British Army medical personnel numbers drop 23% below operational numbers as medics leave the service due to 'punitive' government tax policies



The Defence Medical Services (DMS) is facing a workforce crisis; the latest available data shows that that are 558 trained medical officers in the Armed Forces when operational capacity should be at 723, a 23 per cent shortfall.

Armed forces doctors are being driven away by government policy that is penalising experienced doctors with exorbitant and unexpected tax bills on their pensions.

As with their colleagues in the NHS, these valuable medical professionals are having to reduce their working hours or considering ending their careers early as they are effectively punished for working tirelessly to care for patients.

While tax reform is the long-term solution to this problem, the BMA is also pressing for flexibilities to be introduced into the NHS and armed forces' pension scheme, to give public servants the same freedom to avoid these punitive taxes that is enjoyed by workers in the private sector.

Restrictions which came into effect in 2016 mean doctors who earn more than £110,000 a year enter a 'taper zone' which triggers big tax bills.

This can reduce the annual allowance – the tax-free amount workers can contribute to their pension – to £10,000 for those earning £210,000.

These impacts of the punitive pension taxation scheme, exacerbated as they are for armed forces' doctors, are now the most commonly cited cause for armed forces doctors to leave the service prematurely

Indeed, in a document seen by the armed forces committee, within some key specialities, every consultant has indicated an intention to resign from service within the next 12 months.

If this situation is allowed to continue, loss of key specialities will mean that MoD will be unable to deploy a military hospital abroad.

This in turn would mean that MoD would be unable to deploy troops abroad for whatever reason the country may need.

3 Malaysian representatives chosen to attend premier US military academies




Muhammad Aniq Hilman Haslimi, Grace Sian Ern Hui, and Mateshan Varma Subramaniam, all 19, have been appointed to pursue their studies and prepare to become military officers at three prestigious United States service academies.

Chosen to represent Malaysia after undergoing a rigorous selection process, they left for the US on June 17 and 18.

The students previously completed their foundation studies at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).

Aniq, who was accepted to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, said: “I chose the armed forces instead of going commercial as I wanted to do something different. And I opted to go into the navy as I heard that the navy produces better pilots than the air force.”

Grace Sian Ern Hui, who hails from Ampang, says she feels honoured to be the second Malaysian female cadet ever to study at a US service academy.

Sian aspires to be a fighter jet pilot upon graduation from the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Mateshan, who is originally from Ipoh, comes from a military family, with his father and brother having served the country.

“Now I’m going to join one of the best military academies in the world,” said Mateshan, who will attend the US Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Expected to graduate in 2023, the students will be joining the exclusive ranks of 30 Malaysians who have graduated from the American military academies since 1971.

Only 15 international candidates are accepted to each academy annually.

you should open tered at /k.....its a good exposure to ktard...

Means that the USD1. 6-2 billion tht you claim "doable" is purely on the basis of "hope" that the PM will increase ATM budget allocation significantly in the future.

Since all the signs are that we should be bracing for tough times ahead, sorry to say that this is just a military fanboy wet dream...I only hope Tudm does not do its planning that way.

SAF Day Best Unit Competition 2019: Best Combat Unit



For the 16th consecutive year, the Singapore Army's 1st Commando Battalion has clinched the award for the Best Combat Unit. This is their 33rd win since the inception of the award in 1969.

The Commandos are trained to operate deep within the enemy territory and are proficient in airborne operations, reconnaissance and raid missions.

The soldiers of 1st Commando Battalion (1 Cdo Bn) continued their winning ways this year and clinched their 16th consecutive Best Combat Unit award in this year's Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition. This is the unit's 33rd win since the competition began in 1969.

To Major (MAJ) Fabian Pwi, Commanding Officer of 1 Cdo Bn, the key ingredients for this year's success were the strong sense of ownership within the unit and a "leave no man behind" mindset instilled into every soldier.

"It is important that every soldier has the confidence that they will come home safely, and that the unit and their buddies are always looking out for them," said MAJ Pwi.

"This confidence enhances the commitment of every soldier to give their best during training and operations."

The Commandos are experts in specialised operations such as airborne operations, reconnaissance and raid missions. The training to become a Commando is known to be one of the toughest in the Singapore Armed Forces.

Training is tough but safety remains a priority. 2nd Warrant Officer (2WO) Seah Zhiquan, Regimental Sergeant Major of 1 Cdo Bn said: "We train them hard, but most importantly, we train them in a safe, realistic and progressive manner to make sure that they are able to achieve the required standards."

It is amid tough training that strong bonds are forged. Recalling a gruelling 72km route march, Commando Leader 3rd Sergeant (3SG) S Harshavarman said: "The thought of giving up crossed my mind halfway through the march.

"But when I looked around me, I saw my fellow company mates pushing on though they were also tired and I knew I couldn't just give up. We encouraged each other and completed the march together.

"After receiving my red beret on the completion of the 72km route march, I felt immensely proud to belong in this family of Commandos…and the motivation from my parents and friends shaped me to be who I am today."

SAF: Our Army, Strengthening our Core



This post has been edited by Fat & Fluffy: Jun 25 2019, 03:05 PM

that is why i said,if the govt want to commit they can do it...govt want to commit to submarine and A400...and we have it despite the economy and hindrance......by the end of the day,its up to govt...

you called it wet dream but to me its a credible planning from a civilian stand point.people used to called acquiring kuwait hornet was wet dream and yet it got to the discussion table at mindef about it...hell...even canada buying 2nd hand hornet from Australia and trying to get kuwait hornet...

again, by the end of the day its a up to govt if they want to commit or not...the KPP also will help the govt to commit to the plan

RAF curently has smallest combat aircraft fleet in its history as its beloved Panavia Tornado fleet is retired



The RAF now has the smallest combat fleet in its history having lost nearly half its aircraft in the last twelve years.

Britain's new supersonic F-35 Lightning fighter jets have just completed their first operational missions – rooting out the remnants of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq in 14 sorties over the past ten days.

But following the retirement earlier this year of the last of the Air Force's beloved Tornados, the UK's 17 Lightnings are part of a forward available fleet of just 119 fast attack jets, down 43 per cent from 210 in 2007. The RAF's workhorse, the Tornado, the last of which were retired earlier this year, made up more than 75 per cent of the fleet.

It leaves the air force smaller than at any time since its creation during the First World War.

The RAF said number of aircraft does not equate to capability and it has the jets it needs to meet its commitments.

But military analysts have warned that whatever the sophisticated capabilities of the fourth- and fifth-generation planes of which the fleet is now comprised, 'no aircraft, no matter how capable, can be in more than one place at any time'.

The UK has pledged to buy a total of 138 F-35B Lightnings. But even the first batch, of 48, will not be fully delivered until 2024 at a cost of more than £9bn.

RAF Red Arrows' North American tour promotional tweet blunders as image of Russian fighter plane is used instead



Government officials have made an 'embarrassing blunder' by using an image of a Russian fighter jet on a poster promoting the RAF's famous Red Arrows.

The Department for International Trade has been building excitement about the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team's upcoming visit to the US on Twitter.

But in a post detailing how the BAE Hawk T1 jets can fly at 48,000ft, the department used an outline of a Russian Sukhoi Su-30/33 fighter.

Several military aviation experts were quick to point the mistake out and the DIT later deleted the tweet.

Between August to October the Red Arrows will be performing in shows and events across 18 cities in the US and Canada.

still got Typhoon... ok ler

Ruskie stronk

Please post the source next time

I want to know when it's Daily Wail so I can skip reading immediately

Actually while Tornado is indeed being retired, it will be replaced by Typhoon

As for numbers, the number of fighter jets is set to go UP with introduction of F-35 and more Typhoons retained than initially projected, so this is just tabloid trying to stir shit up

Before the Opposition became the Government there were criticism when the BN led government were spending money on defence matters.

Now that the PH led government in power, going to be difficult to buy big ticket items for the military.

bad month for the jap navy..

For Rafale fans

Indonesian Air Force took delivery of a new C295 (CN295) Special Mission Aircraft from PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Credit to PT Dirgantara Indonesia.



https://www.instagram.com/p/BzNvrt2lmNL/

Read more: https://vn.sputniknews.com/military/2019062...truoc-nam-2020/

any western competitors for 'BMP-3F fighting vehicles and 21 BT-3F armored vehicles '?

Afaik no. These IFVs and APCs are for the Indonesian Marines and they are also planning to buy the Sprut-SDM1.

Indonesia plans to acquire Sprut-SDM1 SPATGs, says Kurganmashzavod chief

Model of the Sprut-SDM1 with add-on armor at Army 2018 that Indonesia is interested to buy. Claimed that it can also swim even with the additional armor and equipped with climate control. Credit to RG.RU.











https://rg.ru/2018/08/21/novyj-legkij-tank-...armii-2018.html
http://sturgeonshouse.ipbhost.com/topic/6-...gines/?page=127