Zounds...
UK soldiers quit in thousands despite Labour’s pay rise
Soldiers are quitting the British Armed Forces at an alarming rate, despite a pay rise over the summer,
Report informs via The Telegraph.
For the first time on record, there are now just two servicemen or women per thousand people in Britain.
Some 15,119 left the Armed Forces in the year to October. Of these, 7,778 were counted as “voluntary outflow”, those choosing to leave of their own accord.
The forces recruited just over 12,000 personnel in the same period, resulting in a net shrinkage of the military.
Soldiers are leaving despite the Government’s attempt to stem the recruitment crisis with a 6 per cent pay rise.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the increase, the largest for the forces in 22 years, in July – as well as retention payments – in a bid to hold on to talent.
Yet the latest figures suggest the increase may not have been enough and, despite it, new recruits to the forces remain among the worst-paid public servants in Britain.
Real terms pay for Army privates has increased by just 1.9 per cent since 2011, compared to 13.39 per cent for new junior doctors and 10.14 per cent for train drivers.
An Armed Forces survey published in May showed satisfaction with the basic rate of pay in the military is at its lowest level on record.
Soldiers are quitting the British Armed Forces at an alarming rate, despite a pay rise over the summer, Report informs via The Telegraph.
report.az