CASH-strapped defence chiefs spent more than £263,000 on mugs for recruitment drives — then gave many to their own staff.
The MoD bought 115,513 cups with slogans such as “This Is Belonging” and “Your Army Needs You”.
They were part of campaigns launched after Army numbers fell from 82,000 to 73,470 in recent years.
The message “Your Army Needs You” was used for last year’s controversial drive aimed at snowflakes. It saw ads targeting “selfie addicts”, “binge gamers” and “Me, me, me millennials”.
But sources said many of the mugs were used by Army personnel and civil servants within the MoD in London.
Others were sent around the country, many going to careers offices.
The ministry paid two suppliers over nearly four years until last December.
A military source described the spend as “nonsense”, adding: “You really wonder who makes these decisions.”
John O’Connell, from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers need the Government to save on unnecessary spending. Waste does not belong and budgets need to be efficient. So the MoD should not waste thousands splashing on drink holders.”
The mugs revelation follows the disclosure that the MoD spent £15,000 on transgender loos at its HQ.
It also spent almost £8,000 on biscuits from April 2017 to March 2018 so pen-pushers could have a snack with their tea during meetings.
The Army has since “toughened up” recruitment ads with slogans including: “Army confidence lasts a lifetime.”
