Madam, - I am thankful that the Minister for Defence has his boots firmly on the ground and does not see a role for the Army in training and drilling young offenders (Opinion & Analysis, November 30th).
As a retired officer I was embarrassed at the naivety of a fellow former officer of the same vintage, namely Billy Timmins, in advocating Army-run boot camps.
He should know it is not blind discipline alone that ensures that the Army maintains the high standards it has achieved at home at abroad. The attaining of those standards begins by ensuring that the calibre of new recruit allows individuals to develop into mature and responsible soldiers who can be trusted to perform their duties without constant supervision. - Yours, etc,
PETER MURPHY, Comdt (Ret'd), Punchestown Gate, Naas, Co Kildare.