A new organisation is being set up to represent the 250,000 British servicemen and women in the Armed Forces.
According to its founder, the British Armed Forces Federation (Baff) is not a union but will promote the interests of those serving, as well as veterans.
Soldiers are banned from taking part in strike action or political activities.
“We have been speaking to people in the chain of command, some quite senior, and I have had senior officers in touch with me saying ‘I personally support you and you must keep going’,” said Baff founder, Douglas Young.
The federation will highlight concerns about things like equipment, deployment strength, pay and conditions, careers, housing and schooling.
In January, calls for a new body to champion soldiers’ rights were rejected by then defence secretary John Reid.
