The news, which emerges in the week that the Royal Navy appointed its first ever female Admiral, comes as the Ministry of Defence embarks upon a six month fact-finding process to determine which ranks and titles do not offer enough inclusivity. In the firing line are famous regimental titles like Kingsman, a soldier in the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Rifleman in the infantry, airman, crewman, able seaman, bandsman and craftsman
Also under attack is the rank of Colour Sergeant, used by the Royal Marines and Army infantry battalions and first introduced in 1813 during the Napoleonic wars as a reward for distinguished sergeants, who were allowed to wear a red sash.
The rank of First Sea Lord, the senior service’s most senior admiral, can claim its roots to the creation of the post of Senior Naval Lord in 1689. This was changed to First Naval Lord in 1777 and First Sea Lord in 1904.The current holder, Admiral Tony Radakin, was at Prince Philip’s funeral. In 2011 the Queen and the Duke were shown naval deployments with the then First Sea Lord Sir Mark Stanhope.The Diversity and Inclusion Review, actioned by the head of Britain’s Armed Forces Gen Sir Nick Carter, will be undertaken by Lt Gen James Swift.
Based at Army Headquarters in Andover, Hampshire, he has a pool of civil servants who are shaping future policy. These include Director of Infrastructure Sherin Aminossehe, the MoD’s Race Champion, and Samantha des Forges, appointed director of Diversity and Inclusion in February and who commands a salary of £110,000 – more than the commanding officer of an infantry battalion who is responsible for the lives of 650 soldiers.
The review will assess opportunities for women, black and gay members, as well as seeking to raise the military’s awareness of LGBTQIA+ terminology and will go back to permanent secretary David Williams and the Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Carter.Last night senior MoD sources made it clear this was not a consultation document, but rather a “toolbox” that would be used to guide policy.
“These aren’t recommendations – they will be signed off by ministers as part of the MoD’s attempt to meet diversity targets by 2030,” said the source.
In September last year veterans minister Johnny Mercer told parliament that there were 44 civil servant posts at the MoD with the words ‘diversity” and “inclusion” in their job title, and today all units across the Armed Forces now assign at least one diversity and inclusion representative.
Officers at the Shrivenham military staff college who attend promotion courses are already being taught to avoid the word “manpower” when compiling reports and gender-specific when delivering presentations.On Thursday it was announced that Commodore Jude Terry will take up the rank of rear admiral in August 2022.
“I have always thought of myself as a naval officer first, then a logistics officer, then Jude, and finally as a female,” she said.
There are problems, however.
Last year’s annual Service Complaints Ombudsman Report found that women, which make up 12 percent of Armed Forces personnel, accounted for 21 percent of all admissible complaints while soldiers from BAME backgrounds – eight percent of the Armed forces – accounted for 15 percent.
Crucially, the Ombudsman’s report also revealed institutional shortcomings with fewer than half of all complaints – 40 percent – dealt with within the 24-week target.
But last night serving senior officers questioned whether the so-called “red meat” focus on rank names and titles would translate to solutions.
“If we have failings in dealing with complaints efficiently it isn’t because of lack of trying – it’s because resources are simply stretched too thin,” said one female officer.
“I’m not convinced that changing the names of historic ranks addresses this, nor am I convinced that there is a clamouring for these changes by women.
“Even if it is gendered, most of us see a rank in terms of status. The danger of making allowances is that it takes the focus off us as soldiers or able seamen and puts it on the fact that we are women – precisely what we want to avoid.”
One female able seaman said:” I’m an able seaman. That’s my rank and I’m proud of it.”
A “deep and comprehensive” consultation across guards regiments following the decision in 2017 to allow females to join frontline units found that women preferred to keep the traditional name ‘guardsman”.
Last night Admiral Lord West, who served as First Sea Lord between 2002-2006, said: “The most important thing for our armed forces is that they are the best in the world for their size, that they are able to defend our nation and interests around the world.
“I find it a bit concerning that this issue is such a huge focus. Our Armed Forces gone through some very rocky times with cut budgets and the integrated review, and I would hope that the MoD’s major focus is on trying to achieve that capability
“Of course, inclusivity is important. I wrote the report into having women at sea and it was absolutely the right decision.
“But if the focus is on whether ‘man overboard’ should be ‘person overboard’ we forget that the point is to save a human life when someone falls in the sea. “A MOD spokesperson said: “We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment across our military and civilian workforce. As part of this, we regularly review the language we use in communications and signage to remain as inclusive as possible.”A project led by the Diversity and Inclusion Directorate to produce defence-wide guidance on inclusive language is set to be published later this year.”
*story by Express Online
