By Nigel Pankhurst BBC News

A report has warned that the British armed forces are understaffed, with rising numbers of personnel quitting early.

David from London says his brother is leaving the Army after four years despite enjoying life in the military.

Iraq is ridiculously exhausting and stressful for UK forces, says "David"

A career in the armed forces always seemed likely for David and his siblings.

Both he and his sister seriously considered it, and his brother joined the Army at the age of 19 in 2002.

He served in Iraq in 2004 but is now on the verge of quitting the forces.

David says that while difficulties with equipment and communications are common gripes among ordinary soldiers, the level of pay is the biggest problem to recruitment and retention of personnel.

"Our family were always brought up to respect the Army, and my sister and I also considered a career in the armed forces. We were so proud of my brother when he went off and joined," said David.

"He has said there are a lot of people handing in their sign-off papers, more than there are people coming through the door.

He's handed in his papers. He enjoys the Army but it can't really provide for him "David"

"It is noticeable. It's not that the press are hyping this up. He has said that there are just less people around.

"A lot of the time the problem is pay. A lot of them say they could be working on a building site and getting double the pay, instead of putting their lives on the line.

"For the lads who are single and have no family it's not so bad for them, but for the lads who are married or with a partner the responsibilities they've got are ridiculous.

"He's not surprised for a minute that people are leaving."

David explains that although his brother is full of praise for the Army lifestyle he feels he is not sufficiently rewarded for what the job involves.

"He's glowing about the Army and what it's done for him, the sort of person it has made him," he said.

BRITISH SOLDIER PAY New Entrants: �12,128.48 Private: �14,283.36 to �23,471 Lance Corporal: �18,294.64 Corporal: �23,470.72 Sergeant: �26,677.56 Staff Sergeant: �29,531.32 Warrant Officer C2: �32,042.92 Warrant Officer C1: �34,310.64 Source: The Army

"It can turn somebody into a well-rounded person but he's also said he never wants to be that terrified again as he was in Iraq about a cause which did not have good enough reason. It's not like the country was under attack.

"He's done his four years and has no regrets but they've given him very little incentive to stay given that next year they will return to Iraq on the same pay. There's no incentive there.

"He's handed in his papers. He enjoys the Army but it can't really provide for him.

"Iraq is a tricky one because they don't have an identifiable enemy and it's so ridiculously exhausting and stressful. Why go through it again?"

David's brother is now pondering his next career step - and he is likely to be better rewarded financially.

"He's looking at the police force and fire service. He would be better paid doing that kind of job," he said.

"He absolutely loves the Army and if they could sort out the pay scales I'm sure he would re-enlist."