International

U.K. blames Iraq war for drop in recruits

By Lorna Martin

LONDON, DEC. 19. Senior British army commanders believe the anti-Iraq war movement is discouraging thousands of young men from considering a career in the armed forces.

They blame high-profile campaigns against the war, often led by bereaved parents and supported by celebrities and political figures.

Their impact, say sources, is exacerbating an already acute recruitment crisis in areas such as Scotland where regiments are struggling to fill their ranks.

Although senior officers blame a widespread series of social changes — including a more mobile workforce, greater access to further education and a change in the expectations of young people — the high media visibility of bereaved parents, such as Rose Gentle whose 19-year-old son was killed, and the generally unpopular nature of the war in Iraq have made both recruitment and retention a problem.

Movement spreading

The effect is most noticeable in the infantry, which offers fewer opportunities to train for future careers. At first visible in Scotland, the impact of the anti-war movement is now spreading to the north of England and Wales. It mirrors a problem that has been seen across the United States. In the U.S. this has been tied to a sharp increase in desertions — a problem so far not seen in the U.K.

One senior source confirmed: "The anti-war movement is exacerbating our recruitment problems.

The effects have been particularly noticeable in Scotland, but are spreading to the north of England and we are beginning to see it as well in the west."

New figures

New figures reveal that the number of recruits joining Scotland's six regiments has fallen sharply this year.

Problems with recruitment was one of the reasons given to justify the controversial decision to merge Scotland's regiments into one super-regiment.

Thousands of campaigners marched in Edinburgh yesterday in protest at the plans. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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