Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:15:27-3:16:12

Why the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is force structure

A question about the state of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary draws an emphatic argument for treating its people and ships as core combat support.

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Question

What is your assessment of the current state and treatment of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary?

Short answer

The RFA is essential to Britain's force structure. Excluding its personnel from Armed Forces Covenant protection is criticized, if that reported decision is accurate.

Notes

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is described as an essential part of Britain's force structure. The immediate concern is a reported argument that its personnel are not proper members of the armed forces and therefore should not receive Armed Forces Covenant protection. The criticism is explicitly conditional on that being the decision actually reached. Such exclusion is strongly opposed because auxiliary personnel sustain the wider naval force.