Part 6: Head Office

Key recommendation 4: The Head Office performs a vital role in Defence, supporting PUS, CDS and Ministers. It should be clear on what that role is, have the people and skills to do it properly, and resist the temptation to do more. Our view is that the role needs to be more strategic than now, and as a result (and as a crucial enabler to this) the Head Office should be considerably smaller. This applies to the top structure as much as the

a.  Given the challenges facing Defence today, the 2nd PUS and VCDS posts should be retained, to allow PUS and CDS to focus on the highest priority tasks, and their roles should be clarified. VCDS should support CDS in his increased role as the single military adviser on the Defence Board. 2nd PUS should lead the 'enable' function and act as head of profession for MOD civil servants. Together they should drive Transformation.

b.  The 3 star / Director General (DG) structure should be revised to reflect the new model. At its core should be four posts leading the policy, military strategy, finance and military capability functions. This should enable the reduction of at least one 3 star / DG post. The Chief Scientific Adviser should become a 3 star. The Head Office DG Commercial post has lapsed. The Department should consider whether the Chief of Defence Intelligence and DG Human Resources and Corporate Service posts continue to merit a 3 star given the changes to their responsibilities.

c.  The Department should take stock of progress in implementation in two years' time, and consider whether the proposed role and structure of the Head Office, including the requirement, role and seniority of the 2nd PUS and VCDS remain valid.