SIR – Recruitment to the Armed Forces (Letters, March 11) has declined because it has been managed by a civilian contractor – currently Capita, with Serco contracted from 2027. How on earth can such organisations be best placed to advise young people on Service life?
In the days of the recruiting office, one could drop in and be advised by experienced non-commissioned officers with over 18 years’ service. Bring back military personnel to manage recruiting.
James McGrane
Rainham, Kent
SIR – At 2pm on November 3 1960, I entered the Army recruiting office in Belfast. That afternoon, I completed all the paperwork and a medical, and took the Queen’s shilling.
I was given a travel warrant to the North Irish Brigade Depot, and arrived there that same evening. I spent the night on a spare bed in the guardroom, reporting to the training company the following morning.
A training platoon had started a few days earlier, which I joined, as the company commander said that I would soon catch up. The time from the recruiting office to commencing training was about 20 hours. I retired from the Army 29 years later.
In contrast, my two grandsons gave up their bids to gain commissions in the Army after waiting for about a year for their applications to be processed. The solution is to bring back the recruiting sergeant and allow the Army to recruit its soldiers.
Major Robert Harrison (retd)
Mousehole, Cornwall
SIR – William Rusbridge (Letters, March 12) imagines that the response of today’s youth to an obligation to spend two years in the Forces would differ from the attitude of those of us who were called up in the past. Why?
I commenced my National Service in the RAF in 1956, and I can recall none of my intake actively relishing being dragged from their homes, forced into very basic communal living, and being subjected during their waking hours to the screamed obscenities of drill corporals. There was even a little muffled sobbing at nights.
Fortunately, the trade training we received later was beneficial, and the majority of us were discharged after two years as better people. Perhaps the youth of today might benefit to a similar extent.
James Rand
Lancing, West Sussex
SIR – Recruitment to the Armed Forces (Letters, March 11) has declined because it has been managed by a civilian contractor – currently Capita, with Serco contracted from 2027. How on earth can such organisations be best placed to advise young people on Service life?
In the days of the recruiting office, one could drop in and be advised by experienced non-commissioned officers with over 18 years’ service. Bring back military personnel to manage recruiting.
James McGrane
Rainham, Kent
SIR – At 2pm on November 3 1960, I entered the Army recruiting office in Belfast. That afternoon, I completed all the paperwork and a medical, and took the Queen’s shilling.
I was given a travel warrant to the North Irish Brigade Depot, and arrived there that same evening. I spent the night on a spare bed in the guardroom, reporting to the training company the following morning.
A training platoon had started a few days earlier, which I joined, as the company commander said that I would soon catch up. The time from the recruiting office to commencing training was about 20 hours. I retired from the Army 29 years later.
In contrast, my two grandsons gave up their bids to gain commissions in the Army after waiting for about a year for their applications to be processed. The solution is to bring back the recruiting sergeant and allow the Army to recruit its soldiers.
Major Robert Harrison (retd)
Mousehole, Cornwall
SIR – William Rusbridge (Letters, March 12) imagines that the response of today’s youth to an obligation to spend two years in the Forces would differ from the attitude of those of us who were called up in the past. Why?
I commenced my National Service in the RAF in 1956, and I can recall none of my intake actively relishing being dragged from their homes, forced into very basic communal living, and being subjected during their waking hours to the screamed obscenities of drill corporals. There was even a little muffled sobbing at nights.
Fortunately, the trade training we received later was beneficial, and the majority of us were discharged after two years as better people. Perhaps the youth of today might benefit to a similar extent.
James Rand
Lancing, West Sussex