Iraq and Afghanistan troops under pressure as more brits resign from Forces

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/frontline/2051295/Iraq-and-Afghanistan-troops-under-pressure-as-more-resign-from-Forces.html


Iraq and Afghanistan troops under pressure as more resign from Forces

By Aislinn Simpson
Last Updated: 2:48AM BST 30/05/2008
Almost a thousand servicemen have left the Armed Forces since the
start of the year, prompting fears for the safety of troops serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Government figures released on Thursday showed that the number of
full-time trained personnel leaving the services had accelerated.

From January to April 1, provisional figures showed that staff levels
had fallen from 174,910 to 173,960, leaving the Armed Forces more than
5,000 troops short of its own target. The casualty rate in Iraq and
Afghanistan, where the 97th soldier died this week, and the low pay of
infantry soldiers have been identified as factors persuading recruits
to leave early.

The latest losses represent a significant increase in the rate of
departure from the Armed Forces. In the period between last October
and January this year, the number of full-time service personnel
increased by 130. The figures follow a report by the Commons Defence
Committee, which said earlier this year that it was ?deeply concerned?
that the Armed Forces had been operating above the level of their
resources for seven of the past eight years.

James Arbuthnot MP, the committee chairman, said the treatment of
personnel after tours in Afghanistan and Iraq was ?unacceptable??.

The Ministry of Defence insisted that it had turned a corner, claiming
that the rate at which service personnel are leaving the Forces was
slightly less than it was last year. It added that there has been an
8.3 per cent increase of 1,600 recruits who joined the Armed Forces in
the past year compared with the previous year.

Baroness Ann Taylor, the defence minister, said: ?We continually
monitor the Armed Forces manpower situation so we can look at trends
and take action where necessary.

?Recent initiatives include pay rises, increased operational
allowances, the introduction of increased commitment bonuses of up to
£15,000 to reward longer service, and a new £20 million pilot scheme
to offer more affordable home ownership.?

Dr Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, said the Ministry of
Defence?s attempt to put a positive slant on the figures was ?an
insult to our troops and their long-suffering families?.

He said: ?No amount of spinning can disguise the fact that our Armed
Forces are seriously overstretched.?

Patrick Mercer, a former Tory defence spokesman, said the latest
figures were ?disastrous? and the numbers able to serve could be even
smaller because of injured servicemen who were out of action.

He said those leaving the Armed Forces were split between young
recruits, up to 35 per cent of whom are now dropping out before
qualifying, and full-time soldiers who are frustrated by having to
spend more time in theatre away from their families because of troop
shortages.

.

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