THE DRUG-TAKING SOLDIERS GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE
The number of soldiers who failed drugs tests but have been allowed to rejoin the Army, since 2015
SIXTY soldiers who were discharged from the Army for failing a drugs test have been allowed to rejoin in the last three years. New figures from the Ministry of Defence show that, since 2015, 40 members of the infantry have been allowed to rejoin. A further 10 soldiers from the Royal Armoured Corps - who operate armour such as tanks for the Army - were re-enlisted. Ten soldiers were also allowed to rejoin the Royal Logistic Corps, which provides logistics support to the Army. The figures include both regular and reserve soldiers. The Ministry of Defence said that those who have rejoined the Army will only have done so after leaving at least two years earlier. Although no figures are regularly published from the Ministry of Defence on drugs testing, a Freedom of Information request revealed that 470 soldiers failed drugs tests between 2012/13 to 2016/17. The Ministry of Defence’s Alcohol and Substance Misuse and Testing document says: “Drug misuse within the armed forces is totally unacceptable because it threatens the efficiency and discipline of the services, where individual responsibility and teamwork are essential to operate highly technical, expensive and potentially lethal equipment.” The document goes on to state that individuals found to have taken illegal drugs will be discharged from the service unless there are exceptional circumstances. These circumstances include if the offender is under the age of 25, if it is a first time offence, if the individual is below the rank of leading hand or corporal, and if it is likely the person is able to be reformed. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The misuse of illegal drugs can cause terrible damage to people’s lives and the purchase of them fuels organised crime, both in the UK and across the globe. “The use of such substances is incompatible with military service and has no place in our Armed Forces. “A zero-tolerance approach to illegal drugs is the only way to ensure those high standards are maintained across our world-class military.”