Army head denies recruitment crisis

The Army denied it had a recruitment problem as it launched a massive new drive.

Brigadier Andrew Jackson, Commander Recruiting Group, said there had been "significant improvement" in the last year.

Provisional recruitment figures show 18,448 young men and women enlisted into the regular and territorial army in 2006/07 - meeting 96% of the target.

Changes that the army is making in its drive to sign up more women and ethnic minority groups, represent "the biggest change in army recruiting since the end of national service in 1964," he said.

The number enlisting as soldiers in the regular army is up 11%. Particular effort has been applied to recruiting into the Royal Regiment of Artillery and Regular Infantry with both showing a "healthy" 25% increase.

Brigadier Jackson said: "The army manifestly does not have a recruiting problem or crisis.

"In my judgment army recruiting is in increasingly good health and that's encouraging."

The army unveiled its new integrated recruitment process and a new recruitment brand identity and website under the banner of One Army Recruiting.

In the past army recruiters have focussed on regular soldiers, but they will now be able to discuss all aspects of army careers, both regular and territorial.

A new advertising campaign sees a series of documentary-style films featuring real life soldiers with "cliff-hanger" scenarios. Interested applicants can then log on to the new website www.armyjobs.mod.uk to see how the films end.