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for new recruits; one of the largest pay increases in the last 20 years for existing personnel; scrapping over 100 outdated medical policies; the creation of novel entry pathways such as the military Direct-Entry Cyber and ZigZag Careers pathways as well as the recently announced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.
The current government as one of their first actions was to spent some money improving the military housing. I suspect that will help with retention. That combined with the armed forces image improving with the public post the low of Afghan/Iraq, and thanks to the positives achieved helping Ukraine. Plus overall challenge young people have with finding jobs. How much impact that will have on retention only time will tell.
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?
My god, the entitlement. Would anything actually make you happy? I suppose whatever it is would involve lots of new very expensive things but you aren’t willing to pay more in taxes as that would just be some conspiracy by the evil government led by Keir the Merciless to pay more immigrants to commit crime as that is somehow what the evil government would prefer?
Wow someone is a little grumpy! No, how about now recruitment has improved, lets look at retention, accommodation, career structures and some decent operational kit (even off the shelf) for those new recruits to use and operate effectively, so we can deploy more than a couple of BCTS in any enduring operation. That’s what Daniele means, its pretty obvious really.
You really think none of that is happening!? You act like you should be getting invited to meetings for personal updates on the situation. Just accept, no one owes you these updates and you will find out eventually. Not that you need to know at all.
Hi Rob.
Most of that diatribe is beyond comprehension quite frankly, however.
I. I DO need to know! I pay taxes towards it and I’m nosy, I like learning stuff, I’ve been a researcher for a long time.
2 I would happily pay more taxes for defence and certain public services actually!
3. A is right in what I meant originally.
4. A lot of your outburst is a bit OTT to say the least, plenty here actually care, Airborne more than most I’d think given his background.
5. Yes, I think Starmer is an utter puppet out of his depth. Yet, sure he’s a nice bloke and as I’ve said before, I’d be utterly terrified of what might replace him from the left.
6. You seem to be new here, only noted your name the other week, also ranting. Not a great opening introduction and exchange between us, but hi anyway.
Who was the last Prime Minister you rated?
My ‘ranting’ is to try and balance all of the negativity out when it comes to people complaining about everything like it’s a sport. I don’t see how you can consider your constant complaining as anything else but ranting also.
I served myself, as a reserve, but I deployed on Op Telic 2 and 3.
I think being in government is an impossible task and no one will ever be happy with what is spent on the military and I don’t see the point in constantly complaining and calling politicians names. I also don’t think anyone here knows what is required to fight the kind of war that we are probably already fighting as it’s probably digital. I don’t think it would be wise to be announcing how much we are spending on cyber either. Frigates can’t stop cyber attacks. But we do have 13 new ones on the way anyway.
Also, this is a comments section. So I don’t being ‘new here’ means anything. I have also been coming to this site for years for news. I don’t feel the need to constantly shout at the articles like I could manage everything better.
There’s nothing new about military men shouting at politicians. It’s the same as factory floor workers hating on the managers.
Your ‘diatribe’ isn’t very informative either.
Ok, I tried an olive branch approach, so I walk away. Cherio.
A lot of that isn’t happening that’s a fact! Do calm down, I wouldn’t want to go to those meetings, as have done in the past!
10 Adverts.
Let’s hope that trend can be sustained for a good few years.
I note the term Tri-service. Is the increase the same over all three services? Think that would be nice to know – as would a statement that the government intends to increase the establishment number. But certainly a good start.
Whatever your politics this is good news. Ive never been Labour but i actually do think they are putting some decent long term strategies in place which are in no way glamourous vote winners. They’ve been dealt a s**t hand from the last lot and especially with this war in Iran which will batter the economy and give us less money to fund the DIP.
Very pleased with this recruitment upturn. Some good decisions for a change from the SoS and the MOD. Main one is simplifying.the recruitment system so that young aspirants don’t have to wait for six or more months before getting a starting date. Also sounds like Capita’s vastly bureaucratic system has been pretty much scrapped. The new recruitment routes and choices sound excellent. And a big pay rise for recruits plus more generous retention bonuses may be expensive but is necessary these days.
It is a good start towards meeting the establishment figures for the services, which we haven’t done for years.