Senior British army roles likely to be cut

THE number of senior British army officers is likely to be cut as part of an overhaul of its command structure.

Gen Sir Nick Carter, head of the Army, ordered the review of top roles as the latest stage of a reorganisation process called Army 2020.

The Army currently has about 200 brigadiers and generals, but it is not yet clear how many roles will go.

Under a decision already made, the number of regular personnel is being cut from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020.

BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said Gen Carter’s “main focus is to improve decision making and accountability”.

Our correspondent added: “The Army recognises that mistakes were made during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and that it needs to change its culture and delegate more decisions to commanders on the ground.”

An army spokesman said the review would ensure the command structure and staff were “best placed to meet future challenges in an agile, imaginative and effective manner”.

The US Army has about 300 brigadiers and generals – only 100 more than the UK for an army five times the size.