Army turns to PC brigade to recruit more minorities

ARMY chiefs were accused of bowing to political correctness yesterday after launching a recruitment drive emphasising emotional support for soldiers.

Films from the campaign, above, ask questions such as “Can I be gay?” and “What if I get emotional?” in the Army.

Others stressing “Army belonging”, ask “Will I be listened to?” and “Do I have to be a superhero to join?”.

A voice-over addressing the stereotype of sergeant majors bawling at recruits, says: “I thought joining the Army would be a thousand times worse. That any sign of emotion would be a sign of weakness.

“But once you are in, you realise no one is a machine. The Army is family. I’ve probably told them things I wouldn’t tell my own family.

“There’s always someone there to talk to.”

The Army is struggling to meet its target of 82,000 regulars – its smallest size in 200 years – and wants to broaden the pool of recruits beyond the traditional core of white working class young men and to woo more minorities.

It follows plans to let women join frontline units including the Paras.

Former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, Colonel Richard Kemp, said: “The main group of people interested in joining aren’t worrying so much about whether they are going to be listened to or if there’s an emotional issue.

“What they are worried about more is how they are going to face combat.

Knocking

“This also reflects the fact that the Army, like the rest of government, is being forced down a route of political correctness. What is most important is that the Army recruits and is full of soldiers.”

Retired Army officer Major General Tim Cross said all troops must deliver high- quality fighting capable of “duffing up the Queen’s enemies”.

Head of the Army, General Sir Nick Carter, said: “What this campaign is about is a recognition that we don’t have a fully manned Army at the moment, that the demography of our country has changed and that we need to reach out to a broader community in order to man that Army with the right talent.”

Tory MP Johnny Mercer, an ex-Army officer, agreed, saying: “There is no point asking the Army to reflect the society from which it is drawn and then knocking them for conducting an evidence-based change of course on recruitment.”