OVERSTRETCH IN THE ARMED FORCES
February 27, 2008 12:01 AM
In Liberal Democrat Voice
In Liberal Democrat Voice
"Overstretched, underpaid and over there" might be an appropriate modern-day take on the infamous line of the Second World War, used in its original form to describe American GIs in Britain. With intense operations on two fronts, in Afghanistan and Iraq, combined with the cumulative effects of underinvestment by consecutive Conservative and Labour Governments, it is a phrase that pithily describes the modern predicament of our armed forces.
Our Armed Forces are a world-class fighting force, but they are not configured for sustained operations at the present rate. The situation has become so critical that the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said recently in a leaked secret memo: "We now have almost no capability to react to the unexpected.", and he is right.
Despite the Labour Government recognising the dangers of continued overstretch in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) of 1998, the most recent Armed Forces Pay Review Board Report of 7th February 2008 alarmingly confirmed continued major shortfalls in personnel number with further concerns that no manning balance will be achieved before April 2009.
With overstretch extending from full-time service personnel to reserves, medics and specialist trades, (as well as rather ironically the very recruiters who are meant to rectify this problem); our Armed Forces are in desperate need of constructive assistance to avoid an irrevocable crisis in our military capabilities. Furthermore, efforts must be made to check the equally alarming effect that overstretch has on the retention of skilled and experienced personnel that are currently serving; the very people who are vital to the Forces. All in all, these deficits will take years to rectify and it does not take a genius to work out that more commitments, fewer resources and fewer men do not bode well for swift success.
As the situation worsens in Afghanistan it is clear that the status quo is untenable. I am convinced that we cannot continue to ask so much of our armed forces without a clear commitment that in the future we will support them with the resources, equipment and man power they so urgently need to fulfil their operations. The military covenant must be more than just an abstract set of obligations, it should be firm entitlements for every serviceman and woman and their families. As a party we are well placed to champion this cause.
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