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Army 'may recruit from Jamaica'
The MoD said plans for the drive are still in the early stages
The British Army is considering a recruitment drive in Jamaica to help boost its depleted numbers.
Figures show the UK military is currently 4,900 short of its fully-trained requirement, with the Army needing 3,330 more troops.
There are currently 600 Jamaicans serving in the Army.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman added: "The Armed Forces are proud to recruit high quality soldiers from countries with close historical ties."
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British Army may recruit in Jamaica
Charlotte McCathie
The Army is considering a recruitment drive in Jamaica to boost its depleted forces.
Army officials said they are looking at plans to visit the Caribbean island.
There are just 600 Jamaicans serving in the British Army, but the new scheme could see this figure rocket.
Overseas recruitment is unusual in the Army. It accepts Commonwealth and Irish applications but does not actively recruit overseas, except for Gurkhas from Nepal.
But the new plans could ease the current shortfall in troops. Latest figures show the military is 4900 short of its fully trained requirement, and the Army is 3330 short.
An MoD spokesman said: "The Army's overseas selection teams are considering a visit to Jamaica, but plans are still at an early stage and have yet to be finalised.
"The Armed Forces are proud to recruit high-quality soldiers from countries with close historical ties."
Private Johnson Beharry, awarded the Victoria Cross in 2005 after saving the lives of dozens of comrades in Iraq, is from the Caribbean island of Grenada. He was the first soldier to receive the Victoria Cross since the Falklands war in 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969.
12:52am today
The MoD said plans for the drive are still in the early stagesThe British Army is considering a recruitment drive in Jamaica to help boost its depleted numbers.
Figures show the UK military is currently 4,900 short of its fully-trained requirement, with the Army needing 3,330 more troops.
There are currently 600 Jamaicans serving in the Army.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman added: "The Armed Forces are proud to recruit high quality soldiers from countries with close historical ties."
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British Army may recruit in JamaicaCharlotte McCathie
The Army is considering a recruitment drive in Jamaica to boost its depleted forces.
Army officials said they are looking at plans to visit the Caribbean island.
There are just 600 Jamaicans serving in the British Army, but the new scheme could see this figure rocket.
Overseas recruitment is unusual in the Army. It accepts Commonwealth and Irish applications but does not actively recruit overseas, except for Gurkhas from Nepal.
But the new plans could ease the current shortfall in troops. Latest figures show the military is 4900 short of its fully trained requirement, and the Army is 3330 short.
An MoD spokesman said: "The Army's overseas selection teams are considering a visit to Jamaica, but plans are still at an early stage and have yet to be finalised.
"The Armed Forces are proud to recruit high-quality soldiers from countries with close historical ties."
Private Johnson Beharry, awarded the Victoria Cross in 2005 after saving the lives of dozens of comrades in Iraq, is from the Caribbean island of Grenada. He was the first soldier to receive the Victoria Cross since the Falklands war in 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969.
12:52am today
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