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| Britain |
| Britons apply to army in Australia |
| 2006-12-28 |
| Up to 2,000 Britons a year are applying to join the Australian Army rather than the British Armed Forces because they get a more attractive lifestyle as well as better pay and conditions. Figures supplied by the Australian Army show that it receives as many as 1,800 applicants from the UK every year, of which 200 are recruited. Col Tim Collins, a former commanding officer of the Royal Irish Regiment who fought in the 2003 Iraq war, said that there had been a tradition of Australians joining the British Army, often because they would not have been able to get operational experience if they joined their own army. But he added that the "tide had turned", and the Australian Army had become an increasingly attractive proposition, mainly because of the conditions and the open-air lifestyle that Australia could offer. In addition, recruits could also now expect to see active service overseas because Australian troops were being deployed in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Col Collins added: "In the British Army, the leadership is poor and continues to be poor. There has been a selfishness at the top, while jealous civil servants have eroded the conditions of troops serving in the Army. "Payment for being away from home for long periods has become intolerable. The Ministry of Defence, famously, could not give a toss about servicemen." |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #3 I seems to recall ol' Rudy Kipling had a little ditty about this. |
| Posted by: Mr. Tommy Atkins 2006-12-28 16:38 |
| #2 Lousy equipment may have something to do with it as well as eureferendum documents almost daily. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-12-28 11:35 |
| #1 There has been a selfishness at the top, while jealous civil servants have eroded the conditions of troops serving in the Army. Jealous |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-12-28 10:24 |