The UK Government has acknowledged significant delays in the recruitment process for the Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force (RAF), with median wait times for new recruits ranging from 249 to 376 days in 2024.
The information, revealed in a response by Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence, highlights recruitment challenges that the Government has inherited and is now prioritising.
Pollard stated that the Government is working to clear a recruitment backlog and speed up processing times, noting that a series of workstreams have been introduced to improve recruitment and retention. He said:
“The new Government inherited a crisis in recruitment. We have made it a priority to address this with a series of work streams designed to increase recruitment and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve.”
According to the latest data covering the 12 months to 30 September 2024, the average time between application and starting basic training (also known as “Time of Flight”) was:
- Army – 249 days
- Royal Navy/Royal Marines – 279 days
- Royal Air Force – 301 days
While some candidates proceed much faster, others experience lengthy delays due to factors such as waiting for medical records, security clearances, and the need to align basic training with specialist trade training.
The RAF recorded the longest delays in 2021 and 2022, with applicants waiting up to 463 days on average to begin training. Since then, waiting times have fallen, though the recruitment process remains far from streamlined.
The Army recorded the fastest processing times, improving from 321 days in 2022 to 249 days in 2024.
Pollard acknowledged that delays persist, particularly in some cases where applications are more complex, but emphasised that the Government is taking steps to ensure a faster and more efficient recruitment process.
Why is there a need to align basic training with specialist training?
My experience in the RN was to do with ratings hanging around in Raleigh. My wait was 6 months or so but completed basic training, seamanship then off to the SETT and then to Collingwood for professional training. I didn’t have more than a week in between all of those steps but several spent weeks milling around waiting for courses etc.
My specialist training took 8 months at Collingwood before the SM school in Raleigh and had a class size of 6.
I suppose the question is would we rather lose the recruit or can we find something to do with ratings after basic that doesn’t require particular trade training.
I totally agree with you mate. I originally wanted to join the Metrology branch but they only have 1 intake a year which i had just missed. I was given the opportunity to carry on with the application and wait for the next intake but fancied locking myself in a steel tube for months on end.
It’s a necessity that some professional courses have some small numbers but take so long to complete but at the same time, get the recruits in the door, give them exciting things to do and fill that time up.
Pretty simple really:
You want to go from Basic Training straight to Specialist Training. If you don’t several negatives occur:
From the employers POV you are now paying someone a full time wage to sit around, do nothing and wait for a spot to open on a specialist trade course, which is expensive.
From a recruits POV you are now experiencing skill fade and possibly loosing physical fitness and probably getting really bored as the armed forces probably insist you PHYSICALLY show up to work, but have nothing to do for you.
Apparently it takes at least 260 days from dialling the 0800 number and entering the various options and then hanging on the phone until you are next it the queue.
Sounds like a call with BT!
What were the tories thinking and (not) doing to render the UK into this state of affairs? The small mercy is that we’re all getting to look under the rock before Putin has fired anything at us and before Trump has traded us in for some Russian gas! I’m this indignant safe in the knowledge that I’ll get to pay the tax that’ll be needed to correct the situation.
Absolutely ludicrous. I thought Labour were supposed to be fixing this problem or is it just another empty promise.
You have reached the Armed Forces of Great Britain and Ireland, please note, all are lines are busy as we are currently dealing with unprecedented call volumes at the moment. Press 1 for Army, 2 for Air Force, 3 for Navy, 4 for Royal Marines, 5 for RFA, 6 for MP, 7 for Cyber, 8 for SAS and 9 for Operator. All calls may be recorded for monitoring and training porpoises….. to hear this list again please press 99000027650444766661200004416899990000 and press the Hash button. All calls are charged at an extortionate rate and will be deducted from your first years pay if you even get selected… we Operate a non biased and Diverse selection process and all genders are treated equally however if you might be white and English, you will be put to the rear of the queue whilst we complete out quota’s. Thank you for continuing to hold, one of our operatives will be with you shortly, to help us speed up this process, please press 1 for Hindu, 2 for Islam, 3 for Urdu, 4 for Albanian, 5 for Islamic state, 6 for Ex KGB 7 for silver 8 for gold 9 for a secret never to be told.
Please hang up.
You’re on form.
Never really change mate, It’s just that sometimes I get chopped of at my prime.
Who are your favourite previous commentators that you would like to see here again ? Just askin…..
OMG so funny lol rofl
Very apt though…..
This really needs to be addressed as an urgent priority.
Even if we upped the defence budget to £100 billion a year (fantasy, I know; never going to happen but I’m just making a point!) it doesn’t mean much if we can’t recruit people!
I can’t think of any other employers where it takes this long. No wonder recruitment targets aren’t being met; with a wait that long, how many people just get frustrated and find another career?
I seriously believe that ITV and the BBC should jointly produce a Celebrity Recruitment reality series, Call it I’m a Generation Z get me a life in the armed forces babe. Init like bro.
Just think of the vast pool of viewers/followers/ subscribers….. and all that plastic surgery/gym bod/Botox enhanced brain dead cannon Fodder.
Maybe Ant and Dec can lead the Recruitment drive…. I’m a wannabe Celebrity, get me to join up.
Lol. Be more relevant if they simply asked for Name, Address and mobile Number on a website which could be put together in about 20 minutes or so (slight exaggeration but you get the point). You then organise events up and down the country in quick succession with the aim of identifying likely candidates and eliminating those who are unlikely to either want to proceed or make the grade. You do some basic checks and book people into to basic training in the coming weeks on the basis of a conditional offer on the basis they will need to satisfy checks (medical, security, etc.) in the coming days and weeks.
Record I know from application to putting on MTP? Eighteen chuffing months. That was last year. I walked into a recruiting office once. A week later I took the shilling and oath. A week after that I was wearing DPM. We are over run with incompetence.
Sadly I would be a bit suspicious and say that gapping recruitment is a great way to generate in year savings. Sorry your training will start next year…bing 50k saved on this years budget, we are so smart.
That’s a truly terrible thought.
Happens in the NHS I would have brutal arguments with contract holders about gapping staff to make savings.. nurse leaves.. takes a month to approve advert, add out for month. Another month to recruit, another month to get references and do checks, offer confirmed, recruited nurse has to give 2 months notice.. 6 months saving if they even find a recruit the First time around.. if it’s a hard to find nurse like an ED or ITU nurse they can take all year… but as the higher grade nurses have to give 3 months notice they could advertise on notice… but they don’t so they can grab the savings…
A 1 year waiting list, only to then go through a very old fashioned training…
It’s a right mess!
These time scales should be totally unacceptable. No wonder the low recruitment targets fail to be met. Does it really take 8-10 months to sort out security clearances or medicals? As for aligning basic training with specialist training – that excuse is a bit of a joke isn’t it?
In the RE we joined,done basic training,then went to training Regt for cbt eng trng (B3) posted to SQN then from there went on your training courses as and when they were available. So you were getting experience and learning from your section members on the job.
At least Crapita is out of the loop and the right noises are being made, its a start.
I understand that Serco won the tri-services contract, but why outsource at all after the failure of the single service contract?
Bloody hell that’s over a year you’ve got to be some mad bastard to wait that long for a job must have a death wish or something
We better get our act together if the UK is to offer boots on the ground in Ukraine. The numbers will be significant and most likely Gulf War levels of commitment. We could be talking months before deployment, which means sending initially, our best troops?
In light of Trump telling Europe to “Pony up” on defence, I can’t help but realise that the last 14 years (probably 30) has been an unmitigated disaster for the Armed Forces and country in general. How is waiting up to a year to go through the recruitment process in any way acceptable!
It almost wants me to vote Labour in 2029 as at least they are trying, albeit badly!
Regards
I took my son to the EAF careers office today for an interview. He is in his early 20s fit and able with qualifications and wants a career in the forces. They did not seem to be in a rush to recruit him, they gave him some options and then take your time and decide. Then we will arrange a follow up and a medical. They said this could be in the next 4 months. We all know nothing is done quickly but I think he is now put off as he would live to offer his services. He will progress but it is a bit slow and soul destroying for a youngster keen to serve his Country.
*RAF
Surely that just means that’s the recruits waiting for spots to open up as there’s a wage budget say to maintain hard wire separate spending need to increase the wage budget field more troops need more bunks equipment them training cost so much. I had suggested giving Britain’s position small country good economy strong currency think smart. The UK economy built ground work say 1800s alot of the rules still there in some capacity a country at war a war economy built to function well at a time of war. Social housing was 1 more homes cheaper rents built by government out of an annual income then rented to working class standard workers Asda Iceland with famillies adding more money to the annual income and fighting more ways bring money in annually not of top my head but that does help good morale extra money household support growth etc more ppl. War tax aswell at a time of war certain amount be taking from every 1s wages or benifits straight into a war fund to pay those wages to field more men and I call it the patriot tax. Fact recruits 1 thing war kicks off conscripts or volunteers be get sure enough quick enough then mainly it’s your 9 5 ppl building trained could be brought bk in to the fold etc.
You would have to be a complete fool to want to join the armed forces . Who would want to risk their life for this poxy government.
I joined the military in 1978 and it only took months from start to finish. But then recruitment was done by serving military personnel, not by a civilian company making money, who haven’t got a clue. Bring back veterans to run the recruitment process!!
My bambino recently joined basic training. The recruitment process is flawed. Red tape on medical clearance – I kid you not … athletes foot almost prevented a successful sign up and delayed the entry date 4 months (specialist training so only 3 intakes a year). My gen z certainly isn’t woke (bro). One of my other bambinos also considered a miltary career but a sports acl injury ruled that out. More needs to be done In schools and colleges. And much better coms from the mod recruitment teams. Lack of engagement/follow up could have meant said bambino dropped of their radar!!
3 weeks from going into the RN careers office in Portsmout Arundel St to starring basic training 12 wks at Raleigh Dabber course then Cambridge Gunners first sea draft 8 months after going to the careers office .
Here’s a thought guys . Why is the government paying some civvy company (serco think was mentioned ) to do all the recruiting process at no doubt an extortionate cost . We have hundreds of ex service guys of senior levels who know how the services system works and would love to have a chance to get back into a service environment and at a cheaper price to government . That way recruits . Would be talking to a person who actually knows and has experienced life in the forces and knows the “get around ” .
Out sourcing has destroyed pretty much everything it gets its negligent, corrupt ,filthy hands on !
Ok so check this out
My son left 18 months ago went traveling with his girlfriend was a corporal medic 16 air assault
Got a call .. rejoin as a data network technician with the signals
Same rank same pay 👍
A year later I kid you not he rocks up at blandford to start and they say no Glasgow was wrong you have rejoin as a private, no corporal flashes no wings
Said son says no and walks out back to Civy street
WTF ???