Fury as Army soldier numbers fall below 70,000 for the first time since the Napoleonic Era

The army is expected to have fewer than 70,000 trained soldiers next year, the Defense Secretary has confirmed – a shocking new low for Britain's “empty” Armed Forces.

The number – against the backdrop of the conflict in Europe and the Middle East – represents a loss of 5,000 soldiers in two years and 10,000 in five years.

Armies across Europe are shrinking, but it appears the UK is losing servicemen and women at a faster rate than its allies.

Defense Secretary John Healey said yesterday he was “very angry” that the state’s defense had been left by the previous government. Speaking in the House of Commons, he cited “billion-pound black holes in defense plans, service morale at historic lows and Army numbers expected to fall below 70,000 next year”.

In recent years, the Army has discharged soldiers at an unprecedented rate, and by default rather than by choice. In the aftermath of the Cold War, a gradual reduction in numbers was achieved. When, in 2015, the Army size target was set at 82,000 men, it was expected that this would be relatively easy to maintain, through recruitment and retention.

Defense Secretary John Healey (left) said yesterday he was 'very angry' that the state's defense had been left by the previous government

However, this target was never achieved and as of January 2021 the Army's strength was just 76,300 trained soldiers.

Two months later, the Ministry of Defense announced, to widespread consternation, that the Army would be reduced to 72,500 by 2025 as a cost-cutting measure.

Despite the need for fewer soldiers, the Army has repeatedly missed recruiting targets – while a growing number of trained soldiers cut short their military careers due to issues such as low pay and poor housing conditions.

In August this year, the new government announced a 6% pay increase for soldiers, the largest pay increase in two decades.

The failure to recruit soldiers was blamed on the MOD's partnership with outsourcing company Capita.

Earlier this year, it emerged that the Army lost a staggering 70 percent of its potential recruits due to delays in the recruiting process. Although eager applicants have also been rejected for obscure and often irrelevant medical issues.

Today's Army is the smallest since the Napoleonic era.

Last night former Army chief Lord Dannatt told the Mail: 'This is very bad news for the Army and the nation. The government cannot do much about low civilian unemployment and the fact that the Army is not involved in operations, which makes recruitment more difficult.

The failure to recruit soldiers was blamed on the MOD's partnership with outsourcing company Capita (photo)

Recruits undergo training at the Royal Marines Commando Training Center in December in Lympston

“But it could sharpen the outsourced recruitment process, which has been a history of inordinate delays and unnecessarily harsh medical restrictions.”

Former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who while in office admitted that the armed forces had been “hollowed out” by recent governments, told the Mail that the Army's failure to retain soldiers was a major factor. He also said that the number of armed forces was “in free fall across the West”.

Research by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) suggested that while Germany lost 2.92 percent of its troops from 2013 to 2023, and France and Italy 8.26 and 8.58 percent respectively, the Kingdom United lost 14.63 percent of its personnel in the same period. .

The continent-wide issues have forced defense chiefs across Europe and the UK to consider multiple recruitment models.

Only countries like Poland and the Baltic States have seen a sudden increase in the number of candidates – due to the direct threat that Russia poses to these countries. Polish troops also received pay increases of up to 20 percent.

Last night, UK defense sources said the MOD was introducing recruitment boosting measures, such as promising to make a conditional offer to candidates within 10 days and confirming a date to start training at the period of 30 days.

The MOD is also scrapping more than 100 minor medical criteria, such as hay fever, eczema and acne, and launching the 'cyber track', a focus on finding recruits with high-tech skills.

US generals have expressed fears that the UK's military is too small as fewer people enlist and more training troops sign up.

The MOD is also scrapping more than 100 minor medical criteria such as hayfever, eczema and acne. (British special forces soldiers with weapons take part in military maneuver)

The Mail has called for increased numbers of the armed forces and increased military spending as part of its “Don’t leave Britain defenseless” campaign. (Recruits undergo training at the Command Training Center)

Last night former Defense Minister Mark François said: 'If Labor wants to maintain the Army's numbers, one of the first things they should do is sack Capita, who has done more to harm recruitment than anything that the Russians have already done it.'

The Mail has called for increased numbers of the armed forces and increased military spending as part of its “Don’t leave Britain defenseless” campaign.

The new government has insisted that pay rises for UK troops must come from existing budgets – while the MOD must also comply with cuts imposed by the Treasury.

As the Mail revealed, training budgets have been reduced. Struggling defense officials also planned to cut a £13m donation to the Royal Chelsea Hospital – home to Chelsea pensioners. The plan was canceled when the Mail found out.

Healey yesterday refused to set a timetable for defense spending to reach 2.5% of GDP, as recommended by the Mail.

A source close to Healey said: “We are working hard to stop this long-term Tory decline. Recruitment targets have been missed every year for the last 14 years under Conservative rule. We are taking the first steps to resolve the crisis we inherited.'