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Armed Forces: Recruitment

Asked by James CartlidgeConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 April 2025UIN 43216

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) of his Department's civilian personnel, (b) Armed Forces personnel and (c) external private contractors work on recruitment for the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) British Army, (iii) Royal Air Force and (iv) Royal Marines.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The requested information is presented in the table below. A separate return for the Royal Marines is not available as Royal Navy and Royal Marines recruiting are combined under the Royal Navy Recruit and Attract organisation.

Army

Royal Navy

Royal Air Force

Regulars

417

228

250

Reservists

84

266

105

Civil Servants

18

35

67

Contractors

708

17*

14*

*Note: contractors provide a range of outsourced Services, some held jointly. For the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force we hold no details on the numbers of individuals who work for the provider on each contract.

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