296 soldiers booted for misconduct

Army chief Lieutenant General David Morrison says he will be ruthless in getting rid of those unable to live up to its high standards of conduct.

A soldier stands with his weapon.

Almost 300 soldiers have been given the boot in the past two years, more than 2/3 for drug offences. (AAP)

Almost 300 soldiers have been given the boot in the past two years, more than two-thirds for drug offences.

Army chief Lieutenant General David Morrison said he would "be ruthless" in ridding the army of those who could not live up to its high standards.

Figures for the last two years, published in the latest Army newspaper, show there were 158 "involuntary separations" in 2012-13 and 138 in 2013-14.

Thirty-five soldiers were discharged in 2013-14 for misconduct and unacceptable behaviour, with 19 in 2012-13.

Using prohibited substances led to 89 being shown the door in 2013-14 and 114 in 2012-13.

Unspecified civilian offences led to 14 discharges in 2013-14 and 25 the previous year.

That's a total of 296, who Lt Gen Morrison said had let down the team of "44,000 talented and professional men and women who serve Australia with pride and distinction".

Lt Gen Morrison has left no soldier under any illusion about the consequences of misconduct.

He attracted worldwide attention last year with a blunt videotaped warning that there was no place in the army for offensive and demeaning conduct.

"And if that does not suit you, then get out," he said.

He repeated the warning in the Army newspaper article.

"When we say `zero tolerance', we mean it," he said.

"Do the wrong thing and pay the price."


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