SAS war hero named as Chief of General Staff promises to make Army fit for future
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A former SAS chief named as the new Chief of the General Staff has promised to make the British Army a “potent fighting force” fit for the future despite troop cuts.
General Sir Roly Walker, an Afghan war hero who served as Special Forces commander, was officially announced on Tuesday as the successor to General Sir Patrick Sanders, who has held the role since June last year.
Gen Sir Roly, currently Deputy Chief of Defence Staff at the Ministry of Defence, will assume the position in June next year.
The Afghan war hero, who survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2010, will be only the second person to be promoted to Chief of the General Staff having served as Director Special Forces.
He pledged to “lead the British Army forward on an ambitious modernisation journey that means we are fitter, faster for the challenges of the future”.
‘Real and potent fighting power’
“We have brilliant people at every rank who will turn this into real and potent fighting power,” he said.
“We have many strong and reliable allies around the world with whom we can work for the common good.”
Earlier this year The Telegraph revealed Gen Sir Roly had been selected to become the next Army chief, after it was confirmed that Sir Patrick would be standing down after an unusually short tenure.
Defence sources said Sir Patrick had been forced out after just two years, amid a row over troop numbers that had engulfed the military. Throughout his time as Army chief he has been critical of planned cuts to troops which will reduce the British Army to its smallest size for centuries.
However, one senior defence source told The Telegraph Sir Roly would not let the cuts to his army define him.
“I think his tenure will be marked by some troop cuts, but the litmus test will be the extent to which he is able to reinforce the argument for recapitalisation and modernisation of the army,” they said.
“His job is to create as capable an army with the resources the Government of the day is inclined to spend on it.”
Grant Shapps congratulated Gen Sir Roly, an Afghan war hero who survived a Taliban assassination attempt, and said “the future of the British Army is in excellent hands”.
‘Wealth of operational experience’
The Defence Secretary said: “Roly’s wealth of operational experience and previous appointments make him very well suited to lead the British Army as we continue to modernise our Armed Forces to meet the threats and challenges in a more contested and dangerous world.”
He also thanked Sir Patrick for his work, which he said “has been integral to driving Defence’s modernisation agenda”.
Earlier this year Rishi Sunak announced a £5 billion increase in military spending to “fortify our national defences” and pledged to boost military funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP in the long term.
The extra £5 billion, to be delivered over the next two years, will take defence spending to 2.25 per cent of GDP by 2025, up from 2 per cent in 2020.
However, defence sources were critical of the amount with Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, likening the sum to “the parsimony of the 1930s all over again”.
Despite concerns about the defence budget and cuts to troop numbers, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said: “As the beneficiary of a £40 billion equipment recapitalisation programme, the 2020s are full of opportunity for the British Army. A proven operational commander and a forward-thinking Whitehall leader, General Roly is just the man to seize the moment. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”
