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Blunder on postings leaves 200 soldiers with no job to go to
IAN BRUCE,
Defence Correspondent
Glasgow Herald
February 6 2006
Up to 200 of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland's most promising lance-corporals, corporals and sergeants are facing an uncertain future after an administrative muddle over postings and promotions left most of them with no jobs to go to.
The men were told several months ago to apply for postings at the bases of their choice in Northern Ireland, Edinburgh, Canterbury and Germany to help further their careers and allow their wives and families to put down roots, register in local schools and try for second-income jobs.
The moves were encouraged by the chain of command to reinforce the "family-friendly" policy which was supposed to be the bedrock of the new super-regiment due to be formed next month.
Most had received confirmation of their new assignments and had begun to make plans. Then the soldiers received word of a routine batch of promotions – lance-corporals became corporals, corporals became sergeants.
That was the point when the Army realised there was no room for most of them at their new ranks at their destinations of choice. The original postings had been approved at the lower ranks.
A corporal commands a seven-man section, with a lance-corporal as his deputy. A sergeant's responsibility is a 30-man platoon. There is a place for only one of each in these sub-units.
The administrative foul-up means up to 40 junior NCOs in each of Scotland's six existing regiments are now waiting to find out where they will end up.
The wife of one told The Herald: "We can't sort out schools for the kids. The people in charge of this mess should know better. It's people's lives they are playing with. So much for the promises made about stability.
"It's disgraceful. My neighbour's told my daughter the other day that her daddy doesn't have a job and she's worried about what will happen."
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman admitted that there was "an administrative problem", but insisted that no soldier would lose his job or be made redundant.
The six existing Scottish regiments are due to be folded into the new " large" regiment on March 28. The Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers will then amalgamate to form a single battalion.
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