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MoD denies 'war glamour' claim MoD denies 'war glamour' claim
(about 2 hours later)
The government has denied claims the British armed forces are glamorising war to boost recruitment.The government has denied claims the British armed forces are glamorising war to boost recruitment.
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust says recruits are unable to make informed choices about enlisting and children are being targeted.The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust says recruits are unable to make informed choices about enlisting and children are being targeted.
It also suggests many young recruits leave when they discover the reality of life in the military.It also suggests many young recruits leave when they discover the reality of life in the military.
But the Ministry of Defence says many of the claims are "out of date, incorrect and ill-informed".But the Ministry of Defence says many of the claims are "out of date, incorrect and ill-informed".
The report's author, David Gee, told the BBC that new recruits cannot predict how they will feel later on in their lives.The report's author, David Gee, told the BBC that new recruits cannot predict how they will feel later on in their lives.
"I think young people are particularly vulnerable to the pressures of an Armed Forces career."I think young people are particularly vulnerable to the pressures of an Armed Forces career.
"They can't know what they'll want at age 20 when they're 16. At the moment there is no effort to introduce the downside of Armed Forces life."They can't know what they'll want at age 20 when they're 16. At the moment there is no effort to introduce the downside of Armed Forces life.
"I'm not saying their recruitment literature needs to show the full horrors of war. But I think they need to reflect a more balanced picture.""I'm not saying their recruitment literature needs to show the full horrors of war. But I think they need to reflect a more balanced picture."
The recruiting process is designed to protect the interests of the applicants at every stage, regardless of age Ministry of Defence At 16 you can't join the police, can't drink alcohol, can't vote yet you can join up [to the armed forces] Barry Donnan
The report - Informed Choice? Armed Forces and Recruitment Practice in the UK - makes a number of claims.The report - Informed Choice? Armed Forces and Recruitment Practice in the UK - makes a number of claims.
These include how for every two 16-to-22 year olds joining the army, one is leaving.These include how for every two 16-to-22 year olds joining the army, one is leaving.
It also states that in 2007, a survey found 48% of all soldiers found army life to be worse than expected, with only 20% thinking it was better.It also states that in 2007, a survey found 48% of all soldiers found army life to be worse than expected, with only 20% thinking it was better.
The report also says many recruits enlist without fully understanding their legal obligations and that literature fails to mention how unless they leave within six months of enlisting, minors have no legal right to leave for four years. Motivated military
The trust's report recommends sweeping changes to armed forces recruitment policies including a new charter setting out the state's responsibilities, a radical review of recruitment literature, phasing out recruitment of minors, and new rights for recruits to leave service. The report also says many recruits enlist without fully understanding their legal obligations and that recruitment literature fails to mention how, unless they leave within six months of enlisting, minors have no legal right to leave for four years.
The trust's report recommends sweeping changes to recruitment policies, including a new charter setting out the state's responsibilities, a radical review of recruitment literature, phasing out recruitment of minors and new rights for recruits to leave service.
A new website, Before You Sign Up, also funded by the trust, has been launched that claims to give "independent and fair information about the benefits, risks and terms of service of a career in the armed forces".
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said armed forces recruitment needed to be based on truth to ensure that the military personnel were fully motivated.
"I think we are truthful for two main reasons. One is that we have a moral obligation to be so but the other one is that it's not in our interests to paint a distorted picture.
"We do not want people joining the armed forces who are not motivated, who are not capable of undertaking the training that we want them to undertake and doing the job that we ask of them at the end of the day.
"We try to be factual and we try to give them a rounded picture."
Truthful picture?Truthful picture?
Barry Donnan was in the Army for six years and served in the first Gulf War, and thinks more should be done to highlight the life-threatening dangers that new recruits could face.Barry Donnan was in the Army for six years and served in the first Gulf War, and thinks more should be done to highlight the life-threatening dangers that new recruits could face.
He said: "Why isn't that practical to be truthful to people and let people know?He said: "Why isn't that practical to be truthful to people and let people know?
"The report here is particularly highlighting the case of vulnerable people who are going through the system at maybe 15, 16-years-old, 17, 18 who I would suggest are not mature at that age. The recruiting process is designed to protect the interests of the applicants at every stage, regardless of age Ministry of Defence
"I was 16-years-old when I went through it. At 16 you can't join the police, can't drink alcohol, can't vote yet you can join up [to the armed forces]." "The report here is particularly highlighting the case of vulnerable people who are going through the system at maybe 15, 16 years old, 17, 18 who I would suggest are not mature at that age.
But Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson, who is in charge of recruitment in the Armed Forces, said media coverage meant recruits could not be fooled as to the realities of military life. He said: "We don't glamorise war. It wouldn't make sense for us to do so. "I was 16 years old when I went through it. At 16 you can't join the police, can't drink alcohol, can't vote yet you can join up [to the armed forces]."
"My recruiting teams present potential careers in the services in a straightforward and professional way. An MoD spokeswoman refuted many of the trust's claims, saying the armed forces did not target those under 16.
"I think any attempt that we made to be economical with the truth would undoubtedly rebound on us. The modern media continually provide us all with very clear images of warfare today."
'Selective interpretation'
An MoD spokeswoman refuted many of the claims made in the Trust's report, adding that the armed forces do not target those under 16.
"We welcome any report that contributes to serious debate on the Armed Forces. However, some of these assertions are incorrect and ill-informed, others are selective in their interpretation of recruitment practices and some of the evidence is out of date.
"A career in the Armed Forces provides amazing and unique opportunities for a wide range of people from all sectors of society and equips people with skills and qualifications that can be transferred to civilian life.
"The success of our people on operations reflects the standard of our recruitment processes. Joining the services is a life changing decision and is not taken lightly.
"The Services do not target people under the age of 16. The recruiting process is designed to protect the interests of the applicants at every stage, regardless of age."