Cash-Strapped British Army Forced to Take Extended Leave

The British government, short of cash, has ordered their Army to take 25 days off for Christmas. 

The 110,000 military and civilian personnel who represent the entirety of the British Army are being forced to take ‘block leave’ from December 14 until January 7. All barracks, Territorial Army buildings, and other military sites will be closed.

Military officials claimed it was a “thank you” for the Army’s service during the London Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, as well as for continued service in Afghanistan. The RAF and Royal Navy have not been given the time off.

Soldiers and civilians who have already taken their annual leave have been ordered to “work from home”.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, said he had never seen anything like it in his 25 years of military service:

Shutting down the Army for an extended period over Christmas is an act of sheer desperation by military commanders starved of cash by the Government… But nevertheless, to an Army at war this sends an insulting and morale-sapping message that makes it entirely clear just where spending priorities do not lie.