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The Army has been “held back” after being starved of cash, according to research drawn up for top brass.

Those quizzed for a study spoke of “capability restrictions” thanks to being denied funds, according to a study which reveals the damage inflicted on the military by Tory cuts and a mounting recruitment crisis.

The results came from interviews carried out as part of a bungled re-branding exercise ordered by senior officers.

Sessions with serving soldiers, officers and the general public uncovered a bleak view of the Army, including over its handling of post-traumatic stress among battle-hardened veterans.

Outlining the misery triggered by lack of money, the study says: “Respondents ... thought that ‘they only have capability restrictions through funding....if they had more they’d be more capable’ and there was a belief that the Army ‘don’t have enough funding or the latest tech... they’re held back by what they’ve got’.

“Internal staff also thought that ‘we’re on a tight budget and everyone is having to pull their belts in’.”

Military chiefs ordered the study when they were planning to axe the Army’s Be the Best campaign and launch a new recruitment drive.

The plan was scrapped in December after Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson found out.

But the Mirror has been handed further details behind the botched bid for a branding shake-up, estimated to have cost taxpayers £1.5million.

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Documents include a 10-page “Overview of findings for Army branding phase 3 testing” and a 66-page report from researchers BMG.

The files, uncovered by campaigners using freedom of information rules, reveal how focus groups objected to a potential “Always Ready” slogan.

“Internal staff thought that underfunding meant that the Army simply was not ready, and questioned ‘have we got anything to meet these challenges with?’” the study says.

“They wondered ‘are we equipped? Are we clothed? Possibly not. Are we funded? Possibly not’ and thought that ‘if you’re in the Army, everyone knows it’s utter c**p’.”

While “on the whole, respondents thought the Army was brave and confident”, troops complained of wasted talent as minsters raced to farm out key services to the private sector.

(Image: Getty Images AsiaPac)

In a damning indictment of privatisation’s effects on morale, the probe reveals: “Internal staff members believed that ‘a lot of jobs are outsourced when we have the trades in the Army, which they don’t use’, and ‘things are sold for short term financial gain, there’s a lack of foresight’.”

The report also unearthed fears about veterans’ treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

It says: “Large numbers of external respondents expressed concerns about soldiers ‘not getting the help they need after the Army’; Army adverts were therefore seen to be dishonest because ‘I don’t think some of the adverts show the problems the Army causes, like the PTSD’.”

They also slammed the Army’s portrayal to would-be recruits, compared with the reality.

“There were worries, internally and externally, that recruitment made the Army ‘seem quite glamorous, but they don’t really show any of the brutality’ and there was a level of dishonesty in pitching the adverts ‘at young people who don’t know what they’re doing’,” reveals the investigation.

The public also feared young recruits were “bullied” and scandals covered-up.

“External participants worried that ‘a lot of people come out with PTSD’ and there was a belief that ‘they don’t get set up and supported when they come out’, according to the study.

“There were also concerns that ‘their emotional intelligence is poor... kids are bullied, people are made to do things, there’s cover ups’.”

(Image: AFP) (Image: Getty Images)

Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith said: “The Tories’ deep cuts to the defence budget have had a profound effect on our Armed Forces and our defence capabilities.

“Our servicemen and women are at the heart of our nation’s defences.

“But the crisis in recruitment and retention means that morale is in free fall and the workload of personnel has grown substantially.

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“It is important that the men and women who serve in the forces are able to be honest with the MoD about the concerns that they have.

“It is now time for Ministers to start listening to personnel instead of ploughing on regardless with any more short-sighted cuts.”

Researchers drew up groups of between seven and 10 people, with about 200 taking part sessions across the UK, including Cardiff, Glasgow and Sheffield in early 2016.

Soldiers and officers at Sandhurst and Harrogate training centres also gave their views.

An M0D spokesman said: “The survey’s findings showed that the majority of respondents felt that the Army is capable, with only six people disagreeing.

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“The Army has the resources it needs to fulfil its tasks and we are investing billions of pounds in new equipment, including world-leading combat vehicles and cutting-edge weaponry.

“While rates of mental disorder are slightly lower in the military than in the general population, we’ve increased our spending on mental health to £22 million a year and have launched a 24/7 Military Mental Health Helpline for service personnel to call in times of crisis.”