Special Forces Cut Back – This observer felt confident that whilst traditional forces were being cut back by the Coalition Government’s SDSR 2010 the one area that faced no such reductions and indeed with the application of intelligent warfare where expansion was in prospect.      Not so apparently with the reports that the support network for Britain’s special forces is facing major cutbacks with around 600 posts earmarked to be lost in a reorganisation to coincide with the military pull out from Afghanistan.     The controversial move could become necessary because the campaign had seen a build up of support and logistics to enable elite squads to carry out their operations which would no longer be necessary.    The proposals, drawn up at the Ministry of Defence, do not affect the fighting troops of the Special Air Service or the Special Boat Service directly however 156 posts are expected to be lost from the Special Forces Support Group, which provides infantry and specialised support to both the SAS and SBS.       The rest of the 600 posts are from units providing vehicles, signals, logistics and intelligence — the key “enablers” which allow elite troops to operate.    Foolish one would think with events in West Africa unfolding day by day.

Sources said the cuts proposed to special forces support were “an option being considered by the military” because certain roles would not be needed after the withdrawal of British Troops from Afghanistan, scheduled to take place by the end of 2014.      The Government never comments officially on the special forces, whose total numbers are thought to be about 2,000.