Beleaguered troops 'deserve better wages'

British troops should receive far higher wages to avert a growing 'retention crisis' within the armed forces, a committee of MPs will say this week. Offering wages competitive to 'civvy street' was essential to halt the departure of thousands of experienced personnel, the defence select committee report concludes. It says that more than 20,000 people left the armed forces last year, the biggest exodus in modern times, with many blaming poor salaries and constant deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Many experienced infantrymen had signed off because they were unable to maintain marriages while meeting the demands of six-month tours abroad. The MoD's 'harmony guidelines' suggest that there should be two years between tours, but research indicates this is being flouted throughout the army's regiments. Latest figures reveal that... [read full story]