This idea addresses a method to boost the recovery of the UK economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular focus on key infrastructure projects, while utilising the resources that may become available from military reduction in force.
Benefits could include:
• Significant cost savings through more efficient implementation of projects.
• Boosting morale in the military by offering an onward career path.
• Retaining “reserve” access to highly trained military personnel.
• Extended use of some equipment.
• Enhanced progress towards carbon reduction targets.
• A boost to the apprenticeship scheme.
During the crisis, the re-tasking of military personnel to address urgent logistical, construction and support requirements made possible several key projects, from Nightingale hospitals to PPE distribution, and manning both testing stations and, later vaccination centres.
The levels of support were wide ranging, covering planning and management to “boots on the ground” personnel in support roles building hospital wards, moving vast quantities of equipment and supplies, wielding test swabs and hypodermics. All with the respect and gratitude of the vast majority of the public.
I propose that this type of support could be continued and formalised in future, by utilising the hard-won skills of our military planners and implementers within an organisation of “Civil Critical Implementation Teams”.
Rather than simply lay off or retire members of the armed forces, they could be transferred to a civilian CCIT organisation. There, they could apply their wide range of skills, and their discipline, to assist with implementation of key infrastructure projects. The huge “electric car infrastructure” project in the UK could really benefit from such a well-trained and disciplined organisation at its helm.
By having the teams undertake regular refresher and training courses, in the same way as the Territorials, the teams could form a useful boost to military reservist strength. Depending upon preferred government spending plans, perhaps even make the CCITs a part of the Territorials in some way?
There is discussion within the defence review of using more hardware rather than “boots on the ground”. To just write off this valuable human resource would be a travesty given the investment already made in and by these dedicated people. Therefore, why not instead redeploy them to assist, train, and perhaps oversee, new civilian teams that could support the government’s major policy implementation plans, both home and abroad?
A bonus may come from the redeployment of obsolete or redundant military equipment as well. For instance, heavy construction, cable laying and transport equipment. The teams could include personnel already skilled in the use of such equipment.
Importantly, this idea would demonstrate how much we as a country value the skills and dedication of the military and are not prepared to simply write off their experience and commitment when we need to restructure.
The Civil Critical Implementation Teams could provide opportunities and benefits for government, including:
• Creating a core team of people who have practical expertise in:
o Leading and planning critical initiatives to achieve stated objectives in high stress or time-critical situations.
o Identifying the most efficient and effective routes to ensure successful delivery of objectives. o Leadership skills that produce the best results from their people.
o Taking aboard people with few skills and turning them into highly skilled individuals that deliver. (Thereby perhaps a boost to the apprenticeship program as well).
• Boosting morale within the military by addressing “where do we go from here” for some personnel facing redundancy or retirement.
• A new way of looking at budgets; the cost of these teams could be applied to the budgets of the project are supporting rather than to the defence budget whilst they are engaged in that activity.
• Provide training and management support to private sector companies engaged by government to ensure that the projects are brought in on time and to budget. We have already seen how successful this can be with the Vaccine Roll Out.
• Enable the government to retain armed forces personnel such that if they were needed to support urgent defence or humanitarian events around the world they could be reassigned to that role.
I believe that this idea has many potential benefits to the government, the military, the environment, the economy, and the country as a whole.
2212-11