Andy Mcnab drafted in to aid Army literacy
MOD scheme encourages new recruits to improve their skills by taking books with them on exercise
SOLDIERS have been told to take Andy Mcnab books on exercise in a bid to improve their reading skills, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
Recruits should bring “action books” to read while in the field, according to guidance from the Ministry of Defence. Many of the novels have been shrunk into “easy to read versions” to encourage soldiers to pick them up.
It comes amid concern at low literacy levels as nearly half of Army recruits have a reading ability of an 11-year-old or lower, according to the most recent figures.
In an effort to get soldiers reading, the Mod’s official Soldier magazine this month recommends all-action titles including the former soldier Andy Mcnab’s Today Everything Changes and Bloody Valentine by James Patterson, the US thriller writer. “Many titles from bestselling authors have been shrunk into easy-to-read versions that can be bought in bookshops or borrowed from the Army Library and Information Service,” the magazine reveals.
Soldiers are told to read “at lunchtime, in a waiting room or on exercise when there is time.
“Choose something that interests you, fiction or non-fiction. Maybe it’s linked to a hobby or a person, film or video game. Use a bookmark to follow the lines as you read. This can help if your eyes get tired.” According to the most recent figures, 39 per cent of recruits to the Army have the reading ability of an 11-year-old or lower.
A similar proportion, 38 per cent, can only do maths aimed at pupils in their last year of primary school.
Army applicants without GCSES must take literacy and numeracy tests in order to be accepted. There is a minimum pass mark, but those with low scores are given special training.
Within two years, the majority has “turned it around”, according to the MOD. In recent years, military bosses have launched initiatives including poetry competitions to improve skills. Cpl Anthony Lee, of the Royal Logistic Corps, told Soldier that he joined the Army with poor reading skills but “got sick” of asking for help from colleagues half his age.
“I didn’t realise there was so much reading involved,” he said.
“Problems started with orders like ‘Send an email’ but I had to be shown how. It was embarrassing.
“I went to the education centre and told them I was struggling. I could have built an entire housing estate but I couldn’t work out this other stuff. It put me at the bottom of the pile. Get help early on. It will affect you at some point. I wish I’d done it a year after I had been in. You can’t be good at everything.”
The MOD said: “We are proud of the opportunities the Army offers young people, providing challenging and constructive education and equipping them with valuable skills.
“The Armed Forces are among the largest training providers in the UK, and we support and encourage our people to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.”