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| Many troops 'feel like quitting' | Many troops 'feel like quitting' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | |
| Sense of overstretch | Sense of overstretch |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| 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. |
| A sense of overstretch was reflected in all the 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 the 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 operational 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 operational commitments and stretch made them more likely to leave. |
| Overall, more than a third believed operational tours came too often, though well over half believed the level was about right. | Overall, more than a third 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, 72% of the RAF rated levels as "low" or "very low". | Questioned about morale within their service as a whole, 72% of the RAF rated levels as "low" or "very low". |
| In the Royal Navy that was 64%, the Army 59% and the Royal Marines 38%. | In the Royal Navy that was 64%, the Army 59% and the Royal Marines 38%. |
| 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. |
But the survey did highlight wide differences between the levels of satisfaction expressed by officers compared with other ranks.
| But the survey did highlight wide differences between the levels of satisfaction expressed by officers compared with other ranks.
|
| 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 and women. | 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 and women. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Yet the survey also showed that despite all the difficulties, 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, 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. |
| Figures were slightly lower in the other services, with 89% of RAF officers and 69% of airmen and women expressing pride and 84% of naval officers and 62% of sailors proud to be part of the Royal Navy. | Figures were slightly lower in the other services, with 89% of RAF officers and 69% of airmen and women expressing pride and 84% of naval officers and 62% of sailors proud to be part of the Royal Navy. |
| 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 £8.4bn on accommodation, an area that is a high priority for our personnel." | "Over the next 10 years, we are also spending £8.4bn on accommodation, an area that is a high priority for our personnel." |