Morale impact of 'suspending' hundreds of Royal Navy reserves has been 'considered' by military chiefs
ROYAL Navy top brass gave ‘full consideration to the effect on morale’ of a decision to temporarily suspend its force of reservist sailors, a defence minister has insisted.
Defence secretary Ben Wallace signed off a directive to suspend naval reservists for the first time at the end of last year.
Military bigwigs hoped the decision would save about £7.5m, with the suspension set to last until April.
HMS King Alfred, Portsmouth’s naval reserve HQ based on Whale Island, is among the sites effected by the suspension.
Now armed forces minister James Heappey has admitted the move was likely to ‘disappoint’ some reservists.
But in a written response to parliament, the Conservative minister insisted: ‘This short-term measure does not reflect our longer-term plans which continue to place an emphasis upon the maritime reserve.’
The naval reserve force is made up of about 2,000 men and women, who serve in the military part-time alongside their civilian careers.
As part of the suspension, drill nights, training weekends and two-week training has been ‘paused’, but reservists will remain at ‘high readiness if needed’.
One reservist, who asked not to be named, said: ‘We all understand why this decision has been made and that it’s not been easy.
‘But reservists are an important part of the Royal Navy – and the armed forces as a whole – so the decision is a real kick in the teeth.
‘It has been demoralising to know that we can be pushed aside like this, so easily.’
A total of 450 naval reservists, including 150 currently mobilised and 300 on the full-time reserve service, are expected to continue as normal, however.
Mr Heappey added: ‘The Royal Navy has given full consideration to the effect on morale of the recent decision to temporarily pause some Maritime Reserves activity until the beginning of the next financial year.
‘This temporary cessation of some activity may result in disappointment for individual reservists during the short period that it remains in force, but work undertaken by those on full-time reserve service or additional duties commitments will continue as normal; as will some transformation projects that are deemed critical to meeting future Royal Navy and defence outputs.’