13 July 2007
The Ministry of Defence has been accused of failing to give proper training and support to military reservists at a time when they are increasingly being called into action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Reserve Force, published on July 12, says the MoD has used reserve forces at an unprecedented level over the past ten years.
More than 12,000 men and women from the territorial forces have served in Iraq since early 2003. But all the volunteer services are below strength, the MPs observe.
'The Ministry of Defence cannot have it both ways,' said PAC chair Edward Leigh. 'As the regular forces become more stretched, the MoD is increasingly relying on the men and women of the reserve forces.
'At the same time, the MoD is not giving them the training and support they need to serve effectively. You cannot treat reservists like second-class members of the armed forces while demanding a first-class job from them.'
The MPs stress that proper support includes providing them with prompt diagnosis and treatment if they are injured. They also criticise the MoD for being 'alarmingly ill-informed' about the extent to which reservists are fit enough to deal with the rigours of frontline service.
PFjul2007
