‘Middle-aged white chiefs’ are problem for modern military

Male senior officers 20 years out of touch on race, sexism and bullying, warns report

THE Armed Forces have unacceptable levels of sexism, racism and bullying because they are led by a “pack of white middle-aged men”, a report says.

The most in-depth study commissioned into military culture says “an unacceptable level of inappropriate behaviour persists” in the Forces.

The report, by Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, the new Chief of the Air Staff, describes the leadership of the RAF, Army and Navy as a “generation not used to having people from other diversity groups serving alongside them” and says their behaviours are “shaped by an Armed Forces of 20 years ago”.

It was commissioned in April after allegations of sexual harassment in the Army led Gen Sir Mark Carleton-smith, the Chief of the General Staff, to produce a three-minute film criticising behaviours “wildly at odds” with the standards expected from soldiers.

The report says the actions of this generation of senior officers towards subordinates are “rarely considered to be malicious, rather perpetuated by a lack of understanding and education”.

“Use of language can be inappropriate and offensive, simply through a lack of understanding of how it may be perceived by a minority group,” it adds.

It recommends all senior officers from brigadier level and above be sent on mandatory diversity training courses and calls for the appointment of a culture and behaviour tsar to lead a team of up to 50 personnel, responsible for the overall strategy and day-today management of complaints.

“Tackling inappropriate behaviour is about the determination of leaders to change the culture; everything else hangs off that,” the report says.

Last night, Maj Gen Julian Thompson, the former Royal Marines Falklands commander, said talk of appointing a “champion” for culture and behaviour made him “wince”.

“He’s right to highlight a problem but surely it’s better to crack down on people who do it, although you don’t want to be too draconian,” he said of Air Chief Marshal Wigston’s report. “Recruits these days are less robust, but that’s our society and you’ve got to deal with what you’ve got.”

The report notes that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) troops make up 7 per cent of the Armed Forces but were more likely to complain of bullying. In 2018, of complaints concerning bullying, harassment and discrimination, 39 per cent were from BAME personnel; the equivalent for white troops was 24 per cent.

The paper identifies part of the problem as the “pack mentality of white middle-aged men, especially in positions of influence, whose behaviours are shaped by the Armed Forces of 20 years ago”. It highlights how “microaggressions”, brief and commonplace verbal or behavioural indignities, could be unintentional, but none the less

“communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative prejudicial slights and insults”.

Although the latest Workplace Equality Index from Stonewall, the LGBT campaign group, placed all three Armed Forces in the top 100 employers in the UK, the report noted that about a third of LGBT service personnel had experienced negative comments or conduct from colleagues at work because of their sexual orientation.

While the paper says that the great majority of personnel serve with honour and distinction, it makes 36 recommendations, all of which have been accepted by Penny Mordaunt, the Defence Secretary. It identifies senior leadership as a key element to change if the culture around inappropriate behaviours is to be addressed.

Ms Mordaunt said: “Whether it is crude comments, discriminatory treatment, or even offences of a sexual nature, inappropriate behaviour has no place in society, let alone in our Armed Forces. This report sends a clear message and I am committed to ensuring its recommendations are delivered in full.” Air Chief Marshal Wigston said: “The vast majority of people in the UK Armed Forces serve with courage, determination and professionalism; they are a great credit to our nation. In stark contrast, my report found an unacceptable and persistent level of inappropriate behaviour in the UK Armed Forces.

“This behaviour harms people, damages our reputation and almost certainly impacts our ability to attract and retain the talent we need.”