THE Army and RAF have suffered a recruitment crisis in Cheshire since the Allied invasion of Iraq.
Figures secured under the Freedom of Information legislation show that the number of people joining the Army has dropped by almost a third across the region.
The situation is worse for the RAF with recruitment at the service's Liverpool office down by 65% since 2002/03, the financial year ending a month after the invasion.
In the year ending March 2006, just 63 people joined the RAF, compared with 175 in 2002/03.
Army recruitment, down overall by 30%, has been hit hardest in the Wirral recruitment office based in Birkenhead.
The number of recruits had risen from 177 in 2001/02 to 196 in 2002/03 but fell to 99 in the 2005/06 - a drop of 50%.
Army chiefs admitted that during conflicts involving British troops, the number of recruits normally rises.
But the exact opposite has happened this time with appeals on Army websites specifically asking for recruits from the Liverpool and Manchester areas.
The recruiting office in Liverpool is now to increase its opening hours while existing soldiers are being offered financial incentives to attract new recruits.
A letter sent to soldiers within the former King's Regiment states it is the top priority for recruits.
