24 December 2006
DAD'S ARMY
EXCLUSIVE
*Squaddies in action at 55
*Men too fit to get the axe
*Army recruits will be able to sign on for 36 years rather than the current 22
By Nigel Nelson, Political Editor
Dad's Army is a classic BBC comedy series of the 1970s about Britain's Home Guard of World War II. Some of these Home Guards were old - you had to be between the ages of 17 and 65 - and they were formed in 1940. They consisted of ordinary civilians who were given some military training and who would try and defend their town or village if the Germans ever managed to invade. This way we would have put up a fight if the Germans invaded - something that certain other countries in Europe failed to do.
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DAD'S ARMY PLAN IS FAR FROM A JOKE
24 December 2006
Allowing soldiers to serve longer - 36 years instead of 22 - gives Britain more available army manpower if it needs it than it had previously
DAD'S ARMY
EXCLUSIVE
*Squaddies in action at 55
*Men too fit to get the axe
*Army recruits will be able to sign on for 36 years rather than the current 22
By Nigel Nelson, Political Editor
Dad's Army is a classic BBC comedy series of the 1970s about Britain's Home Guard of World War II. Some of these Home Guards were old - you had to be between the ages of 17 and 65 - and they were formed in 1940. They consisted of ordinary civilians who were given some military training and who would try and defend their town or village if the Germans ever managed to invade. This way we would have put up a fight if the Germans invaded - something that certain other countries in Europe failed to do.
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SQUADDIES as old as 55 will soon be in action in Britain's new Dad's Army.
Recruits joining as teenagers will be able to serve 36 years rather than the currant deal of having to retire in their early 40s after 22 years.
And this old guard will be expected to go into combat alongside troops young enough to be their sons if needed.
The rules about possible length of service for non-officers will change from January 2008.
A youngster will sign on for up to 24 years with the option of another 12. The grey brigade will usually have desk jobs.
But an MoD source said: "Everyone in the Army is a soldier first and foremost so they have to be able to fight.
"And there's no such thing as a frontline any more."
The Army's 15,000 officers are already allowed to stay until their mid-50s and the 96,500 NCOs and privates will now get the same chance.
The source explained: "Under the 22-year rule we are losing some really talented people who could very well serve on."
Older people are generally healthier and fitter than they were in the Second World War.
Men in their 50s were restricted then to serving in the Home Guard - immortalised in Dad's Army, the TV comedy classic starring Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring .
Army musicians and general staff have signed up to the new deal and infantry regiments are expected to follow suit.
Defence minister Paul Drayson confirmed: "Selected soldiers will be able to serve a long career up to a normal retirement age of 55."
nigel.nelson@people.co.uk
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Voice Of The People
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Voice Of The People
DAD'S ARMY PLAN IS FAR FROM A JOKE
24 December 2006
Allowing soldiers to serve longer - 36 years instead of 22 - gives Britain more available army manpower if it needs it than it had previously
THE idea of entrusting Britain's defences to a Dad's Army of old soldiers may at first sight seem a joke.
But only to those who have too much of a sense of the ridiculous and not enough common sense.
Fixing the upper limit of service at 22 years no longer adds up in a 21st Century world where there are Star Wars instead of trench wars and we face ever more sophisticated threats.
To combat them this nation needs a force of highly-trained fighting men and women up to speed with the latest technology, hardware and weaponry.
And to throw them out when they reach 40 is a needless waste of talent, experience and money spent on giving them those skills.
Which is why MoD brasshats are absolutely right to extend the retirement age to 55 for selected soldiers who still have plenty to offer their country.
Medical advances and improved nutrition mean we can all look forward to longer and healthier lives. And we are now fitter at 50 than we have ever been.
So the rank-and-file army no longer needs to be the sole preserve of young striplings who have only just learned to shave. But even the Dad's Army of ageing squaddies must be soldiers first and bandsmen or bureaucrats second. So they will also be expected to serve as front-line combat troops.
We are confident that the Old Guard or Scots Greys who go into battle will be more than capable of sticking it to our enemies.
And they won't like it up 'em.
people.co.uk
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