THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS ARE UNFIT FOR DUTY
A shock total of almost 18,000 soldiers are unfit for frontline operations, figures have revealed.
Many troops have been medically downgraded after suf fer ing wounds and mental health issues such as PTSD from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But thousands more have chronic knee and back problems. Others have conditions including obesity and diabetes linked to stodgy cookhouse food including fry-ups, chips and puddings.
Rising obesity is such a concern that some units have started fat clubs while personnel have turned to weight-loss tablets and even surgery.
MoD figures show 7890
Sunday Mail
soldiers are classed as “medically non-deployable” – meaning they cannot go to war.
A fur ther 9971 are “medically limited”, which means they are unlikely to be sent on operations.
Freedom of Information statistics also show the RAF and Royal Navy have 10,000 personnel between them
15
who are not fit for combat duties.
Britain now has the fewest number of soldiers f it to serve since the 1700s.
National Obesity Forum chairman Tam Fry called the figures “very concerning”.
Ex-Afghanistan c ommander Colone l Richard Kemp accused the Government of being “grossly irresponsible” for cutting military strength.
An Army spokesman said: “The Army are meeting all their current commitments at home and abroad and have enough people to do this.”
“Soldiering is a demanding profession and we have a duty of care towards our personnel to ensure they are not deployed when unfit.”