-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/01/nmil201
.xml&sSheet=/news/2001/11/01/ixhome.html Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/01/n mil201.xml&sSheet=/news/2001/11/01/ixhome.html">news.telegraph.co.uk - Nearly half of TA not f…</A> ----- Nearly half of TA not fit for battle By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent (Filed: 01/11/2001) NEARLY half of Britain's Territorial Army is not "fit for role" and could not be sent into battle, the Ministry of Defence admitted yesterday. The admission, in answer to a parliamentary written question, follows the disclosure earlier this year that the MoD has no idea how to contact most of its 127,000 regular reservists, who are separate from the TA. In order to be classified as fit for role, or capable of being called up, TA soldiers have to have passed all their annual individual and collective training requirements. Dr Lewis Moonie, Defence Minister, admitted to Paul Keetch, the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, that the Government only expected around 60 per cent of the TA to be effective. One defence source said: "It's been known for a long time that around a third of the TA was dead wood. This has been causing serious concern to staff officers." When soldiers leave the Army they are obliged to serve as regular reservists until their total service amounts to 22 years, making up almost half the full strength of the service in the event of a major crisis. Nearly 10,000 reservists were earmarked for mobilisation for a possible land invasion of Kosovo in 1999. Most could not be found. With America considering a full-scale invasion of Afghanistan, the lack of TA availability is likely to cause problems for any British involvement. TA soldiers who are fit for role receive their annual bounty. Last year less than half, 19,589 out of 40,000, were classified fit for role, 25 per cent down on the modest MoD target of 26,068. This year, the MoD is closer to its target, with 23,857 already classified as fit for role. But that is still only 59 per cent of its strength, leaving 16,652 TA soldiers who cannot be called up. Mr Keetch accused the Government of "intransigence" in its attitude to getting the TA up to strength. "The TA has an essential contribution to make in ensuring our professional forces are able to carry out their commitments abroad," he said. "The real contribution it can make may be way short of what is required unless the 40 per cent shortfall in its effective operating strength is rectified." 31 October 2001: US planning full invasion if special forces fail 2 May 2001: Tory outcry at renewed assault on TA numbers Related reports B52 carpet bombing 'can oust Taliban' External links Operation Veritas - Ministry of Defence Territorial Army © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2001 ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. Omnia Bona Bonis, Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
