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Article: Army aims for quality recruits instead of 'thickies' Stretched by commitments overseas, the Army is having trouble retaining troops. To combat this it is targeting motivated, bright youngsters. It also hopes a band of Fijians will help break down barriers for ethnic recruits. PETER ALMOND reports
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- July 11, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2000 Evening Standard - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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THE ARMY is preparing a major shift in its recruiting efforts to
attract brighter, more motivated young people and get away from any
lingering image that soldiering is for "thickies". The new effort
comes as the Army sees much of its work wasted because too many
soldiers are leaving too soon.
With retention problems exacerbated by overstretch, it is short of
some 6,500 trained troops.
"We are going for better quality," said Major General Anthony
Palmer, Director of Army Training and Recruiting. "We want people to
think of the Army as a career of first choice, not as a last resort."
Aware that by 2002 some 50 per cent of all school-leavers will go
on to higher education, the Army is ...