HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman has questioned whether troops were being deployed too young or with not enough training.
Mr Barry Sheerman highlighted the ages of Corporal Jake Hartley, 20, and Privates Anton Frampton, 20, Christopher Kershaw, 19, Daniel Wade, 20, and Daniel Wilford, 21, all of whom were killed when their Warrior vehicle was hit by an apparent improvised explosive device.
Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 33, was also killed in the incident on March 6.
Three of the young soldiers were from Huddersfield.
But Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey rejected his claims insisting British soldiers were only deployed after long and thorough training.
At defence questions, Mr Sheerman said: “Can I remind you it is young men and women who are killed and have been killed on active service?
“As you look at the age of the young Yorkshiremen who were killed recently – 19, 20, 20, 21 – it does make one wonder if these young people are sufficiently skilled, trained and experienced to be in such a dangerous position so early in their lives.”
Mr Harvey said: “I entirely repudiate what you are saying. Army units deploying to Afghanistan go through a bespoke 18 month training progression prior to deployment, tailored to the role they are going to do in theatre.
“It creates a very high level of individual and collective competence. Certainly talking to them out there, they all believe they have had the training they need and that is the assessment of the military professionals as well.”
