Army Orders Officers to Review Ties with Exclusive Private Members' Clubs

The British Army has taken a major step towards promoting inclusivity and diversity within its ranks, with deputy chief of general staff Lt Gen David Eastman instructing officers to disassociate themselves from private members' clubs that refuse to allow female soldiers to join. In a letter seen by The Telegraph, Lt Gen Eastman emphasized the importance of assessing the links between Army units and the clubs to determine whether they align with the Army's values of equality and respect.

The letter highlights that some corps and regiments maintain historical ties with clubs whose rules and practices contradict the Army's commitment to inclusivity. Lt Gen Eastman stressed that endorsements of such groups carry weight and must now be reviewed to promote inclusivity. He warned that unequal access or treatment at these clubs can create an environment where service personnel may feel an implicit expectation to join to fully participate in social or professional life.

The Army is taking a proactive approach to reviewing its affiliations with private members' clubs and urging troops to advocate for change. The review aims to ensure that all members of the Armed Forces can participate fully in Army life without facing barriers based on gender. This review addresses informal affiliations that risk creating two-tier access to professional networks and sends a message inconsistent with a modern Army's operations.

Key Takeaways:

• Lt Gen David Eastman has instructed army officers to review their ties with private members' clubs that restrict women from joining or have unequal access and treatment policies.
• The review aims to assess the links between Army units and the clubs to determine whether they align with the Army's values of equality and respect.
• The Army is urging troops to advocate for change and to disassociate themselves from clubs whose policies and practices are fundamentally incompatible with the Army's values.
• The review is focused on informal affiliations that risk creating two-tier access to professional networks and sending a mixed signal about the Army's commitment to inclusivity.
• Lt Gen Eastman emphasized that inclusivity must be visible and that the Army's commitment to it is vital.

Statistics:

• The review covers affiliations between Army units and private members' clubs that have been in place for years, with some historical ties dating back decades.
• The Army has deemed it critical to assess these affiliations to ensure that they align with the Army's values and principles of equality and respect.
• The review is not diversionary and will not require any operational resources; rather, it asks senior leaders to assess and engage in dialogue.

Sources:

• The Telegraph, [no publication date]
• The Telegraph, [no publication date]
• The Telegraph, [no publication date]
• British Army, [no publication date]