The British Ministry of Defence has published a “cut out and keep” guide to the hierarchy of military rank after senior officers complained that they were no longer being properly saluted by their juniors. The problem was said to be particularly acute during joint operations, when the Army, Navy and RAF work together. But lax saluting is not the only grievance among military top brass. Apparently, junior personnel have also taken to referring to their seniors as “boss”, or even “mate”. (The Week)

When I did my Army service, the slightest hint of insubordination was punished. In a military context a command is a command, even if you disagree with it. Stand there arguing during a battle and you are dead meat. Calling a senior officer “mate”? I would send someone like that straight back to civvy street.

I personally felt that my senior officers were lazy and the strategy in Cyprus not very clever. But you did what you were ordered to do, because you didn’t know the big picture. Relationships were formal because they have to be where people’s lives are at risk.

The modern attitude seems to be “I’m equal to you, Mate, with your 30 years of experience and yer fancy uniform. It’s me rights, mate. You can’t tell me what to do”. No wonder the British army was a disaster in Helmand Province. How did we reach this situation? Or am I over-reacting to a report about a tiny minority badly brought-up, uneducated idiots?