Army recruits angry about having to buy their own safety equipment

ARMY recruits already angry about wage negotiations will still have to spend their own money on proper safety equipment.

Diggers forced to buy own boots

ARMY recruits about to see the buying power of their pay packets go backwards will still have to spend their own money on proper equipment.

Privates on around $44,000 a year sometimes have to privately buy military backpacks and even boots for an average cost of $500 each, according to a survey by iSoldier, a web site selling the items.

Defence personnel past and present are furious over a meagre 1.5 per cent a year pay rise servicemen and women will receive as the Government warns it will be reining in wages across the public sector.

This will be well below the inflation rate now at 2.3 per cent and will mean personnel will be able to buy less with their wages.

“This (pay) issue isn’t just going to affect soldiers financially, but (it will) impact morale Defence wide unless soldiers are heard,” said iSoldier managing director Nicholas Smith.

Mr Smith said new pack can cost up to $500, said Mr Smith, whose website claims 4000 members.

“Although they get issued a pack, they’re below average or second-hand and need to be replaced,” he said.

“Popular items include: Large military backpacks, military boots, sleeping bags, compasses, watches, bivy (bivouac) bags, cold weather jumpers, and protective gloves.

Up to $1500 can be spent by recruits, straight out of training, on a range of items, said Mr Smith, but a survey of 300 new and past recruits but the average spend at $500.

Labor is next week expected to use Parliament to attack the government on the Defence pay decision and claim the previous Labor government had left money for a decent wage increase.

However, the Government has said it doesn’t have the money for a pay movement to match inflation and has warned the remainder of the public sector it can expect the same treatment.