I'm sure these individuals would certainly have learned their lesson

Dave Liddell, Scottish Drugs Forum

Black Watch Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Riddell Webster, said: "Having drug users upon whom I cannot rely is unacceptable and disciplinary action will be taken in all cases."

A spokeswoman for the army in Scotland said: "We have a zero tolerance policy against drugs.

"The point of these tests is to get rid of people who take drugs and the fact that they are random means people can be caught at any time.

"These men have now ruined their careers by taking the risk and maybe what has happened to them will put other people off taking drugs."

The decision to dismiss the soldiers has been defended by Ben Wallace, Conservative MSP for North East Scotland.

Ben Wallace MSP

He said: "The armed forces have a duty to the people that it protects and that is the citizens of the United Kingdom from people who might be using their weapons when they are not in a fit state."

But Dave Liddell from the Scottish Drugs Forum said the soldiers should have been given a second chance if their drug use was a one-off incident.

"I'm sure these individuals would certainly have learned their lesson," he said.

The case is the latest in a line of drug scandals to hit the army in the past 12 months.

Last year 480 soldiers were dismissed through drug misuse, the highest number since testing began.

This total also included 11 squaddies from the Black Watch regiment who were dismissed after they also tested positive for drug use in Germany.

The Black Watch is one of the most famous regiments in the British army and dates back to 1725. It has the sole right to wear the Red Hackle as its emblem.