UK military chiefs predict the challenges 2024 could pose

[@Jon962-h4i]

It is time to row back on recent defence cuts. Yes, capability matters, but so does mass and resilience. We need a larger military and a halt to further base closures (particularly RAF airfields). We are already hard pressed to maintain our current op tempo and yet mutterings still abound of future cuts in army numbers. Current events in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific regions are deeply concerning, and we are sleep-walking into potential disaster. Giving away weapons and equipment to Ukraine without replacing them at pace is also adding fuel to the fire. 2024-25 is not going to pleasant. We need to wake up!

[@RokeJulianLockhart.s13ouq]

I believe that capability matters more for the British Army. However, we have little of all currently. We just have no money.

[@SmartSilver]

Biggest challenge for British military will be the same as it's been for 40 years or more. Politician's and defence cuts.

[@scottroberts7875]

Our Government...Must. Invest..No more Cuts..or downsizing..ATVB2U all Scott Somerset

[@MrSharpe95]

The same as its been for too long . Under funded and under manned 😢 And a procurement process that is shambolic

[@xclonejager6959]

Love that joke of a pay rise.... Don’t know a single bod who can’t say they are earning any more after that poorly disguised boost into the next tax bracket....

[@kennymedic58]

How do you get to chief of the air staff without out doing an operational tour ?

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

Why shouldn't one?

[@mbe190283]

My thoughts exactly mate.

[@averagejoe8358]

Because its more of an administrative role. You pick someone because they're qualified, not just because they've been shot at

[@mbe190283]

You can deploy on operations in an "administrative role" and not get shot at. The fact he's never deployed says a lot imo. Operational deployments to high threat or low threat environments provude a person with great experience and understanding of what the mission is!

[@derf9465]

Well he's clueless about what we do in operational theatres then.

[@regarded9702]

Lack of everything could possibly be an issue

[@asan1050]

Thank you for posting.

[@stevenhewes1990]

The main challenges: Drop in military readiness and capabilities. Low retention rate.

[@andygass9096]

all this tells me is an overstretched and under-resourced military..

[@Lurphy08]

under funded, no national service and having constant mps that hate our vets and military, wtf are we supposed to do + half the public can't even decide their gender.

[@CensoredbyYTforhavinganopinion]

2024 should be the year the UK stops all foreign financial and military aid and start spending the money building the British forces and training the British public for what's coming

[@garagenigel]

Oh please!!!😂😂😂

[@danielbb8570]

Can’t trust all British people also different types disabled people can’t fight, what is coming , if ww3 start it be nuclear war putin and nato not that mad start war between each other , Russia can’t fight Ukraine so go no chance fight nato who more powerful and bigger , stop all money and military supplies to ukriane get them end this war and put more money in the defence budget

[@randydutton1]

Russia is sponsoring and encouraging much of the mayhem occuring in Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Their proxies are trying to distract the West from supporting Ukraine. Don't be naive in thinking Russia isn't the villain.

[@jevgenijs39]

There is no military aid!, this is in country interests!

[@docproc7650]

I would vote for that

[@georgegeorgakopoulos5956]

In Forces News We Trust

[@averagejoe8358]

Still better than the bbc

[@MsIceBreaker]

Happy new year.

[@Ironcrossdelta]

In the past, the military, especially elite units like the SAS, were able to recruit people who may not have had a lot of formal education or administrative skills. The focus was more on their experience, physical abilities, tactical training, and the right mature mindset for the job. However, the military has become much more complex and technologically advanced these days. Now, recruits need a wider range of skills to be able to use and maintain the specialized equipment, process intelligence, and work with different military branches and international partners. So, the military has had to raise the educational and administrative requirements for recruitment. This means that even if someone is physically fit and has the right attitude, they may struggle to get into the military if they don't have the necessary technical and paperwork skills. In simple terms, the main difficulties people face today when trying to join the military are: 1. Technical skills: Recruits need to be able to understand and operate advanced technology and equipment used by the military. 2. Analytical and cognitive abilities: The military requires people who can process information, analyze data, and make informed decisions. 3. Administrative and compliance skills: Recruits need to be able to navigate the growing bureaucracy and paperwork involved in military service. 4. Interoperability and communication: The ability to work effectively with different military branches and international partners is now more important. These increased requirements can be challenging for some people who may have the right physical and mental qualities for military service, but lack the specific educational or administrative background. They have to navigate these hurdles to finally secure a job in the military. The military has had to adapt to the changing nature of modern warfare, and this has led to a shift in the recruitment process, making it more demanding for potential recruits to meet the new skill requirements.

[@danielbb8570]

Recruiting but getting rid of personnel so mess up , raf need more fighter jets and navy need more ships, army more tanks and artillery and vehicles more drones , more pay rise but should put more money in the budget , make better homes for there troops , stay you care for military haven’t seen that happen

[@mikeh692]

“..anyone can join”. We’re doomed.

[@cjtdup5395]

Haha hopefully we fix the laughable recruitment process. Took me years to be in the position to join, but was rejected for a bogus medical reason upheld for bureaucracy.

[@derf9465]

Keeping people in. The youngsters join up and then leave after a few years.

[@JL-XrtaMayoNoCheese]

Private sector is more rational

[@PiperX1X]

We need to bring back National service, it never did those who served when we had it and it won’t do those any harm if it was brought back in. The world is changing as we know it and we need to make sure we have a military strength we can defend ourselves if needed.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

Don't be silly.

[@Jeffybonbon]

every man and women to do National Service in the UK It would never work we live in a very different UK than we did in the 1950s and i dont think the armed forces would want it we have professional armed forces and conscripts would weaken it But what do I know

[@discountdvd]

It would make the UK a much better place by producing youngsters that respect authority and are used to working for a living rather than the woke idiots being brought up with the ethos that they have the right to spend their entire lives on the dole

[@ecaeas4439]

Why do we need national service?

[@Jeffybonbon]

we dont imO @@ecaeas4439

[@derf9465]

The same if not better accommodation than the illegal immigrants ? Hot water all year heating that not only works but is controllable.

[@mikeymikeFType]

We don’t have any

[@alessandrocarpi9898]

Venezuela,Argentina,Middle East and Korea.......

[@Orbital_Inclination]

Korea isn't really a UK concern, and Argentina are in no fit state to try anything. Their new president has even admitted as much. Venezuela would be foolish to try anything, as it will finally give the US the legitimate war justification it needs to oust Maduro.

[@rivetjoint9628]

Lets start with basics, give people decent housing now.

[@Jon962-h4i]

Forget housing, we need people and we need kit.

[@archstanton6310]

The enemy is already here.

[@Orbital_Inclination]

No they're not, turn off GB News and go for a walk 😂

[@trs4u]

Still want to see something depart for space from Spaceport Cornwall. Are we really that far off from even a suborbital out-of-atmosphere flight? Felt sure some bright spark would be able to obtain ballistic / re-entry video from an air-launched missile with the payload replaced for less than it cost to parcelforce VO's rocket via RAF. I thought we fumbled that. Any prospect of a demo departure from Newquay in 2024?

[@RRaymer]

Everything in regards to Space in the UK is outsourced. We should probably see what India’s ISRO is doing and take lessons from them

[@Dave-us5fq]

With regard to the rocket being transported by the RAF; it was brilliant experience for the aircrew and movements personnel involved in it. Exposing personnel to different challenges like this can go a long way in helping with the little things! Just my two pence on it…

[@ilikelampshades6]

Staff retention as people are unhappy about working hard to live their entire lives in poverty

[@stevenhewes1990]

As well as benefits being cut and PC culture running amuck in the triservice. The tri service is supposed to be a political. Not taking left-wing political stances at every opportunity

[@ilikelampshades6]

@stevenhewes1990 True. But that's balanced out with right-wing 'cut all funding and make everyone work harder for less money' rhetoric. I was less bothered about the woke nonsense than I was about my pay packet. I was Army Captain and left and got a 20k payrise. Now work 2 days less a week and my workload is about a third of what the army had me doing.

[@Orbital_Inclination]

Out of interest, what civvie role did you go into? Asking for future me 😂

[@ilikelampshades6]

@Orbital_Inclination Believe it or not, the NHS, which is notorious for horrendous salaries.

[@xkeyscore1120]

Glad I'm out of it.

[@danielbb8570]

Still can get call up , you still on database no matter what

[@xkeyscore1120]

@@danielbb8570 No mate. My reserve liability is done.

[@Iamhassentme]

recruiting seems like a challenge. time to offer real benefits like money for university

[@SconHeadVideos]

Are air forces even necessary anymore? Surely drones are the way forward. Doesn’t appear to be much fighter jet action in Ukraine

[@Orbital_Inclination]

There's plenty of air activity around Ukraine. Russia has been constantly deploying stand-off weapons from fighters and bombers, helicopters have been providing support to troops, intelligence aircraft have been bringing in useful information. Even with drones, there's still a lot of use for manned aircraft. It isn't all about strafing the enemy.

[@andrigeogiou8420]

Challenges ! Are you guys, ever gonna help Cyprus, to get rid of its conquer. Turkey ? After all , Britain, IS a quarantor power ,of the island independence.

[@frazer3191]

Double the defence budget. For the next ten years.

[@andrewbantick6311]

You let the force’s down for so long you won’t get it back

[@robdegoyim4023]

How about defending the borders?

[@BrenThen4367]

THEY SAID UNITED AFRICA... BUT SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD BUILD GREAT WALL OF AFRICA 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@rossnolan2883]

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@grezjoseph6257]

Losing weight. Some in the forces are very overweight. I don't say this to make fun and call people names. It is a problem if you go to war, and are overweight. After all you wont be able to run away.

[@stuartnewman6968]

Hmmm using the three live rounds that they have in stock. Pulling warrior tanks out of retirement and recruiting teenage lads and girls in trackies and chav hoodies. "Making a yeah M8" symbol on the retired equipment

[@Orbital_Inclination]

Lads in trackies and chav hoodies has been the army's main demographic for decades.

[@peteredan7352]

Do away with the woke recruiting and maybe your retention will improve. Your core, the people who commit to the military, have had enough of being ordered to embrace diversity and inclusion. How about recruiting the best.

[@Orbital_Inclination]

If people can't get on board with inclusion (ie not being a total bell to other people based on their gender, race or sexual orientation, for example) they don't deserve to be a part of the military in the first place. Respect for your colleagues is a key part of the military. Recruitment policy has no effect on retention. They're two ends of the pipeline.

[@peteredan7352]

The military in my experience, after nearly 48 years of service in both the regulars and reserves, have never had an issue with inclusivity and diversity. If you serve you earn respect, as do all your colleagues but without having to broadcast it. It's the recruitment of those who are not the best but who highlight and seek to promote the current trends that weakens the defence of our country. Being forced to accept this as a given is what has started the current rot and collapse in recruitment and retention. I would suggest having respect for those with differing opinions, albeit not opposite opinions, might be a more subtle approach. I have never opposed the recruitment of people based on gender, race or sexual orientation, so long as they are the best for the role they are seeking. Tokenism rather than realism, to appease the wokarati, is what I am against and so should you be. After all, If you are a serving member of the Armed Forces, your life and that of your colleagues may depend upon it and the current vocal wokarati are unlikely to be along for the ride.

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

Tally Ho

[@AAAA88927]

I am a white pilot. Can I join the RAF

[@Orbital_Inclination]

If you perform well enough at OASC, yes.

[@davidrobertson5700]

Venezuela will probably beat us , this will be the lesson of cutbacks

[@Orbital_Inclination]

The US are unlikely to let that happen, given their oil interests

[@davidrobertson5700]

@@Orbital_Inclination Venezuela will still beat us, do you not listen ? Seriously

[@waheex]

actually the world is quite predictable. War and more war. South China sea and sabre rattling etc. Iran at it's work

[@steveh5005]

Little respect for these talking heads. From sexual abuse in the military. Unservicable fleet ( Submarine long patrols, engines on Type 45 and white elephant carriers) To lack of weapons procurement. ( Ajax ect ) And serious recruiting issuie.