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Defence Reform
A new vision for how the MOD will run and be managed was outlined in June
2011 by Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox as the report on the Defence Reform
Review was published.
The report by Lord Levene and a team of external
experts has been published in line with the principles
for reform set out by the Secretary of State. There
are several recommendations within the report and
Dr Fox has said he agrees with all of them.
The key ones are:
• extra powers for the Single Service Chiefs to
run their Services, including increased control of
equipment programmes and greater freedom
to flex within their budgets, as part of a much
clearer framework of accountability and control
• a smaller but stronger and more strategic
Defence Board that will take major decisions,
set direction and hold the Services and the rest
of the Department to account
• the creation of a new Joint Forces Command,
with a new Military Commander, to oversee
and integrate joint military capabilities which
currently sit across the three Single Services –
including cyber warfare and military intelligence
– to foster an increasingly joint approach within
Defence as a whole
• a greater focus on affordability, with enhanced
budgetary discipline and a cost-conscious mentality
at every level of the Ministry of Defence
• streamlined decision-making supported by
a simpler structure with fewer senior posts,
clearer responsibilities and greater accountability
• making better use of people, including filling posts
with the right person, with the right skills, and
keeping them in post for longer
• new, more joint personnel management for
senior military officers.
Work on the report commenced last summer
when the Defence Secretary asked Lord Levene
to lead an independent review of how Defence
is structured and managed, along with a group
of senior leaders from the private sector and a
supporting team within the Ministry of Defence.
The MOD will publish a
blueprint setting out all
the major changes the
Department is embarked
on later this year.
To view the
full report, go to
www.nff.org.uk.
Defence Equipment Budget Rises as Future Force Takes Shape
It was announced in July that the Government is to increase the
planned MOD equipment budget by over £3bn during the Spending
Review period after 2015 to fund vital future military equipment.
The longer-term vision for the make up of the Armed Forces –
Future Force 2020 – will be secured by this one-per-cent-a-year
real term increase in the planned equipment and equipment support
programme.
The culmination of this work means that there will be funding that
allows the MOD to order significant pieces of equipment over the next
decade, including:
• The Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier conversion to catapult and
arrestor gear ('cats & traps')
• Initial spending on the new Joint Strike Fighter fast jets (known as
Lightning II) delivering Carrier Strike capability from 2020
• Development of the Global Combat Ship
Computer graphic of the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier
Equipment Programme
The MOD will publish a fully funded and balanced 10-year Equipment Plan by
September 2011, and the National Audit Office will conduct an affordability
audit of this; the first of its kind.
To see the full announcement visit www.nff.org.uk
(Picture: © 2010 BAE Systems)
New Medal to Mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Members of the Armed Forces will be presented with a medal to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee on 6 February 2012.
The commemorative medal will be awarded to the following members of the Armed Forces:
• (Regular and Reserves) who have completed five full calendar years of Service on 6 February 2012,
• living holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross
• members of the Royal Household.
The MOD will issue detailed qualifying criteria applying to their personnel later this summer.
Designed by Timothy
Noad, The Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee Medal
depicts a formal image
of the Queen on one
side, while the reverse
shows a hexagon with a
crown and royal cipher,
inscribed ‘1952 to
2012’, commemorating
Her Majesty’s reign,
and finished off with a
red ribbon and white/
blue stripes (Picture:
Crown Copyright/
MOD 2011)
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