NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2008 17
People. Leaders. Grit.
ON SATURDAY May 12
but is currently some 1,200 men organisation, and who want to be in society.
1962, Douglas MacArthur
and women short across the board challenged and stimulated,” the But there is no magic wand
addressed the long grey
– although there have been some admiral explains. to fi x retention – and throwing
small improvements in some areas “They want more fl exible money at people is not the whole
lines of cadets at West as a result of recent initiatives. careers, where they can move in answer, as a recent MOD survey
Point.
Some areas are more stretched and out of regular employment. of military personnel revealed.
His theme was constant,
than others – ‘pinch points’: for “Why don’t we, for example, try We can certainly learn from
encapsulated in three words: Duty.
example nuclear watchkeepers, to keep a connection with Service big business – indeed the admiral
Honour. Country.
AB divers, Royal Marines, warfare leavers, perhaps involving reserve spent some time working with
The Royal Navy’s new
leading hands and aircrew. status, perhaps offering easier Shell, city bank UBS and Tesco to
Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral
These are problems – the ways to re-enter the Navy? Maybe see how they recruit and manage
Alan Massey, is determined to
admiral steadfastly refuses to call some of our women might serve the careers of their staffs.
encapsulate his term in offi ce
them ‘challenges’. And they need for longer if they had access to “When you look at what these
under the banner: People. Leaders.
to be tackled. As for the solution, better childcare arrangements.” major companies offer, then you
Grit. He explains:
Admiral Massey is looking to The key, says the admiral, is realise that we have a fi ght on our
reinvigorate the recruitment and fl exibility. hands – but there are still plenty of
■ People: “Our people are
retention of our people. He continues: “We need to unique benefi ts to life in the Royal
superb, but we need to recruit
“Recruitment is not just my offer people more modern career Navy,” he explains.
and retain more of them,
issue – it’s the whole Navy’s issue. packages if we can. This is not “If we get things right, then we
focused in the right areas, with
We have to push all the recruiting about being pink and fl uffy will remain a very attractive option
the right skills.”
levers forward,” he stresses. – this is hard-nosed, sensible for young people looking for a
■ Leaders: “Success is delivered
Some 3,500 people join the management.” rewarding career,” he says.
by good leadership at all levels:
trained strength of the Naval Recruiting more people is all “And, at present, promotion
we need our leaders to be the
Service each year and current well and good, but the training opportunities are better than
best trained, so that our people
recruiting fi gures are healthier for establishments also need to be they have ever been in many
are the best led.”
the Senior Service than the other able to cope with the infl ux – and branches.”
■ Grit: “We need lots of it
two Forces. so has the front line. As for grit and leadership, they
to underpin the robustness
Nevertheless, the new Second “And there’s little point fi nding pretty much go hand-in-hand.
demanded by front-line
Sea Lord has already set targets the fresh blood if the old and bold “We need quality leaders – from
operations from the strategic
to increase fresh blood in the RN are streaming out of the gates,” the the leading hand level upwards.
deterrent to Afghanistan and
and RM by between ten and 15 admiral warns. We need to invest more in training
Iraq.”
per cent over the next three or four The Navy can afford to lose people to be leaders through life,
Personnel issues – recruitment, years. To that end, the admiral no more than about nine per something my predecessors have
pay, service conditions, family life, would like to put more resources cent of its men and women every started,” says the admiral.
accommodation, sport, training, into careers offi ces. year through retirement, medical “We also need to put focus
retention measures – go hand-in- “Our careers teams around the discharges and people handing in on putting grit into the Navy:
hand with front-line issues. UK are excellent, but I believe we their notice. robustness, a bit more mental and
If you do not attract, hire, look can boost their delivery if we can At present the fi gures stand physical toughness. In the fi nal
after and keep your people, says get extra people, preferably straight at just under seven per cent for analysis, we are a fi ghting force”
● Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns (sitting) hands over as Second Sea
the admiral – who succeeded Vice from the front line, in our careers offi cers. It’s higher for ratings – For that grit, the admiral believes
Lord to Vice Admiral Alan Massey aboard his fl agship, HMS Victory
Admiral Sir Adrian Johns in July – offi ces,” he explains. “We need the Navy is losing one in ten every more sport and adventurous
Picture: LA(Phot) Alex Cave, FRPU East
you won’t be able to man the Navy people there from the generation year, which is too many. training exercises, such as Bavarian
for today’s and tomorrow’s needs. – and preferably from the regions “If everyone in the RN stayed Surprise, are a proven way to “We take these surveys seriously of Iraq – says there are far more
And at present, the Navy is – that we’re recruiting in.” one job longer, we probably inject resilience, competitive spirit, – there’s no smoke without fi re. positives than negatives in the
undermanned. The people the Navy is mainly wouldn’t have a retention issue,” toughness: “Our men and women These fi ndings will help us pay Senior Service of 2008.
“The RN is carrying a number trying to recruit are ‘Generation the admiral points out. come back from these exercises attention to areas where our “Fundamentally I believe we
of gaps, including some in the front Y’ (people born after 1980) – Recent initiatives such as the better, stronger people.” people feel we should do better. are the best navy around, and the
line. We are stretched. We need to the internet, X-Box, YouTube Service Personnel Command The most recent Continuous But I’m reassured by the ‘proud to closer you get to the front line, the
do something more to address this, generation whose aspirations, Paper and wearing uniform more Attitude Survey by the MOD – serve’ bit. There is real pride and more compelling and impressive
otherwise it will affect the way we needs and demands are different often in public should give the a snapshot of a whole range of ethos out there – you only have to we are,” he says.
do our jobs and the quality of life from those who are already well Forces a higher profi le, while issues affecting all three Services – look at something like Meet Your “My job is to keep that front
of our personnel,” says Admiral established in the Royal Navy. a series of new measures, from revealed some areas of low morale Navy in Portsmouth in July.” line manned with well trained,
Massey. “These are people who want compensation to extra educational in the RN, better spirit in the RM, On balance, however, the motivated, proud and tough people
The Royal Navy needs a trained 24/7 access to Facebook, who want funding, will ensure that Service but also that most sailors and Admiral – who led HMS Ark – and I’m really looking forward to
strength of around 36,000 people, to work for a socially-responsible personnel receive fairer treatment marines are still proud to serve. Royal during the 2003 invasion getting to grips with it.”
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