Military Covenenant

The Military Covenant
Chapter One

A Few Reflections by Pat Conn

How many of us have taken the trouble to read ADP Vol 5? Very few of us outside the MOD and the current crop of serving soldiers I suspect. Journalists may, in their research, skim it, look for the key points, but hardly digest the details because it is not easy reading and is full of intangibles. Just look at this BBC article; it summaries the understanding, touches on the problem but hardly explores it in depth. Please be aware that the punctuation is mine in order to make it more readable but the text has not been altered.

"The annual Remembrance Sunday, organised by the Royal British Legion, honours British troops. Britain has a 'duty of care' to its armed forces. This began as an unspoken pact between society and the military, possibly originating as far back as Henry VIII's reign. The pact was formally codified as a 'covenant' in 2000. It is not a law, but is reinforced by custom and convention. The covenant only officially applies to the Army, but its core principles are taken to extend to the Air Force and Navy too. Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices - including the ultimate sacrifice - in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the Nation and the Army before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they and their families will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service. In the same way, the unique nature of military land operations means that the Army differs from all other institutions, and must be sustained and provided for accordingly by the Nation. This mutual obligation forms the Military Covenant between the Nation, the Army and each individual soldier; an unbreakable common bond of identity, loyalty and responsibility which has sustained the Army throughout its history. It has perhaps its greatest manifestation in the annual commemoration of Armistice Day, when the Nation keeps covenant with those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in action.

Army Doctrine Publication Volume 5
The 'duty of care' to troops includes paying towards healthcare, which can be physical care for injuries or mental support for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other problems. The Ministry of Defence also provides support for bereaved families. The law gives the government 'combat immunity', which prevents soldiers from claiming compensation for injuries they received in combat except under official compensation schemes. Because soldiers cannot take the Crown to a civil court, the Covenant is viewed as important in protecting soldiers' rights to compensation.

IS THE COVENANT BEING HONOURED?
The Royal British Legion is a charity that provides support to members of the armed forces and their families and organises the annual Remembrance Day. In 2007, the Legion complained that the British government was not honouring the military covenant, and that troops were not being supported after returning from conflict. Their first criticism concerned the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme introduced in 2005, which, the Legion said, made it harder for soldiers to receive compensation. The Legion also made recommendations to improve the financial support and health monitoring given to personnel on active service and accommodation for their families while visiting them. The level of access veterans had to healthcare, a backlog of inquests into soldiers' deaths and the level of advice, support and representation given to bereaved families. The Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth responded to the campaign: "There are areas where we have already made significant progress, but we acknowledge that we must do more. These areas include mental healthcare for veterans, compensation, inquests and accommodation." He said that "fulfilling our part of the deal is not always easy and takes both time and money."

If you want to know more about the RBL's campaign, look at www.britishlegion.org.uk and navigate around.

A little research will locate the ADP Vol 5 and it is worthwhile dwelling on the Opening Chapter which talks about Soldiering which is shown below, you will notice that para 0103 bears a remarkable similarity to the BBC article above. What a pity it did not go further?

Soldiering: The Military Covenant
Chapter 1

The Context

The Military Covenant
Fighting Power
The Moral Component

The Military Covenant

0103. Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices - including the ultimate sacrifice - in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the nation and the Army before their own, they forgo some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service. In the same way, the unique nature of military land operations means that the Army differs from all other institutions, and must be sustained and provided for accordingly by the nation. This mutual obligation forms the Military Covenant between the nation, the Army and each individual soldier; an unbreakable common bond of identity, loyalty and responsibility which has sustained the Army and its soldiers throughout its history. It has perhaps its greatest manifestation in the annual commemoration of Armistice Day, when the nation keeps covenant with those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in action.

0104. "Soldiering" expounds the British Army's Doctrine for the Moral Component. It enunciates the ethical and moral basis for the operational effectiveness of the British Army. For serving soldiers it provides the fundamental tenets of their profession. It is the doctrinal basis for the Army's Human Resources policies and strategies. It describes for policy makers the intangible values and qualities which must be taken into account. It tells the wider public the basic truths about the British Army - why, how and in what circumstances soldiers differ from civilians.

0105. Like the other doctrinal publications, "Soldiering" is not immutable: it will develop over time. Like them it has particular relevance and value for commanders, their staffs, and those engaged in training them. For the officer corps it is designed to complement 'Serve to Lead' which is issued to all cadets at Sandhurst. It also underpins 'The Values and Standards of the British Army' which is aimed at all officers and warrant officers; it explains the specific values of the British Army and standards of conduct expected of all who serve in it. The related booklet is issued to all ranks.

Fighting Power

0106. Most military activities, including training, involve risk, but warfare is the most demanding, in terms of national will, resources and the demands it makes on the individual - whether the most senior commander, the most junior soldier, or a member of their families. It is a fundamental tenet of British military doctrine that the Army should be organised, trained and equipped first and foremost for war. By preparing to fight, the prospect of success across the full range of operations is enhanced. The reverse is not true. This is why the Army defines military effectiveness as Fighting Power. Fighting Power has three components: Conceptual, Physical and Moral. The Conceptual Component is the thought process behind the ability to fight. This is expressed in Military Doctrine. The Physical Component is the means to fight, and it comprehends the main elements of Combat Power - the resources to be employed in combat.

The Moral Component

0107. "Soldiers universally concede the general truth of Napoleon's much-quoted dictum that in war "the moral is to the physical as three is to one". The actual arithmetical proportion may be worthless, for morale is apt to decline if the weapons are inadequate, and the strongest will is of little use if it is inside a dead body. But although the moral and physical factors are inseparable and indivisible, the saying gains its enduring value because it expresses the idea of the predominance of moral factors in all military decisions. On them constantly turns the issue of war and battle. In the history of war, they form the most constant factors, changing only in degree, whereas the physical factors are different in almost every war and every military situation."

"Strategy", Sir Basil Liddell Hart

0108. The Moral Component has three fundamental elements: the motivation to achieve the task in hand; effective leadership from those placed in authority; and sound management of all personnel and resources. Together they produce the will to fight. The British Army's high morale and willingness to fight are based on an ethos which must transcend functional output. Some of the most barbarous and unprincipled military organisations in history have had tremendous morale and will to fight, based on excellent motivation, leadership and management, which have given them great military effectiveness and operational success. They have even possessed a greater external ethic to inspire them to conquest. However, consistent and sustainable national strategy, and true and enduring success on operations depend on moral strength - in war on moral dominance over an enemy - not just to overcome the adversary, but to establish the conditions for lasting peace. Enduring moral strength requires inner qualities in all soldiers, which must be reflected collectively throughout the Army. These are listed in 'The Values and Standards of the British Army' as Selfless Commitment, Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Loyalty and Respect for Others.