Grant Shapps during a ceremonial Guard of Honour for India's Defence Minister (Image: Getty Images)
The British Armed Forces is grappling with the acute staff shortage as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has called for more women to join the forces, it has been reported.
The Defence Secretary expressed worry about the lack of diversity within the military, emphasising the need for increased efforts to attract and retain women, ensuring a more representative reflection of the broader society.
When asked what he would personally do to resolve the military’s worsening recruitment crisis, Mr Shapps told The Telegraph: “Something which I am extremely passionate about is having a military which should represent our country as it is today.
“It can’t be right that our military still only has 11 or 12 percent women, for example, when you make up half the population.”
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Mr. Shapps conveyed these remarks amid a pronounced recruitment crisis in the Armed Forces, particularly evident in the Navy, which has seen a sharp decline in the influx of new recruits.
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Recent reports disclosed that the Navy is grappling with such a shortage of sailors that it had to decommission two warships to fulfill staffing needs for its new class of frigates.
The intake for both the Navy and Royal Marines experienced a significant decrease of 22.1 percent compared to the previous year.
The Navy has found itself compelled to utilize LinkedIn, the professional networking site, to advertise a Rear-Admiral position responsible for the nation's nuclear deterrent.
Additionally, they have turned to Serco, the defense company, for recruiting deckhands for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
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In response to the defence committee's report on “Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life,” the Government acknowledged that barriers still impact female recruitment, citing concerns such as the perception that it is more challenging for women to thrive in such environments.
Mr. Shapps emphasized the need for the Government to offer more incentives to attract individuals, suggesting measures like additional apprenticeships and ensuring that graduates at recruitment fairs comprehend the diverse range of opportunities within the military.
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He expressed the importance of promoting the military as an extraordinary career choice and highlighted collaborative efforts across society, particularly in education, to explore various avenues for introducing people to military careers.
Currently, women make up 11.3 percent of the UK regular forces, with the Royal Navy having a 13 percent female representation and the Royal Marines standing at 1.8 percent, a figure influenced by the allowance for women to join the Royal Marines starting in 2018.
Women comprise nearly 16 percent of the Royal Air Force and 10.3 percent of the Army.
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