Gavin Williamson - Army needs recruits from ALL backgrounds

The Defence Secretary's intervention comes as former soldiers slammed the Army for its latest advert, which offers new recruits 'emotional support' and asks questions including: "Can I be gay in the Army?"

In one clip, a Muslim soldier explains how the Army has allowed him to practice his faith, while the short films, voiced by serving soldiers, also ask: "What if I get emotional?", and "Do I have to be a superhero?"

Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said the campaign was 'neglecting the main group of people who are interested in joining' and will not solve the 'recruiting crisis' facing the armed forces.

But South Staffordshire MP Mr Williamson said the Army needed to reach out to as many potential recruits as possible.

WATCH the campaign here:

Mr Williamson told the Express & Star: "The British Armed Forces are the best in the world, and to be the best we must reach out and appeal to potential recruits from all communities and backgrounds to represent our country."

He also said he had successfully fought to have the Army's 'be the best' motto – which he recently halted plans to scrap – included in the ads.

Colonel Kemp said: "The main group of people who are interested in joining aren't worrying so much about whether they are going to be listened to or if there's an emotional issue.

"What they are worried about more is how they are going to face combat and, not only that - they are going to be attracted by images of combat because that's why people join the armed forces."

He added: "This also reflects the fact that the Army, like the rest of Government is being forced down a route of political correctness.

"What is most important is that the Army recruits and is full of soldiers. It's of secondary importance that they reflect the composition of society."

In one of the animated adverts, which highlights emotional support, a voice-over says: "Man up. Grow a pair. It feels like, as a man, you can never express your emotions.

"I thought joining the Army would be a thousand times worse. That any sign of emotion would be a sign of weakness.

"That we'd have it ripped out of us.

"But once you are in, you realise no-one is a machine. The Army is family. I've probably told them things I wouldn't tell my own family. There's always someone there to talk to."

Other videos focus on 'Army belonging' and inclusivity, ask "Can I practise my faith in the Army?", "Will I be listened to in the Army?" and "Do I have to be a superhero to join the Army?".

Retired Army officer Major General Tim Cross said the Army must makes sure it 'reaches out to people' and presents joining as a great opportunity.

He said: "The concern, I think, for a lot of people...is that you end up with an Army that's not capable of doing what you want to do and when you send it away on operations it's not able to deliver.

"So we must ensure that we reach out to people, we must ensure that everybody knows that they have an opportunity of joining the British armed forces and joining the Army in particular.

"But we are not going to be soft and we are not going to be nice to people."

However, Maj Gen Cross warned against discouraging Christians or people from other faiths.

Referring to one of the clips, he said: "It happens to focus on the Muslim community; my point is we have Gurkhas, we have Sikhs, all faiths represented in the British Army, and what we don't want to be doing is isolating other people by focusing on these particular communities."

The campaign comes amid growing concern over recruitment to the armed forces.

In the year to April 2017, 12,950 recruits joined the regular armed forces, but 14,970 service personnel left in the same period.

The Royal Navy and the RAF were running at around 10 per cent short of their annual recruitment target, while the Army shortfall was more than 30 per cent, according to a report commissioned by No 10.

The head of the Army, General Sir Nick Carter, said that in Britain today there are 25 per cent fewer white 16 to 25-year-old males, who formed the force's traditional recruitment base, forcing a rethink of how to address a personnel shortage.