Man Power Shortage In The Para's

[Tab]

The Parachute Regiment is suffering a severe manpower shortage, defence sources said yesterday.

The problem is so bad that a battalion being sent to Afghanistan will need 100 regular infantry soldiers to bring it up to strength.

The Paras have also suffered a substantial loss of experienced soldiers to security companies.

The regiment is about 200 men, or 10 per cent, down on its full manning levels. With the 3 Bn the Parachute Regiment preparing for its challenging mission in southern Afghanistan in the spring and 1 Para about to begin operations with the SAS, recruiters are desperate to get to full strength.

There are fears that some troops from 2 Para might have to go straight from their current operation in Iraq to Afghanistan to make up 3 Para's numbers. The battalion of 640 men in Muthana province, Iraq, is already being supported by a 120-strong company of Territorial Army paratroopers.

Immediately after the 2003 conflict the Ministry of Defence decided to pause infantry recruiting in order to save money spent on the expensive operation.

With the infantry needing almost 3,000 new soldiers a year, including 450 for the three parachute battalions, this has led to a substantial decline in regimental manning at a time when the Army is cutting three battalions of infantry.

It is hoped that a new television advertising campaign, part of the Army's £11 million marketing budget, will make up the shortfall that is being felt across the infantry.

Some infantry regiments are as under strength as the Paras while others are running at five per cent below manning levels.

A large number of Paras have taken "premature voluntary redundancy" after finishing tours in Iraq to take up lucrative private security jobs, quadrupling their salaries to about £300 a day.

The Army Training and Recruiting Agency has taken steps to stem the flow of troops by offering a £650 bounty to any soldier who brings in a new recruit and by offering some former NCOs £6,000 to re-enlist.

A spokesman for the MoD said it had "increased efforts in recruiting for the infantry and these measures are starting to bear fruit".

30 October 2005: Desperate MoD offers soldiers £500 incentive to recruit mates

[Boxingmad]

They should make an TV advert specifically for the Paras, in some ways similar to the one for the Royal Marines, and highlight the tough reputation of the regiment and how difficult it is to get in, because at the end of the day, like it or not, the Paras are renowned for their tough macho image. That should be played on, and would make for a good visual spectacle.

[longrifle]

Make up the losses by rounding out each battalion with a company of Gurkhas? I'm sure those in the know will have some reason as to why this isn't workable. It sounds good though.

[harry hackedoff]

Retaining blokes is dead easy.
Pay`em more farking money

We have the same drain on manpower down here, contract work in Iraq, Afgan or Indo for shit loads more dosh than the average Bootneck or Tom could make.

Here`s to you Toms,
Wahoo Mahomet

[df2inaus]

Immediately after the 2003 conflict the Ministry of Defence decided to pause infantry recruiting in order to save money spent on the expensive operation.

Typical anti-military shortsightedness. The problem is not contractors in Iraq, its Whitehall. I agree, the only thing standing in the way of attracting recruits is the low advertising budget. Is Manning Control still a factor in all this?

df2inaus

[m-a-s-s-e-y]

They should make an TV advert specifically for the Paras, in some ways similar to the one for the Royal Marines, and highlight the tough reputation of the regiment and how difficult it is to get in, because at the end of the day, like it or not, the Paras are renowned for their tough macho image. That should be played on, and would make for a good visual spectacle.

Thats a good idea mate but it aint fair on the rest of the Infantry,Every battalion is under manned, I don't think recruiting is the problem though its retention most the blokes are signing off as soon as they hit the four year point in my battalion and from talking to other lads in diffrent battalions thats the score accross the Infantry.

[Sarastro]

They should make an TV advert specifically for the Paras, in some ways similar to the one for the Royal Marines, and highlight the tough reputation of the regiment and how difficult it is to get in, because at the end of the day, like it or not, the Paras are renowned for their tough macho image. That should be played on, and would make for a good visual spectacle.

I agree mate, but think they might actually have done this in the last advertising spree. If you watch those ads for the Inf on TV at the moment (Mechanised Infantry, Light Role Infantry etc), look at list of roles at the bottom of the screen at the end, and you will see one of them is Air Assault. Since they seem to be doing one advert for each role, and Air Assault role infantry pretty much = Paras, then guess that's their play.

Do agree though, think that the RM 99.99% need not apply is spot on, because it appeals to exactly the personality who might want to join but has never considered the military, and encourages those who have to push themselves. The Army, by contrast, seems bent on portraying themselves as a civvy organisation, emphasizing skills you can learn, competitive pay, etc. The blurb I got through the post for Sandhurst reads like a promo for MorganStanley, Accenture, or some bloody awful managment consulting company at points. Any fool should realise that your average bloke who isn't too interested in the military isn't going to take an Army job for those reasons when compared to a civvy job which is more comfortable, pays more, gives more freedom, and in which you don't get shot at...

[Greenronnie]

The Army adverts of late have definately been too PC, not aimed at young lads who actually want to soldier. However this is starting to change because of the shortage in infantry. Stand by for some featuring 1 Para this year, they should be better.
Ref the Air Assault Role, that includes regular infantry (heli land as opposed to para) as well as Paras.
I think if some footage was included of military parachuting in an infantry advert, it would grab the attention of young lads.

[harry hackedoff]

Good point there Sarastro, me old trapping buddy, Elvis Costello wrote a song about that
At the time the Army were running ads about joining the Professionals

[letsrole]

They should make an TV advert specifically for the Paras, in some ways similar to the one for the Royal Marines, and highlight the tough reputation of the regiment and how difficult it is to get in, because at the end of the day, like it or not, the Paras are renowned for their tough macho image. That should be played on, and would make for a good visual spectacle.

I thought there is one of these? On the advert I saw last night, the infantry guys had the pegasus badge on the arm and parachuted into battle.

[Marine62]

Yeh ive seen it too m8

[Gr8@phys]

The idea of a dedicated Parachute Regiment advert is an excellent idea! As although part of the Infantry; they very much have their own identity and require lads who give it their all.

If the Int Corp and other Army Corps can advertise as individuals, why can't the Paras?

[Tab]

Like the Marines there is not a problem of people wanting to join them, the problem is the quality. They are still failing almost as many people as they take. Once they have been in for a few years there is a problem of retaining them when these Security firms start a recruitment drive offering sacks of cash. Well by then they can see the advantage of taking the cash

[harry hackedoff]

As said Tab, pay`em enough dosh so they don`t want to thin out.

99.99% are not good looking enough. `Cept you and me mate, obviously
You`re effing gorgeous

Really dunno what the answer is. Manpower shortage is a world-wide phenomenom, de dar de dar dah Phenomenom.
Coupled with Labour govt`s love of defence cuts, it`s hard to see a way around this. RM have successfully argued that with all the extra shit that Royal has to do these days, we needed to put back onto the course another two weeks. (I couldn`t see how they shaved the two weeks off in the first place ffs, but hey, what the fork would I know )
There is a very real danger as I see it, in the Govt funding the sex units at the expense of basic line Infantry Units. Any probs worldwide, send in the SAS or Royal. Never mind that the old Devon and Doughnuts were well handy at this shit, send the Paras in there and squash the bastards. Never mind that it`s a bit of civil disorder. That`s the easy way. The hard way is to accept that leading Democracies(because that is actually what UKers is)
have to be able to stand up, not only for themselves, but for all the little blokes as well. It has been to our shame that Robert Mugabe and Pol Pot were given the blind eye, whilst Sadman was not. Poke our Tone and old semi literate Dubya. What is happening in Iraq is not worth the life of one Royal Marine. Kill Bush first. Or Blair. I`d be happy to do it meself and have said so for at least a year before the Gravs got the GO.
Once we had Gravs or Toms on the ground,
.

[Paratrooper01]

1 para are starring in the new Para regt ad's.