Thousands of soldiers face axe
Thousands of soldiers are finding out if they are to be made redundant as part of the downsizing of the Armed Forces. Up to 2,900 Army personnel are being told of their fate, as are up to 900 members of the RAF and up to 300 from the Royal Navy.
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Thousands of soldiers face axe as Armed Forces downsize
3,800 jobs axed in Armed Forces
The Ministry of Defence announced 3,800 job losses in the Armed Forces. Although less than expected, further cuts to the Army are possible.
Read the full storySupport for soldiers leaving the Armed Forces
The Ministry of Defence provides a number of services for people leaving the Armed Forces.
There's lots of support available for those selected for redundancy today. If you're affected there's information here: http://t.co/YIjeE1TE
From @DefenceHQ on Twitter:There are also many charities providing information and support to former soldiers. For example, the SSAFA provides a free telephone support line:
Worried by today's announcement of redundancies among the Armed Forces? Talk things through in confidence w/ Forcesline http://t.co/gU8xyp24
From @SSAFAForcesHelp on Twitter:Advertisement
Question mark hangs over future Army redundancies
Today's round of redundancies will be the last "significant reduction" for the RAF, Navy and Marines, however further cuts are still possible in the Army. The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
We still have someway to go to bring the size of the Army down to 82,000 and decisions on what isnecessary to achieve this are yet to be taken, but we won’t compromise themission in Afghanistan.
Army bears brunt of job losses
The Army has lost 2,900 soldiers as a result of today's round of redundancies. This was the maximum number expected after the redundancies were first announced in January.
170 jobs will be stripped from the Navy, which is less than the maximum figure of 300. The RAF has lost 730 jobs, also below the maximum figure of 900.
Overall, 3,800 redundancies were announced out of a possible 4,100.
Jobless soldiers thanked for service
The Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards has thanked all of those who are losing their jobs in the Armed Forces. A statement said:
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to those who will be leaving the Services for their contribution to our Armed Forces and to the nation’s security. Some of you may see redundancy as an opportunity. Others will see it as a significant challenge. Your chain of command will support you during the redundancy process, and I would encourage you to make full use of the comprehensive resettlement package as you make the transition to civilian life.
'Cuts mean British forces will be properly equipped'
The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has released this statement in the wake of 4,100 redundancies in the Armed Forces:
Of course I regret that it has been necessary to makeredundancies to deliver our plans for reducing the size of the Armed Forces. Weinherited a multi billion pound black hole in the defence budget which hadmeant the previous Government had not been able to afford to properly equip ourtroops with the kit they needed.
We’ve now brought the defence budget back into balance for the first time in a generation. We will have smaller Armed Forces but we will ensure they will have the protection and equipment they need.
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'72% of redundancies in Armed Forces were voluntary'
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has said that 72% of the redundancies announced today were voluntary. The proportion of voluntary redundancies was roughly the same across the Army, Navy and RAF.
The MOD has said this is a higher proportion than in the last round of redundancies, when only 62% were voluntary.
Army cuts 'leave soldiers out of work'
Thousands of soldiers will learn today that they are to be made redundant as part of the downsizing of the Armed Forces.
Daybreak speaks to Neil Duffy - who after almost twenty years of service in the army - was forced to resign following health problems.
Thousands of soldiers face axe as Armed Forces downsize
Thousands of soldiers will learn today that they are to be made redundant as part of the downsizing of the Armed Forces.
Read the full storyLabour hits out at army cuts
Labour has accused the coalition of dithering ahead of today's announcement of 4,100 redundancies in the Armed Forces.
– Shadow defence secretary Jim MurphyWe are concerned about the human and military impact of these job losses. Capability is being lost, as are people's livelihoods.
The Government are not reforming but dithering. We have no final decisions on the future of basing or regiments and the continued uncertainty is deeply debilitating.