В британской армии упраздняется дивизионное звено. Управления всех трех дивизий в метрополии в 2010 г. расформировываются, а взамен создаются оперативные командования нет, еще хлеще - некие 'delivery organisations'.
Date Posted: 09-Oct-2009
Jane's Defence Weekly
British Army to shake up high command
Tim Ripley JDW Correspondent London
A major drive to reorganise the higher-level command structures of the British Army has been launched by the service's new head, General Sir David Richards. Under the plans three divisional headquarters responsible for UK-based regular and reserve forces will be disbanded next year to free up personnel and resources to establish three new 'delivery organisations' to better prepare British Army troops for combat operations in Afghanistan. Jane's has learnt that Gen Richards is in the process of finalising the proposals known as the 'Top Level of the Army Review' before presenting them to the Executive Committee of the Army Board by the end of the year and government ministers early next year. "The options are being worked up," an army spokesman told Jane's , but he said they included "significant change" in the way the British Army operates. The three new delivery organisations will each be headed by a lieutenant general who will be given direct responsibility for preparing army units for overseas deployments, operations in the UK in support of the civil power as well as training and doctrine. In the frame to be disbanded are the headquarters of the 2nd Division in Edinburgh, the 4th Division in Aldershot and the 5th Division in Shrewsbury. Much of their work in support of civil emergency planning and organising training of Territorial Army reserve units will be devolved to the eight regional brigade headquarters on the UK mainland. The proposals are generating considerable controversy within the British Army. A senior army source told Jane's it has already prompted the resignation of one major general, who reportedly feared the plans would lead to a reduction in links between the British Army and the civilian population. When he was appointed Commander-in-Chief Land Forces in January 2008 Gen Richards launched a major review of how the British Army would be able to sustain the war in Afghanistan over several years. While the result, Operation 'Entirety', has seen many reforms, since taking over as chief of the general staff (CGS) in August Gen Richards has sought to go further, say army sources. "The aim of this exercise is to deliver more operational capability," said an army spokesman. "This is not about efficiency savings but making the army work better." The spokesman stressed that the decision-making process on the review had yet to be concluded. "No final decisions have been made by the army or ministers," he said. "We don't expect decisions until January 2010."
