The Ministry of Defence has confirmed initial participation numbers for its new Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme, as part of plans to launch the programme in early 2026, the department stated.
The scheme, described as a military “gap year”, is intended to offer young people the opportunity to experience service life while developing skills and leadership. Details were provided in response to a series of written parliamentary questions from James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk.
Responding on behalf of the department, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Louise Sandher-Jones said the first intake, known as Tranche 1, will consist of 150 participants across the three services.
“The first participants will be apportioned at 20 each for Royal Navy and Royal Air Force respectively with the Army offering the remainder (110),” she said.
The minister confirmed that the initial cohort will be used to shape how the scheme develops in future, with no retention targets currently set for how many participants are expected to remain in the armed forces at the end of the year.
“The lessons of the first cohort (Tranche 1) will inform future practices for the Scheme,” she said.
When asked whether the department had established an annual target for participants who go on to full military service, the same response was repeated, indicating that retention outcomes will be assessed after the first cohort completes the programme. The Ministry of Defence said the longer-term ambition is for the scheme to expand significantly if demand supports it.
“The ambition remains that the scheme will expand to over 1,000 participants subject to interest,” Sandher-Jones said, adding that further details would be published in due course.
The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme was announced by the government in December 2025 as part of wider efforts to improve recruitment pathways and provide alternative entry routes into military service.
