British army troops are being asked to solve yet another problem that has nothing to do with them. The strike issue is just getting more heated with each passing day, with no real end in sight. For more critical services such as ambulance drivers and border workers, it seems that the armed forces will be stepping in to make sure things don’t go completely haywire.

The 1,200 troops are so far only a contingency plan in case talks fall through, and given that negotiations have been ongoing for weeks, the deadlock could very well bleed into Christmas.

Those who are part of the plan include over 600 drivers for ambulances and another 150 soldiers who can step in for coordination. There will also be first responders in this group to help with urgent medical care.

So far, the government is holding strong against union demands, with Steve Barclay even labelling them unaffordable.

Even though barely a thousand men and women are being pulled from their duties to step in, the shortfall of staff is much much higher.

Chiristina McAnea, Unison general secretary, said: “Rather than scare the public about the consequences of strikes, the health secretary should table genuine plans for improving wages. The ball sits firmly in the government’s court. Ministers know what they must do to prevent disruption later this month.”

Meanwhile, there is the question of whether it’s appropriate for the army to be pulled into the chaos.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of Britain’s armed forces, said the military ranks were not “spare capacity” for striking workers. He didn’t like the idea that the army would be called in every time there was a strike.

He further warned that it would be “slightly perilous” to expect the British military to regularly stand in for striking public sector workers.

He told The Sunday Telegraph that personnel are “not a spare capacity”.

He added: “We’re busy and we’re doing lots of things on behalf of the nation. We’ve got to focus on our primary role.”

Previously, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has been criticised for looking toward the armed forces for a solution whenever things went wrong.

The reality is that helping out the NHS means some soldiers will have to miss Christmas and spend it away from their families.

This isn’t the first time that the armed forces have had to step in because of a manpower shortage. Not too long ago, when the fuel shortage rocked the country, it was our men in uniform who stepped up to get things done.

The current situation is no different. It doesn’t what they’re doing, we’ll continue to support our soldiers in all that they do.

If there’s a tough job to be done, our boys are ready to do it, but one has to stop and ask: should they be tasked with this one?