Royal Navy redundancies
As part of the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme, and following on from the Army and the RAF earlier this month, today the Royal Navy is notifying personnel selected for redundancy in Tranche 1 of the programme.
Approximately 1,020 Naval Service personnel, comprising around 670 applicants and around 350 non-applicants, will be notified that they have been selected for redundancy.
To implement the changes announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Naval Service is reducing in size by approximately 5,000 people in order to reach a figure of around 30,000 regular Service personnel by April 2015.
While about a third of the required reduction for the Royal Navy can be achieved by people leaving in normal course and by reducing recruiting and the numbers of extensions of service, the remainder can only be identified in the required timeframe through redundancy. Over the next three years it is anticipated that up to 3,250 Naval Service personnel will be made redundant.
The Royal Navy launched the first tranche of its redundancy programme on 4 April 2011, inviting eligible personnel to apply to be considered for compulsory redundancy. In line with the approach across the Services individuals were later selected following a rigorous boarding and selection process using published criteria.
As is the case throughout the year, a large number of Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel are today engaged in operations across the globe, at sea, on land and in the air.
Detailed arrangements have been made to notify those selected for redundancy as swiftly as possible, wherever they are serving. Those engaged in certain operations, in Afghanistan and off the coast of Libya for example, within a specified timeframe, qualify for exemption from selection for redundancy unless they are applicants.
However, with so many people routinely deploying overseas, it is not possible for the Navy to reduce in size without including many individuals who have regularly contributed to operations throughout their careers.
All those selected for redundancy will be supported through the Divisional System and will be provided with a comprehensive resettlement package to assist with their preparations for civilian life.
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, has this morning issued a statement to everyone serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines regarding the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme first tranche notifications in which he expresses his appreciation and thanks to those who have been selected for redundancy. In his statement, Sir Mark said:
To those of you who have been selected for redundancy, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you have contributed to the Service and to the nation’s security.
Do not underestimate what you have achieved in the Service, or the value that others will place on your experience gained in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
However long you have served, your professionalism and dedication to duty are greatly appreciated by me and my colleagues on the Navy Board, and we are indebted to you for the commitment you have shown.
There will be up to three further tranches of redundancy for each Service, to be delivered by April 2015, with Tranche 2 of the Redundancy Programme to be launched early next year.
As stated by the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, earlier this month, it is recognised that this continues to be an unsettling time for servicemen and women and their families. Every effort is being made by each of the Services to keep people fully and promptly informed of developments as the redundancy programme progresses.