Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
F30 SUENDAYAMIRRROR SUSNDAY 10.10.20O21 F 1,00SMUU0LS ROYAL MARINES FACING THE AXE
TOP brass fear up to 1,000 Royal Marines face the axe under the new head of the Armed Forces.
Fears come days after Royal Navy head Admiral Sir Tony Radakin was announced as the new commander of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
One of his first tasks in the new year will be to press on with the transformation of the Royal Marines into the Future Commando Force.
The Navy has said troops will work in “small, versatile teams” for “a more agile and lethal capability”.
The Ministry of Defence says FCF will mean the Marines evolve from an “amphibious infantry” held at readiness in the UK to a versatile, special operationscapable force “persistently forward deployed”. But senior
Tony Radakin officers think it means culling 600-1,000 posts in the 7,000strong 3 Commando Brigade, Iraq and Afghanistan vets. One officer said: “As soon as defence chiefs start talking about transformation and agility, cuts usually follow. Unfortunately the Royal Marines do not have any real fans at the top of the Royal Navy. The view is that the three most senior officers – including Admiral Radakin – are anti-marine.”
The source added: “They are known as the ‘Unholy trinity’.”
The row follows the death eight days ago of Maj Gen Matt Holmes, 54, who had clashed with Cdr Radakin over reforms.
The father of two – a friend of Prince Harry’s and pallbearer at Prince Philip’s funeral – is feared to have taken his own life.
The MoD did not “recognise” the figures, that Forces spending had increased and added: “The Commando Force programme has ensured the Royal Marines will be a more deployable force and ensure we deal with tomorrow’s threats.”
Cull ‘is looming’ under new chief