New Research Contrasts U.S. and U.K. Attitudes to Armed Services

LONDON, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --



One third of Americans have approached military personnel to thank them for their service, compared to just 8 per cent of people in Britain, according to report released today by Lord Ashcroft.

The British peer surveyed the public on both sides of the Atlantic on their attitudes to the. He also spoke to serving U.S. personnel in Texas, North Carolina and Washington, D.C., as well as conducting the biggest ever independent poll of the British Forces, with the permission of General Sir David Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff.

While two thirds of Americans said they had either thanked a person in uniform or could see themselves doing so, only just over a quarter of the British public said the same. 26% of those in Britain said they would be embarrassed to do so, compared to just 15% of the American public. One third of those surveyed in Britain said it was not necessary or appropriate to thank servicemembers in person - more than double the number who said this in the United States.

The research also found that:

• Public support for the Armed Services is higher than for other public institutions in both countries.
• Despite their generally warm reception, both British and American troops have been abused on their home soil while wearing uniform in public.
• British troops visiting the U.S. enjoy the American culture of appreciation for the Services, especially widespread military discounts - of which they would like to see more in Britain.
• U.K. personnel reported feeling disadvantaged in a number of ways, including problems getting credit or cell phone contracts, and companies failing to deliver goods to British bases overseas. American personnel said it was unthinkable for them to be disadvantaged as a result of their military service.
• American personnel felt that if they took advantage of the educational opportunities available to them, the U.S. Armed Services set them up for success. Many British personnel, by contrast, feared they would have to start their careers from scratch once they left the military.
• Americans were much more likely than the British public to think former Service personnel would find it easier than other people to find a new job once they left the military.

Lord Ashcroft said:

"The public rightly hold the Armed Services in high regard in both our countries. But when it comes to things like offering military discounts, ensuring personnel are not disadvantaged in everyday life, and simply being willing to offer a quiet word of thanks and support, there is much that we in Britain can learn from the American example."

Notes to Editors

Full details of the research - including the survey comparing American and British public attitudes to the Forces, and quotes from members of the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps - can be found at http://www.lordashcroftpolls.com.

The research comprised the following elements:

US Service personnel and veterans

• Six focus groups of personnel from the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard were conducted in Texas, North Carolina and Washington DC in February 2012. An additional group of serving officers and veterans was conducted at the Pentagon.

UK Service personnel:

• A poll of 9,106 UK service personnel was conducted between November 2011 and January 2012. Results were weighted to be representative of the Armed Forces as a whole.
• A donation of £5 to Forces charities was offered for each completed questionnaire. As a result, four organisations - ABF The Soldiers' Charity; The RAF Benevolent Fund; The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity; and The Victoria Cross & George Cross Association - have received a total of £45,600.
• Sixteen focus groups of serving Army, Royal Navy, RAF and Royal Marines personnel were conducted in September and October 2011.

Former UK Service personnel

• Five focus groups of former UK service personnel were conducted between December 2011 and March 2012.

UK public

• An online survey of 2,033 UK adults was conducted in March 2012.
• Six focus groups were conducted in London, Leeds and Worcester in November 2011.

US public

• An online survey of 2,048 US adults was conducted in March 2012.

UK employers

• A survey of 508 small and medium sized companies was conducted by telephone in January 2012. Respondents all had responsibility for recruitment and hiring.

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, is an international businessman, author and philanthropist. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Crimestoppers, Vice Patron of the Intelligence Corps Museum, Chairman of the Trustees of Ashcroft Technology Academy, Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University, and Treasurer of the International Democrat Union. From 2005 to 2010 he was Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. In May 2011 he was appointed as lead adviser to the Ministry of Defence for the strategic review of the UK Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. His collection of more than 170 Victoria Cross medals, the largest in the world, is on display at the Imperial War Museum. He is a trustee of the Imperial War Museum Foundation. Lord Ashcroft is a principal benefactor to the Bomber Command Memorial, donating £1 million to the Memorial.

Lord Ashcroft has written six books: Smell The Coffee - A wake-up call for the Conservative Party; Minority Verdict - The Conservative Party, the voters and the 2010 election; Dirty Politics, Dirty Times; Victoria Cross Heroes; Special Forces Heroes; and George Cross Heroes. His latest book "Heroes of the Skies" will be published by Headline in September 2012.

SOURCE lordashcroftpolls.com