An exodus of officers from the British Intelligence Corps is affecting the global war on terror, a report in The Independent has claimed, quoting defence sources.
London, Aug.13 : An exodus of officers from the British Intelligence Corps is affecting the global war on terror, a report in The Independent has claimed, quoting defence sources.
According to the sources, over 100 officers have been lured into highly paid private security jobs, have become disillusioned at the way intelligence is handled, and this has undermined counter operations against the Taleban and Iraqi insurgents.
Senior officers are also deeply concerned that this fall in numbers has resulted in people being posted to jobs above their rank, for which they do not have the experience or training.
"The corps now has to operate with people they would not normally fit into a post. Majors are being put into a lieutenant colonel's job they are not up to right now," a defence source was quoted, as saying.
The defections to the private sector come at a time when the Armed Forces are fighting increasingly bloody battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last week it emerged that the military was on course to lose more troops in Iraq this year than in 2003 - when the invasion took place - after suffering 41 fatalities since the start of the year compared to the 53 who died four years ago.
In addition, a report by the Commons foreign affairs committee warns today that President George W Bush's plan to restore peace in Iraq by introducing a "surge" of 33,000 extra troops is likely to fail.
The British Army is already suffering significant losses of experienced soldiers who have been lured into lucrative security jobs, earning up to 500 pounds a day in Iraq or Afghanistan.
In particular, Special Forces are suffering with dwindling numbers as troops are recruited into the private sector. Only last month, the commanding officer of 22 SAS left a promising career for a well-paid civilian job.
The retention crisis has meant that the Army is 3,500 soldiers under strength, many of them experienced and senior NCOs.
A plan to prevent further losses from the pool of about 500 officers by offering a 50,000-pound bonus for three further years' service is under consideration by the Ministry of Defence.
Defence sources said retaining experienced Intelligence Corps officers with the rank of major or lieutenant colonel is difficult.
International security companies are poaching them with offers of 125,000 pounds, tax-free, for a year in Baghdad including three months' leave. By contrast, a major in the Army would earn around 47,000 pounds.
A defence ministry spokesman admitted to facing challenges of "recruiting and retention" in all the Services and "trying hard to resolve them".
ANI