The plan gives high-readiness and special forces a prominent role. Those units remain important, but they cannot substitute for every conventional mission. The Parachute Regiment and Royal Marines have historically supplied much of the recruitment pool for the SAS and SBS. Shrinking parachute battalions and commando units narrows that pool even when elite formations receive additional funding. Sustaining special forces therefore depends on the size and health of the wider formations from which they draw people.
Notable Point · 4:53:34-4:55:18
Elite units depend on a shrinking recruitment pool
Additional special-forces funding cannot offset the shrinking parachute and commando formations that provide much of the recruiting pool.