Soldiers told to pretend to look busy during Army chief’s last-minute visit

SOLDIERS were ordered to pretend to look busy when the new Armed Forces chief jetted into their camp in a last-minute visit to Estonia.

Gunners from the Royal Artillery were told to bring props on parade — including bundles of paperwork — to look like they had work to do.

Leaked orders show the troops, who were winding down for Christmas, were told  to play-act.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the UK’s new chief of defence staff and former First Sea Lord, toured their base on Monday.

To avoid awkward questions, the orders sent to troops ended with the words, “don’t ask!”.

A source said: “It was a pantomime.”

It comes just weeks after Adm Radakin vowed to boost values and “simple integrity” after a spate of behaviour scandals.

Orders seen by The Sun show the troops were told to checklists, known as 601s, so they could pretend to conduct inspections known as Commanders’ Functional Tests on their vehicles.

The orders state: "The new CDS, Admiral Sir Radakin will be in camp today.

"Bring 601s to pretend you're doing a CFT (don't ask!)."