**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**
- Thread starter bakes0310
- Start date
Man of Honour
Big up the Timmernator.
Soldato
Due a posting soon and I have to book in next month to discuss with the deskie. I really can't decide; I have a few ideas but I also feel like I need to buy a house soon (mainly for diversifying investments, to be honest) as I'm still content on camp (although where I'm at currently has really good accommodation)
I think I'd like to end up around either S'oton or Northumberland(so Leeming or Boulmer?) I know they're opposite ends of the scale/country,) but looking at houses in each, it knocks me sick how much you don't get for your money on the South Coast in comparison.
Northolt interests me for being close to London (obvs not buying a house down there) Brize, maybe for the social? (Again, not buying)
Akrotiri always interests me because of the weather <3
I think I'd like to end up around either S'oton or Northumberland(so Leeming or Boulmer?) I know they're opposite ends of the scale/country,) but looking at houses in each, it knocks me sick how much you don't get for your money on the South Coast in comparison.
Northolt interests me for being close to London (obvs not buying a house down there) Brize, maybe for the social? (Again, not buying)
Akrotiri always interests me because of the weather <3
Associate
- Joined
- 19 May 2010
- Posts
- 1,344
food for thought - if you buy a house oop north in Lincolnshire, but get a posting down south, the Get You Home mileage will be a very large chunk of money toward monthly bills…
Soldato
Ah, I should've said, if it was so far away I'd likely have to rent it out (taking into account switching to a Buy to let mortgage and being within the FHTB rules etc. etc. )
Well this worrying..........
Is my Armed Forces pension tax-free lump sum safe? - Forces Pension Society
Potential changes could impact Serving Personnel and some of our Veteransforcespensionsociety.org
Daily Fail, but............https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ncellor-national-insurance-Budget-Labour.html
This would absolutely outrage me, and id imagine many many others. Can't imagine what it'd do to, the already dreadful, morale for the guys in. Not sure the military would survive that, so I doubt it'll happen.
Buy a house in the UK, rent it out and get a posting to Cyprus, let someone else pay your mortgage while you rake in rates and enjoy the sun.
Wish i'd have done it
Leeming, arse unit, but v close to the A1. Boulmer, visited once or twice, heard good thing and great local scenery, places to visit etc. Brize - no ta. Visited Northolt, again haven't heard many complaints and great access to the Smoke.
Depends how far you are into your career and what you are prioritising.
Soldato
Exactly, this is the idea, but it feels it would be easier to buy close to where I'm based just initially to look at the houses and stuff. I've got a few mates who've done Leeming so I'll check in with them. My parents (and houses I've looked at and like) are within half hour of Boulmer; concerned about the job, though. I would like to get out to Cyprus though <3 SO much cycling to be done!Buy a house in the UK, rent it out and get a posting to Cyprus, let someone else pay your mortgage while you rake in rates and enjoy the sun.
Wish i'd have done it
Previously I've prioritised working interesting jobs (ATC) so I've essentially completed the 'best' controlling tours. Now nearly 10 years in but with a while left it's time to prioiritise location (hence interested in Northolt)
Man of Honour
Exactly what my mate has been doing for the last couple of years, he's got a lovely place just outside Newquay that he sticks on AirBnb when him and his family are posted elsewhere. Poor bugger has just finished his Cyprus posting and ended up back in the grim North at Weeton though.Buy a house in the UK, rent it out and get a posting to Cyprus, let someone else pay your mortgage while you rake in rates and enjoy the sun.
Wish i'd have done it
Soldato
Defence secretary admits: British armed forces can’t stop an invasion
In a damning assessment, John Healey said the military could conduct ‘operations’ but would be unable to deter an enemy from invading
www.independent.co.uk
I'm probably preaching to the choir here. However, I find this so frustrating to the point that the continued underinvestment in our Armed forces was one of my, albeit not as important reasons for calling it a day. Instead of committing to significant investment, they sit there pointing fingers at each other. Lets be honest with ourselves, 2.5% GDP target barely even covers current long term big ticket projects.
The military needs Significant investment not only in equipment I'm not talking shiny new technology here (we need that too) I'm talking depth, we need stocks of equipment and ammunition that will give us a credible fight tonight capability if it all goes pete tong we can at least survive till help comes as a bare minimum. It also needs significant investment in manpower. Whilst we dont need a massive standing army we still need a strong core to fall back on that will provide the backbone for any larger mobilisation of a national service if it was required to protect our homeland.
We've been hollowed out by decades of under investment and cutbacks from both sides, they are equally to blame for the situation we are in now. The current and future reality we are faced with is potentially very volatile and is no place for complacency.
Whilst I respect Ben Wallace. I disagree with his comment “we don’t need more distractions from ‘new reviews’". I think the situation we are faced with is a lot different from when the last Strategic Defence Review was conducted and I think its right that a new one is conducted to best place our priorities going forward.
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Commissario
I spent a week living in the officers mess there a few years ago. Yes, that was a good week
Soldato
Well this worrying..........
Is my Armed Forces pension tax-free lump sum safe? - Forces Pension Society
Potential changes could impact Serving Personnel and some of our Veterans
Daily Fail, but............https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ncellor-national-insurance-Budget-Labour.html
I think it is despicable that the government keep hitting pensioners. Pensioners can't increase their income. Every time the government hits them, it's yet another reduction in the standard of living for them.
Soldato
Who is going to invade the British isles though? are we anticipating a massed Soviet/Chinese army marching through Europe and building camp the other side of the channel? a physical invasion of the UK is ridiculously unlikely scenario and we would be much better of preparing for the likely future wars instead.Obvious news is obvious. At least to anyone with a few braincells whos been in more than a few minutes.Defence secretary admits: British armed forces can’t stop an invasion
In a damning assessment, John Healey said the military could conduct ‘operations’ but would be unable to deter an enemy from invading
I'm probably preaching to the choir here. However, I find this so frustrating to the point that the continued underinvestment in our Armed forces was one of my, albeit not as important reasons for calling it a day. Instead of committing to significant investment, they sit there pointing fingers at each other. Lets be honest with ourselves, 2.5% GDP target barely even covers current long term big ticket projects.
The military needs Significant investment not only in equipment I'm not talking shiny new technology here (we need that too) I'm talking depth, we need stocks of equipment and ammunition that will give us a credible fight tonight capability if it all goes pete tong we can at least survive till help comes as a bare minimum. It also needs significant investment in manpower. Whilst we dont need a massive standing army we still need a strong core to fall back on that will provide the backbone for any larger mobilisation of a national service if it was required to protect our homeland.
We've been hollowed out by decades of under investment and cutbacks from both sides, they are equally to blame for the situation we are in now. The current and future reality we are faced with is potentially very volatile and is no place for complacency.
Whilst I respect Ben Wallace. I disagree with his comment “we don’t need more distractions from ‘new reviews’". I think the situation we are faced with is a lot different from when the last Strategic Defence Review was conducted and I think its right that a new one is conducted to best place our priorities going forward.
Soldato
I'm waiting until the Budget actually comes out before I look too much into it, but literally last week I was looking at additional Pension (I'm about to go into the 40% tax bracket so this would be 'tax efficient' so to speak)
Soldato
The government have hardly touched pensioners, if anything they have been insulated from the cost of living crisis to a greater extent than the working age population.
Soldato
Bit naive to think like that, whilst there isnt a clear and present direct threat, thats not to say there wont be one in 5 or 10 years time. Extremely unlikely but not zero. The problem is if that direct threat is identified its likely already too late that start reacting. Defence production takes years to establish and start rolling equipment and ammunition out the door, baring in mind we'd largly be starting from stratch, as bar a few defence manufacturers already producing kit at small scale, our capability to produce this stuff is severly limited, our access to the resources to create equipment is shakier than its ever been. They are struggling to gather parts for projects that are still 5-6 years out and I cant see the that sort of situation getting any easier in the future.
Better to be prepared and not need it than need it and not be prepared. Should a hostile state actor want to launch an attack on us, and that is absolutely a possibility. What is more likely to happen is attacks on British interests overseas or missile/air strikes on critical infrastructure here. We have little to defend against that sort of action. What we do have to ward off that threat we have nothing more than token amounts of.
I'm not so certain if we needed to we could count on the likes of USA or Europe to come running to help. USA has become more isolationist than ever.
I'd like to see huge investment in air defences, something akin to Patriot/THAAD style something that can reliably counter cruise/ballistic missile threats, we seem to be making good headway on the Laser front with dragonfire which should be ideal for anti drone stuff. Significant expansion of the RN and RAF in both manpower and fleet. Whilst it would be nice to have a bigger stronger Army, its not AS vital, troops can be trained easy enough in a pinch if required but they need the Vehicle/equipment/ammunition stocks bolstered considerably and capability gaps closed.
Soldato
What would you like to cut back on so we can afford this massively expensive air defence system which is likely never to get used? We spend a fortune on Trident to ensure our national safety maybe we should save that and buy patriots instead!
Soldato
- Joined
- 16 Aug 2009
- Posts
- 7,962
Triple lock pension. Got to get those votes secured