Soldiers are urged to take Andy McNab books on exercise to tackle poor literacy levels among recruits

• Recruits should bring ‘action books’ to pass time in the field, MoD guidance says
• Many novels have been shrunk into ‘easy to read versions’ to encourage soldiers 
• Nearly half Army recruits have reading age of 11 or lower, according to figures

• e-mail

2

View
comments

Former soldier Andy McNab’s book Today Everything Changes

Soldiers have been urged to take Andy McNab books on exercise to improve their literacy.

Recruits should bring ‘action books’ to pass the time while in the field, according to Ministry of Defence guidance.

Many of the novels have been shrunk into ‘easy to read versions’ to encourage soldiers, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Officials are concerned by low literacy levels as nearly half of Army recruits have a reading age of 11 or lower, according to most recent figures.

In a push to get soldiers reading, the MoD’s official Soldier magazine this month recommends energetic, accessible books.

These include former soldier Andy McNab’s Today Everything Changes and Bloody Valentine by James Patterson, the US thriller writer.

Soldiers are advised to read ‘at lunchtime, in a waiting room or on exercise when there is time.’

The magazine says: ‘Many titles from bestselling authors have been shrunk into easy-to-read versions that can be bought in bookshops or borrowed from the Army Library and Information Service.’

• SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Ambitious Prince Andrew to grease the… ‘I’ve got bigger fish to fry’: Former Mets star Lenny…

Share this article

It adds: ‘Choose something that interests you, fiction or non-fiction. Maybe it’s linked to a hobby or a person, film or video game.

‘Use a bookmark to follow the lines as you read. This can help if your eyes get tired.’

According to most recent figures, 39 per cent of Army recruits have the reading ability of an 11-year-old or lower.

And 38 per cent can only do maths to the level of a child in their last year of primary school.

James Patterson’s Bloody Valentine was another book suggested by Solider magazine

Army candidates without GCSEs must sit reading, writing and arithmetic tests in order to be accepted.

But those with scores which fall below the minimum pass mark are given special training.

The majority ‘turn it around’ within two years, according to the MoD. And military bosses have organised poetry competitions in recent years to improve skills.

Cpl Anthony Lee, of the Royal Logistic Corps, told Soldier that he joined the Army with poor literacy skills and ‘got sick’ of asking junior colleagues for help.

He said: ‘I didn’t realise there was so much reading involved.

‘Problems started with orders like “Send an email” but I had to be shown how. It was embarrassing.

‘I went to the education centre and told them I was struggling. I could have built an entire housing estate but I couldn’t work out this other stuff.

‘It put me at the bottom of the pile. I wish I’d done it a year after I had been in. You can’t be good at everything.’

The MoD said: ‘We are proud of the opportunities the Army offers young people, providing challenging and constructive education and equipping them with valuable skills.

‘The Armed Forces are among the largest training providers in the UK, and we support and encourage our people to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.’

Source: Read Full Article