Military Secretary (United Kingdom) facts for kids
The Military Secretary is a very important job in the British Army. This person is in charge of big decisions for high-ranking officers. They handle things like who gets a new job, who gets promoted, and where officers are sent. They also help with rules and discipline for these senior leaders.
The person holding this role is a high-ranking officer themselves, usually a Major-General. There's also a Deputy Military Secretary who helps out, and they are usually a Brigadier. Other parts of the UK military have similar roles. The Royal Navy has a Naval Secretary, and the Royal Air Force has an Air Secretary.
What is the Military Secretary's Role?
The Military Secretary's main job is to manage the careers of senior officers in the British Army. This includes:
- Deciding who gets important new jobs (appointments).
- Approving promotions for officers moving up in rank.
- Assigning officers to different places or units (postings).
- Making sure officers follow the rules and handling any discipline issues.
This role is crucial for making sure the British Army has the right leaders in the right places.
How the Role Started and Changed Over Time
The job of Military Secretary began a long time ago, in 1795. Back then, it was called the Public Secretary or Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. Before that, a civilian (someone not in the military) did a similar job.
Over the years, the name and focus of the role changed:
- In 1904, the title officially became Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War. This meant they worked closely with the government minister in charge of the army.
- People in the military sometimes called it "Military Secretary at Headquarters."
- In 1964, the title changed again to Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence. This happened when the different parts of the UK military (Army, Navy, Air Force) came under one main defence department.
In 1995, a new office called the Army Personnel Centre was set up in Glasgow. The Military Secretary became the main leader, or Chief Executive, of this new centre. This shows how the role has continued to adapt and grow.
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