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CGS's statement

So what do you think of the decision? I feel for Harry as a Soldier. To be told directly 'You aint playing, Sonny' must be desperately disheartening, He did join to be a Soldier at the end of the Day.
I do feel quite glad however for his Troop and Regiment. Hopefully it will reduce the chance of specific 'Get Harry' attacks against them in addition to any attacks that would be heading their way anyway. I think i'd be questioning whether I really wanted to deploy with such a target in my Troop.

But Sir Richard has made his decision, no doubt the right one. Or is it?

I can't believe the army was short-sighted enough not to foresee the problems.

I think the decision is political.

I think it is the only decision they could make.

It's a catch 22........... they send him and get critisiced for endangering his troop......... I'd be worried if I were one of his mens parents! Or they don't send him and people think he is getting preferential treatment or the insurgents have won.

The wrong decision was to let him become a squaddie rather than join the Senior Service or even the raf. But once in the army, he has to go. After all, we're not short of Royals in the succession line are we? And do we think that the kings fellow soldiers were any less of a special target in the old days when kings lead the army into battle? TBH I cant see him being in any more danger than any other soldier deployed out there - after all, the terrorists will kill any Brit soldier they get chance to, so what can they do extra to get Harry? If they have inside intelligence then maybe the Army should sort that out anyway.

Maybe the MOD PR people should simply have kept their mouths shut until after he had deployed and come back (or not returned as the case may be). But one things for sure, he's no more valuable than any other soldier / citizen.

And of course there is the issue of damage to the morale of troups already out there if he doesnt go. And a booste to the morale of the terrorists. "look, the Brits are afraid of us!". And most of the locals will think Harry a coward because they wont believe he takes orders from the generals as opposed to giving them. In short, its as inspiring as finding Saddam hiding down a hole in the ground.

Why is he in the army? how much has it cost to train him??

lazarus wrote:The wrong decision was to let him become a squaddie rather than join the Senior Service or even the raf. But once in the army, he has to go. After all, we're not short of Royals in the succession line are we? And do we think that the kings fellow soldiers were any less of a special target in the old days when kings lead the army into battle? TBH I cant see him being in any more danger than any other soldier deployed out there - after all, the terrorists will kill any Brit soldier they get chance to, so what can they do extra to get Harry? If they have inside intelligence then maybe the Army should sort that out anyway.

Maybe the MOD PR people should simply have kept their mouths shut until after he had deployed and come back (or not returned as the case may be). But one things for sure, he's no more valuable than any other soldier / citizen.

I tend to agree with you as to him having joined the Army rather than the Navy (RAF? Wouldnt wish that on anyone... )
He is more of a target than any other member of his Troop though... If 'they' learnt of his position (CNN, Sky, BBC and ITN do a wonderful job...) then without a shadow of a doubt 'they' would step up attacks in a bid to capture or kill him.

The MOD PR people couldnt have kept stumm over his deployment, there are enough embedded media (snakes) out there to have his locstat recorded within about 2 minutes of his arrival in theatre, broadcasted back to the newsroom and on the world media net before the poor lad (Sir) has even had time to unpack his porn mags.

I dont think there will be a reduction in morale. I'd be personally chuffed to bits not to have his Royalness on my battlegroup callsign list. His Troop may prefer to have him with them but at the end of the day theyre not sprogs and will quite happily get the job done whoever is Oscar Charlie of the Troop. I doubt the locals will think him a coward. They have a full idea on how the British rank structure and monarchy work. Instead of gleefully rubbing their hands at the Brits being scared, they'll be hacked off at the lack of Royal Hunting they can now carry out.

woody wrote:Why is he in the army? how much has it cost to train him??

Dunno Woody!

I'd have thought it was obvious he'd never go, for starters he's a lot younger than his uncle was, then of course it'd have buggered up his partying.

Now to be totally naughty.

If I'd been the chief of the general staff I'd have sent him.

you mean if you were the boss of the army

Kwackerz wrote:

woody wrote:Why is he in the army? how much has it cost to train him??

Dunno Woody!

What I mean is, why train somebody that you can't send to fight!!

woody wrote:you mean if you were the boss of the army

I was of the impression that the chief of the general staff made the decision and they rotate don't they.

woody wrote:

Kwackerz wrote:

woody wrote:Why is he in the army? how much has it cost to train him??

Dunno Woody!

What I mean is, why train somebody that you can't send to fight!!

True! I suppose they could make him a Troop Commander at a Training Regiment or something, get their money's worth out of him that way.

It does seem a waste of time sending him to the teeth arms then not letting him get his hands dirty.

Gio wrote:

woody wrote:you mean if you were the boss of the army

I was of the impression that the chief of the general staff made the decision and they rotate don't they.

The CGS (Chief of the General Staff) IS the Boss of the Army.

The CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) is in charge of all 3 services (The Armed Forces)

Then you've got some nobber in charge of the RAF (Chief of Air Staff) and some other bloke in charge of the Navy (First Sea Lord)

Kwackerz wrote:

Gio wrote:

woody wrote:you mean if you were the boss of the army

I was of the impression that the chief of the general staff made the decision and they rotate don't they.

The CGS (Chief of the General Staff) IS the Boss of the Army.

The CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) is in charge of all 3 services (The Armed Forces)

Then you've got some nobber in charge of the RAF (Chief of Air Staff) and some other bloke in charge of the Navy (First Sea Lord)

Okay I can understand that, so what I should have said is the CDS (well thats what I meant when I said it)