Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Post
July 11, 2008
Pg. 9
Survey of Troop Satisfaction Adds to Worries of War Fatigue
By Mary Jordan, Washington Post Foreign Service
LONDON, July 10 -- Nearly half of the members of British armed forces regularly think of quitting, according to a major Defense Ministry survey that comes amid concerns that sustained war in Iraq and Afghanistan is hurting morale.
In a survey of nearly 9,000 people in the army, air force and navy, the first of its kind, respondents cited the impact of overseas tours on personal life, pay and job opportunities outside the military as top reasons to leave. Excitement and pensions were listed as reasons to stay.
"There is a difference between thinking about leaving and leaving," Defense Minister Derek Twigg told reporters. He noted that half also said they wanted to continue or extend military service. Twigg said there were many positive signs, including that military personnel overwhelmingly said they were proud to serve (93 percent of army officers and 76 percent of soldiers).
But Patrick Mercer, a member of Parliament from the opposition Conservative Party and a former army officer, called the findings worrisome. "British forces are very much up for the fight, but they are getting extremely tired of endless operational tours," he said in an interview.
Mercer said he hoped the survey would "force this government to put itself in reality, rather than denial, about the number of combat troops we have available to fight on two fronts." He said it is especially worrying if more experienced officers quit.
The survey found that:
*47 percent of army and navy personnel "regularly felt like leaving the service for good."
*72 percent of air force personnel and 59 percent of army personnel thought morale was low or very low.
*57 percent of marines and 49 percent of soldiers and army officers felt dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the standard of their equipment.
Though just released, the survey was taken in mid-2007, and defense officials said that since then a number of concerns have been addressed, including pay increases. A major plan to upgrade housing for military personnel has also begun.
Extra compensation is given to those serving abroad; a soldier completing a typical six-month tour in Afghanistan or Iraq receives a tax-free bonus equivalent to about $4,760. The base salary for an army private is $32,500.
Even as the survey found concern about the separation from family when troops are deployed, only 37 percent said the tours came too often, with most saying the frequency was "about right" or "too few." Defense officials said that even though tours are demanding, many soldiers join to go abroad on operations.
Britain has been increasing its troop strength in Afghanistan and has 7,800 soldiers there, with more expected by the end of the year. British troop strength in Iraq has been decreasing, standing now at 4,000. The total number of army personnel is 100,000.
Jock Stirrup, chief of the Defense Staff, said last month that the military was "stretched" because of years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Until we get to the stage when one of them comes down to small scale, we will be stretched beyond the capabilities we have," he said.
The Defense Ministry said in its news release that money doesn't make a person content in a job and referred to a 2008 "happiness index" of professions in which the military tied for second place with hairdressers. Beauty therapists came in first.
July 11, 2008
Pg. 9
Survey of Troop Satisfaction Adds to Worries of War Fatigue
By Mary Jordan, Washington Post Foreign Service
LONDON, July 10 -- Nearly half of the members of British armed forces regularly think of quitting, according to a major Defense Ministry survey that comes amid concerns that sustained war in Iraq and Afghanistan is hurting morale.
In a survey of nearly 9,000 people in the army, air force and navy, the first of its kind, respondents cited the impact of overseas tours on personal life, pay and job opportunities outside the military as top reasons to leave. Excitement and pensions were listed as reasons to stay.
"There is a difference between thinking about leaving and leaving," Defense Minister Derek Twigg told reporters. He noted that half also said they wanted to continue or extend military service. Twigg said there were many positive signs, including that military personnel overwhelmingly said they were proud to serve (93 percent of army officers and 76 percent of soldiers).
But Patrick Mercer, a member of Parliament from the opposition Conservative Party and a former army officer, called the findings worrisome. "British forces are very much up for the fight, but they are getting extremely tired of endless operational tours," he said in an interview.
Mercer said he hoped the survey would "force this government to put itself in reality, rather than denial, about the number of combat troops we have available to fight on two fronts." He said it is especially worrying if more experienced officers quit.
The survey found that:
*47 percent of army and navy personnel "regularly felt like leaving the service for good."
*72 percent of air force personnel and 59 percent of army personnel thought morale was low or very low.
*57 percent of marines and 49 percent of soldiers and army officers felt dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the standard of their equipment.
Though just released, the survey was taken in mid-2007, and defense officials said that since then a number of concerns have been addressed, including pay increases. A major plan to upgrade housing for military personnel has also begun.
Extra compensation is given to those serving abroad; a soldier completing a typical six-month tour in Afghanistan or Iraq receives a tax-free bonus equivalent to about $4,760. The base salary for an army private is $32,500.
Even as the survey found concern about the separation from family when troops are deployed, only 37 percent said the tours came too often, with most saying the frequency was "about right" or "too few." Defense officials said that even though tours are demanding, many soldiers join to go abroad on operations.
Britain has been increasing its troop strength in Afghanistan and has 7,800 soldiers there, with more expected by the end of the year. British troop strength in Iraq has been decreasing, standing now at 4,000. The total number of army personnel is 100,000.
Jock Stirrup, chief of the Defense Staff, said last month that the military was "stretched" because of years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Until we get to the stage when one of them comes down to small scale, we will be stretched beyond the capabilities we have," he said.
The Defense Ministry said in its news release that money doesn't make a person content in a job and referred to a 2008 "happiness index" of professions in which the military tied for second place with hairdressers. Beauty therapists came in first.