This is an absolute bloody disgrace , the crass bastards do not deserve soldiers , granted they were nearing the end of their service but this is wrong ,I hope they find who sent the emails and shove his/hers computer's up their impersonal soddin arse's , BASTARDS .
The Army has apologised for "causing distress" after 38 soldiers - including one serving in Afghanistan - were sacked by email.
News of the blunder comes a day after it was revealed a quarter of the RAF's trainee pilots will not get a job in the service due to Government spending cuts.
The warrant officers who were dismissed by email were told it was because the Army also needed to make savings.
The message to the men read: "I write to notify you that with regret, I must issue you with 12 months' Notice of Termination.
"As I'm sure you are aware the Army has to make significant cutbacks and we... are expected to play our part in reductions."
The 38 warrant officers - the highest non-commissioned rank - all have at least 20 years' service and continue in the Army on a rolling contract.
However, The Sun claimed one of the veteran soldiers received the bad news while on the front line in Afghanistan.
Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey told Sky News: "This certainly should not have happened.
"We will need to get to the bottom of what on earth has gone wrong but on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Army, I would apologise to these individuals."
The MoD has been quick to point out this was not a mistake on the part of civil servants or ministers - but a mistake in terms of "sequencing" made by the Army.
The sacked soldiers should have been told by their commanding officer about the decision before receiving it in writing.
In this case, that sequence of events did not happen.
Army sources said the individual responsible for the gaffe would be spoken to by the chain of command about the need to be sensitive in these matters.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox said he was "furious" over the email.
He has demanded an explanation of how it happened, saying this was "no way" to treat Armed Forces personnel.
"I am furious that such a situation should occur," he said in a statement issued by the MoD.
"I want to know how this was allowed to happen and what measures will be put in place to prevent this from happening again."
When their contracts are up in a year's time, the servicemen will get their full re-settlement package and thousands of pounds towards future training.
Despite this, shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said getting fired in such a way was "cold-hearted".
"Sacking anybody by email is wrong, but sacking our Armed Forces in this way is absolutely unforgivable," he said.
"The whole Armed Forces community will be shocked and appalled.
"We can't halt every redundancy in the Armed Forces, but this was a cold-hearted act towards those whose courage and commitment to our country is unsurpassed.
"They must be treated with the utmost respect.
"Ministers must explain why and how this happened and ensure it is never, ever repeated.
The Army has apologised for "causing distress" after 38 soldiers - including one serving in Afghanistan - were sacked by email.
News of the blunder comes a day after it was revealed a quarter of the RAF's trainee pilots will not get a job in the service due to Government spending cuts.
The warrant officers who were dismissed by email were told it was because the Army also needed to make savings.
The message to the men read: "I write to notify you that with regret, I must issue you with 12 months' Notice of Termination.
"As I'm sure you are aware the Army has to make significant cutbacks and we... are expected to play our part in reductions."
The 38 warrant officers - the highest non-commissioned rank - all have at least 20 years' service and continue in the Army on a rolling contract.
However, The Sun claimed one of the veteran soldiers received the bad news while on the front line in Afghanistan.
Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey told Sky News: "This certainly should not have happened.
"We will need to get to the bottom of what on earth has gone wrong but on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Army, I would apologise to these individuals."
The MoD has been quick to point out this was not a mistake on the part of civil servants or ministers - but a mistake in terms of "sequencing" made by the Army.
The sacked soldiers should have been told by their commanding officer about the decision before receiving it in writing.
In this case, that sequence of events did not happen.
Army sources said the individual responsible for the gaffe would be spoken to by the chain of command about the need to be sensitive in these matters.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox said he was "furious" over the email.
He has demanded an explanation of how it happened, saying this was "no way" to treat Armed Forces personnel.
"I am furious that such a situation should occur," he said in a statement issued by the MoD.
"I want to know how this was allowed to happen and what measures will be put in place to prevent this from happening again."
When their contracts are up in a year's time, the servicemen will get their full re-settlement package and thousands of pounds towards future training.
Despite this, shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said getting fired in such a way was "cold-hearted".
"Sacking anybody by email is wrong, but sacking our Armed Forces in this way is absolutely unforgivable," he said.
"The whole Armed Forces community will be shocked and appalled.
"We can't halt every redundancy in the Armed Forces, but this was a cold-hearted act towards those whose courage and commitment to our country is unsurpassed.
"They must be treated with the utmost respect.
"Ministers must explain why and how this happened and ensure it is never, ever repeated.
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