Royal Regiment of Scotland, Scottish Division, Army

IAN BRUCE
Defence Correspondent
The Herald
December 27 2005

Recruits for the controversial Royal Regiment of Scotland will not be guaranteed a place in the "tribal" units of their choice when they complete basic training.

Despite repeated political and military promises that the "golden thread" of historic traditions would be maintained when the new, large formation is created next April, an internal Army document reveals that the needs of the regiment will take priority over the wishes of individuals.

Newly-qualified soldiers are to be assigned where they are needed most, meaning that teenagers from Fife who enlist in the expectation of joining the Black Watch could end up being sent to the Argylls, the worst- recruited battalion north of the Border.

The document also states that promising officers and NCOs destined for promotion "will need to be exposed to a variety of roles and operations in order to achieve career variety, possibly at the expense of domestic aspirations".

Insiders say this means high-fliers will be posted between units whether they want to go or not, making a nonsense of the claim that the new regimental structure will improve home life and stability.

Scotland's soldiers were already dismayed by an Army dress committee ruling that all five battalions of the new regiment will wear the same uniform, headgear and capbadge on parade.

The distinctive Tam o' Shanter, the red hackle and other plumes can be worn only when the men are in combat kit and out of public view.

The RRS posting policy document issued recently now states that: "The needs of the regiment come first, but the aspirations of the individual will be a close second. The operational capability of each of the battalions is, however, paramount."

An officer explained yesterday: "People will largely go to the battalion to which they have regional or family connections.

"But there is no guarantee. 'I want to join that one' is not a compelling argument in the circumstances.

"The object of the restructuring of the infantry is to ensure that every battalion is available all of the time. That can't be done when some are short of men while others have a surplus.

"I'm afraid that when individuals are posted between battalions . . . they will have to relinquish all visible sign of their previous tribal allegiance and don the headgear of the unit in which they are serving.

"All volunteers are now classed as recruits for the RRS, rather than for the King's Own Scottish Borderers or the Royal Highland Fusiliers."

Jeff Duncan, organiser of the Save the Scottish Regiments organisation, said: "Almost every Labour minister promised that the six current Scottish regiments would continue to flourish as unique units recruited from their tribal homelands.

"It is no surprise to discover from this document that we were all lied to. A Black Watch recruit from Dundee could now find himself posted to the Royal Highland Fusiliers in Glasgow.

"All of which, depending on your viewpoint, is immaterial. Within a few years, this system will eradicate all identity of the former regiments and wipe out 300 years of martial history."

The Herald revealed yesterday that the six current regiments are 469 soldiers short of full strength and that recruitment is in freefall.

Only 344 volunteers have been signed up in the last nine months.

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