I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 47 together.
The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces and the Defence Forces continue to have a proactive approach to all aspects of recruiting. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper as required to meet military needs. The strength of the Defence Forces as at 31 December in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively was 10,498, 10,551 and 10,446.
The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 October 2006, as advised by the military authorities was 10,357. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank is in the form of a Tabular Statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
There is a planned total intake of 255 personnel (Cadets, Apprentices & General Enlistment) before the end of 2006, with an expected outflow of 150 personnel in the same period. Recruit intake will be finalised in December 2006 to ensure that the annualised monthly average strength is at or around 10,500.
|
Lt Gen
|
Maj Gen
|
Brig Gen
|
Col
|
Lt Col
|
Comdt
|
Capt
|
Lt
|
Total Offrs
|
SM
|
BQMS
|
CS
|
CQMS
|
SGTS
|
CPLS
|
Total NCOS
|
PTES
|
Cadets
|
Total
|
Army
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
39
|
127
|
324
|
301
|
270
|
1,070
|
34
|
37
|
135
|
241
|
1,029
|
1,561
|
3,037
|
4,247
|
40
|
8,394
|
Air Corps
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
14
|
30
|
45
|
44
|
136
|
7
|
3
|
52
|
14
|
130
|
185
|
391
|
325
|
26
|
878
|
Naval Service
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
12
|
46
|
47
|
50
|
158
|
6
|
7
|
77
|
16
|
205
|
197
|
508
|
403
|
16
|
1,085
|
Lt Gen = Lieutenant General
SM = Sergeant Major
Maj Gen = Major General
BQMS = Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant
Brig Gen = Brigadier General
CS = Company Sergeant
Col = Colonel
CQMS = Company Quartermaster Sergeant
Lt Col = Lieutenant Colonel
SGTS = Sergeants
Comdt = Commandant
CPLS = Corporals
Capt = Captain
NCOS = Non Commissioned Officers
Lt = Lieutenant
PTES = Privates