Ghurkas to be cut from ORBAT
It was always inevitable that if the Ghurkas won parity with other British troops in pay & conditions, that they would be on the slippery slope to being disbanded.
Simply put, they are only cheaper than indigenous british troops if they are paid at the lower T&C’s, when paid the same, they turn out more expensive on a 1 for 1 comparison.
So I’m afraid that a few get will get what lots of people see is equal right, but at the cost of several generations of “Ghurkas that never where”.
For those of you that don’t know, the Ghurka is paid on a scale that was used to allow commanding officers in far flung regions of the world to recruit & pay local troops (read mercenaries).
Ghurka troops are brave, but they are not as effective pound for pound as locally recruited ones. Sadly with the recession coming, recruiting for the army will go up in this country, and we may not need the 3500 ghurkas.
The lesson to be learned. There is a balance to everything, and upsetting it is done at a cost.
St C would love to see the Ghurkas kept just out of tradition, but so much else has gone by the wayside because of the last few governments (both colours) pursuit of cost savings, that I fear they will go too.
Sorry St Crispin – what’s ORBAT?
Don’t mean to seem stupid but don’t know.