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| Half of UK forces 'ready to quit' | Half of UK forces 'ready to quit' |
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| Almost half of UK military personnel are ready to leave the forces, a Ministry of Defence survey suggests. | Almost half of UK military personnel are ready to leave the forces, a Ministry of Defence survey suggests. |
| Some 47% of Army and Royal Navy respondents and 44% of those in the RAF said they regularly felt like quitting. | |
| Among the concerns raised by the 9,000 servicemen and women surveyed were the frequency of tours, levels of pay and the quality of equipment and housing. | |
| The Ministry of Defence said the survey revealed "areas of concern" but that conditions were being improved. | The Ministry of Defence said the survey revealed "areas of concern" but that conditions were being improved. |
| Sense of overstretch | Sense of overstretch |
| The first survey to assess attitudes across the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the RAF revealed high levels of concern over morale, equipment and pay. | The first survey to assess attitudes across the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the RAF revealed high levels of concern over morale, equipment and pay. |
| The Regular Army is already short of some 5,000 soldiers, amid worries that experienced young officers and senior NCOs are leaving at an increasing rate. | The Regular Army is already short of some 5,000 soldiers, amid worries that experienced young officers and senior NCOs are leaving at an increasing rate. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| A sense of overstretch was reflected in all three services, with 36% saying they were not happy with the level of separation from family and friends. | A sense of overstretch was reflected in all three services, with 36% saying they were not happy with the level of separation from family and friends. |
| Asked whether the frequency of tours had an impact on whether to leave or not, 38% of the Army said it had increased their intention to leave, while 59% overall said operation commitments and stretch made them more likely to leave. | Asked whether the frequency of tours had an impact on whether to leave or not, 38% of the Army said it had increased their intention to leave, while 59% overall said operation commitments and stretch made them more likely to leave. |
| The tempo of operations has produced such a level of stress on the families that it is no wonder so many are thinking of leaving Patrick Mercer MP | The tempo of operations has produced such a level of stress on the families that it is no wonder so many are thinking of leaving Patrick Mercer MP |
| Overall, 37% believed operational tours came too often, though well over half believed the level was about right. | Overall, 37% believed operational tours came too often, though well over half believed the level was about right. |
| Questioned about morale within their service as a whole, 59% of the Army rated levels as "low" or "very low". | Questioned about morale within their service as a whole, 59% of the Army rated levels as "low" or "very low". |
| In the Royal Navy that was 64%, and the Royal Marines 38%. | In the Royal Navy that was 64%, and the Royal Marines 38%. |
| Within the RAF, 72% said morale across the service was low. | Within the RAF, 72% said morale across the service was low. |
| Patrick Mercer, Tory MP for Newark and an ex-officer, said the findings reflected the pressures faced by military personnel. | Patrick Mercer, Tory MP for Newark and an ex-officer, said the findings reflected the pressures faced by military personnel. |
| "I think the tempo of operations has produced such a level of stress on the families that it is no wonder so many are thinking of leaving," he added. | "I think the tempo of operations has produced such a level of stress on the families that it is no wonder so many are thinking of leaving," he added. |
| However, 59% of the armed forces overall said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their own job. | However, 59% of the armed forces overall said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their own job. |
| Some 69% of Army officers were satisfied with the sense of achievement they got from their work, compared with only 51% of soldiers. | Some 69% of Army officers were satisfied with the sense of achievement they got from their work, compared with only 51% of soldiers. |
| Only 37% of Royal Marines said that they regularly thought about quitting. | Only 37% of Royal Marines said that they regularly thought about quitting. |
| The survey frequently showed wide differences between the levels of satisfaction expressed by officers in all services compared with other ranks. | The survey frequently showed wide differences between the levels of satisfaction expressed by officers in all services compared with other ranks. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The first way to improve the morale of our armed forces is to let them know that they are valued. Danny, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The first way to improve the morale of our armed forces is to let them know that they are valued. Danny, UKSend us your comments |
| For example, 73% of Army officers said they had job satisfaction, compared with 57% of soldiers; 71% of Royal Marine officers compared with only 50% among other ranks, and 70% of RAF officers compared with 50 percent of other ranks. | For example, 73% of Army officers said they had job satisfaction, compared with 57% of soldiers; 71% of Royal Marine officers compared with only 50% among other ranks, and 70% of RAF officers compared with 50 percent of other ranks. |
| As many as 64% of Royal Navy officers said they had job satisfaction, but only 48% of other ranks agreed that they were satisfied with their jobs. | As many as 64% of Royal Navy officers said they had job satisfaction, but only 48% of other ranks agreed that they were satisfied with their jobs. |
| Asked if they felt valued within their service, 49% of ratings in the Navy said they did not, along with 44% of soldiers and 53% of airmen. | Asked if they felt valued within their service, 49% of ratings in the Navy said they did not, along with 44% of soldiers and 53% of airmen. |
| 'High priority' | 'High priority' |
| More than half of those who responded to the survey were not satisfied with standards of military equipment and resources given to them to do their jobs, while some 40% were unhappy with service accommodation, and 55% were dissatisfied with the standards of maintenance of their service housing. | More than half of those who responded to the survey were not satisfied with standards of military equipment and resources given to them to do their jobs, while some 40% were unhappy with service accommodation, and 55% were dissatisfied with the standards of maintenance of their service housing. |
| Yet the survey also showed that despite all the difficulties, especially the lengthy separations from friends and family, pride in serving within the Armed Forces remained high, with 93% of Army officers and 76% of soldiers saying they were proud to be in the Army. | Yet the survey also showed that despite all the difficulties, especially the lengthy separations from friends and family, pride in serving within the Armed Forces remained high, with 93% of Army officers and 76% of soldiers saying they were proud to be in the Army. |
| Since the survey was conducted, we have already implemented a number of important changes Derek Twigg MPDefence Minister | Since the survey was conducted, we have already implemented a number of important changes Derek Twigg MPDefence Minister |
| Pride in serving the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force was slightly lower, with 84% of navy officers and 62% of sailors proud to be part of the Royal Navy, and 89% of RAF officers and 69% of airmen expressing pride in their Service. | Pride in serving the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force was slightly lower, with 84% of navy officers and 62% of sailors proud to be part of the Royal Navy, and 89% of RAF officers and 69% of airmen expressing pride in their Service. |
| Some 24,760 questionnaires were sent out, with almost 9,000 service personnel (36%) responding between July and October 2007. | Some 24,760 questionnaires were sent out, with almost 9,000 service personnel (36%) responding between July and October 2007. |
| The MoD said a number of measures had recently been introduced, including tax-free operational allowances for those on six-month tours and improved spending on accommodation. | The MoD said a number of measures had recently been introduced, including tax-free operational allowances for those on six-month tours and improved spending on accommodation. |
| Defence Minister Derek Twigg added: "Since the survey was conducted, we have already implemented a number of important changes such as the recent pay rise, an adjustment to the operational bonus, and the introduction of childcare vouchers. | Defence Minister Derek Twigg added: "Since the survey was conducted, we have already implemented a number of important changes such as the recent pay rise, an adjustment to the operational bonus, and the introduction of childcare vouchers. |
| "Over the next 10 years, we are also spending £8.4 billion on accommodation, an area that is a high priority for our personnel." | "Over the next 10 years, we are also spending £8.4 billion on accommodation, an area that is a high priority for our personnel." |
| Are you serving in the armed forces? Do you have family in the military? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you serving in the armed forces? Do you have family in the military? Send us your comments using the form below. |