13/05/2010
Armed forces unhappy with kit, MOD survey finds
Two thirds of armed forces personnel believe they are not well enough equipped and only one in five believes morale is high, according to a Ministry of Defence survey.
The survey of nearly 10,000 personnel also found that just one-third of British troops feel that they are valued.
More than half said the extra money they receive to compensate for the rigours of military life was not enough, and 13 per cent of officers said they intended to quit before the end of their current engagement.
Despite this, the 2009 armed forces continuous attitude survey found that British servicemen and women were generally happier than in previous years, with nearly 90 per cent saying they were proud to be in the armed forces.
However, the figures reflect deep concerns expressed across the armed forces about the treatment of personnel, which prompted all three main parties to promise improved welfare provision and housing for British troops and their families in their election manifestos.
Many opposition politicians and military commentators have accused the government of failing to provide UK troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan with enough equipment, in particular helicopters.
The MoD survey found just 35 per cent of service personnel were satisfied with the standard of major equipment like vehicles and only 33 per cent were content with the amount of it.
Royal Marines were most likely to complain about the quality and quantity of major equipment, with 41 per cent saying they did not have enough.
Some 37 per cent said morale in their service was low, rising to 45 per cent in the Royal Navy and 47 per cent in the RAF.
An MoD spokesman referred to remarks by the chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, in November when he said extra equipment was being supplied to troops and described it as "the best that they've ever had in any of my 40 years of service".
The spokesman added: "The findings of the survey are of great value in assisting the work of policymakers in the department, enabling us to operate with a clearer picture of the realities facing our servicemen and women."
The MoD sent out 28,624 surveys to officers and other ranks in the navy, marines, army and RAF, and received more than 9,000 replies.
