Congratulations to your correspondent Ian Bruce for highlighting the disarray within the Ministry of Defence (April 27). Having worked in the ministry, I have to say I have never seen such a litany of incompetence as has been demonstrated over the past 10 years. Recent Secretaries of State for Defence appear each to be more incompetent than their predecessor. We now have an incumbent who has allowed every accepted rule to be broken by allowing the naval hostages to sell their stories to the media.

When linked with the shambles over procurement and the waste of public money in the provision of equipment and clothing, it should be a matter for resignation. To send our servicemen to fight without adequate equipment, vehicles and personal protection should make even the most callous politician ashamed.

But not content with sending inadequately equipped troops to war, they are recklessly abandoned when they return wounded and suffering from the stress of combat. Many will never work again, but does the government care? It appears not. These same servicemen, many of whom are territorial reservists, are deemed by the Ministry of Defence to be "casual labour" so are not eligible for pensions.

Finally, I have sympathy with our veterans (yes, I am one) who, having been authorised by Her Majesty to receive the Pingat Jassa Malaysia medal, awarded by the Malaysian government, at no cost to Britain, are told by an unelected civil servant in the Cabinet Office (with MoD support) that we are forbidden to wear it. Give me strength! It is vindictive and lunatic when the Australians and New Zealanders who were with us in Malaya are all allowed to wear the medal. We are now witnessing the melt-down of government departments and of our once highly-regarded civil service.

Allan Alstead, Brigadier (Retired), 49 Moray Place, Edinburgh.