The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Gurkha Rifles will continue utilising Brunei’s jungle training facilities, while also restating the British Army’s intent to recruit female Gurkhas—pending continued discussions with the Government of Nepal.
In response to a written question from James Cartlidge MP, Defence Minister Luke Pollard stated: “The resident Battalion of The Royal Gurkha Rifles continue to make use of jungle training in Brunei within the permitted training parameters.”
Brunei hosts a permanent British Army presence including a battalion of Gurkhas, where the unique terrain and tropical conditions provide an ideal environment for specialist jungle warfare training. The base has long been viewed as a strategic asset, enabling the British Army to maintain vital skills in a region of growing strategic interest.
Separately, in answers to questions from Dr Andrew Murrison MP, the Ministry reiterated its admiration for the Brigade of Gurkhas and confirmed that while there is currently no fixed number of recruits planned for the next five years, annual recruitment is determined by operational needs.
“The number of recruits required for the Brigade of Gurkhas is managed on an annual basis and depends on factors such as retirements, transfers and any changes in unit Order of Battles,” Pollard said, adding that it is therefore not possible to provide a projected intake for the coming years.
Notably, the minister confirmed that the British Army has communicated its wish to begin recruiting women into the Brigade of Gurkhas—an historic change, as all current Gurkha soldiers in the British Army are men. “The British Army’s wish to recruit women has been communicated to the Government of Nepal and we will continue to engage them on this subject,” Pollard confirmed.
In short
The UK has formally expressed its wish to recruit female Gurkhas, but implementation depends on agreement from Nepal. The British Army cannot unilaterally recruit women into the Gurkhas without Nepal’s consent, as the recruitment of Gurkhas is governed by long-standing bilateral arrangements between the UK and Nepal.
Why? what is reason behind it? i’m not against it but normally such things are done for all the wrong reasons, other cultures are not our culture. Yet have we mess about and impose things to keep the PC lot happy.
If its to form new branches etc then go for it, or fill gaps. Do for the right reasons not just to box tick.
The reason is that that is what the ideology demands… there is no other reason. Non serious people only need ideology. They dont need anything else.
Why not?
The Gurkhas are some mean fellas and just like the FFL I can’t see them having women on board without diluting at least a bit their fearsome reputation
Basically, applications to the British Army from male Gurkhas are on a decline
Are you sure 274 selected from the thousands that applied!
Brigade of Ghurkas website 1/2/25
Gurkhas p🙄
That does answer my question. I just noticed the lack of a question mark.
Highly unlikely 10s thousands fight for india and uk armed firves condidered a much better option essoecually now properly pensioned etc
I hope not, it would say a lot about how our Military and the UK are viewed, accommodation, skills, pay, retirement, chance to settle etc., where Nationals from a nation with a $50b GDP no longer see it as worth the effort to at least apply.
If we are filling the quotas easily then why add another pipeline at increased cost (different medicals, targeted advertising campaigns etc.) when we haven’t sorted out UK recruitment and the potentially thousands that could get in but walk away due to absolutely insane delays.
Really? I’ve always understood thousands apply and only and few hundred are accepted after the tests.
Brunei hosts a permanent British Army presence including a battalion of Gurkhas, where the unique terrain and tropical conditions provide an ideal environment for specialist jungle warfare training. The base has long been viewed as a strategic asset, enabling the British Army to maintain vital skills in a region of growing strategic interest.
Why is not the Chagos Islands also viewed as a strategic asset? You do not give away your strategic assets
The reason there is a base in Brunei is because the Sultan literally pays for it. The Chagos Islands could never sustain a Battalion stationed there.
Yes, we are there at the Sultans invite and expense.
I agree with John on Diego Garcia.
Recruit males and females from Nepal for service in the Royal Navy. Base and train them out of facilities in Brunei, where appropriate, and associate them with British vessels permanently stationed in the Indo Pacific region.
Most men don’t pass Gurkha recruitment. I suspect the only way of recruiting females would be to lower standards, which I’m entirely against.
Like that will work. I thought we had stopped all this dei nonsense
Last time I checked we were dripping with male Nepalese recruits
As long as they do not dilute the tests for female recruits, fair enough. I guess they will though as the RM have potentially the same problem. The Israelis tried putting the 2 genders in the infantry and it failed. So ideology over security. I’ve got a white hanky should I go to Moscow and surrender on our behalf ? Save a lot of lives !