What other organisation offers you truly international influence?

The MOD is unique in being both a policy making Department of State and Britain's highest level military headquarters. What does that mean in practice? Quite simply, that our civilian staff operate on a truly global stage and exert an extraordinary level of influence, both at home and abroad.

That influence is defined in part by simple geography. Britain's military resources have recently been deployed everywhere from the Gulf and Afghanistan to the Caribbean and Africa.

Whether they are involved in combat, peacekeeping duties or the provision of humanitarian aid following natural disasters, their performance depends crucially on the support and expertise of our civilian staff.

But it's not just about geography. Our civilian staff are playing a vital role in the radical modernisation programme designed to produce modern forces for a modern world. That means challenging traditional mindsets. It means pursuing new ideas and approaches.

It means being the very best at what we do - and then exploring ways to become even better. In short, it means setting standards that deliver real benefits and give the MOD an edge in its increasingly international environment. And ultimately, that depends on the quality and vision of our people.