敢于直言：军事预备役的转型【RUSI】

COMMENTARYTruth to Power:Transforming Military ReservesPaul ONeill CBE24 October 20256 Minute ReadProposals to integrate the External Scrutiny Team into theMilitary Strategic Headquarters will undermine the onlyhonest safeguard for transformation of the UKs reserve forces.The UK established the External Scrutiny Team(EST)to reassure Parliamentthe reserves would be ready to answer the call of duty,and to ensure deliveryof the transformation the Ministry of Defence(MoD)promised in the FutureReserves 2020 Review(FR20).Today,another transformation is needed;the UK Strategic Defence Review(SDR)stresses the threats and highlights the importance of the reserves inresponding to them.NATO and NATO allies are moving faster than the UK inadapting their reserves to these same threats.A MoD proposal to integrate the EST within the newly formed MilitaryStrategic Headquarters(MSHQ),even if motivated by good intentions,wouldundermine the assurance that the reserves were ready to defend the nation.An independent EST remains vital for ensuring an honest assessment of thestate of the UKs reserves,and thus an important element of ensuring thatDefence and wider society are prepared for the challenges t