MORE than 13,000 members of the Armed Forces are not fit for frontline service, government figures have revealed.
Some 13,133 soldiers, sailors and aviators have sick notes that ban them from deploying to combat zones.
It means one in ten of all armed forces is classed as “medically non-deployable”.
Defence minister Louise Sandher-Jones revealed 40 per cent of the sick notes – some 5,376 personnel – were suffering from “musculoskeletal disorders” such as broken bones or ligament damage.
Another 2,747 troops – the second highest medical issue – have been diagnosed with “mental health and behavioural disorders”.
Troops were also listed as being unfit for combat because of problems with their digestive systems, hearing, eye and skin problems.
Only 16 female troops were unable to deploy because they were pregnant.
The MoD said: “Personnel graded as medically non-deployable are not fit to deploy on operations; however, they may be deployable on UK based exercises.”
Colonel Phil Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer, added: “The number of personnel not able to deploy or with limited deployability adds to the woes of the armed forces who are badly under strength.
“Retaining people who can not deploy is not a sensible answer unless that category is only temporary.
“The time has come for radical thinking and proper operationally focused leadership.”
