The whole force concept is one that seeks to balance reserves, regulars and contractors, forging them into a coherent whole that delivers the required capability at a lower cost than if it were a wholly regular military affair.
A paper from RUSI argues that the MoD is failing in its delivery.
https://www.rusi.org/news/ref:N5475A4771F1FF/#.VHpQjMV_uSo
Picking the most important point, the picture on the site shows people from the 3 services saluting. The Navy chap is saluting American style. Is that normal for the senior service, or just a screw up?
It’s a Navy tradition Peter. To do with not showing an officer a dirty palm from working the ship.
Actually I think you’ll find that the Navy salute is correct. The Army salute open handed to prove they are unarmed as they can’t be trusted after the Civil War. And the crabs probably tossed a coin when making up their habits (traditions from 2018).
The Royal Navy didn’t even have a standard salute until the late 1880s. People just did as they saw fit – touched the peak of the cap, lifted the cap, made a vague respectful wave in the direction of the forehead, whatever. Officers too. Then the Kaiser visited and noticed that no two naval officers saluted him in the same way and blew his stack at his hosts, and the Navy decided it should standardise its salute to keep the Kaiser happy. (Andrew Gordon, “The Rules of the Game: British naval command and the battle of Jutland”).