MORE than 50,000 snowflakes have withdrawn applications to join the Armed Forces this year.
About 8,000 youngsters put their name forward each month only to beat a retreat — with the “army of quitters” 18 per cent up on last year.
A source told The Sun: “These kids are full of bravado but they get cold feet when reality bites and they realise what it really means to serve Queen and country.
“It only takes a few clicks to apply online — and there are loads of reasons why they change their minds.
“Sometimes they sign up drunk and withdraw when they sober up, sometimes they tell their parents who talk them out of it. Others worry about not being fit enough.”
Years of recruiting problems have left all three services 12,000 personnel below fighting strength.
Applications for the Army have recently hit a five-year high.
However, the Army had 30,000 drop-outs from January to June while the Royal Navy lost 13,000 and the RAF 8,000.
Armed Forces minister and ex-Army officer James Heappey said: “When employment opportunities in the wider economy become more scarce, armed forces recruitment has improved.
“We are mindful not to rely on this and are actively working to improve our ‘offer’ to bolster both recruitment and retention.”
But Labour’s shadow minister Stephen Morgan said: “Recruitment is clearly not working.”
The Ministry of Defence said the rise in withdrawals was broadly in line with the growth in applications.
A spokesman added: “Recruitment into the Armed Forces has increased, with successful applications to the RAF, Army and Royal Navy continuing to grow each year. We’re on track to deliver the talent and numbers we need.”
Source: The Sun
