The TA - shout "bang" to save money

[minestrone]

I was under the impression (therefore its likely totally inaccurate) that a good proportion of the doctors are reserve...

I think Menelaus would be the one on here to answer that, I'm not sure. The gf gets a truck load of doctor mags through the door and the army were constantly advertising for doctors, I think the salary was 150, I will ask her when she gets back. Good money but I doubt it is all having martinis with hawkeye in the swamp.

[Advocate]

They were offering doctors 50 grand for signing up last year and I think the salary was over 100 grand.

I was under the impression (therefore its likely totally inaccurate) that a good proportion of the doctors are reserve...

[minestrone]

Won't they be short on medics and similar now?

Short sighted reaction if all we're talking about is 20 million; there's a sporting event that could donate a little I'm sure.

/Part way through the application process-I'll not hold my breath!

They were offering doctors 50 grand for signing up last year and I think the salary was over 100 grand.

[Advocate]

Won't they be short on medics and similar now?

Short sighted reaction if all we're talking about is 20 million; there's a sporting event that could donate a little I'm sure.

/Part way through the application process-I'll not hold my breath!

[bogeyman]

Dad's Army in the 21st century...met several people who've been in the TA...none of whom have quite grown up...generalisation im sure...but true in a number of cases nonetheless

My brother in law is in the TA and he's a complete fruit-loop. Really, really likes guns and shouting. Alarm bells are ringing!

[Muttley08]

Dad's Army in the 21st century...met several people who've been in the TA...none of whom have quite grown up...generalisation im sure...but true in a number of cases nonetheless

[SuperZ]

TA are the reserves for unexpected things like Iraq war - plenty of them were deployed there.

If you don't train them, then what's the point? If anything training should be more intensive since the Army has not got enough infantry.

yeah plenty of them were used in the Iraq farce

[DeeElvis]

Would you guys like to contribute more in taxes?

[AtW]

TA are the reserves for unexpected things like Iraq war - plenty of them were deployed there.

If you don't train them, then what's the point? If anything training should be more intensive since the Army has not got enough infantry.

[minestrone]

"About 35,000 men and women currently serve in the TA"

"The TA provides around 1,200 troops each year in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans"

Waste of money if you ask me

[AtW]

£20 mln saved - less than 0.0001 of the Great Bank Bailout...

[GreenerGrass]

So much for no cuts for those providing front line services:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8300530.stm

Since Labour came to power the TA has fallen from more than 57,000 to a trained strength of about 19,000.

I'm intrigued as to why this might be, with two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan you'd think the TA would have expanded, or is it the thought of having to actually fight in Iraq and Afghanistan that has caused people to leave/not join the TA?
In the old days the TA would usually only be deployed if the Warsaw Pact forces were on the verge of invading West Germany.