The formation of a coastal force will not diminish AFM’s authority

Traditions, of whatever kind or strength, are to be respected. Traditions form an integral part of a nation’s identity and its denizens.

This country has been for many years at the forefront of various professions including that of providing an army, officered by respected graduates who trained at the military academy of Sandhurst.

The Royal Academy’s core objective is to provide excellence in leadership, the formation of character and development of intellect. Over the years some Maltese officers formed part of the British Army and essentially the elements have been absorbed and passed on to the local officers over the years.

Most of the current Armed Forces’ training is being carried out either locally or provided by well established and proven foreign navies.

Traditionally, the army was a male domain and when women joined either as non-commissioned soldiers or cadet officers, it was to be expected that a number of people would adopt a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ attitude. In spite of this, AFM female officers have also done us proud.

In view of the inherent place of duty at sea, it was probably much more difficult for women to be appointed at sea in a navy with small ships. Tradition was here amended but not broken.

There was a time when local sailors in the Royal Navy of whatever grade had to be clean shaven or display full beard in line with regulations. The Maltese sailors were the only Commonwealth personnel permitted to retain a moustache, because that was their family tradition. A local tradition was thus respected.

Traditions do not change but are improved upon. The AFM still seems to persevere in training soldiers as sailors to fulfil Maritime Squadron duties. To date it appears to have worked for a small unit, but the AFM is surely aware and appreciates that training in a naval environment is bound to be differerent from that of a soldier.

The recent allocation of a small contingent to join a foreign ship involved in patrolling against piracy off the Somali coast has, beyond doubt, been an eye-opener to those who were selected. By all accounts, they have done well. The decision to take up the offer was a wise one and I hope other naval ships will follow suit and offer similar deployment to the Maritime Squadron.

Foreign naval experience is hard to come by and every opportunity of hands-on training should be encouraged. The AFM should also bear in mind that naval training is offered more gratuitously to sailors rather than soldiers, even though our soldiers act as sailors.

The pros and cons of splitting the AFM into separate entities should be carefully assessed and positively approached as viable. The performance of seamen on board also depends on the equipment carried on board the patrol boat.

With the new boats now fully operational and with the prime ship carrying out its normal duties there is no valid reason why a naval coastal force should not be formed out of the resources available.

The formation of a coastal force will not diminish the army’s authority as the army will remain the senior service out of tradition.