'Time to turn the tide on Territorial terms'
WHILE the government is keen to promote the image of “one Army, Regular and Territorial” perhaps it would be prudent for the conditions of soldiers on full-time Reserve home service to be reviewed before good people become disillusioned and leave.
Personnel on this arrangement are not entitled to health or dental care, do not receive any allowances, are not permitted to enjoy subsidised accommodation and cannot receive the X Factor reward package.
As an example, I know of an excellent community psychiatric nurse at the Reinforcements Training and Mobilisation Centre in Chilwell who has served in Afghanistan twice and is employed full-time to treat Regular and Reserve troops returning from theatre.
He is a senior NCO living in transit accommodation who commutes regularly.
The Army relies on experienced Reserves from the NHS to deliver medical care.
But such terms and conditions of service are in danger of putting off much needed health professionals from joining. – Cpl Straw (AGC (RMP)).
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