Soldiers trained to fight fires have been leaving the army in significant numbers due to the “work overload demanded”. So says an exclusive in tabloid Jornal da Notícias today, stressing the army is finding it difficult holding onto young recruits.
Defence minister Azeredo Lopes has disputed the findings, suggesting last year was “an exceptional year” and that the government is committed to making a military career “attractive”.
JN’s information however points to as many as 500 soldiers having left the service in 2017 – “more than half because of the extra work demanded in the combat of wildfires”.
Says the paper, “there were soldiers that went two months without managing to get home”.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
