Report: "Damning assessment"

A complete overhaul is needed of the way the armed forces care for the welfare of young recruits, according to an official report.

In its first review of the way in which the initial training of recruits is handled, the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) offered a damning assessment.

It found that risks associated with training and welfare are "too high"

The report highlighted risks of bullying, harassment, self-harm, injury and early drop out.

As a result, the armed forces and the public purse are hit by high drop-out rates and insufficient numbers of high quality personnel completing their training.

Action pledged

Armed forces minister Adam Ingram welcomed the report, which he pledged would be acted on.

At a Whitehall press conference, he admitted there was a "difficult balance to strike" but insisted the current training was delivering soldiers equipped for the modern battlefield.

"I want to be very clear on this point, there is no acceptable level of bullying, harassment or discrimination within our armed forces," added the minister.

"We do have a zero tolerance policy and we seek at all times to ensure this is implemented."

Ingram also said he was looking at establishing an independent complaints system for recruits with grievances.

Welfare failings

The ALI called for training and welfare within the armed services to be better managed, better organised and better controlled.

And it warned the Ministry of Defence that training the service personnel is not being given the priority it deserves.

"The armed services have much to be proud of, but the risks to young recruits, many of whom are away from home for the first time, are too high," said David Sherlock, chief inspector of adult learning.

"These risks are compounded by a complex and bureaucratic system and poor management."

Among the findings was an assessment that decisions taken by military top brass are not fully carried out in practice.

"This has a marked effect on critical welfare and safety issues, including the prevention of bullying and harassment," said the ALI.

"The incidence of bullying and harassment is high and the armed forces do not carry through their avowed ‘zero-tolerance’ approach."

Bullying

Much bullying and harassment is "condoned as 'traditional', even though it is officially forbidden".

Living conditions for some recruits were also branded "unacceptable", with some soldiers living in "barracks little better than slums".

In a further devastating observation, the ALI said a failure to understand equality legislation had meant that women were being made to carry the same heavy packs as men, resulting in a "huge increase" in lower limb fractures.

Sherlock said there was a "lack of connection and coherence among the three services".

While there was much good practice, it was not being shared between all relevant bodies and establishments.

"Where lessons had been learnt, most notably after Deepcut, few mechanisms were in place to ensure other establishments addressed similar areas of weakness," he said.

"A more professional approach is needed. This is, in essence, a multi-million pound business, which needs to be better managed, better organised and better controlled."

The report was ordered by the MoD in response to the Surrey Police inquiry into the deaths of four trainees at Deepcut barracks.