| Three stories threaded together here: tributes to the young paratroopers who died in Helmand, concerns about the soldiers having the right equipment, and concerns about proper insurance for the soldiers. |
Fewer than a third of military personnel are satisfied with the vehicles and helicopters available to do their job, a Ministry of Defence survey has found.
As tributes poured in for three British paratroopers killed on Friday in a Jackal armoured carrier in southern Afghanistan, the survey raised new questions over the effectiveness of frontline military kit. The three were named yesterday as Corporal Kevin Mulligan, Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins and Private Kyle Adams.
The MoD survey of more than 10,500 military personnel found that only 31% were satisfied with the main equipment at their disposal. A third of senior officers expressed "dissatisfaction", while 28% of senior ranks said that not enough armoured vehicles and helicopters were available. Their responses follow heated claims over whether a lack of helicopters in Afghanistan has cost British lives. |