DTN News - UK DEFENSE NEWS: Recruiting Former Gurkhas Into The Army Reserves Is A No-Brainer

DTN News - UK DEFENSE NEWS: Recruiting Former Gurkhas Into The Army Reserves Is A No-Brainer

*The MoD must do more to retain the Gurkhas’ unique skills, writes Nick Harvey

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Nick Harvey
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 8, 2013: Gurkhas are a widely admired, loved and revered part of the British Army. But strangely, five years after allowing them to settle here after completing their service, we still don't routinely recruit them to the reserves when they leave, despite their desire to continue to serve. At the same time, there are serious concerns about whether we can meet the ambitious new targets as part of the Army 2020 vision and restructure in which the reserves will play a vital role. It seems a no-brainer that we should retain some of the toughest and bravest fighters we have, and instead help them lead the way for the future reserves.

The 2010 defence review, which I was involved in as a minister, triggered a mass restructure of our Armed Forces. What we have now is an ambitious plan for a future Army that relies in part on a highly-trained and deployable reserve force. In practice, it means that we need to double the number of trained and ready reserves from what we currently have in the Territorial Army.

The 2010 defence review, which I was involved in as a minister, triggered a mass restructure of our Armed Forces. What we have now is an ambitious plan for a future Army that relies in part on a highly-trained and deployable reserve force. In practice, it means that we need to double the number of trained and ready reserves from what we currently have in the Territorial Army.

A huge recruitment drive and massive rejuvenation of the reserve forces will be far from easy. We’re already lagging behind: we will need a serious culture change within the Ministry of Defence and the Army of how we view the reserves if we’re achieve our targets. Currently, public concerns persist that reserves are simply "making up numbers" after troop redundancies, that they are just an add-on to the "real" Army. Countering such perceptions is essential and the Gurkhas can lead the way. That is why I am asking that we begin signing up our former Gurkha soldiers as part of the culture shift towards a battle-ready, fully integrated reserve force rather than losing them completely as we currently do.

Gurkhas have been an integral part of the British Army for almost 200 years, characteristically loyal, courageous and dedicated – earning 13 Victoria Crosses between them, and they lost 45,000 lives during the two world wars. More recently, their contribution in Afghanistan highlighted not only their bravery, but also a unique affinity with our Afghan partners culturally and linguistically. Above all, these fierce fighters are one of the most highly regarded, robust and respected elements of our Army.

At the moment, unlike most ex-service personnel who have a reserve liability on leaving the forces, former Gurkhas are not routinely recruited into the reserves. As Nepalese citizens, they can only join the voluntary reserves – the Territorial Army (TA). By and large they don’t join the TA: there isn’t a culture of them joining as they could not stay in Britain until the Liberal Democrats led the campaign to change that.

Sadly, just like the rest of the regular Army, the Gurkhas have faced the bitter pill of forced redundancies as we bring down our record budget deficit. Their much-sought-after talents are currently helping private security companies, but their willingness to continue serving this country does not disappear. Instead of allowing this loss of talent and dedication to happen, the MoD must do more to retain the Gurkhas’ unique skills. We should start by giving them the reserve liability, recognising the contribution they still have to offer.

As regular reserves they can lead the way in building the Territorial Army and the regular reserve into the new future reserves. This will send a strong signal that the new, rejuvenated reserve force is more robust and battle-ready than ever.

Recruiting Gurkhas into the reserves is not only good for defence, but good for the Gurkhas too. Gurkha communities continue to feel a huge sense of prestige about the legacy of Gurkha regiments. That was why the successful campaign to give them residency rights was such a proud moment for the Liberal Democrats. It remains as important as ever that we look out for them in return for the sacrifice they have made for Britain.

A reserves White Paper is due to be published this summer. How better to build on the Gurkhas’ heritage in that White Paper than to extend reserve liability to the Gurkhas, re-form some of them as reserve regiments and offer a pathway into a second Army career as a reservist?

Nick Harvey is the Member of Parliament for North Devon and a former Minister of State for the Armed Forces

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Nick Harvey
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