HMForces.co.uk

BBC Radio 4 are producing a discussion programme called Reality Check, which is going to ask whether the UK should have such a large armed forces. 

Who now thinks it's not a good thing - or at least that it should be reduced in size, or that we should intervene less overseas?  Perhaps someone is of the opinion that we've clung too long on to the idea that Britain is Great and shouldn't be spending money and lives marching around the globe...? Another idea is that we're spending too little and trying to do too much - and that we should just reign in our ambitions if we haven't got the money and conviction to be a great military nation?

Any thoughts?

This is why I HATE the media. Undermining public confidence, trust and investiment in the military at a time when we need it most.

No our military is not a fading military power, we are the BEST military in the entire world,  other nations and organisations look to us for training, guidence, advice and help. We are the most professional military force and are recognised as such by these nations. Just because we dont have trillions to spend on equipment and we are a small nation doesn't make us a nation that isn't great.

I'm proud to serve in a military that doesn't just operate for itsself and its own interests, we are willing to help others and still operate in the same professional and efficient manner when the going gets though.

Its time the media recognised this and began re-inforcing it. When did pride in your country become taboo!?

Rant over (for now)

Having served in the Forces, it sickens me the way this government is totally blind to the need for the Forces. They are blinded by the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, which of course should never be belittled. But they are forgetting that there are 2 other services besides the Army that need funding and which are taking the brunt yet again of the defence cuts. It is as usual the RAF that is taking the main hits with airbases being closed down and aircraft being taken out of service too early ie. Nimrod. Also they are again sizing down the Navy which is also a disgrace, as we are an island nation and most of our trade comes by sea. They do not see the percieved threats from terrorist organisations and rogue states. They are still living in the " oh the cold war is over and we dont need all these weapons" mind set. Well the threat is bigger now than in the cold war and with a resurrgent Russia and China building up their forces and modernising we should be doing the same. I am sick to death of these consecutive governments cutting Defence spending when they waste Billions on the NHS  and Education, They really need to look to the security of this nation first before we get caught out.

MADMAN007 says ...

Having served in the Forces, it sickens me the way this government is totally blind to the need for the Forces. They are blinded by the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, which of course should never be belittled. But they are forgetting that there are 2 other services besides the Army that need funding and which are taking the brunt yet again of the defence cuts. It is as usual the RAF that is taking the main hits with airbases being closed down and aircraft being taken out of service too early ie. Nimrod. Also they are again sizing down the Navy which is also a disgrace, as we are an island nation and most of our trade comes by sea. They do not see the percieved threats from terrorist organisations and rogue states. They are still living in the " oh the cold war is over and we dont need all these weapons" mind set. Well the threat is bigger now than in the cold war and with a resurrgent Russia and China building up their forces and modernising we should be doing the same. I am sick to death of these consecutive governments cutting Defence spending when they waste Billions on the NHS  and Education, They really need to look to the security of this nation first before we get caught out.

 

The Nimrod isn't being taken out of service completely; the MR2 has been taken out of service and the R1 soon to be once the MRA4 comes into service around 2012. The MRA4 is being tested still up at Kinloss.

MADMAN007 says ...

 I am sick to death of these consecutive governments cutting Defence spending when they waste Billions on the NHS  and Education, They really need to look to the security of this nation first before we get caught out.

Pretty harsh words there! If Billions are wasted on the NHS and Education then the same can be said for the Forces. I too served as you did and I saw money being thrown out of the window on a daily basis. If anything in my opinion, the Forces, NHS AND Education all need more funding, they all contribute to the future of the UK.

Henke says ...

 

The answer to the question is do the people of the UK have the will to maintain the status as a first-rate military power of the second rank(not a superpower), or do they want the nanny state to provide them with all their  needs, which seem to keep multiplying. Go to the NHS for "free", get a guaranteed job, a basic education, watch the telly, etc. 

Its up to you. 

This second rank country is doing ok actually, apart from having to help bail out so-called superpowers, and to ask if we want a nanny state which provides "free" NHS, a guaranteed job and a basic education, well the answer is simple! OF COURSE WE BLOODY DO!! I sense the green eyed monster raising its head here, Britain is much closer to realising nearly all of this than any other country in Europe and to knock it is crazy, why shouldnt we have a functional society?

dreme says ...

Henke says ...

 

The answer to the question is do the people of the UK have the will to maintain the status as a first-rate military power of the second rank(not a superpower), or do they want the nanny state to provide them with all their  needs, which seem to keep multiplying. Go to the NHS for "free", get a guaranteed job, a basic education, watch the telly, etc. 

Its up to you. 

This second rank country is doing ok actually, apart from having to help bail out so-called superpowers, and to ask if we want a nanny state which provides "free" NHS, a guaranteed job and a basic education, well the answer is simple! OF COURSE WE BLOODY DO!! I sense the green eyed monster raising its head here, Britain is much closer to realising nearly all of this than any other country in Europe and to knock it is crazy, why shouldnt we have a functional society?

 

I think you totally misunderstood my words. I referred to the UK as a' first-rate power military of the second rank." What do you think that means? As for being green with envy, a number of states in the US are literally going bankrupt after trying to provide social benefits they didn't have the money for, so I'm not envious of the UKs  attempt to do the same. Overspending is one reason Brown is no longer PM, but he sure wasn't overspending on defence.  The NHS is almost out of money, according to the BBC, and so is the US Medicare and Social Security funds. Europe is warning the US against overspending, and its all on Obama's pet projects which Americans don't want. $150,000 for a salamander tunnel in new England for Christs sake. 

How can you have read all my posts without realizing I think the UK is a great country, including its armed forces?  If you want a British take on all this, read a few issues of Warships International, a British magazine which laments the British publics'  view on defence and naval policies. 

 

 

If say Australia was to be attacked are we to stand by and do nothing, I dont't think so. We are capable of putting up to 7 million people into our Armed Forces but usually don't need much more than 300000 to 1 million. Why? because our armed forces have the aggresion and determination to win. We are slow to start but always cross the winning line somehow. We lost America because we were fighting our own people and their hearth was more in it than ours and also a large part of our army, out there, were not of us. We overcame Louis the 14th in 1700+ and 100 years later had to do the same with Napoleon and another 100 years later had to put the Kaizer down and , mainly due to the French, 20 years later had to put Hitler down, this time with some help from our USA cousins. So be proud of your country it has done some service to the world.

Our army is the smallest it has ever been since the Napoleonic wars - the regular army went from 180,000 to 102,000 (nearly halved) during the 34 years I was in (1975-2009), and the TA was cut massively too. I am sure the RAF and RN could say much the same thing. Our armed forces, in particular the army and the Royal Marines, are overstretched year after year with harmony guidelines of 2 years pause between operational tours rarely being met for some. Cuts in manpower went too deep and some reversal of past manpower cuts is needed unless SDSR is bold and actually takes away some defence commitments. Where money needs to be saved is in the cost of procurement - one billion pounds for one destroyer to shoot down fast-jet enemy aircraft threatening the fleet - ridiculous!

johnny80 says ...

Aaaarrrggghhhhhhhhh!!! I can't believe that there were 5 people who actually believe that the Army needs to be reduced. It's okay just let my guys who are deploying once again from there friends and loved ones spend more time away risking there lives so certain people can live normal safe lives and make these type of comments. Just go home tonight and sit down in your comfy chairs, In your perfect little fish bowl of a world and remember every morning you wake up, your Army because of it's size is over committed and constantly training for deployment...Nice one you 5 individuals...Be proud!

I agree, isnt that amazing, and that on a site thats there to support the Forces? Makes you wonder what they are doing here! What are the chances of one of the five coming forward and offering an explaination?

Isn't it the first duty and absolute priority of any British government to defend and protect its citizens and its country to the utmost of its ability and  to do the same for British nationals and interests abroad. I think that the last time this happened was the Falklands war in 1982 and we all know just how lucky we were to get away with that one, I also think that most of us suspect it was a heaven sent political opportunity for a failing government to regain popularity!. Since 1982 we have had Iraq and Afghanistan and once again I think that politics, ego,s and popularity were the reason behind these wars and the fact that our Armed Forces were run down and ill equipped never entered the politicians heads or their conciences.  When will governments realise that if you have modern well equipped powerful Armed Forces then it is not always necessary to fight, the threat is sometimes enough. A nuclear submarine in the South Atlantic in 1982 sent the Argentinian navy scuttling back to port, that action helped but the war had started, an aircraft carrier  anywhere within 2000 miles of the Falkland Islands would have prevented the invasion full stop.

With the current commitment in Afghanistan, it would be hard. We could always just place trident off the coast and threaten em!:P. Nah they dont have the boats nessacary to launch it again!

oggmonster says ...

Think of the experience and best practice that once again has been stored up by the military - part of the issue WHY the Falklands was so successful was the military experience of MP's and personnel at the time (WW2, Palestine, Korea, Malaya, Aden, Suez, Kenya) whereas the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were and have been fought by ignorant individuals with no knowledge of conflict nor resolution as a result awful mistakes occurred. However, a 10+ year conflict has thrown up reform and changes atall levels and gives us a generation with experiences of professional conflict - it will stand us all in good stead over the next 30 years I believe. NOT a fading military power.

I think this makes sense. Don't we need people with experience? There are going to be more wars fought in the coming years in places like Somalia and Yemen. I read it in the papers. If I didn't have my current commitments I would have joined the Navy a long time ago but I am happy with the RNLI!

I'm sorry aliens_nation_band, I don't understand what you wrote. Could you repeat please?

With the way this government seems to want to shelf the armed forces you would certainly think the UK as a 2nd rate military force.

What a disgrace and a complete let down for our troops who train hard to become the best in the world.

PaddyQ says ...

Is it me or are the Government  under the illusion that we are still the British Empire.

The recent budget proposed cuts to everything except foreign aid. Some of those who receive such aid are economically stronger than ourselves.

 

China being one of them.