Wounded soldiers to be forced out of the Army

Thousands of wounded soldiers could be forced out of the military on medical grounds after the Army's head of personnel ordered commanders to face up to the "harsh reality" of an efficiency drive.

By Steven Swinford
10:19PM GMT 18 Feb 2011
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Documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph detail how the Ministry of Defence is attempting to accelerate the discharge of soldiers who are medically unfit, including the majority of those who have lost their limbs in bomb explosions and roadside ambushes.

The efficiency drive has been ordered because the Army has so many wounded on its books that able-bodied recruits are being turned away and its fighting strength is being diminished.

A total of 6,600 soldiers, more than 6 per cent of the army, have been classified as unfit for operational deployment.

The policy has angered some injured soldiers and their families. Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, 26, lost both his legs and suffered brain damage in a Taliban bomb blast in 2006.

Diane Dernie, his mother, said: "We are terrified for Ben's future. He has literally put his body on the line for his country and now he faces being forced out. They must be able to find a desk job for him."

Maj Gen Andrew Gregory, the director general of Army personnel, wrote in a briefing note that retaining injured soldiers was not always in the "best interest of either the individual or the Army".

The note, which was sent to divisional commanders, stated: "The number of non-deployable personnel serving in the Army remains a concern in an Army that is focused on delivering operational capability. It is a harsh reality that we must look critically at how we manage our wounded, injured and sick, regardless of cause.

“This is not only to ensure that we have the maximum numbers available to deploy but also that we properly look after this cohort to ensure they are managed to a successful outcome.â€