There is something deeply wrong with British defence when, in the space of little more than a week, we can be told that the Armed Forces do not have enough money to conduct normal training, announce plans for one of the biggest mobilisation exercises of military veterans in decades, and then tell serving reservists they need to work fewer days because the Army needs to save cash.

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At some point, somebody in Whitehall will have to explain how all of those things are supposed to fit together.

Last week, we learned that major Army training was being scaled back because there simply was not enough money in the pot to pay for it. Exercises involving company-sized groups of soldiers were being curtailed, larger exercises were being cancelled or postponed, and training was increasingly being prioritised only for those preparing to deploy.

I have even been told of soldiers running around Salisbury Plain shouting “BANG” because there was no money for the blanks they would normally use. And this would be funny, because I think this actually happened in an episode of Dad's Army if the consequences were not so serious.

Then came the announcement that Britain intends to exercise its strategic reserve of former service personnel next year, testing how veterans can be recalled, equipped and used in a crisis. Ministers are openly talking about putting Britain on a greater war footing and preparing the country for the possibility of major conflict.

Now, barely a day later, Army reservists are being told that savings have to be made from their budget too, with the number of days some are able to serve being cut.

You could not design a more perfect example of the contradiction at the heart of British defence policy if you tried.

We are apparently preparing for war while simultaneously trying to save money on the people who would have to fight it.

Over the past few weeks I have spoken to serving personnel across the Armed Forces, both regular and reserve, from different ranks and different services.

What they have told me has been shocking.

The consistent message is that training is being squeezed. Exercises are being cancelled. Activities that would once have been considered routine are increasingly being questioned because of cost. Commanders are being told savings need to be made, and those savings inevitably work their way down until they reach the soldier, sailor........

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