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Article: Leader: Don't ban army from schools
- Article from:
- The Scotsman
- Article date:
- May 18, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 The Scotsman. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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FOR some time, the British Army has suffered a serious shortfall
in troop numbers. Full civilian employment has provided a more
comfortable alternative, while the prospect of combat in Afghanistan
and Iraq has - to some extent - proved a disincentive. Last year, the
"normal" shortfall in the army establishment rose by more than 300
per cent to 2,000 places. There were also the first signs that
recruiting young officers is becoming problematic.
All this should be a cause for national concern. Whether or not we
agree on the politics of the Iraq war, the army has proved a
necessary, dependable and efficient servant of British interests and
the United Nations. It is a disservice to our young ...