NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE No news yet about how the British Military ?Reserve Forces? initiative (FR2020) in the Isle of Man is going, although the media blitz (pun) has been intensive and IOM newspapers are lapping up the advertising. (It's good to see some of the Isle of Man?s Defence Contribution coming back into the local community?) Meanwhile in the other ?dependencies? (the Channel Islands ? the place the UK abandoned without firing a shot in WW2) there already seems to be a Military Reserve ?sub franchise? of a ?franchise?. The oddly named ?Jersey Field Squadron? of the British Army is having so much difficulty getting recruits that its casting its net wider to include the neighbouring Channel Island of Guernsey. For ?appeal? substitute 'desperate plea'! Meanwhile back in Mann so far the Celtic League is the only organisation to carry out a thorough analysis of Armed Forces recruitment and that shows that the FR 2020 targets set by the Ministry of Defence seem set to fall some way short of the aspiration. Hence their new found interest in places like Mann. Also, additional analysis undertaken by the League of Regular Armed Forces attitudes to Reserves revealed that a goodly percentage do not rate the ?weekend warriors? at all. Could this lead to friction in the ranks we ask? It is early days yet but it looks as if it may yet turn out to be: ?ALL QUIET ON THE PRESTWICK FRONT? Meanwhile, back in the Channel Islands, where do they go next if the Guernsey ?offensive? (pun) fails? Across the sea to France? The British Army is already a ?melting pot? of nationalities as increasingly folk from the United Kingdom eschew signing up. What next a British Foreign Legion? Meanwhile back in Mann ?Forces Champion? Juan Watterson MHK (Minister for Home Affairs) may have more pressing recruitment problems ? watch this space! J B Moffatt (Mr) Director of Information Celtic League 29/05/15 (Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.) ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE. The Celtic League was established in 1961and has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues Download our News App for Android here. Internet site at: (voir le site) (voir le site) Share this!