A message
Historically many thoughts must have gone through the minds of those in my position at a time like this. I am no different. They range from some bafflement as to how a modest ambition to join my brother’s regiment in 3 Commando Brigade could lead 39 years later to me being appointed CDS through to what a humbling and very special privilege it is to lead the outstanding soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen – and, with PUS, a large number of civil servants that support them so magnificently – that are the beating heart of our Armed Forces.
Those who have witnessed my interventions in the SDSR process and my previous commands will confirm that I believe our people and their families are the most important element of capability. Recognising this in our decision-making is very important to me. This is especially so in a time of war.
I will not disguise from you that we are, self evidently, in a difficult position. But, as a very minor historian, I know enough to tell you that our forebears have frequently been in the same place. They, through a combination of sound decision making and turns in fortune, brought their respective generations through it. I have absolutely no doubt that we will do the same.
We now have our orders. The National Security Strategy, with its clear description of 21st Century conflict and how we should seek to reduce its risk, is our Commander’s Intent. The SDSR provides the required detail. We have what we need to devise and implement a practical strategy to deliver the right outcome.
Tough decisions are still needed but we have a clear direction of travel and we will get there. It applies to everyone but particularly for those serving in the MOD, it is very important that you all coalesce behind PUS and me as we build on the SDSR baseline. We must now work in support of the Secretary of State to lead this great Department of State and this highly capable Military Strategic HQ in achieving the outstanding results we know our Armed Forces are capable of.
Whilst delivering Force 2020 will be our underlying purpose our designated Main Effort, that will continue to take priority over all other activity, is to be support to ISAF’s campaign in Afghanistan. Concurrently we must strive harder, and find the resources, to maximise our ability to respond with agility and effect to short notice crises.
Martin Luther King once famously said “I have a dream”. Well I have the military version of that – I have a vision. A vision based on delivering the Government’s long-term strategic Intent on the one hand and on achieving strategically vital success in Afghanistan, under General Petraeus and with our allies, on the other.
Both these aims are clearly inextricably linked. I would ask you all now selflessly to work out how you can best help deliver this vision. Much innovative and radical thinking, a preparedness to shed outmoded or now irrelevant attitudes and structures, will surely be needed.
Finally, and without doubt most importantly, wherever you may be reading this Order of the Day thank you for all you are doing and will, I know, continue to do. Through instinct and from experience I am acutely conscious of the total inter-dependence of the three Services and the Civil Service and the vital role each plays. I am fortunate indeed to lead such fine people. People on whom this nation depends for the freedoms we have so long enjoyed. It is a huge responsibility but a huge privilege that we share.
GENERAL SIR DAVID RICHARDS
Lovely statement General Richards, very apple-pie, but sadly let down by very disappointing statements such as the following from today’s telegraph:
“The trouble is you live in the real world. We were constrained in the degree to which we could go into the 21st century, if you like, because of things like carrier contracts and so on.”
Really Dave, I mean really?
No the real problem is this:
“A vision based on delivering the Government’s long-term strategic Intent on the one hand and on achieving strategically vital success in Afghanistan, under General Petraeus and with our allies, on the other.”
The Govt has failed to create any strategic vision at all. Yes the CDS can come up with his own to fulfill the rather pathetic so called “strategy” of his political masters, but the last sentence is even worse !
Where is the document, from No 10, FCO or MoD that actually describes what success in Afghanistan will look like, and that describes why it is strategically important to the UK ???
Why is it decried as a bad thing to cosy up to France, allowing their jets to fly from our carrier when theirs is in dry dock (oooh the slippery slope to Europeanism !) but it’s just fine to continue fighting General Petraeus war i.e. to blindly follow a U.S. strategy, one which is hotly debated within their own military community, while the President and the State Department seem to be un-interested in pushing Pres. Karzhai on issues that matter.
Pure PR BS, but what would one expect from the puppet of the current UK political system. I hope he manages to do a good job of looking after his boys and girls despite the constraints placed upon him by HM Govt.