Brtish Army crisis grows as SAS commander quits

[TonyGosling]

Army crisis grows as SAS commander quits
Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 7:38PM BST 07/06/2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2090942/Army-crisis-grows-as-SA S-commander-quits.html

One of Britain's most senior SAS commanders has resigned – a move that will fuel fears that the effect of overstretch is reaching crisis point in the military.

Brig Ed Butler, who was one of the Army’s key strategists in the war in Afghanistan, decided to leave amid concerns that the pressure of operations was having a “negative impact” on his family life.

It is also understood that the highly decorated 46-year-old officer, who has won the Distinguished Service Order and is a CBE, was “disappointed” not to have been offered the position of Director of Special Forces.

As DSF he would have been responsible for all of Britain’s special forces operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, liaising with allies and briefing the Prime Minister on special forces operations.

His resignation follows that of Lt Col Stuart Tootal, who left last year in protest at the “appalling” and “shoddy” treatment of troops.

Lt Col Tootal, who served with Brig Butler in Afghanistan and was also awarded the DSO, is understood to have become disillusioned with service life after he also failed to be offered a key staff job.

The commanding officer of 22 SAS, who can not be named for security reasons, also resigned last year following frustrations with his career.

Senior defence sources have admitted that the loss of three highly experienced officers in such a short time could have serious repercussions for the Army.

Brig Butler, who is currently the Chief of Joint Force Operations at the Permanent Joint Planning Headquarters in Northwood, Middlesex, has spent much of the past 10 years away from his family on operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans.

During that period he commanded 22 SAS and 16 Air Assault Brigade in Helmand, during what was described as the most severe fighting involving British troops since the Korean war.

Senior defence sources have admitted that there is now “real concern” within the Ministry of Defence over the “cumulative effect” of the pressure of operations and the time spent away from home on officers of Brig Butler’s ­generation.

In a statement to The Sunday Telegraph, Brig Butler said: “I have decided to resign my commission from the Army after a great deal of discussion and deliberation over the last six months with all my ­family. The overriding consideration is what is best for my family who have stuck with me throughout my Army career; with so much of it deployed or at extremely high readiness; all with the associated unpredictability, apprehension and sacrifices.

“I have had an incredible two dozen years in the Army and have been so privileged to lead some extraordinarily brave men and women, from all three Services, on hugely challenging operations from Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Africa and Afghanistan. Their resourcefulness, commitment and ability to continually deliver operational success, within the well-known constraints and restraints, is both remarkable and humbling. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

“I will look back on my time with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces with huge pride and professional and personal satisfaction, where I have hopefully made a difference. There have been significant highs, isolated lows and sadly a number of colleagues and friends who paid the ultimate sacrifice while under my command. I will never forget the price they paid. Notwithstanding this, I would not have had it any other way. It is now time to move on to new challenges and rewards, transferring all the skills and experiences I have learnt in the military into the commercial sector. Most importantly I can now spend more time with my young family.”

Brig Butler will become the chief executive of “Corporates for Crisis”, a new company that will advise corporations and businesses in emerging and frontier markets. The company is already operational and currently has a team in Burma.

Details of Brig Butler’s resignation emerged in the week that General Sir Richard Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, said that the demands of military operations had left the covenant out of kilter. He also said soldiers deserved better pay, housing and medical welfare.