The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has outlined steps to adapt its training programmes for Reservists, following a question raised by Labour MP Calvin Bailey.
Referring to the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Associations’ Annual Statutory Report 2024, Bailey asked what measures were being implemented to ensure training aligns with Reservists’ needs.
In response, Veterans Minister Al Carns confirmed that the MOD delivers all its training under the Defence Systems Approach to Training, a framework designed to continuously refine delivery. Carns said:
“This is a formal iterative process to continually improve course delivery, integrate learning technologies and formally record student feedback, resulting in improved changes to Course Programmes.”
Modular Training for Greater Flexibility
One significant change has been the introduction of modular courses through the Defence Learning Environment (DLE). This system tracks individual progress, offering flexibility for Reservists juggling civilian jobs and family responsibilities.
Carns explained: “Many Defence courses now offer a modular approach to completion… providing significant flexibility, allowing Reservists to complete courses in a way that fits around their employment needs and family commitments.”
The modular approach also allows Reservists to access training at their convenience, say the MOD, with content tailored to their specific roles and operational requirements.
Localised Training Options
The MOD has made additional adaptations by offering training locally on weekends or in condensed time blocks. These adjustments aim to accommodate Reservists’ civilian commitments. Carns added:
“Adaptations include tailoring to deliver training locally at weekends or in blocks of time that are accessible, allowing Reservists to balance their civilian and military commitments effectively.”
Challenges and Progress
The department’s adaptations aim to ensure training remains effective and accessible, but questions remain about how well these measures are addressing broader recruitment and retention issues within the Reserve Forces. While the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Associations’ Annual Statutory Report highlights progress, it also underlines ongoing challenges in balancing the demands of military readiness with the realities of Reservists’ civilian lives.
The MOD’s iterative approach to training reflects an understanding of these challenges, but whether these measures will meet long-term needs remains to be seen.
The army generals talk a good game about being prepared for a major conflict as long as being prepared for a major conflict means keeping as many regular army infantry battalions as possible. The regular Amy dropped from 120,000 at the end of the Cold War to 70,000 today while the TA and now reserves were cut from 76,000 to just 26,000 today. Cuts have always as been heavier on reserve forces. Reserve forces cost 5 times less to operate than regular army and if the British army was really serious about fighting a major land war they would be rapidly increasing the size of reserves and not regular units.
We should aim for an army of 80,000 with a reserve of 60,000. This is much more inline with the USA. If it’s good enough for the worlds greatest army then it’s good enough for us.
More or less exactly this.
The lack of priority given to reservists is down to forces that are in perpetual financial crisis.
As I keep saying, when the budget uplifts do arrive it is vital they are not just spent on big projects but on things like reserves.
How reserves are actually used has to change and the mentality of it ‘being impossible’ to retain reserve ships also needs to totally change.
Ultimately, if UK do go to a war all those sailing desks in long term planning roles would have to go to war.
Part of the issue is the STOROB mentality that anything not working up or deployed is stripped of parts – that has to stop.
With say a larger fleet of T31 they could be rotated to keep better availability and some deployed on shorter missions with reserve crews.
Agree, mindset needs to change and the MoD needs to stop looking at reservists as a cost to cut.
It’s a big shame that the British Army doesn’t open its doors to permanent residents who have been living in the UK for years. Requiring a passport to join the reserves feels unnecessarily restrictive. As a Pole who has called the UK home for the last 17 years, I’d love the opportunity to serve, but the cost of obtaining citizenship makes it unfeasible. It would be great if the Army recognised the commitment and contributions of long-term residents by offering an alternative route to join.
British Army needs something like the International Legion in Ukraine, or like the commonwealth brigade!
Good luck with trying to increase the size of the Reserves. The other issue with reserves is the shock that they face when they deploy over 72 hours. They struggle to adapt and when we tried to mobilise 52 to boost Hedrick numbers itches virtually impossible to muster that amount from a unit, so we went Brigade wide and still no joy so it went Army wide. When they were eventually mustered, 28 percent of them failed the deployment assessment and mobilisation phase so around 37 eventually deployed. Shambles.