US lifts ban on women serving on the front line
The US has ended the military's ban imposed in 1994 on woman serving in front-line combat roles.
5,300 soldiers to be made redundant from the Army
Up to 5,300 soldiers are to be made redundant from the Army in the summer as part of the latest round of cuts to the armed forces.
Injured soldier completes epic UK walking challenge
Major Phil Packer has taken the final steps of a 2012-mile walk, despite being told he would not walk again after being injured in Iraq.
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Major finds positives in armed forces job cuts
A leading general believes cuts to the defence budget may have helped the Army design "a better, adaptable force structure".
Major General James Everard, assistant chief of the general staff, told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "I look at the Army force structure and I think that, perhaps if we hadn't been pushed, we wouldn't have got to where we have got to, and I am very happy with where we are."
MP fears Government 'unprepared' for N Africa threat
The Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy accused the Government of a employing a "carry on regardless strategy" after more job cuts were announced today.
The Labour MP told the Commons: "The Army has been cut, but the threats have increased. There will be a sense that ministers are unprepared for growing threats in North Africa and beyond."
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Labour MP: Army job cuts 'make no sense'
Jim Murphy, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, said the latest round of Army job cuts ignores "the emerging threat in North Africa".
Factfile: MoD job cuts
The latest wave of Army job cuts are part of the terms of the Government's 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review:
- Cuts aim to plug £38 billion hole in the defence budget
- The Army will be reduced from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020
- The Navy and the Air Force will each have their personnel cut by 5,000 by 2015
- Up to 5,300 jobs will go in the third round of redundancies
- 2,860 service personnel were made redundant in first tranche; 3,760 lost jobs in second tranche in June
- MoD says more than 90 percent can expect to find full-time work within six months via its resettlement programme
- Government has said reservist numbers will double to 30,000 by 2018
Defence Secretary: Army downsizing 'unavoidable'
– Philip HammondThe Army is actively managing recruitment to reach the target numbers, but unfortunately redundancies are unavoidable due to the size of the defence deficit that this Government inherited and the consequent scale of downsizing required in the Army.
We will have smaller Armed Forces but they will in future be properly equipped and well funded, unlike before. These redundancies will not affect current operations in Afghanistan, where our Armed Forces continue to fight so bravely on this country’s behalf.”
Labour MP asks Government to justify Army job cuts
Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy has been granted an Urgent Question in Parliament on cuts to armed forces:
I've asked that Govt Ministers come to Parliament to justify the 5,000 Army cut. I'm pleased that Commons Speaker has granted my UQ at 12.30
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Army medics to be affected by next round of job cuts
The MoD has predicted a fourth "tranche" of redundancies, with medical personnel among those affected:
– MoD statementThere is likely to be a need for a further tranche for Army personnel and medical and dental personnel from the RN and RAF in due course.
MoD: Job cuts will not affect Afghanistan
– MoD statementThe redundancy programme will not impact adversely on current operations in Afghanistan.
Throughout the redundancy process, we will ensure that we retain the capabilities that our Armed Forces require in order to meet the challenges of the future.
MoD: Up to 5,300 Army jobs to be cut
The Ministry of Defence has announced that "up to 5,300" Army personnel will be made redundant in the third tranche of planned job cuts.
Those serving, about to be deployed or just returning from Afghanistan will be exempt from the latest cuts.
MoD: Job cuts to be announced today
The Ministry of Defence will give details today of around 5,000 job losses as part of cuts aimed at reducing Army numbers by 20,000, an MoD spokesman said.
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