Army life ‘makes recruits smoke’

JOINING the British Army leads to teenagers becoming smokers, the commander of a military training college has warned.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hall is commanding officer of the Army Foundation College (AFC), which trains 16 and 17-year-olds for battle – and has been criticised for recruiting vulnerable youngsters from poor families.

Lt Col Hall said he is now banning smoking for students at the college.

In a Twitter post, he wrote: ‘Most recruits don’t smoke on arrival, yet most do by graduation.

‘This is unacceptable. We stand for health, fitness and developing potential and smoking isn’t compatible with this philosophy.’

The commander said that, from tomorrow, AFC recruits will not be permitted to smoke at the barracks in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and that the ban will apply to military staff and guests from next March.

Currently, instructors can smoke, although not in front of recruits.

Lt Col Hall said: ‘We want to develop our recruits’ health and fitness. That’s why I’m not allowing smoking at our establishment. I hope this will reverse the recent trend we’ve seen in recruits taking up the habit.’

The policy change drew a mixed response on social media. Some people who replied to his tweet suggested recruits should be permitted to smoke because it helps reduce stress. Medical practitioners insist this view is unfounded.

Posting on Twitter, Helen Grace said: ‘My son has just graduated [from the AFC]. He’s from a nonsmoking family but he started smoking and vaping at AFC. I was devastated... I applaud the total ban but likewise this is a transition from school to adulthood and making your own choices is to be encouraged.’

Lt Col Hall replied: ‘Which he can do when he becomes an adult at 18.’

The AFC trains 1,000 16 and 17year-olds each year.

Many recruits come from poorer backgrounds and are permitted to apply to the AFC aged just 15 years and seven months.

Soldiers must be 16 before they start military training and 18 before they deploy to a war zone.