Part-time defenders of the Realm : is the history of the Territorial Army a likely indicator of Future Reserves 2020 success?
This research investigates whether the Army Reserve (AR), the new name for the Territorial Army, can become a more integrated, more efficient, better trained, and more deployable force, as intimated by the government, than their previous incarnations. The hoped-for better-trained AR is expected to take a far greater role, taking over some Regular Army roles, providing better trained part-time soldiers for overseas operations and filling capability gaps left by the retrenchment of 20,000 Regular soldiers by !he year 2020. To investigate whether these aspirations are achievable, and whether it is possible to train volunteer soldiers better than they have been in the past, this research completes an historical analysis of the history of the AR's antecedents, the Territorial Force and the Territorial Army, their training, kit and equipment, and overseas deployment record. The thesis also explores historical social. economic and cultured issues Â·which have had an impact upon Territorials, such as civilian employers' attitudes towards the volunteers and their organisation (and a sense of what wider society thought about the Territorials). Furthermore. research into the Territorial's family issues, support or otherwise
Allan, Shaun Michael
History
Part-time defenders of the Realm : is the history of the Territorial Army a likely indicator of Future Reserves 2020 success?. This research investigates whether the Army Reserve (AR), the new name for the Territorial Army, can become a more integrated, more efficient, better trained, and more deployable force, as intimated by the government, than their previous incarnations. The hoped-for better-trained AR is expected to take a far greater role, taking over some Regular Army roles, providing better trained part-time soldiers for overseas operations and filling capability gaps left by the retrenchment of 20,000 Regular soldiers by !he year 2020. To investigate whether these aspirations are achievable, and whether it is possible to train volunteer soldiers better than they have been in the past, this research completes an historical analysis of the history of the AR's antecedents, the Territorial Force and the Territorial Army, their training, kit and equipment, and overseas deployment record. The thesis also explores historical social. economic and cultured issues Â·which have had an impact upon Territorials, such as civilian employers' attitudes towards the volunteers and their organisation (and a sense of what wider society thought about the Territorials). Furthermore. research into the Territorial's family issues, support or otherwise
part time defender realm history territorial army likely indicator future success investigates_whether army reserve new name territorial army become integrated efficient well train force government previous incarnation for better trained expect take far_great role take regular army role provide well trained part time soldier overseas operation fill capability gap leave retrenchment regular soldier investigate_whether aspiration achievable whether_possible train volunteer soldier well past complete historical_analysis history antecedent territorial force territorial army training equipment overseas deployment record also_explore historical social economic culture issue which impact_upon civilian employer attitude_towards volunteer organisation sense wider_society think furthermore territorial family issue support otherwise