The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it does not currently intend to alter the rank structure of the Armed Forces’ senior leadership, nor replace key military positions with civil servants, as part of its sweeping Defence Reform agenda.
Responding to a series of written questions from Conservative MP James Cartlidge, Minister of State Maria Eagle stated that “this Government is bringing in the deepest reforms in UK Defence for 50 years, to speed up decision-making, secure faster delivery and achieve the best value for money for our troops and taxpayers.”
While Eagle acknowledged that organisational structures are still being refined during the implementation of the reforms, she was clear that there is “no intent to replace the Chief of Defence People with a Senior Civil Servant.”
She added that “the organisation and structure of our Armed Forces, including the ranks of the Chief of the Defence Staff and Military Chiefs, has been considered as part of Defence Reform,” but concluded that “their seniority and rank remain commensurate to their roles and responsibilities.”
Asked whether the reforms would result in a reduction in the number of senior officers, Eagle reiterated that it was “too early to specify the overall staffing requirements,” noting that decisions will be shaped by operational and policy needs as they arise.
The remarks follow the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement on 1 April 2025 outlining HCWS 573, a blueprint for modernising defence structures to improve procurement, delivery, and command agility.
While final personnel impacts remain unclear, the Ministry has affirmed that senior military leadership will remain in uniform and at current levels of rank.
