Under the changes, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will become a 'Specialized Infantry Battalion', charged with helping train and advising partner nations. Both the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards will become part of a mechanized 'Strike Brigade,' to provide quick and adaptable support in conflict zones.
Scottish battalions to become part of new types of modern Army teams, says Ministry of Defence
— Phyllis Bollani (@PhyllisBollani) December 16, 2016
The changes were outlined by UK Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon in a written statement, and are part of a wider overhaul of the UK's armed forces formulated following the 2015 Strategic Security and Defense Review.
Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 and the Army https://t.co/GXUWPdWBSX
— William Astout (@WilliamAstout) July 3, 2016
"A modernized division will be centered on the 3rd Division, organized with four brigades of two Armored infantry and two Strike, rather than three Armored infantry as now. A significant uplift in capability, it will hold one of each at high readiness, rather than the current single armored infantry brigade. From this, in times of crisis, the Army will be able to deploy a credible division of three brigades."
For all the talk of modernity and uplift in Scotland's armed forces, Paul Monaghan, SNP MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, told Spuntik he wouldn't be surprised if this was in fact a cutback, which would downgrade Scotland's military capabilities.
"These so-called 'revisions' could well be about cutting rather than enhancing Scotland's defenses, and shifting these battalions to purely offensive actions overseas. That prospect is deeply concerning, and we'll be pressing the government and Ministry of Defense for full details on the proposals."
Monaghan's skepticism could be well-founded. On November 7, the MoD announced eight military sites in Scotland will close over the next 16 years, reducing Scotland's defense estate by 20 percent.
If @theSNP had closed down army bases in Scotland, what would MSM reaction be? @BBCScotlandNews @STVNews Tories do it, nothing. Funny eh!
— gavsuave (@gavsuave) December 16, 2016
SNP Defense spokesperson Brendan O'Hara said the cuts were "a worrying blow and worse than expected".
"Defense has already been cut to the bone in Scotland, with the country suffering disproportionately for years. These new cuts are unacceptable. The communities in all the areas hit are going to be faced with economic uncertainty as these bases wind down. The cuts highlight how utterly damaging Westminster's nuclear obsession is. Trident renewal is veering out of any financial control and conventional defense spending is plundered. These cuts prove beyond any doubt that the Tory UK government cannot be trusted with the defense of Scotland.''
