ianstone
05-17-2010, 06:30 AM
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http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01045/TA_logo_280_1045467a.jpg Penny-pinching ... TA soldiers to get just 50 bullets in training
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BARMY new cost-cutting measures mean Territorial Army soldiers will be restricted to firing just 50 BULLETS in training.
The "penny-pinching" constraints, introduced by the Ministry of Defence to save cash, will mean trainee soldiers will use less ammo than those in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
The limit on bullets — which will cost about £10 for each soldier — compares to the hundreds of rounds previously issued on the firing range.
And there are now fears that TA troops — who make up ten per cent of UK forces at any one time — will not be adequately trained.
The TA have already been targeted by an unfair cost-cutting drive when the Labour Government tried to implement £20million in cuts on the armed forces.
Gordon Brown was later forced to reverse the decision.
The limit on bullets will affect troops' ability on their annual marksmanship test — considered vital to make sure they can operate in battle.
The test also needs to be passed to ensure they receive an annual operation bonus of £1,600.
Former soldiers have slammed the restriction on bullets — saying troops would be unable to calibrate their weapons during training.
Col Stuart Tootal the former commander of the Parachute Regiment in Helmand in 2006 said: "You would be lucky to zero (calibrate) a weapon with 50 rounds, let alone do any basic training with it."
One NCO from a TA unit about to undergo a week of training said: "How can you train people to fire weapons with only 50 rounds for training.
"People are simply not going to have the confidence in combat."
Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "It will take time to deal with Labour's dreadful legacy on defence."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2975575/TA-get-50-bullet-training-limit.html#ixzz0oBHdHNuy
Can we start a collection from other coalition forces to make donations of ammunition, or have a raffle?
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01045/TA_logo_280_1045467a.jpg Penny-pinching ... TA soldiers to get just 50 bullets in training
http://www.thesun.co.uk/img/buttons/add_comment.gif (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2975575/TA-get-50-bullet-training-limit.html#comment-rig) Add a comment (0) (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2975575/TA-get-50-bullet-training-limit.html#comment-rig)
BARMY new cost-cutting measures mean Territorial Army soldiers will be restricted to firing just 50 BULLETS in training.
The "penny-pinching" constraints, introduced by the Ministry of Defence to save cash, will mean trainee soldiers will use less ammo than those in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
The limit on bullets — which will cost about £10 for each soldier — compares to the hundreds of rounds previously issued on the firing range.
And there are now fears that TA troops — who make up ten per cent of UK forces at any one time — will not be adequately trained.
The TA have already been targeted by an unfair cost-cutting drive when the Labour Government tried to implement £20million in cuts on the armed forces.
Gordon Brown was later forced to reverse the decision.
The limit on bullets will affect troops' ability on their annual marksmanship test — considered vital to make sure they can operate in battle.
The test also needs to be passed to ensure they receive an annual operation bonus of £1,600.
Former soldiers have slammed the restriction on bullets — saying troops would be unable to calibrate their weapons during training.
Col Stuart Tootal the former commander of the Parachute Regiment in Helmand in 2006 said: "You would be lucky to zero (calibrate) a weapon with 50 rounds, let alone do any basic training with it."
One NCO from a TA unit about to undergo a week of training said: "How can you train people to fire weapons with only 50 rounds for training.
"People are simply not going to have the confidence in combat."
Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "It will take time to deal with Labour's dreadful legacy on defence."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2975575/TA-get-50-bullet-training-limit.html#ixzz0oBHdHNuy
Can we start a collection from other coalition forces to make donations of ammunition, or have a raffle?