we have established Babcock as a company that can be relied upon to deliver vehicles of exceptional quality at record pace and, being OEM [Original Equipment Manufacture] independent, we are also talking to other vehicle designers about building their vehicles for upcoming programmes in the UK and abroad."
Jackal - the story so far...
ASCOD SV, which is a modified military off the shelf (MMOTS) platform already proven in service with a number of NATO allies, will replace the ageing CVR(T) fleet and will introduce new vehicle roles.
“The MoD chose General Dynamics UK’s ASCOD SV because it guaranteed the best protection for British troops, the best value for money for the British taxpayer, the best deal for the UK Industrial base, the best integrated solution, and the best growth potential for the British Army to combat future threats throughout the 30-year lifespan of the vehicle,” commented Dr. Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK.
“I am particularly proud that this vehicle has been designed in Britain by British engineers and will provide jobs for British workers, as well as saving the lives of British military personnel wherever they may be in the world over the next 30 or so years,” continued Dr. Wilson. “My team and I at General Dynamics UK look forward to working in partnership with the MoD over the next several years to deliver the vehicle the British Army deserves and needs in order to do their difficult jobs in the safest and most effective manner possible.”
Key advantages that the ASCOD SV delivers to the MoD include:
A modern drivetrain, which is good for the 30-year life of the vehicle and thereby obviates the need for a mid-life upgrade;
Load-carrying potential of up to 42 tonnes with a growth path to 45 tonnes, which provides the ability to meet future threats likely to appear over its entire 30-year life, as well as carry its heaviest variants;
A Common Base Platform that will support variants such as an Armoured Personnel Carrier, Protected Mobility vehicle, a Repair vehicle and a Recovery vehicle;
An open electronic architecture, available across all variants, which will make the SV fleet easier to maintain, ease the training burden, and play a key role in lowering costs throughout the life of the vehicles; and
An advanced turret design which, because of its internal space and leading ergonomics, delivers improved survivability and fightability for its crew. General Dynamics UK has sub-contracted Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill to produce the turret.
ASCOD SV also has high export potential, as required under the Defence Industrial Strategy.
The trials of the prototype vehicles are expected to begin with the Army no later than 2013. Once the demonstration phase is successfully completed, the MoD will be in a position to proceed to the Manufacture Phase and begin production of these battle-winning vehicles.
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