British Troops 'Could Avoid Frontline And Work Three-Day Week'

Thousands of British troops have been offered the chance to avoid frontline fighting and work reduced hours, under an MoD pilot study.

The 'Flexible Duties' Trial, which is looking to offer military personnel greater working flexibility while potentially saving the ministry millions, will help inform future policy.

Details of the scheme were outlined in a high-level document seen by The Mail on Sunday.

It could see personnel from across the British Armed Forces take up to 93 days unpaid leave over the course of a year, meaning they could work a three-day week and seek work outside the military during their time off.

The pilot, which is aimed at making the forces more 'family friendly', will allow troops - including the Special Forces - to 'reduce their liability to deploy' to war zones for up to two years.

They would, however, lose tax-free bonuses of up to £50 per day on top of their regular wages. The Mail on Sunday quotes the document as saying:

"All types of flexible duty will be subject to a 24-month trial involving applicants in order to test the arrangements and the processes necessary to deliver them. This results in an individual being able to work less than five days a week, although still liable for evening and weekend duties on paid days. This also limits an individual's liability to deploy, on the basis that a requirement to deploy would require full-time working."

The newspaper added that no restriction has yet been placed on the number of personnel who could take up these options, with senior officers able to approve as many requests as they deemed fit, as long as their units retain 'operational effectiveness'. 

It's hoped it will appeal to personnel who consider military life, with its rigid hours and lengthy overseas commitments, incompatible with raising a family.

Colonel Richard Kemp, who led British troops into war in Afghanistan, expressed serious concerns about the scheme, saying:

"This is absolutely incredible. How can it do anything but undermine our national defence?"

"Our Armed Forces are already tiny yet we're going to give people exemptions from front line operations. The MoD has got its priorities completely wrong.

"We should be focusing on those troops who are fully committed to service, not those looking for a part-time job. This ill-considered, headline-chasing policy will turn our Armed Forces into a semi-reserve force. If we're not careful the next step will be an Army that can't deploy after 5pm, or isn't available at weekends."

"The Flexible Duties Trial is taking us down the same route as various European armies. To them, being in the armed forces is just another job, with the same obligations and rights as civilian employment."

The newspaper quoted one serving officer, however, as saying the move is necessary to stem the tide of experienced and skilled personnel leaving the forces every year. He said:

"If this scheme works, it will be immeasurably beneficial to the Armed Forces. We're losing so many good people who would stay in if a bit of leeway and common sense was applied to their working arrangements." 

"The tempo of operations and readiness targets are lower today than during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"So commanders can look ahead over the next 24 months and see who they really need to keep on the permanent staff and who can take a back seat for a while.

"If giving somebody a couple of years off operational commitments means they stay in the Armed Forces and are refreshed and fully charged again, that can only be good. I just hope it is offered to the people who really need it most."

The plan has reportedly been signed off by the Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon and General Sir Nick Carter, the head of the Army.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 

"Every member of Britain's Armed Forces taking part in this pilot could be required to deploy on operations, at any time, should the need arise. This pilot is part of a modern offer to help Britain's world class armed forces keep the broadest range of people and give them and their families the broadest service opportunities."

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