(2) what the (a) required, (b) actual and (c) fit for task strength of each corps of the Army (i) was in 1997 and (ii) is in 2010.
Manning in the Army is currently strong. As at 1 January 2010, the trained strength of the Army, including full-time reserve service personnel, was 101,500, This is the highest figure since 1 January 2006. This good position is due to a greater number of recruits entering training and passing out into the Field Army, coupled with an improvement in retention. While this may be attributed in part to the economic climate, a combination of financial incentives and other retention measures have also had an impact. In September 1998 trained strength was 100,490.
In the following table “required strength” and “actual strength” figures are shown as “funded liability” and “trained strength” respectively.
The latest liability figures are as at 1 January 2010. Comparative figures from 1997 are no longer available. The earliest liability data held are as at 1 September 1998.
1 January 2010 figures have been taken from the Army Personnel Statistics Report (APSR). APSR data is derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system.
Figures for the Regular Army are as follows:
Organisation Funded liability Trained strength1 Funded liability Trained strength1 Staff 687 710 763 840 Royal Armoured Corps 5,954 5,680 5,772 5,880 Royal Artillery 8,605 8,020 7,476 7,610 Royal Engineers 8,564 8,640 9,529 9,480 Royal Signals 9,101 8,210 8,319 7,570 Infantry 27,242 25,020 24,519 24,720 Army Air Corps 1,669 1,540 2,047 2,140 Royal Army Chaplains Department 144 140 148 140 Royal Logistics Corps 16,240 15,360 15,848 15,170 Royal Army Medical Corps 2,684 2,460 3,190 3,060 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 10,054 9,780 9,820 9,700 Adjutant General’s Corps Provost 26,915 27,090 1,756 1,700 Staff and Personnel Support 2— 2— 3,911 3,650 Military Provost Service 2— 2— 101 100 Educational and Training Services 2— 2— 344 330 Army Legal Services 2— 2— 114 120 Unknown3 2— 2— 0 20 Royal Army Veterinary Corps 174 130 222 330 Small Arms School Corps 138 140 151 150 Royal Army Dentistry Corps 465 350 380 436 Intelligence Corps 1,191 1,130 1,648 1,470 Army Physical Training Corps 388 390 448 490 Queen Alexandra’s Royal Auxiliary Nursing Corps 870 670 1,136 900 Corps of Army Music 1,177 1,060 901 810 1 Trained strength figures are rounded. 2 Indicates brace. 3 These are trained members of the AGC who, due to data input errors in the JPA system, are not allocated to a sub Regimental Corps.
“Fit for Task” has been interpreted as fit to deploy for any form of duty on deployment, including personnel listed as having limited deployability. Data are calculated from Personnel Unable to Deploy (PUD) which is derived from unit returns and includes Gurkha manpower. As at 1 January 2010, Infantry Fit for Task strength was 20,439. Royal Armoured Corps Fit for Task strength was 4,475. No Fit for Task data are available prior to 2007. Similar figures for other corps are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.