The crisis facing our armed forces
Nov 5 2007 by Urmee Khan, The Journal
BRITAIN’S armed forces are facing a crisis, according to an influential report written by a North academic.
Men and women fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq are being starved of resources, it warns.
The report from think tank Demos, co- written by Prof Anthony Forster from Durham University, says the British armed forces are on a dangerously unsustainable course.
They are being let down by “under-investment” and an “unfocused brief” and unless pay, terms, housing, training and recruitment are sufficiently resourced, the future for the armed forces looks bleak, according to the report.
Prof Forster said: “We hear much about a looming crisis for armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan – but the crisis is now. If the Government continues to ignore the armed forces, they will not be fit for purpose.
“Despite sterling service in Iraq and Afghanistan, UK armed forces are over-stretched, under-resourced and under tremendous organisational strain.
“It is time for a new, pragmatic and public debate on UK defence; one that is honest about current economic, organisational and societal constraints. It will require a more open-minded and flexible approach from senior military commanders; and a willingness on the part of the Government to face up to the contradictions that lie at the heart of British defence policy.”
Based on extensive research and consultation, the report analyses the new security challenges from serious and organised crime, international terrorism, religious and ethnic conflict and makes recommendations on how to meet them.
Prof Forster, an expert on military international affairs, said: “We must deal with issues such as housing for the armed forces and the state must be more involved in the welfare of soldiers when they return home.
“The number leaving the armed forces is increasing rapidly and that is because soldiers are doing their fourth tour in Iraq. We have a shortfall already of 6,000 in the armed forces. We need to ask why a private in the army is on £15,000 when the police get £20,000 and a training fireman is on £20,000, and the private faces severe risks in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“The reality is low pay has demoralised people and they are voting with their feet. We want a defence review to look at our commitment to the armed forces. We are overstretched.”
Less than a week away from this year’s Remembrance Sunday, the report also warned public support for the armed forces could not be taken for granted.
Sgt John Thompson, from Fusiliers recruitment in Newcastle said: “All the bad publicity in the news is isolating for thousands of our troops.
“It’s true that no one cares about our soldiers. Years ago the streets were filled with people greeting our armed forces when they returned home and these days people continue with their shopping.
“Pay is also appalling with people believing that you get paid more working in McDonald’s than in the armed forces.
“It is hard to recruit. Joining the Army is a good career but it is a hard one and accommodation and pay needs to be seriously assessed.”
Commenting on the report, a spokesman for the Royal British Legion (RBL) said: “While much of Demos report is outside our remit, the RBL warmly welcomes Demos’ new focus on the contribution made by our armed forces, the risks they face on our behalf, and the importance of upholding the nation’s military covenant with its service people, past and present, and their families.”
An MoD spokesman said: “The well-being and the safety of our people are a top priority for defence ministers, the MoD and the Government.
“The Secretary of State for Defence has stated that he does “not accept that the covenant is broken, but that we have to be careful to live up to it. It is our duty to live up to it. We have a responsibility to support our troops and their families – particularly when we are asking people to do very difficult and dangerous things for our security. This view is supported by the military chiefs.
“Making sure that the covenant is upheld is very important. For this reason we keep the support we provide to our personnel and their families under constant review. We have made significant progress recently, across a very broad range of issues including operational allowances, basic pay, medical treatment, equipment and force protection. However we are the first to admit that there is more that we can do. Our capabilities and our structures are geared towards the threats we are likely to face in the 21st Century, not those we faced in the 20th Century.
“We keep our force structure under constant review to make sure we can meet the security challenges of today, and of the future.”
