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| UK armed forces 'below strength' | UK armed forces 'below strength' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The armed forces are understaffed, with rising numbers of personnel quitting early, the government has been warned. | The armed forces are understaffed, with rising numbers of personnel quitting early, the government has been warned. |
| A National Audit Office report says coping with simultaneous operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans had left the forces 5,170 below strength. | |
| The MoD agreed operating at this level meant "additional strains" on staff, but denied forces were overstretched. | The MoD agreed operating at this level meant "additional strains" on staff, but denied forces were overstretched. |
| Worst hit are medical services, with reservists filling the 66% of vacant A&E and intensive therapy nurses posts. | Worst hit are medical services, with reservists filling the 66% of vacant A&E and intensive therapy nurses posts. |
| Below strength | Below strength |
| The National Audit Office warned the armed forces were 2.8% short of full strength - total personnel is now 180,690. | The National Audit Office warned the armed forces were 2.8% short of full strength - total personnel is now 180,690. |
| While they have reached 98% of recruitment targets since 2000-2001, there are major shortages in certain trades. | While they have reached 98% of recruitment targets since 2000-2001, there are major shortages in certain trades. |
| The gap between our commitments and our resources is growing and putting unacceptable pressures on our service personnel Liam FoxShadow Defence Secretary Teenagers 'too fat for Army' | The gap between our commitments and our resources is growing and putting unacceptable pressures on our service personnel Liam FoxShadow Defence Secretary Teenagers 'too fat for Army' |
| BBC defence correspondent Rob Watson said the armed forces traditionally operated below strength, but there appeared to be "incredible shortfalls" in some specialist areas. | BBC defence correspondent Rob Watson said the armed forces traditionally operated below strength, but there appeared to be "incredible shortfalls" in some specialist areas. |
| "Nuclear watchkeepers", the engineers on Trident submarines, are 29% under strength, the RAF's specialist weapons system operators are 50% down and there are severe shortages of army bomb disposal experts. | "Nuclear watchkeepers", the engineers on Trident submarines, are 29% under strength, the RAF's specialist weapons system operators are 50% down and there are severe shortages of army bomb disposal experts. |
| Navy shortfall | Navy shortfall |
| Nursing shortages mean the armed forces have to rely on reservists to plug the gaps, the report found, while Navy crews have been sailing on average 12% below strength. | Nursing shortages mean the armed forces have to rely on reservists to plug the gaps, the report found, while Navy crews have been sailing on average 12% below strength. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY There is little respite and personnel are voting with their feet to leave Sean Smith, Durham Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY There is little respite and personnel are voting with their feet to leave Sean Smith, Durham Send us your comments |
| Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the "damning report" showed the government must be prepared to pay more for the increased operations faced by the armed forces. | Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the "damning report" showed the government must be prepared to pay more for the increased operations faced by the armed forces. |
| "The gap between our commitments and our resources is growing and putting unacceptable pressures on our service personnel and their families," he said. | "The gap between our commitments and our resources is growing and putting unacceptable pressures on our service personnel and their families," he said. |
| The Royal Marines had been undermanned for a decade while gaps between Army tours of duty were getting shorter all the time, he added. | The Royal Marines had been undermanned for a decade while gaps between Army tours of duty were getting shorter all the time, he added. |
| The report found that 14.5% of soldiers were being sent on missions more frequently than recommended under Army guidelines. | The report found that 14.5% of soldiers were being sent on missions more frequently than recommended under Army guidelines. |
| OVERALL PICTURE Army: 100,010 (1.8% below strength) RAF: 45,210 (4.5% below strength) Navy: 35,470 (3.6% below strength) Source: NAO (July 2006) | OVERALL PICTURE Army: 100,010 (1.8% below strength) RAF: 45,210 (4.5% below strength) Navy: 35,470 (3.6% below strength) Source: NAO (July 2006) |
| Rising numbers were leaving early, 9,200 in the last year had left before their period of engagement was up - some blaming too many deployments and the impact on their families. | Rising numbers were leaving early, 9,200 in the last year had left before their period of engagement was up - some blaming too many deployments and the impact on their families. |
| Recruitment was also a problem, the report suggested, due to controversies over Iraq and Deepcut barracks. | Recruitment was also a problem, the report suggested, due to controversies over Iraq and Deepcut barracks. |
| And two thirds of British teenagers are now considered too fat to join the Army, it found - with just 33% of 16-year-old boys meeting the Body Mass Index target of 28. | And two thirds of British teenagers are now considered too fat to join the Army, it found - with just 33% of 16-year-old boys meeting the Body Mass Index target of 28. |
| This has recently been raised to 32, because the Ministry of Defence said a heavier man could still be physically fit. | This has recently been raised to 32, because the Ministry of Defence said a heavier man could still be physically fit. |
| Defence Minister Derek Twigg admitted the forces faced a "particularly high level of operational commitment" but said steps had been taken to help. | Defence Minister Derek Twigg admitted the forces faced a "particularly high level of operational commitment" but said steps had been taken to help. |
| 'A lot of pressure' | 'A lot of pressure' |
| He told the BBC Army recruitment was up 10% this year, adding: "The NAO report says we need to do more to retain skilled individuals, and for instance the new £2,240 operational allowance should help to address this. | He told the BBC Army recruitment was up 10% this year, adding: "The NAO report says we need to do more to retain skilled individuals, and for instance the new £2,240 operational allowance should help to address this. |
| "Of course, we're looking at other improvements as well in terms of accommodation, equipment, training, and of course other financial incentives." | "Of course, we're looking at other improvements as well in terms of accommodation, equipment, training, and of course other financial incentives." |
| Adrian Weale, from the British Armed Forces Federation, told BBC Five Live defence funding was based on assumptions made in the late 1990s. | Adrian Weale, from the British Armed Forces Federation, told BBC Five Live defence funding was based on assumptions made in the late 1990s. |
| He said: "We were never expected to be having to mount these two - what are called medium-scale enduring operations [in Iraq and Afghanistan]- at the same time. | He said: "We were never expected to be having to mount these two - what are called medium-scale enduring operations [in Iraq and Afghanistan]- at the same time. |
| "And that's put a lot of pressure on the armed forces." | "And that's put a lot of pressure on the armed forces." |