Army pleads for reservists to mull year-long career breaks to fill specialist vacancies
GETTY Reservists are being asked to think of taking year-long career breaks to fill specialist vacancies
The service is 4,000 soldiers under-strength despite recruitment campaigns. A failure to retain existing troops and attract new ones is, sources say, putting operational capability at risk. While some vacancies are listed for 12 months, others demand two years - which would require many to leave their day jobs altogether. Several posts also require an additional six months “pre deployment training” period. More than 990 reservist majors and colonels are needed just to support Operational Commitments stretching from Estonia to Somalia.
A force that is an integral part of the deployed force can no longer be called a Reserve force - it is already committed Major General Jonathan Shaw
Reservists who answer the call will sign up to the regular Full Time Reserve Service contracts, giving them the same status as full-time soldiers. In his book 'Britain in a Perilous World' former Iraq commander Major General Jonathan Shaw said: “A force that is an integral part of the deployed force can no longer be called a Reserve force - it is already committed”. Last night senior sources at Marlborough Barracks, Hampshire, said that reserves currently make up more than 25 pr cent of the staff in Army Headquarters. “We have for many years taken on a small number of reservists into full time contracts but the current list is exceptionally large,“ said a senior officer.
GETTY Vacancies are introduced at Sandhurst military academy as the Army is so short of personnel