DEFENSE chiefs facing a troop crisis allow dismissed squads to rejoin.
Those fired for theft, fighting, failing drug tests or Awol will be reconsidered.
1
Soldiers layoffs for physical or mental health reasons can be reimbursed – and keep any compensation.
The offer also applies to anyone who has resigned.
But those who have been fired for taking heroin or for selling drugs to other soldiers remain excluded.
The army‘s website says each re-joiner will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
There are 3,000 soldiers who are undersized and more are leaving than are coming in.
Defense chiefs have spent more than £70 million on recruitment campaigns between 2019 and 2021.
And the rejoining age was recently raised from 52 to 57.
But ex-military intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram said the move “reeked of desperation”.
He added: “The Ministry of Defence need to see why it’s so hard to detain people.
“Poor food, shelter, poorly maintained garrison towns and having to fill in for higher paid officials will all be factors.”
The military insisted, “We still have enough numbers to meet operational needs.”