Poorly paid soldiers ‘quitting over cost of commute’

Young members of the Defence Forces are “totally disillusioned” and many are quitting as they are so poorly paid they cannot afford to commute to their bases.

Meanwhile, scores of experienced soldiers who pass all fitness tests and are still in their late 30s or early 40s could be forced out when their contracts expire in 2019.

That’s according to PDFORRA president Mark Scally who said, in his view, the majority of serving members now treat the Defence Forces as a job, not as a career anymore.