NEW Forest West MP Desmond Swayne has dismissed claims that the war in Iraq has caused a recruitment crisis in the Territorial Army.

New figures show that 6,000 troops have quit the TA during the past year, and despite a £3m TV advertising campaign fewer than 600 recruits have signed up, leaving the service at its lowest strength since it was founded in 1907.

Ministers have admitted that only 24,000 troops are fully trained and in practice only 12,000 TA solders are now available to back up the regular army on operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans.

Mr Swayne has been in the TA for 28 years and is now a major. He served in Iraq for six months in 2003.

"I'd be very surprised if Iraq is having an affect on recruitment because when people sign up they do so knowing that they will be mobilised and won't be stuck at the depot folding blankets," he said.

"I can see more of a case for Iraq affecting retention in the TA but only in the sense that once you have served in a war zone and survived, you would be wary to return for a second time.

"You would also be concerned about the effect on your career at home by going out for another term."

Christchurch community beat officer PC Brenda Traylen was in the TA for 22 years and left three years ago. She was also a major and served in Bosnia.

"New legislation means that you can get called up at anytime and your employer has to let you go and give you your job back when you return," she said.

"But it used to be that you only went if you volunteered. So I can see a fall in recruitment because you're only getting the people signing up who want to go."

PE teacher at the Grange School in Christchurch, Brett Bader, is another local TA member and serves as a lieutenant.

The former marine spent six months in Iraq last year.

First published: November 2, 2005