The London Daily News

Army numbers grow as recession gets worse 3,840 new recruit's since July

News Desk

The Ministry of Defence have shown that there has been a 25% rise in recruits to join the army this year alone, dispelling any suggestion that the growing number of deaths in Afghanistan has affected the appeal of the army.

Figures published in The Guardian highlight how a "surge" in numbers joining the army has meant that there are more recruits than at any other time since 2005.

In the three months to July 2009 there have been 3,840 recruits joining the Army, in comparison to 2,810 during the same period the year before.

The recession according to MOD sources has helped recruit more soldiers with less jobs available in the "civvy street" than at any other time.  Recruits are still expected to have a basic level of literacy and numeracy to qualify to be a soldier.

With new "showrooms" in areas of east London like Hackney and west London in Houslow the Army is able to "reach people who have had little exposure to army life, offering them a chance to learn more without pressure to sign up" reports The Guardian.

photo credit:   MOD  Crown Copyright

Army recruits