How the Government hollowed out the Forces

sir – You published a selection of interesting letters (November 7) about recruitment problems in the Forces, but none highlighted the hypocrisy of ministers’ claims that the fault lies with Capita, the contractor given responsibility for service recruiting.

The responsibility lies firmly with the Government. Successive budgets have hollowed out our Armed Forces, leaving them with insufficient manpower to employ those most effective at recruiting: the sailor, soldier or airman.

Con Coughlin, your defence editor, and Colonel Tim Collins recently debated whether today’s Forces would be able to prosecute operations. The opposing arguments revolved around the high-tech nature of modern conflict and the likelihood, or otherwise, of being able to muster enough manpower. Both are correct, but successive governments have become bewitched by available technology, rather than focusing on the technology that is needed, and then bewailed the inevitable funding shortfall, demanding cuts elsewhere.

When will an honest defence review be carried out, examining the threats, then allocating resources realistically? Colonel Philip Barry (retd)

Dover, Kent

sir – While I have no objection to the policy of extending recruitment to Commonwealth nationals who have not been domiciled in Britain for five years, it would be better to tackle the major reasons why the Armed Forces no longer appeal to British citizens.

I served 28 very happy years in the Royal Air Force, but would not, today, wish to volunteer. Our Government should tackle the following issues before extending the recruitment net: terrible accommodation; lack of manpower; inadequate equipment; poor training facilities; unsatisfactory medical support; political correctness; witch-hunts against personnel; and the contracting out of recruitment to an incompetent organisation. Richard Crabtree

Rathmell, North Yorkshire