Troops trained by modern-day Capt Mainwarings... at Barclays Bank HQ
THEY are an elite fighting force with proud history and a fearsome reputation for being among the toughest soldiers in the British Army.
But now, in an extraordinary military first, a battalion of the crack Parachute Regiment are to receive key aspects of their training from Barclays Bank.
The astonishing scheme has echoes of the classic sitcom Dad’s Army, in which hapless bank manager Captain Mainwaring attempted to whip his platoon into shape.
But despite criticisms of a civilian corporation taking a role in military training for the first time, top brass have hailed it an ‘imaginative solution to the manpower crisis’.
Barclays is sponsoring the training, which will take place at its London HQ in Canary Wharf and be conducted by its employees who are also trained instructors with the 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, a reserve unit.
Reservists will be drilled in all aspects of soldiering – including basic fitness, mapreading and first aid – but not the use of weapons, which will continue to be taught at Army Reserve Centres. The sixmonth trial is designed to make it easier for troops to fit in military training alongside their civilian jobs and aims to address the shortfall of 3,000 reservists predicted by 2019.
It was given the green light after a year of negotiations between the bank and Ministry of Defence, but retired senior officers have voiced fears. Colonel Richard Kemp, who led British troops in Afghanistan, said: ‘The key thing is that the Army maintains complete control over its high standards. No matter how desperate we are, that cannot be placed in the control of a civilian organisation.’
The project is the brainchild of Colonel Stuart Tootal, a former commanding officer of the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan who is now global head of security at Barclays. He said: ‘This allows us to support our colleagues to fulfil their reserve service training commitments while pursuing their civilian careers – not least as journey times to their training will be shortened.’
Lieutenant Colonel James Loudon, commanding officer of 4 Para, added: ‘This allows us to bring the training to the reservists and ease their civilian work pressures while enhancing their military skills. It is a win, win, win for the soldier, the civilian firm and 4 Para.’
Though run by his battalion, the training will be available to members of all units and take place at other sites in Canary Wharf. Members of 4 Para based elsewhere will continue to train at local centres.
Major General Simon BrooksWard, deputy commander of the Field Army, said: ‘I am delighted with this imaginative solution. While it will not replace traditional reserve centre-based training, it brings us another step closer to a modern, flexible Army reserve.’
The number of soldiers in the British Army is at a 200year low following budget cuts, but the MoD is falling short of its target of recruiting reserve troops to replace them.
‘Army must keep control of standards’ ‘Closer to a modern Army reserve’