Quite alarming developments at petty cost cutting.£6 a day cut for the lowest ranks. Meanwhile I see that Lord Ashcroft has been elevated to a defence pundit.His first role is to carry out a defence review,or at least recommendations for the future of the Cyprus bases. I see that that three Squadrons, ex maritme duties, are to be boxed up today.I''ll wager that the good doctor will be nowhere to be seen.
Servicemen and women win the wars through sacrifice and blood, just for the politicians to lose the peace - they p*ss away all that was won the hard way. They have learned nothing from all the 'cuts' between WWI and WWII, and where that left the UK, the Commonwealth and our other Allies in 1939 to 1942. What is worst of all is that Mr Cameron is the grandson of the then CO of 61st Recce on D-Day, a man that was seriously wounded on 7 June 1944. He should know better. The cuts will leave this country bereft of sufficient forces, adequately equipped, to defend any of our interests, no matter where that may be. Our Armed Forces and defence should not be subject to cuts; but all waste should be removed, starting with the MOD! Best, Steve.
Montgomery - the greatest weapon any commander can have is moral. Talk of pay cuts whilst the lads and lasses are up on the line - unbelievable!
The person who is going to sign off on this should be forced to spend a day with the Paras on the line,and then tell them why they are having their pay cut!! Cheapskate B******s,who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Pink Gins all round at Whitehall we`ve saved a few more bob!!!!
Last combat jump was back in 1956. Normal infantry in Afghan are doing the same job as the paras & they dont get 6 quid extra.
Last combat jump was back in 1956. Normal infantry in Afghan are doing the same job as the paras & they dont get 6 quid extra. Thats what I was thinking too-They get paid a hell of a lot more now on operations with better kit than I did on my last Op in 2004.
gets back to the PBI getting the lowest of the low classification while the specials get all the kudo's - turns out they are doing the same job - time it was all equal. Cheers
Drew: "They get paid a hell of a lot more now on operations with better kit than I did on my last Op in 2004." I'm not sure I understand your point mate. Surely you were paid more than the personnel that took part in the Falkalnds campaign and they were better paid/equipped than the guys that fought in Korea etc etc etc......... Owen: "Last combat jump was in 1956" I agree with the sentiment behind your post but I think it's missing the point. Irrespective of WHY the "jump trained" people get the money, at the end of the day a pay cut is still a pay cut. All the best.............
Perhaps the phrase 'jump pay' should really be 'jump ready pay'. It's not the Paras fault they haven't been required to drop into combat since 1956, but they are still ready and trained to do so (question - did H. Jones replacement in '82 drop into the Falklands? If so would that qualify as a combat jump?). As for difference in pay to regular infantry, given extra fitness requirements, P Coy etc and jump training as well as other 'specialised' roles I would suggest there is still something extra about the Paras that should entitle them to a few bob more per week. I know that might not be popular with non Airborne types but not everyone wears wings and there is a reason for that. Taking cover!
Here's a parallel question - With the new emphasis announced some years ago now on "airmobile" rather than airborne/parachute, and the skills required being rolled out far further than the Parachute Regiment...and a lot more equipment (helicopters, troop carrying and attack) bought for the purpose... What percentage of the Army is today actually trained/experienced in air mobile deployment??? I have a feeling that this has now spread out far beyond the Paras It doesn't dilute their particular skillset - but it does make them "few among many" when it comes to claiming monies for a particular skill...
As a long serving infantryman I have never accepted that Paras are any different than any other unit on the ground, the method of arrival on the battlefield - airborne, might be OK in bush wars but it is never going to be used en masse. However, I stick to my - Unbelievable comment, when people are on active service - when you link that to the money spent on the MoD offices - to make life comfortable for staff! At present 16th Air Assault brigade - more than likely on paper, I suspect most of the equipment and air capabilty is scattered far and wide, but hey, the defence secretary will have his bit of A4 with the units listed.
....when you link that to the money spent on the MoD offices - to make life comfortable for staff! I suppose pay cuts for serving troops was inevitable.........how else is the MOD going to afford to pay for those light bulbs at £22 each!
On the question of parachute pay - over the enlistment-span of the average para at least one injury will be incurred on practice/exercise jumps - some of these injuries will be serious - and later in life people who have been in the airborne have a much higher rate of back/knee/ankle problems than the general population. As the MOD were complaining of the shrinking pool of volunteers for the Special Forces this move will surely hasten the move of highly trained infantrymen to the arms of the Contractors where the pay is much better.
Now the MoD has stated that it is looking at this matter again. Also I wish people would read the papers and they would have known that the paras parachuted into action a few months ago in Afghanistan and wiped out a large number of Taliban leaders. If the Para pay is going to be cut which has been there for 71 years, then what about cutting all the other trades pay in the army so that every one gets the same. See link for the story about the jump PressTV - UK Paras on secret Afghan missions
...I wish people would read the papers and they would have known that the paras parachuted into action a few months ago in Afghanistan and wiped out a large number of Taliban leaders.... I read this at the time; and Col. H Jones' replacement in The Falklands parachuted in also. Instead of cutting the pay of the Para's, maybe they - the Politicians - should cut their own pay, or pay back some of the expenses they have leveraged (probably within the letter of the rules, but not the spirit of them - second homes et al) over the years and give this instead to all service men and women. We all seem to have forgotten how far a lot of these people - Politicians and senior Civil Servants - have had their snouts in the expenses free for all trough... Hypocrits the lot of them; well, most of them anyway! Best, Steve.
Disgusting! With more and more being asked of all our Armed Forces the politicians should give them all a pay RISE!!
Just out of curiousity does anyone know how much a soldier earns a day whilst on tour inc all the LSSA etc these days?
I think it sucks. Your last sentence says it all Mike L. There is a reason for the difference. And compensation for that difference is the least the government can do for them. How many men does the British Army have on jump status? Can't be that many. Will that break the bank? Sad state of affairs it is.
There about 5,000 men that are active in the airborne and would get the extra pay, because it is a small amount and the needle between the different regiments I think the MoD thought that they would be an easy target
