As anyone who was ever in the Army will tell you, (I can't speak for the Navy or Airforce), every soldier who has ever lived swears that he wants to leave on a daily basis.

Just tell them there''s a recession on and the problem's solved. Until tomorrow.

Andrew Waldron, Bournemouth, UK

After the "Friendly Fire" incident (that euphemism makesme vomit) I imagine the other half will want to quit now.

james allen, manchester, england

The Iraq epsiode a sad example of a divided Europe. We need a united European foreign policy so we don't always find Britain alone with America. Europe may curse but without America defending Western values + democratic freedoms they will soon be lost as we no longer have the power to protect them

Brian Gazeley, Kumamoto, Japan

How will the two new carriers be manned? Plus crews for the support vessels.

Jerry, seattle, usa

Jayil Perhaps Israel stands between the oil rich but poverty stricken countries of the East and the oil poor but rich countries of the West. It might be nice to think we could do without oil but for now at least that would mean starvation for most. Can you grow enough for yourself in London?

Tilly, Warrington, UK

Just exactly why do people join the Services. Is it the social whirl or the easy life in base.

If you don't want to go to war then don't join the armed forces.

Read Quartered Safe Out Here by Fraser MacDonald if you want to see what real fighting was about.

David, Dubai, UAE

It’s alright the MOD saying it has upped the allowances and improved the accommodation.
But how many of them have to live on the Tom’s basic pay and live in the Tom’s quarters or single accommodation. NONE. They are typical ivory tower thinkers. I’m OK up here so ‘they’ must be OK down there. The quote “Let them eat cake” springs to mind. The MOD will be right up the creek if all the men leave to find some cake!

Keih Walker, Newcastle, England

Soldiers should be unmarried. Roman soldiers were forbidden marriage until they were forty. No emotional ties.
Given that: the Asian wars are plain wrong, and we know that, so how can we feel good about our men being there? Nothing good will come of it anyway; so bring the poor kids home: now.

C Smith, Norwich, UK

Not surprised. I left 3 years ago. Half of the people I knew in the Army have left too.

Chris, London, England

British soldiers are fighting and dying for Israel's sake. We're basically doing *American pro-Israel lobbys* dirty work. Can you blame British soldiers for losing enthusiasm to fight?

jayil, london, uk

Why are these kind of reports in the public domain? This is not the type of knowledge the enemies of the UK need to be aware of. Governments should work towards solving these kind of problems without airing their dirty laundry in the press.

Kristina Jensen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Political Cannon Fodder. WW11, men came from occupied European countries eager to join with British forces in the fight for freedom. Now they come to take advantage of benefits. while our forces, even advised, not to wear uniform in parts of the UK, give their Lives. Lions, still led by donkeys.

Eric Brown, Newport, Wales

The only problem here is lack of equipment, wars last as long as wars need to. If we are not willing to pay for the war then we should end it.

Would you want to be in a war where you dont get the right boots, or body arm, I mean if we can not get the boots right we may as well go home!

MR W Jones, Liverpool, England

"Bearing brunt of two wars is hurting family life"

This is precisely why the Armed Forces should be restricted to unmarried personnel.

Russell Kent, Maastricht, NL, Netherlands

If you are dissatisfied with the MOD then you presumably would fill in a questionnaire, if you think its a waste of time you dont. Was this survey completed by all service personnel? NO! Therefore are these statistics truly reflective of service personnel attitudes? NO! Its a waste of time and money

Ben, London,

Well lets quit the EU as the other countries are too cowardly to put boots on the ground. And lets quit the ECHR and then lets kick out anyone who even reads terrorist literature or downloads it. Got a granny back home and look dodgy? bye bye with all your kith and kin. Any takers???

Gordon, Croydon, United Kingdom

Armies must be prepared for battle at all times and this includes the willingness and the spirit to fight. If there is none then what is the point really. Whether it be political leaders, military leadership or the front lines, shape up or ship out. Combat should not be left to the weak or doubtful.

Ryan Soh, Aldgate East, London, England

can not blame them.

ebbi britt, valencia, spain

Time and again I hear people say this. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will only end when everybody feels like it affects them personally. And that's the problem. It already does. But nobody wants to admit that.

Tom, Kansas City, US

To P Phillips and the like - the military are getting out of the kitchen. And when there is a FIreman Strike or a Fuel Bowser Strike or floods or a terrorist alert in the UK which require the armed froces help, go look somehwere else as the cupboard will be bare.

Caroline, Plymouth, UK

A correction is required - The Armed Forcesare fighting two wars - the country is not! That is the problem!

Richard, Plymouth, UK

Unfortunately history has demonstrated that the resolve of insurgents battling an invasionary force always out lasts the will of the occupiers and the motives for the original occupation.
We will leave Afghanistan and Iraq our intervention just a ripple in the waters of their history and no more.

Joe, Geelong, VIC Australia

Rudyard Kipling must have been a century ahead describing the disgraceful manner in which the forces are treated.

"The powers" wouldn't listen to him, either.

Dennis, Portland OR, US

If I were in the RAF I too would be upset at having to fly the Eurofighter instead of the F22 or the F35

William LeFiles, Sugar Land, Texas

hey UK! we are joined at the hip...welcome to the Revolution....we are one and the same and will never split apart....

Mark, Knoxville, TN, USA

Check the real history of the Vietnam (American) War, and the main reason the US withdrew its military forces. The mutinies came from the enlisted men as much as the conscripts. Democracy can break out even in the military. "Charge the enemy? Let's talk this over and vote on it, Sir."

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Bob is right. When I read, in the Times, about the indignities suffered by these brave soldiers and sailors at the hands of British people, from name-calling to spitting on them, it made me sick to my stomach. Treat these warriors properly, or you will lose your freedom!

David, Minneapolis, USA

This is the culmination of all the conflicts since Korea, however, manning levels have never been so critical and equipment / man management deficiences can no longer be concealed. At the same time we have a long standing government which is militarily incompetent. Service chiefs defend your men !

Tom Scarff, Phuket, Thailand

Unfortunately, we are past the point of no return. Inadequate numbers for Ops, combined with factors such as incorrect pay and measley pay increases wasnt a recipe for success. The generals I bet a praying for a recession; thats what it will take to stop the outflows of highly trained staff.

Sam Smith, Southport, UK

Vote with your boots , then.

ronnie, bucks, UK

It’s a Yankee war I wouldn’t mind if we rented out our forces for a profit.
However, I do object to the British taxpayer bearing the cost.

joe miles, greenock, scotland

Morale will be low when our troops are fighting two unjust wars. Yet, the crazies want to open up a third war with Iran - a much much stronger opponent than Iraq and Afghanistan put together.

Sam, Glasgow,

Quit what exactly?

Doug MacArthur, Highland, NY, USA

"...the Taleban are in resurgent mood..." Call in Hall & Oates.... I'm in a resurrrgennnnt mooood.... Please. Stop. Now. Call Mommy.

John Templeton, NYC, NY, USA

Let's not worry about servicemen quitting. Let's get worried when half of the Ministry of Defence civil servants are ready to abandon their marble floors, modern abstract art, pensions and aeron chairs. Then we'll have a real defence crisis.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

This doesnt surprise me at all. The troops are treated like dirt and paid tiny amounts. my partner serves in the forces and we cannot wait for him to leave.

c, notts,

This is just another reason for the return to National Service.
It doesn't do any harm and it does, in general, a lot of good.

M Wilson, Bidache, france

Bet the same numbers would have been polled when the question was given to soldiers throughout history.
No one likes to be on active service when all their friends and mates having a great time-at the pub, at the beach, at the game , chasing girls or you name it! Ex squaddy , ex Brit.

David Larkman, White Salmon, USA

With the movement of manufacturing jobs overseas. The best opportunity for these unemployed workers is the armed forces. My two grand-nephews joined the Army and enjoy their careers. The war has gone on too long. The soldiers are under-armed, open to booby-traps daily and are unappreciated.

Peter Green, Cinnaminson, NJ, USA

Asylum seeker get better treated and better benefit than our armed forces.

mark, Leeds,

the mod are in denial as always (or lying, as always) the whole edifice needs tearing down and re-building from the bottom up.

james, doncaster, uk

Disgraceful to make this public. We're fighting a war, for God's sake.

Wilf, London,

The majority of people in this country are totally 100 per cent behind our men serving in Iraq and Afganistan, its the wars we cannot come to terms with.....bring them home asap....

maggie, sunderland, tyne/wear

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen

P. Phillips, Northampton, England

My guess is that the lack of love and respect that they get from the British people is the biggest demoralizing factor. This hits the families even more hard than the troops who have each other.

Bob Bartlett, San Rafael, USA