UK Regular Armed Forces intake has increased by 13% over the past 12 months, with total intake now exceeding outflow across all three services for the first time in four years, according to the Ministry of Defence.
In a written response, ministers said efforts to modernise recruitment processes and expand entry routes were beginning to show results.
Lord Coaker said “the Government is focused upon improving Armed Forces recruitment, modernising and refining our policies and processes to attract the best possible talent.” He added that “the results are clear; UK Regular Armed Forces intake has increased by 13% when compared to previous 12-months and intake is now greater than outflow at the Tri-service level, for the first time in four years.”
The minister said the improvement had been driven by a series of policy changes, including pay increases and reforms to entry requirements. “We have delivered this through policies which have included a 35% pay increase for new recruits; one of the largest pay increases in the last 20 years for existing personnel; scrapping over 100 outdated medical policies; the creation of novel entry pathways such as the military Direct-Entry Cyber and ZigZag Careers pathways as well as the recently announced Armed Forces Foundation Scheme (‘Gap Year’); and delivering the ambition to make a conditional offer of employment to candidates within 10 days, and a provisional training start date within 30 days.”
The update indicates that more people are now joining than leaving at a tri-service level, marking a shift after several years in which outflow consistently exceeded intake. However, the response does not indicate whether the improvement is sufficient to address known shortfalls in specific trades and capabilities.
That’s good news. Let’s hope they can be trained and retained.
Good news, hopefully retention will be equally as positive. But I suspect the most effective policy Labour brought in was to increase youth unemployment – recruitment is often much easier when the economy is being hammered.
Bad time always bring more to the Military, and times are not great, any where its still good news now lets see those serve properly and fully equipt.
Just an indication of how bad it is in civvy street.
Not many join because “I’ve always wanted to be a soldier”.
Good, positive.
And, next?