Speaking at last month’s Rusi Land Warfare Conference, Gen Sir Roly Walker said that despite all the technological advances, his most important focus this year was his personnel.
“We’re rethinking what it means to be a soldier in the 21st century,” the top officer explained.
Emphasising how future wars would be different to anything that had gone before, he continued: “At the heart lies the need for strong ethical and moral values to withstand the pressures of combat.
“And we have a role to project that narrative deeper and wider into society.” He added that toxic influences of racism, hate, homophobia, and misogyny were the opposite of what was needed in soldiers. And he had a message for civilians, too.
“To those who aspire to make a difference, come and join us,” he said. “You can change your life through the army – so why don’t you?
“It remains a place that creates memories for a lifetime, offering adventure, skills, camaraderie and a place of belonging – whoever you are, wherever you come from and whatever you do.”
Gen Walker explained that youngsters growing up in deprived areas could commonly find themselves on £45,000 just six years into service life, with apprenticeships and good value accommodation under their belts. He also provided an update on the mission to double fighting power by 2027. “I believe we’re on track…for now,” he said. “The results are encouraging, though I absolutely acknowledge not all soldiers in all formations are experiencing this transformation yet.”
The leader explained how the new Land Training System was preparing troops for war.
“A better trained force will often defeat a bigger and better equipped one – a lesson Goliath learned from David,” he added. He continued: “In the last three months alone, 72 fighting sub-units have gone through a new intensive ten-week ‘combat training at echelon’ programme. Over the next 12 months, 400 sub-units, or around 90 per cent of the army, will complete that.
“We’ve trained more than 3,000 drone pilots, with another 6,000 over the next year, as well as providing 200 simulators into unit lines.”
Read the full speech – which also covers the strategic defence review – on gov.uk
